The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 751 The Demon Emperor's Order

"Good evening, Your Majesty, the Demon Emperor."

The man occupying the throne slowly opened his eyes, his frigid expression capable of instilling terror in any who dared to meet his gaze.

Demon Emperor Zerathos cast a side-long glance at Yuria, offering a subtle nod. "Has everything been settled?" he inquired, his tone devoid of emotion.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Yuria responded with deference. Straightening her posture, she presented the document she held. "All details have been meticulously recorded in this report."

With a mere extension of his finger, Demon Emperor Zerathos caused the document to levitate towards him. He received it, unfurled its contents, and began to read with utmost concentration. The assault on the Central Continent was paramount—it represented the pivotal juncture for the Demon Empire's ultimate triumph over humankind.

As Zerathos concluded his perusal, a slight thaw appeared in his otherwise icy demeanor. "An analysis of unparalleled brilliance. Such a meticulously crafted plan leaves me assured of our victory in this war," he stated calmly. "Well done, Yuria."

A wave of exhilaration washed over Yuria. Her body quivered slightly, her cheeks flushing, but she swiftly regained her composure and bowed her head. "Thank you for your commendation, Your Majesty. I have dedicated my efforts solely to the glory of the Demon Empire," she replied with profound humility, not a hint of pride in her voice.

Zerathos nodded approvingly of her attitude. Yuria was, without question, the subordinate he trusted the most. She had been by his side ever since his ascension to the throne and was recognized as the most astute demon, a virtuoso of intricate stratagems. It could rightfully be said that a significant portion of the Demon Empire's current prosperity was a direct result of her brilliant schemes.

"Speaking of which, Yuria, what news do you have regarding Karakan and Malgrion? I have yet to receive any dispatches from them," Demon Emperor Zerathos inquired dispassionately.

Those two formidable demon generals had been dispatched to confront the Hero of Light and his forces. Yet, more than two weeks had elapsed since their departure, and Zerathos had received absolutely no communication. He could no longer even sense their presence; a singular, grim conclusion loomed—both had met their demise.

Despite his grim certainty of the outcome, absolute confirmation remained necessary. "Demon General Karakan and Demon General Malgrion…" Yuria's throat constricted. She understood the futility of concealing this grave news. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she finally disclosed the truth: "We have just received confirmation that both have perished."

An immediate, suffocating silence descended upon the chamber, thick with tension. An overwhelming aura emanated from Demon Emperor Zerathos's being.

The throne room itself began to vibrate, and the colossal pillars groaned under the strain, ominous cracks spiderwebbing across their surfaces, threatening imminent collapse.

"Y-Your Majesty! P-Please, regain control of your wrath!" Yuria pleaded, her voice laced with palpable panic. Should the Demon Emperor succumb to unchecked fury and obliterate the palace, untold numbers of lives would be extinguished, thereby weakening the very fabric of the demon race.

Heeding her desperate plea, Demon Emperor Zerathos gradually reined in his tempestuous emotions, though a residual tremor remained. Grinding his teeth, he demanded in a voice laden with gravity, "Why was I not informed of this sooner?" His intense gaze fixed upon Yuria, causing her to tremble uncontrollably.

"I-I apologize, Your Majesty. It wasn't that I intended to withhold the information, but the news only reached us moments ago. I proceeded directly here to present my report," she stammered, her words tumbling out in a rush.

Demon Emperor Zerathos held her gaze for a few more agonizing seconds before finally breaking eye contact, bestowing a curt nod. "I believe your words," he stated coldly. "Then, who was responsible for their deaths? Was it the Hero of Light, Rei? Or perhaps the Hero of Darkness, Lucas?" These were the only two individuals he deemed capable of vanquishing his esteemed demon generals.

"It is reported that Demon General Karakan fell to the Hero of Light, Rei," Yuria explained, her voice strained with anxiety. "As for Demon General Malgrion…"

She faltered, a flicker of disbelief crossing her features. "His demise was not at the hands of either of those renowned heroes, but rather at the hands of an unknown young woman of the human race."

This revelation rendered Demon Emperor Zerathos momentarily speechless. "Slain by a mere human woman?" His eyes narrowed perceptibly. "Who is this individual? Is she some celebrated warrior among the humans?"

Yuria swallowed with difficulty, her reply tinged with a tremor of apprehension. "No, Your Majesty. The one who dispatched him was an unknown woman—she bears no name, holds no discernible status, and possesses no recorded history. Her origins remain shrouded in mystery. Despite our concerted efforts to investigate, we have uncovered nothing concrete regarding her."

"How can this be?" Demon Emperor Zerathos exclaimed, genuine shock evident in his voice. "Were your investigations thorough?"

"We spared no effort, Your Majesty. And this is precisely the conclusion we reached," Yuria responded with a sense of helplessness. The intelligence she had procured originated from the surviving demon soldiers present on the battlefield, thus lending it unimpeachable credibility.

Demon Emperor Zerathos lapsed into silence, his expression darkening with each passing moment. Had Rei been the one to vanquish Malgrion, his fury might have been less potent. Malgrion's end could then be attributed to a worthy adversary. However, the stark reality was that Malgrion had met his end at the hands of an obscure female from the human race, whose identity and capabilities were utterly unknown.

This was an affront to the Demon Empire, and indeed, to him as its sovereign.

Emperor Zerathos of the Demon Empire drew a ragged breath before issuing a frigid command: "Yuria, deliver my decree to Demon General Margoth. He is to launch an offensive on the Dragon's Foot border. Marshal all his legions, and ensure that woman is apprehended. And heed this—execute it with utmost efficiency! I require her alive and presented before me within three days. Is that understood?"

Yuria, with haste, knelt and responded with utmost deference, "As you command, Your Majesty!"

With a mere wave of his hand from Demon Emperor Zerathos, Yuria promptly rose and exited the chamber.

Once Yuria was gone, the throne room was utterly vacant, save for Demon Emperor Zerathos.

His gaze followed the path she had taken, and he murmured, "A woman shrouded in mystery… I find myself pondering her true identity."

Malgrion had been an entity of immense power—at least from the perspective of the demon race.

Although Zerathos possessed the capability to defeat him, it would have demanded a significant expenditure of his strength.

Yet, Malgrion had met his end, and the humiliation was compounded by the fact that his demise had been at the hands of an unknown female.

"It appears humanity has been concealing its true might all along," Zerathos whispered, his fists clenching with intensity. "That enigmatic woman might be merely the prelude. Numerous formidable figures are poised to emerge and bolster their ranks in this conflict. Consequently, the demon race must hasten its advance upon the Central Continent."

Only upon the subjugation of the Central Continent would the demon race's triumph be irrevocably secured.

For, in essence, the Central Continent served as the paramount operational hub for all of humanity's armed forces.

As his thoughts delved into strategic contemplation, the sudden eruption of an explosion resonated, immediately followed by an earthquake that violently convulsed the entire imperial palace.

Zerathos stiffened, his senses on high alert as he scanned his surroundings.

"An assault?" he uttered, his eyes narrowing critically. "Who harbors the audacity to attack this imperial palace?"

Before he could even begin to speculate on the perpetrator, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the direction of the throne room's grand entrance.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! A dire situation has unfolded!" a demon guard exclaimed, his voice laced with palpable fear. "The imperial palace is under siege by an unidentified man!"

Demon Emperor Zerathos was momentarily stunned. Regaining his composure, he inquired in a controlled, cold tone, "And who is this individual?"

The guard, struggling for breath, could only shake his head in response.

"I possess no knowledge of his identity, Your Majesty. All I ascertained is that his sole objective in coming here was to seek an audience with you!"

//***//

Author's Note: I've embarked on writing a new novel titled "Dragon Tamer System: I Raise Baby Dragons to Become the Strongest!"

It's a narrative characterized by its lighthearted tone, conceived purely for my personal enjoyment and exploration of creative concepts. Should it resonate with you, kindly give it a read and share your feedback. Your contributions will be invaluable in refining my ideas and broadening my creative perspectives. Thank you! ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧