The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 121

In an instant, the bustling world plunged into a fiery hell. Amidst the wails and roars, the twisted demons encircled the entire estate, emerging from every shadow. The nobles had never seen such vile creatures, and the invasion quickly spread a corrosive madness that twisted their minds. The moment most people saw the demons, they were overcome with immense fear; some even fainted. A few guards attempted to raise their firearms in resistance, but when they locked eyes with the demons, their trembling hands caused their aim to falter.

The demons spread like a virus, rampaging without restraint.

Cerys hid in the shadows of a corner wall. Despite the chaos surrounding her, her face remained calm, as if she knew no fear. Initially, she had intended to follow Lloyd. His expression had been unusual, as if something terrible was about to happen. And indeed, as Cerys had anticipated, the tide of demons swallowed everyone in an instant.

Fortunately, this was a grand ball with a certain level of security. Amidst the cries of despair, gunfire could be heard, though it gradually dwindled, indicating that the guards wouldn't hold out for long. Cerys didn't know what these monsters were, but the eerie pressure emanating from them suggested they were nothing good. She slowly retreated, holding a candlestick in her hand. The flame had gone out, but its weight made it a decent blunt weapon.

Her innate, faint presence worked to her advantage now. Countless demons rampaged through the vast estate, but not a single one noticed Cerys hiding in the shadows. Perhaps it was a skill she had picked up from her earlier years in the streets of Galunalo, making her survival skills sharper than anyone's. After all, who would have guessed that the esteemed Duchess had once been a stray dog rummaging through the trash?

Slowing her breathing, Cerys moved like a shadow, aiming to escape the estate. She knew she had to traverse the courtyard and reach the castle's gates. The path to the gates was exposed, but beyond lay rows of carriages. She needed to find a way to reach them. Despite her small stature, Lloyd had taught her how to ride and survive impossible situations in Galunalo.

Suddenly, a half-dead demon stumbled into her view. It had several large bullet holes, oozing blood. The strong have their way of surviving, and the weak have their ways to scrape by. The cold girl felt a sudden heat surge within her. She didn't wait for the demon to attack but charged at it instead. Her frail body collided with the demon, knocking it down. Gripping the candlestick as if holding onto her fate, she struck down mercilessly.

The demon thrashed and writhed, but her slight frame pinned it down. As she drew close, the eerie aura of the demon pressed against her mind, but that wasn't reason enough for her to stop. She gritted her teeth, repeating her blows mechanically, unleashing her fury until the demon's head was a pulp.

Cerys slowly stood up, her white dress now stained red, blooming like crimson roses.

"Still not dead?" she murmured.

The headless body continued to twitch. Cerys had no idea that to truly kill a demon, one had to destroy its heart. Otherwise, with their life force, some powerful demons could even regenerate their heads. Seeing the demon was still moving, she bolted, feeling an uncharacteristic fear. Footsteps echoed around her, growing louder. Cerys couldn't tell if it was a hallucination or reality. If it was a hallucination, she had encountered something unknown. If it was real, countless demons were closing in on her.

Isolated and alone, Cerys navigated the hellish environment. She felt herself reverting to her former self, not the Duchess of Stuart, but the street urchin. She had never truly desired honor and power. In this dire situation, she longed for the days of fleeing, recalling the moment when Lloyd kicked open the door, and sunlight bathed her face—her true awakening.