"We need a plan to take out the demon worshippers once and for all, and we need to hurry" Ezra began. "The demons are planning to open a portal connecting our world and theirs, allowing demon to come into enter Orion nonstop"

The other grandmasters gathered around.

"What makes you think we'd believe a word you say?" Raven questioned.

Ezra shrugged, "You don't have to. I lose nothing regardless. On the other hand, Niton will perish"

"Then why are you telling us?"

"Am I supposed to have good feelings for those that tried to kill me? I hate demons and I want them eradicated. But I can't do it alone"

The Emperor spoke. "Tell us more this plan of theirs"

"They intend to bring forth chaos in Orion. Opening a portal is the easiest way to go about it, and soon, they will succeed"

Ezra had no idea of how far the progress to a portal had come neither the process they used to open one across such an absurd distance. But he couldn't let the others know, else they default.

"So, we need to stop them before then-but it's not that simple. The kingdoms allied with them have at least four grandmasters on their side, so if we're to stop them, we need equivalent force"

Persuading with urgency was the basics of manipulation.

"Moreover, I only know of their current lair, if we fail at striking them down, and allow them retreat, we might never get this chance again"

So they had one chance to strike, and they had to make it count.

Getrahan stepped in front of Ezra. "Are we really going to believe this? It is the plot of demons to lure us into an ambush, don't you see that?"

"Don't worry. You're welcome to stay back" Ezra pats his shoulder. "Your presence won't be of much use anyway with how weak and cowardly you are"

historical

"What did you say to me?!" Getrahan popped a vein.

"Have your ears rotten?"

Getrahan punched out.

But..

"Control yourself"

His arm was held back by the Emperor.

Staring down his son, he goes, "I concur not that I believe your story. But this lair that you talk of, where is it? And how had nobody found out since"

Ezra knew its location because he had Kevin's memories.

It was where the first portal opened. By then, the invasion was already in full throttle so it was useless information at the time.

"It's located at..

--------------

Once briefed, the grandmasters kept mute, digesting the new information.

When explained, it seemed the boy was telling the truth.

Deep rooted distrust wasn't removed so easily though.

The Emperor made a decision.

"We will act according to the plan"

He turned to Ezra. "But you are unallowed to accompany us"

Ezra stared, thoughts swirling. 'This is even better than I expected'

"I never said I was coming along. I only came to take mother" he said, walking to his mother's side.

Lifting her up, white lightning erupts from his body and then.. "Let's go"

Ezra flies off.

Watching him go, the Emperor dished out orders.

"Raven, Getrahan, Deneris, Fredrick will accompany me to end this war"

"Is it wise to trust him?" Raven spoke, alluding to Fredrick.

"Right now, we have no choice but to do so" the Emperor replied. "Jebas will stay here to guard the castle"

"You will be accompanying us as well"

"With pleasure" Mervida's voice resounded.

It took twenty minutes for them to get into adequate armour, after which the party took off immediately.

Swift action was of the essence.

--------------

Ezra on his own part, flew to Black Jaw's skyscraper-Black Sky.

Still Niton's tallest building, the place was bustling with activity even with the ongoing war.

No, it was bustling even more so because of the war.

Greeted with a familiar face, It would be the first time in years that Cabrera and Ezra would meet.

Now, he no longer needed to conceal his identity.

Ezra had given up the seat of the Emperor, it became impossible the moment he became a demon.

That didn't mean there weren't other things he could do.

Once they succeeded in putting an end to the demon worshippers, there was no doubt that they'd come after him.

For that reason, Ezra couldn't slack.

As per his command, Black Jaws had recruited a large number of talented individuals, each for specific reasons.

Among them were space mages.

Space mages were useful to all powers and Ezra needed them for something special.

He specifically asked them to steal a talent from Vonnamor.

Ezra's eyes shimmered looking at the purple haired boy in front him.

Evan Neil.

'With you, it might just be possible'

There was no doubt in Ezra's mind that the apocalypse would not come to fruition a second time.

The apocalypse happened years from now during Kevin's time-Ezra didn't think it could have accelerated forward that much.

Unfortunately, Ezra did not realize how accurate his description actually was.

------------

Meanwhile..I think you should take a look at

With the demon lord's order, Crea was making the necessary preparations to open the portal.

In the room of the demon leader, blood flowed through numerous thin veins, converging into a pool, with a tall pole made of earth placed in the middle, with a glistening crystal at its top.

Almost completely red with a little part of it remaining transparent.

Crea threw the small crimson crystals into the blood pool and they rapidly dissolved, sizzling as the smoke was absorbed into the crystal at the top.

At the same time, the allies of the demon worshippers pushed the remaining troops into battle under Crea's command.

With the speed of which it was filling up, Crea estimated a whole day before the descent.

But looking at it now, it might not even take that long.

A smile of satisfaction formed as their dream would finally come to fruition.

Two hours into it, she felt foreign aura's matching hers headed her way.

'No, that's impossible' she thought, 'No one knows our location'

But the bad premonition in her chest wouldn't leave.

It was too much of a coincidence for grandmasters to arrive the same day the barrier fell.

She didn't need to say anything to her allied grandmasters-they knew what to do.

--------------

With Elisa's help, the grandmaster's cut travel time by half, appearing on the new continent, their aura descending like a storm.

Matching the arriving grandmasters, aura emerged from the surroundings.

As per expectations, four grandmasters emerged.

But the Emperor's party held the advantage, keeping a lot of distance between them and the emerging grandmasters.

With speed, they avoided collision for as long as possible, diving deep into said territory.

No matter how fast the other grandmasters were, they couldn't catch up to them so easily.

The one nearest slowed down, upon noticing the absence of others.

Try to hold down six grandmasters on his lonesome? This man was not suicidal.

So, he trailed a good distance behind them, using wind spirals and other long-range attacks to derail their speed while awaiting the rest.

Deneris occasionally shot back metal projectiles of his own, but the Emperor's party didn't halt, accelerating instead.

Along the way, the Emperor didn't forget to dish out attacks on the enemy's troops below, frying them to have skin worse than charcoal.

Which indirectly raised the morale of the mercenaries fighting below, who mistook the situation as the grandmasters coming to help.

The Emperor moved to destroy the demon worshipper's lair under combined attack and wasn't going to let the approaching grandmasters stop them.

The attacking grandmasters also realized the irregularity and struck even harder.

They didn't know the Emperor's objective, but they reasoned it would most likely be anything but good for them.

The party had to split off from one another when attacks came from the side-the others had caught up.

Fredrick, Deneris, Mervida and Raven subsequently stopped and engaged the attacking grandmasters, holding them down while leaving Getrahan and the Emperor in pursuit of the lair.

Each picked his opponent and a battle ensued.

Both sides gave every attack aimed to kill.

While doing that, the Nitonian grandmasters struck the cities below whenever gaps appeared, killing hundreds while helping the mercenaries below.

------------

Meanwhile..

'Is it a coincidence?' Crea wondered. Before shaking her head, too many coincidences were happening at once.

So, the question was..

'How do they know?!'

Crea was doubting at first, but the incoming grandmasters were heading straight at her, to their lair.

With her aura covered so masterfully, she doubted it could be her.

If so, then.. 'The lair location was discovered? But how?'

At such a crucial time too.

She couldn't understand how it was possible, brainstorming, she heard sizzling and to look at the blood altar, which she found was processing more energy than before.

Her eyes widened, a smile appearing. 'All might not be lost'

Looking at the altar's rate of progress, she devised that completion was possible in a few hours.

Clenching her fists, she got ready to greet the arriving guests. 'I can't let anything go wrong'

With haste, she donned her armour and exited the cave, drawing a protective formation above it with her blood.

She was determined to see the end goal to fruition, even if it meant her death.

Fair as day, her red eyes peered the horizon with her long black hair tied together while custom made black armour covered the rest of her features.

Her bust was neither deep nor shallow, but still managed to stand out.

The other members were out on assigned missions, and this turned out to be a gain considering the situation.

The moment the approaching grandmasters passed a certain distance, ascertaining that her guess was on the spot, she swallowed three small red crystals.

Immediately, she shook as her body began radiating demonic energy.

It would be stupid to reveal her position without absolute certainty beforehand.

In no time the grandmasters arrived at her doorstep.

No words needed.

A massive bolt of lightning was the greeting received.

--------------

Meanwhile..

[Hurry]

"I'm going as fast as I can"

Another unexpected guest was on his way to join the fun.

Ezra grunted, putting more mana into his body as he streaked through the sky.