Apotheosis of a Demon - A Monster Evolution Story

92 - EVOLVING POWER

I had left the battle to the Blademaster, Calimero, to head for the Republic of Sondoze. By now, there were only three dragons accompanying me.

I glanced backward. I could sense the intensifying magic power of Fiorfata, and I could hear the rumbling explosions behind me.

Was Calimero still fighting? Or had he already fallen...?

"What troubleth thee, Dark Mistress?" The gold dragon asked.

"...nothing." I shook my head.

I'd had some history with Calimero, but that didn't mean I wouldn't wish him well. Even if he couldn't win, I also couldn't imagine him losing very easily. I looked forward, focusing on our journey ahead.

"...mm?"

Suddenly, the World Tree sent another white magic stone into my hand.

Judging from how it felt, this was... the Sapling at Swantol Kingdom? The large country several thousand kilometers to my west. I didn't know who did it, but they would probably head for the small country of Xantecinq to the east of Swantol next. In that case, should I meet up with them and head for Xantecinq together after I finished with Sondoze?

...no. If Fiorfata caught up, both Xantecinq's people and my allies might just be wiped out.

What should I do? Do I leave this continent to them? That would probably be the path of least casualty. However, this conflict was supposed to be concluded with me asserting myself as the Evil of this world. A part of me was reluctant to get others involved.

"Dark Mistress! My brethren hath sent me a telepathic message. Flying ships of human are coming from the Central Continent!" The gold dragon said, worry and nervousness lacing his voice.

"What?!"

I immediately contacted the World Tree. Images of a far-off fleet of over a dozen flying battleships crossing the ocean were sent to me from the new Sapling of Quanneuf, a country near the sea.

Judging from the angle, they were coming right for us.

Hopefully the fleet was aiming for Fiorfata. Considering how they'd attacked the dragons, though, they might still decide to focus on me and my helpers once they arrived instead.

"Change of plans! We'll leave the Saplings of this continent to our allies while I head for the fleet!"

"Shalt thou fight?"

"...I'll check out their intentions first."

I had made a decision to destroy the rampant civilization of humans. But if these people really understood the threat the world was facing, if they really were fighting for the world instead of for their own selfishness... then I would want to see if they were sincere.

The dragons told me they'd follow, seemingly thinking it'd come to a fight. They should have been near their limits by now, with how much flying they'd done... really, so stubborn.

We changed our course to head for the Central Continent.

Both the airships and the dragons could fly as fast as a passenger plane of Earth, so I expected we'd come in contact with the human fleet in this continent.

I sensed Fiorfata's magic signal chasing us just as we changed our direction... the Demon Lord was about thirty minutes away from us, it seemed. Not that far, but not close enough for it to attack us directly either.

On Yggdrasia, the sun rose in the east and set in the west just like Earth. We'd been flying all the way west from the Western Continent, and it was under the still-bright sky that I saw the fleet of over a dozen ships slightly to our south.