Chapter 10 – The great shield of the west

Between the ache of separation and the weight of duty, Leo pressed forward. Embracing his pain, steadying his resolve, he began the next chapter of his journey—standing before the colossal gates of the Western Kingdom.

Crowds of demons gathered here, travelers and merchants alike, all filtered through the massive gateway. The ancient, towering walls loomed above him—lined with rune-etched stone and protected by an invisible barrier woven by the Demon Archmages of old. These walls, standing nearly a thousand feet high, were manned by rows of armored Demon Knights, their eyes cold and watchful.

And in that moment, Leo understood why this place was called The Shield of the Empire. It was no exaggeration. These defenses were all that stood between the demon realm and the horrors that crawled from the Forest of Nightmares to the south.

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The Demon Kingdom was vast, segmented into powerful regions, each with its own identity and duty:

The Wand of the North – The Northern Kingdom, home to the Mage Tower

The Sword of the East – The Eastern Kingdom, seat of the Knight Academy

The Hounds of the South – The cursed lands and hunting grounds near the Forest of Nightmares

The Shield of the West – The fortified kingdom guarding the southern breach (where Leo now stood)

The Central Kingdom – The seat of power, where the Demon King's Castle ruled above all

And above all stood six supreme warriors—known as the Demonic Stars:

Demonic Sword Star

Demonic Spear Star

Demonic Golden Star

Demonic Star Sorcerer

Demonic Star Ruler

Demonic Hell Star

Each ruled one region, save for the Star Ruler and Star Spear, who served directly beneath the Demon King as protectors of the Central Kingdom.

Now, Leo was stepping into the Western Kingdom, governed by the Demonic Golden Star—a notoriously cruel and greedy warlord, known for bleeding the land dry of gold and life alike.

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As Leo approached the gates, two tall, fully armored guards stepped forward, their spears crossed to block his way.

> “Halt. Identify yourself. Show your registration,” one barked.

Leo, calm and prepared, bowed with a respectful smile and presented a scroll.

> “Here, my good sirs. My registration papers. Also, might I say, your service brings us peace—thanks to warriors like you, we sleep soundly. You are true heroes.”

The guards, visibly flattered, barely glanced at the papers before waving him through.

His forged ID had worked.

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Once inside, Leo moved swiftly through the streets of the city. He knew its layout intimately—every alley, checkpoint, and marketplace. His master had prepared him well.

He headed straight for the bustling market, a chaotic place bursting with noise and color. Merchants shouted over one another, selling weapons, armor, potions, magical enhancements, rations, and rare relics. Children tugged at their parents' sleeves, excited by the glowing artifacts. The air smelled of spice, smoke, and ambition.

But beneath that color… there was rot.

As Leo passed through a narrow alleyway, he caught a glimpse of something dark — three guards harassing a young woman. Fury surged through him. He clenched his fists and prepared to step in.

But before he could act, a shadow dropped from above.

A masked figure, draped in black from head to toe, landed between the guards and the woman. Without a word, he tossed a small metallic orb to the ground — it burst into thick smoke, engulfing the alley.

Chaos erupted.

The masked man moved like a phantom — striking fast and precise. The guards, caught off guard, were quickly overpowered. The woman bolted past Leo and disappeared into the crowd.

As the smoke began to clear, the guards regrouped and gave chase. The masked figure darted out of the alley, sprinting toward Leo.

Thinking quickly, Leo stumbled deliberately, falling into the guards' path. They tripped over him, all three collapsing in a heap.

Cursing, they scrambled back to their feet and continued the chase. But the masked man had already vanished into the twisting alleys.

So had Leo.

But in that brief moment, Leo had seen one thing through the mask—a flash of brilliant green irises, clear and unwavering. Eyes that burned with something deeper than anger — purpose.

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Who was the man in black?what will leo do next?what does the fate has is place for him

Stay tuned to find out