Second World

"What are you planning?" Peniel asked while Jack was flying down the stairs.

"I need an assurance that no enemies will come near me when I work on the rune diagrams," Jack answered.

"So, how will you get that assurance?"

Jack arrived on the third floor below. He was immediately greeted by the battle down there. His spirit weapon, all of his wolves, and the two demon guards had already died. Therras was alone fighting Algerad and Hraghshu.

It was mostly Algerad fighting Therras, Hraghshu just stood a safe distance away because he was just a special elite. If only he knew that Jack asked Therras to not touch him, he need not be that careful.

There was a huge hole in the wall. Jack wondered if that was caused by his spirit weapon's finishing mode. That might have been the loud explosion he heard earlier.

Algerad fought using a giant flaming axe. Therras was losing because Algerad was many levels higher. But Therras' HP was very high due to Jack's max-level Tame Pet skill. Added to Therras' high defense from its armor, it was not easy taking Therras down.

Jack sneaked near Therras and executed Combination Assault. The assault took Algerad by surprise. Algerad was sent tumbling back as a result. Jack then used Ultimate Beast and cast Accelerate, turning Therras into its sovereign mode and increasing both their speed.

With the enhanced speed, Jack used Lightning God Barrage and Soul Breath while Therras shot its Earth Core Bomb. The combined attacks caused a huge explosion, creating a second hole in the wall.

Jack then used his Beast Monarch's first skill, Gigantify Pet. Therras grew to twice its size. Its head scrapped the ceiling. Its overall attributes were greatly enhanced. Jack believed his pet would have no problem going against the higher-level opponent with all these buffs.

He then left Therras to keep Algerad busy. He turned back and headed to Hraghshu.

The hell baron panicked when he saw this dragonman come at him. He had been casting some spells and shooting standard attacks from a range at Therras, but the damage he caused wasn't much to speak of. He was now shooting his attacks at Jack.

Jack flew in a zig-zag pattern, dodging the projectiles. He was still affected by Acceleration, so he was very fast. In a short time, he was already upon the hell baron.

Jack unleashed his offensive skills in conjunction with his sword art, quickly reducing Hraghshu's HP.

"Algerad! Save me…!!" Hraghshu shouted in a panic.

Algerad, who heard his lord's panicked voice, tried to push through Therras. But Therras in its sovereign and gigantify mode could not be easily pushed aside. Algerad was unable to come to Hraghshu's aid.

When Hraghshu's HP fell to a critical level, he yelled in desperation, "Stop! Stop…! Do you know who my father is?! You will never have a peaceful life if you kill me!!!"

"I know who your father is," Jack answered. "But don't get too excited, demon prince. I'm not killing you yet, but I will if you don't follow my words."

Jack grabbed Hraghshu by the neck. Hraghshu's HP was so low that one attack was enough to kill him.

He then yelled at the mythical demon who was still fighting Theras, "Algerad, is it? Stop your fighting if you want your liege to live!"

Algerad stopped after hearing Jack. Jack also commanded Therras to stop. He didn't want any sudden incident for his plan. A chaotic battle was a recipe for sudden incidents.

"Let's move upstairs," Jack said.

Algerad followed under the heavy gaze of Therras.

Arriving upstairs, Jack gave the same ultimatum to Xelvorath. The demon was secretly relieved of his opponents stopping the battle. He was losing to Arlcard.

"Now, everyone stays cool! No one does any sudden things, or this demon prince is a goner. Does everyone understand?" Jack said to both Algerad and Xelvorath.

The two demons didn't give any response, but they were also as still as statues. So, Jack assumed they got the message.

Jack asked Arlcard to approach and took over grabbing Hraghshu. "If any of them tries anything funny, finish him," Jack said.

Jack then walked to where Luna was bound. Pandora was still by her side. Jack studied the rune diagrams using his mana sense as he tried to figure out a way to unravel the binding.

"This is difficult… But I think I should be able to undo the binding in less than two hours," Jack said.

"Hehe… Hehehe…"

They heard a laugh. Strangely, it came from Hraghshu. It seemed that the fear he felt a moment ago was gone now.

"So, you are trying to save that nightmare. Hahaha. You are doomed. Two hours? You will be dead already in one hour."

"What do you mean?" Jack asked him.

"Hehe. In one hour, my father will arrive. I've already activated the beacon that called him some time ago. You will wish that you are dead when he arrives," Hraghshu said. "If you are smart, you let me go and leave right now. I will forget your sin of attacking me and destroying my home."

"What about the sin of killing your guards?" Jack said.

"They are inconsequential. You can kill them for all I care," Hraghshu replied.

"What about the sin of freeing all the slaves you have out there?" Jack asked again.

This time, Hraghshu didn't say anything. He stared at Jack with a frown.

"What about the sin of stealing all your adamantine ores in the warehouse on the first floor?"

"You, what…?!" Hraghshu uttered with agitation.

"Stop it! We are short on time and you still joke around," Peniel scolded.

"I'm in distress right now. I can't unravel these rune diagrams within an hour. I need these jokes to calm myself down." Jack defended himself.

Jack then turned to Hraghshu. "You! If you want to live, free her!" Jack demanded.

"I can't," Hraghshu replied.

"You can't or you won't?"

"I can't! Those rune diagrams had been reinforced by the demon mage that should be here with the nightmare. Only she can shut these rune diagrams down. But since you have killed her, then it is impossible now."

Jack didn't kill her. She escaped. But it made no difference for their current situation, he didn't want to waste time explaining.

Jack gritted his teeth. Time continued to tick, and he was running out of ideas.