Chapter 76: The Monarch’s Hunger and the Leader’s Sacrifice

During this period, a crimson mist billowed forth from You’s body, coiling into a vortex that enveloped the entire battlefield.

This mist, a potent necromantic magic, possessed the ability to siphon ‘external power’.

Just then, a fierce gale swept across the sky.

Propelled by the howling wind, the sanguine mist poured downwards, descending like a fiery deluge, blanketing everything on the ground.

In a mere instant, the swirling mist partially devoured the remains of tens of thousands of soldiers.

Afterward, not a single strand of hair remained on the ground; only an endless expanse of skeletons stretched into the distance.

The flesh-devouring mist began to transform. As if imbued with life, it immediately broke down into countless wisps of smoke, which then drilled into You’s body through the pores on his skin.

The power extracted from countless bodies ultimately flowed into You’s very being.

Including the two Legion Commanders Wang had slain that morning, the strength of all first-rate experts in the allied forces, along with the life force of the common soldiers, had now become You’s ‘nourishment’.

With the aid of this external power, You, upon closing his eyes, perceived a qualitative transformation in his own strength; he was no longer merely ‘quasi-Monarch-level’.

Having absorbed everything from tens of thousands of living beings, a tremendous holy power surge immediately emanated from You’s body.

At that moment, even the clouds in the heavens dispersed and parted for him.

There was no doubt: You’s power had achieved a monumental leap, entering the true ‘Monarch-level’!

He clenched his fists, reveling in a formidable power he had never experienced before. His confidence, previously shattered by Wang, was instantly restored and even swelled with renewed vigor.

You spoke to himself, a grim determination in his voice:

“The current me possesses the capital to confront the Demon Leader head-on. However, while I may be qualified to face her, I will absolutely not engage in a fair fight!”

Why rely on a one-on-one duel when a battle can be resolved with overwhelming numbers?

The word ‘despicable’ did not exist in You’s lexicon. To him, what did the process or methods matter, as long as the outcome was ‘victory’? What if it meant sacrificing allies or harming his own side?

“After the slaughter, all that matters is that one of us lives and the other dies.”

You raised his right hand, clenching it tightly, and his knuckles cracked with a soft sound.

Concurrently, the numerous skeletons on the ground rose to their feet, raising their weapons. Under You’s command, they began to march in a single direction.

Counting those slain by Wang, there were now over 400,000 undead!

Additionally, You still commanded 40,000 of his own living soldiers.

His combat power was undeniably ample. You harbored not the slightest doubt about claiming Wang’s head.

At this moment, the vast army of undead moved in the same direction as they had in life, rapidly closing in on the mountain where the demons had gathered.

The earth-shattering roar was loud enough to alert Wang, who had returned to the mountain, compelling her to make an unavoidable decision upon witnessing the dark, surging army in the distance.

Taking advantage of the mountain not yet being fully encircled, Wang gathered all the demons under her command. Before them, she issued an unalterable command:

“Go, go as far as you possibly can! Do not turn back, do not look behind you, do not hesitate along the way. Just leave this place as quickly as possible.”

Wang no longer concealed her intentions. Instead, she used the most direct approach, urging her family members to depart swiftly and escape this perilous place, which was on the verge of being consumed by war.

However, even though she delivered her orders clearly, the demons had no intention of obeying. For the second time today, they chose to defy their Big Sis.

The same command required no repetition.

All Wang had to do next was ensure her family members complied with this order.

The demons watched as she raised her longsword, rotating her right hand to turn the hilt, pointing the blade at her own throat, and stepping forward.

Thump!

“You worry about me, not wanting me to face the enemies alone. I appreciate that sentiment. But have you ever considered this?”

Wang pressed the blade slightly, just enough to nick the skin on her throat, causing a trickle of blood to emerge.

“You all must be careful not to cause harm with good intentions, not to force me to end my life here just for the sake of wanting to help.”

“Big Sis…”

The demons felt a lump in their throats, many words yearning to escape their lips.

Yet, when they finally tried to speak, only fragmented, indistinct whispers managed to emerge.

Perhaps feeling that her sincerity wasn’t convincing enough, Wang rotated the sword hilt again, plunging the sharp blade into the ground.

Then, she sank to her knees, placing her empty right hand on her knee, and bowed her head.

“When my parents abandoned me, Little Eagle was the one who found me. It was all of you who, despite saying dismissive words, practically raised an unwanted child…”

Her head, no different from any human’s flesh and blood, repeatedly struck the ground, breaking her forehead and drawing crimson blood.

The bloodstains on the ground, as they spread, branched into several winding, tree-like patterns.

It was precisely because of this weakness—her deep emotional attachment—that Wang dared to believe she was human, not merely a beast with power.

She was willing to sacrifice her life, but she could not bear to be unconcerned about the safety of her family.

Her thoughts at that moment were simply to enter the battlefield without any lingering worries, all for the sake of one core statement that followed:

“I hope you can retreat to a safe place. I implore you, please obey my command as your Big Sis. I beg you!”

This was the first time the demons had seen their Big Sis humble herself, hearing her sorrowful, choked voice.

It was more than just them being unable to refuse such a Big Sis; it was a reluctance to refuse.

“Alright, we’ll leave. We’ll take Big Sister Eagle and retreat to a place far from the war… But once we settle there, Big Sis, you *must* come find us.”

The demons chose to compromise. As they began their mass retreat, obeying her command, they did not forget to seek comfort from their Big Sis.

Knowing that all comfort would be a lie, Wang still spoke, still used her authority as Big Sis to deceive them one last time:

“I promise I will find you; I swear it! Don’t you still believe in my strength?”

A benevolent lie was still a lie. Wang didn’t expect that good intention to justify herself; she only wished that, as she covered their retreat, everyone would survive because of her arrangements.

Speed was paramount in a retreat. Once the demons resolved to obey, their actions were swift and decisive; they vanished from the area without a trace.

However, there was an exception, though ‘exception’ wasn’t quite accurate.

Compared to the numerous demons, she, who willingly remained, was the only human in the group besides Wang.

Wang stood up, facing Cai, who was merely a fist’s distance away, and regarded her with complex eyes.

“Everyone listened to me and left. Why won’t you, you silly woman, go?”

Cai clasped her hands and took two or three steps forward, closing that fist-sized gap until it no longer existed. Her expression remained as calm as ever as she replied:

“Because you haven’t left either.”