Conquering The Novel

As Ares, Elaine, and Rose sensed the presence of another figure nearby, their curiosity was piqued. The unknown entity seemed to be aware of their presence as well, as it darted through the forest, moving with surprising speed and agility.

Without a moment's hesitation, Ares, Elaine, and Rose began to chase after the mysterious figure. Their feet pounded against the soft forest floor, leaves crunching underfoot as they weaved through the dense foliage, following the fleeting glimpses of the figure as it evaded their pursuit.

The forest seemed to come alive around them, its ancient trees whispering secrets as sunlight filtered through the leaves above, dappling the ground with patterns of light and shadow.

As they drew closer, the figure's appearance became clearer—it was a child, seemingly innocent and lost amidst the ancient trees. "Who could that child be, and why is he suddenly running away from us?" Elaine wondered aloud, her skepticism evident in her voice.

Rose, displaying her exceptional athleticism, kept pace effortlessly, and chimed in, "...That child is none other than Demon Lord Belphagor. He's using a disguise to deceive and avoid confrontation."

!?

Elaine's eyes widened in surprise at the revelation. "Belphagor? In this form?" she asked, trying to process the information.

"Yes, I'm certain of it," Rose confirmed, her gaze focused on their elusive target. "This is a common tactic used by that Belphagor bastard to conceal his real identity and intentions."

Elaine grinned despite the gravity of the situation. "Well, I can't believe our luck! We just arrived, and we've already stumbled upon a demon lord. This is going to be quite the welcome party!"

Ares, though focused on the chase, couldn't help but chuckle at Elaine's humor. "Indeed, it seems luck is on our side today," he replied with a grin, feeling the thrill of the chase course through his veins. In the next instant, his body surrounded by crackling electricity, he picked up the pace, leaving only a blue trail behind.

Swoosh—

!!

Elaine smirked at Ares's display of speed and determination. In the next moment, she, too, tapped into her magical abilities, her body surrounded by a shimmering golden aura as she accelerated, leaving a sparkling trail behind.

Swoosh—

"....."

As Ares and Elaine surged ahead, Rose found herself struggling to keep up with their superhuman speed. "...These monsters," she commented under her breath, her gaze fixed on the brilliant trails they left behind.

***

As Ares surged ahead, his electrifying speed allowed him to close the gap between him and the disguised demon lord Belphagor.

With a burst of energy, he leaped forward and attempted to restrain the demon lord. But Belphagor, though appearing as a child, possessed immense strength and agility as he slipped out of Ares's grasp with a wicked grin.

''Huh, I don't know how you think you'll catch me with just that level of ability—.' Belphagor pondered, his confidence evident in his tone. But before he could formulate his next move, a golden blur materialized in front of him.

It was Elaine, her fist enveloped in a dazzling, overpowering golden aura that emitted an intense radiance. With a resounding battle cry, she unleashed her powerful punch, targeting the demon lord with precision.

Thwack—

The force of Elaine's punch was like a comet hurtling toward its target. As her fist connected with Belphagor's guts, the impact was tremendous, creating a shockwave that sent shockwaves rippling through the forest.

Shudder— Shudder

The ground beneath them trembled, and trees swayed from the force of her attack.

Ares watched in awe as Belphagor was engulfed in the brilliance of Elaine's power.

"Argg—" The demon lord let out a howl of pain and surprise as he was sent flying backward, crashing into several trees along the way.

Thud! Thud! Thud!—

The sheer force of the blow not only injured Belphagor but also caused a wave of destruction in its wake. Leaves and branches were sent scattering in all directions, and the ground where Belphagor landed cracked from the impact.

The surrounding trees shook violently, their branches quivering from the shockwave. The once serene forest now bore the scars of Elaine's overwhelming strength.

"....."

Rose, who had been trailing behind, finally caught up to the scene, her eyes wide with amazement. "Whoa!" She exclaimed, impressed and slightly taken aback by the raw power of Elaine's attack. She had seen her strength in action before, but this was on another level altogether.

As the dust settled, Elaine stood tall and fierce, her fist still radiating with the remnants of the golden aura. She grinned triumphantly, her confidence soaring. "So much for the fearsome Demon Lord Belphagor!" she taunted mockingly. "Looks like your disguise couldn't save you from my strength!"

Ares, who had been initially surprised by the sheer force of Elaine's attack, quickly regained his composure. He knew that while Elaine's punch was undoubtedly powerful, defeating a demon lord would require more than a single blow.

Ignoring Elaine's taunts, Ares rushed to the place where Belphagor had landed after being hit by Elaine's attack. To his surprise, there was no sign of the demon lord anywhere. The ground bore the impact of the attack, with bloodstains marking the spot where Belphagor had been struck.

!?

As Ares analyzed the scene, he noticed something peculiar. A mysterious gate suddenly had appeared where Belphagor had fallen. It was unlike anything he had seen before—a gateway to another realm, perhaps?

"What is this gate supposed to be?" Ares muttered, his eyes narrowing as he inspected the strange gate. He reached out to touch the gate, and a strange sensation washed over him as if the very fabric of reality was shifting.

Rose joined Ares, her eyes fixed on the gate as well. "That's no ordinary gate," she commented, her tone serious. "It looks like a domain of some sort made by Balphagor to escape."

Elaine, her skepticism evident. "...Do you think this gate leads to Belphagor's domain?" she asked, eyeing the mysterious portal warily.

"It's possible," Ares replied, his mind racing with possibilities. "...Whatever it is, we can't let him escape," he said firmly

With a serious look, Ares turned to Rose and said, "Rose, stay here and keep an eye out. If you encounter anyone suspicious you can escape."

Rose nodded, understandingly. She knew that she was not strong enough to accompany them inside. "You don't have to worry about me. I'm good at escaping." She responded.

'Idiot! It should be you who should be careful inside,' she pondered inwardly, her concern evident.

Ares and Elaine exchanged a brief nod of acknowledgment before stepping forward, prepared to venture through the mysterious gate and confront the demon lord on his own turf. They knew the dangers that awaited them, but they also knew that they had come too far to turn back now.

Without hesitation, Ares took the lead and stepped through the portal, with Elaine following close behind. While Elaine couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement and nerves. 'An adventure in an unknown realm with my future husband, how thrilling,' she thought to herself, the prospect of facing the unknown alongside Ares filling her with determination.

The gateway shimmered and closed behind them, leaving the tranquil forest once more devoid of their presence.

Swoosh—

Little did they know that their journey through the gate would lead them to a realm of darkness, where even greater trials and battles awaited them.

***

As soon as Ares stepped through the portal, he found himself in a world he was very familiar with—a world that he never thought he would see again. His eyes widened in disbelief as he took in the surroundings.

"There... is no fucking way!" Ares muttered, his voice filled with shock and confusion.

To be continued...