Reborn as an Extra Chapter 758: The Counter-attack Begins! Part-2.

Just as Ashtel predicted, the demon king’s smile vanished, replaced by a growing fury.

"You can’t possibly believe you can win by simply stalling and maintaining a defensive stance, can you?" the demon king spat. "You have to consider that the longer you fight me, the more damage the demon armies inflict upon the world association, and the more lives will be lost-"

Ashtel cut him off, his voice calm. "The greatest threat to the world alliance right now is solely you. While other SS-rank demons can be handled by others, I cannot allow you to win or even move from this spot..."

"If I let you get close to them, you’d undoubtedly eliminate them one by one. Besides the Dragon King, I doubt anyone else can keep pace with you in your current state..."

"So yes, I’m not budging an inch. You can do as you please. I’m prepared to spend years here with you..." Ashtel smirked.

"Actually, I won’t even need years. Sooner or later, Rio will reach SS-rank. And once that happens, hehehe..."

No further explanation was needed.

Both Ashtel and the Demon King understood that Rio’s SS-rank ascension would render any attempts to subjugate or coerce him through sheer power utterly futile.

Even as an S-ranker, Rio could already contend with early SS-rank opponents. Upon reaching the realm of demigods, his strength would make suppression impossible.

This demon army expedition would thus become meaningless, leaving the Demon King even more helpless than he already was in his dealings with Rio.

"As for the alliance members under attack by the demon armies... to contain a threat of your magnitude, I have no choice but to permit the sacrifice of a few thousand people..."

"A few thousand sacrificed is preferable to the entire world falling prey to you..."

Ordinarily, Ashtel preferred meticulous planning to minimize casualties.

However, he recognized that confronting a Demon King necessitated sacrifices for the greater good; a complete absence of casualties was an unrealistic hope.

The demon king’s frustration and rage intensified as he faced Ashtel’s unwavering resolve, yet he remained powerless.

His authority over the world was not absolute, as such omnipotence was beyond any mere demigod.

His world authority operated under its own specific rules.

Within this fabricated domain, the 'attacker' would bear the brunt of any damage inflicted upon the artificial realm, granting the defender a distinct advantage. Therefore, any attack launched by the Demon King against Ashtel would result in self-inflicted harm!

"You are truly irritating, Ashtel Rex."

Ashtel responded to the demon king's annoyed tone with a knowing smirk. "Hehe, I know. For evildoers, I have always been the most persistent obstacle, preventing them from achieving their wicked desires."

With both Ashtel and the Demon King unwilling to initiate an attack, their confrontation devolved into a peculiar and abrupt stalemate, leaving the outcome entirely uncertain.

"So you saved Fade when the Spire of Ascension was destroyed by that explosion. This fellow… he’s truly more resilient than a cockroach. He survives every single time, regardless of the circumstances..."

Hearing Riya’s observation, Raika smiled, his gaze falling upon Fade’s unconscious form sprawled on the massive altar, ensnared by countless threads of fate.

"He is blessed with extraordinary luck; that is why he is alive."

"Those who are children of luck are nearly impossible to kill through conventional means. Attempting to forcefully end their lives would invite heavenly punishment, obliterating your very existence!"

This was the primary reason Rio had hesitated to eliminate Fade until this point.

The power of heaven was unpredictable, and Rio had no desire to court such trouble needlessly.

It was also why, during their academy days, Rio had merely traumatized Fade with his power and aura, rather than killing him outright.

Had it not been for the potential interference of heavenly luck, Rio would have driven a knife through Fade’s heart before his system had even awakened!

"I see… so that’s why the demon prince and now you are trying to capture Fade. You intend to harvest the luck from his body to claim it as your own?"

Instead of directly answering Riya’s inquiry, Raika offered her a teasing smile.

"I can perceive your attempts to channel healing Qi into Link and Lia, little girl. Cease these efforts; my patience wears thin, and I might just obliterate your brain right here."

"The sole reason the three of you remain breathing is my reluctance to cause chaos in the universe’s threads of destiny."

"You possess a measure of the world’s blessing, and your demise would upset my own schemes. You are safe for the moment, but do not test me. I am capable of far worse than mere death..."

A shiver traced Riya’s spine, and Kai’s gaze sharpened upon hearing Raika’s pronouncement.

Raika was resolute, prepared to pursue his objectives at any cost, even if it meant defying destiny and the world itself.

Just as the tension escalated dramatically, the locket adorning Lia’s neck suddenly flared with light, enveloping the four of them within a formidable barrier of sword intent!

Witnessing the barrier, Raika’s eyes widened in astonishment.

"What!? How can this activate here!? My primary objective in teleporting you was to diminish the world’s blessings upon you and weaken Rio’s interference!"

"Rio’s sword intent should not be capable of activating in this location-"

Before Raika could utter another word, an emotionless voice resonated in everyone’s ears.

"Why would you assume it cannot activate? Are you underestimating me?"

Unbeknownst to Raika, Rio had materialized beside him with impossible swiftness, his face now mere inches from Raika’s own.

A peculiar, chilling grin spread across Rio’s typically impassive features as tendrils of purplish sword intent writhed around his form.