Becoming the Demon Lord: Taming the Demon Queen Begins

"Princess of the Netherworld?"

Morganna chuckled coldly. "Heh, have you forgotten who gave you the power to protect the Netherworld?"

Despite the force that was temporarily holding back the Soul-Reaping Bell, Morganna merely scoffed, clearly unimpressed.

"If you're not willing to take off that crown, then I'll help you crush it."

The energy flowing through the three formations suddenly surged, and in an instant, the power of the Soul-Reaping Bell multiplied several times over.

A chilling wind whipped up, filled with the wails of countless tormented spirits, as if the very air was alive with their suffering. A massive, bloodthirsty maw opened wide, ready to devour everything in its path.

Wherever the wind swept, its deadly force, designed to obliterate souls, could instantly erase any ghostly presence. But before the ghost soldiers guarding the Netherworld Citadel, Erelyn, drawing on the power of her crown, was still holding on.

No matter how fiercely the wind howled, it couldn't yet break through the pale blue barrier surrounding her. The energy of the entire citadel was flowing into Erelyn, gathering in her crown. She was tapping into the full power of the Netherworld Citadel itself!

But even with all that, resisting the Soul-Reaping Bell was proving to be too much. Erelyn's spirit form was visibly weakening, trembling under the strain. Not only that, but the entire citadel was starting to shake!

Despite pouring the entire strength of the Netherworld Citadel into her defense, the power of the Soul-Reaping Bell was enough to shake the very foundations of the citadel itself!

Even Erelyn hadn't anticipated just how terrifying the Soul-Reaping Bell's power would be. No, it wasn't just the bell—it was the formation amplifying it...

"What... what has she done..." Erelyn's voice trembled as her spirit form flickered, a part of her body beginning to fracture.

Crack.

The sound echoed from above her. The crown on her head, which had seemed so unbreakable, now showed a visible crack.

Suddenly, a massive skull appeared in the howling wind, its jaws snapping down with the force of the Soul-Reaping Bell. The barrier around Erelyn shuddered violently under the attack. Though it didn't break, the light of the barrier dimmed significantly.

Erelyn staggered back, as if struck by a tremendous blow.

"Princess!"

The ghost soldiers immediately noticed. Erelyn was at her limit. If this continued, her spirit form would shatter from the direct confrontation with the Soul-Reaping Bell!

"Princess Erelyn, please stop! You can't keep going like this!"

"Princess, our lives don't matter! You must escape while you still can. There might still be a chance..."

It was unimaginable that the Underworld Dynasty would ever face such a crisis. Watching Erelyn's weakening form, the ghost soldiers pleaded desperately.

"I... won't retreat..."

Despite the unimaginable pain and pressure, Erelyn shook her head, her gaze unwavering. She knew full well that if this continued, the Netherworld Citadel would be destroyed. But even so, as the princess of the Netherworld Citadel, she had a duty to protect her people and her soldiers until the very last moment.

"Princess!"

Even though their bodies had long since died, the ghost soldiers couldn't help but feel a sting in their eyes at the sight before them.

Erelyn's resolve and determination had moved them deeply.

Even though they knew they couldn't possibly stand against the Soul-Reaping Bell, how could they, who had once been proud warriors in life, allow their princess to face this alone?

Even in death, they would die with honor.

To die for the Underworld Dynasty, to die for Princess Erelyn!

Otherwise, what meaning would there be in clinging to a few more moments of life?

"Charge! Let's fight with her!"

"Even the Ebon Goddesses won't bring down the Underworld Dynasty that easily!"

Shouts rang out from all directions.

Eyes red with fury, they raised their weapons.

Even though the only path ahead was certain death, not a single ghost soldier hesitated. They wanted to protect Erelyn, and they wanted to protect the last shred of dignity they held dear.

"Kill!"

A million ghost soldiers surged forward.

They broke through the barrier Erelyn had created with her crown and charged into the range of the Soul-Reaping Bell.

The expanding power of the bell was like a fire that could consume everything. Any ghost that left the barrier was instantly dissolved, their souls obliterated in the blink of an eye.

Some didn't even have the chance to raise their weapons before they vanished completely, erased from existence.

But even so, the ghost soldiers didn't stop. Their battle cries only grew louder, echoing across the sky.

"An inch... two inches..."

Even if the next wave of soldiers could only get an inch closer to that distant, unreachable figure in the sky, it was enough.

All they wanted was to buy Erelyn a little more time.

Even if it was just for a moment.

"You all..."

Erelyn had never imagined she would witness such a scene.

No one willingly chooses to end their own life, but in this moment, they chose to die standing.

Tears welled up in her eyes. Erelyn, who had always refused to show any weakness in front of her people, could no longer hold back her tears.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

She lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper.

As the princess of the Underworld Dynasty, it was her duty to protect them. But faced with the overwhelming power of the Ebon Goddesses from the Ninefold Underworld, the gap in strength was so vast that she didn't know how to bridge it.

If only she were stronger. If only she could fight alongside them...

"Wait... them!"

As two figures suddenly flashed through her mind, Erelyn's tear-filled eyes froze for a moment.

The Netherworld could only harbor souls, and it had been cut off from the outside world for so long that she had almost forgotten—there were still two people out there who could help her, and the Netherworld.

"The princess of the Underworld Dynasty isn't much after all, is she?"

Morganna's cold laughter echoed, dripping with malice. "Does it hurt, watching your people die? If so, I'll send you to join them."

"After today, the entire structure of the Netherworld on the continent of Elant will be reshaped!"

The Soul-Reaping Bell rang out once more.

In that instant, every ghost soldier who had left the barrier was wiped out, their souls scattered to the winds.

Even the barrier, which had been formed by the combined power of the entire Netherworld Citadel through Erelyn's crown, began to crack, unable to withstand the overwhelming force any longer.

A section of the sky shattered.

The entire Netherworld Citadel was beginning to collapse!

"Reshape the Netherworld? Did you ask for my opinion?"

But just then, a cold voice suddenly rang out from behind.

Tearing through the entrance to the Netherworld, two figures stepped forward.

"Timothy... Sylvia!"

Hope suddenly blazed in Erelyn's tear-filled eyes.