A silver coin tumbled through the air before landing on the scorched earth.
Its upturned face was uneven, the craftsmanship clearly crude. Twisted Demon Runes were carved upon it, and a mere glance was enough to cause mental distress and a slight dizziness.
Levin recognized the coin’s origin.
The Kasa Coin, also known as the Demon Coin—a non-metallic currency used for trade by the Demons of Golden Glow Valley. It wasn’t made of ordinary precious metals, but forged from the even rarer substance of souls.
Legend held that the ’Master of the Furnace,’ Casaric, had forged four Soul Furnaces, each taller than a mountain, in the Burning City.
The souls of living beings, acquired by Demons through trade or plunder, circulated throughout the Burning City before being brutally cast into the furnaces and forged into these coins freighted with pain and despair.
Unlike the Primordial Demons from Abyssal Hell, who relied on bloodlines and profane faith, the strength of a Demon from Golden Glow Valley was typically determined by the number of souls they possessed—that is, the number of Kasa Coins.
Casaric controlled the wealth of the entire Demon City, and his power could rival beings of epic rank, making him a truly terrifying existence.
Judging by the soul fluctuations it emanated, the Kasa Silver Coin that Dominic had tossed was forged from a soul of at least the Extraordinary Level, making it extremely valuable.
Aside from being a source of power for Demons and a form of currency, it had another, more dangerous function: to communicate with the Abyssal Plane, anchor coordinates, and attract the covetous attention of other Demons.
Once the coin landed and made direct contact with the ground of the Material Realm, it completed a crude summoning ritual. The soul energy and Demon Runes contained within the coin would act like a beacon in the dark, easily luring Abyss Demons ravenous for souls.
Levin’s heart sank. He immediately roared, "Everyone, fall back! Get away from that coin!"
The words had barely left his lips when the horses beneath the surrounding Knights seemed to sense something. They suddenly became frenzied, neighing wildly and rearing up, struggling to get away from the silver coin and its ominous aura. Many of the Knights were thrown from their saddles.
[Arcane Missiles]
[Blood Evocation]
Louisa and the swarm commanded by Beet attacked simultaneously, attempting to destroy the coin.
But they were too late.
A rotted arm of a Corpse Ghost suddenly burst from the scorched earth near the coin and snatched the Kasa Silver Coin.
Immediately after, the ground split open into a seemingly bottomless fissure. More Demon arms—some covered in scales, some burning with fire, others dripping with acid—shot out from the chasm. Like tentacles reaching from hell, they scrambled frantically for the silver coin.
"Haha!!"
A shrill laugh echoed from the depths of the fissure as a few small imps, flapping bat-like wings, were the first to squeeze through the narrow opening. They pounced greedily on the coin, and one of them snatched it up, preparing to flee.
"AHH!!"
A banshee’s soul-rending shriek erupted from the fissure. The imp holding the coin froze instantly, the sheer force of the sound causing it to bleed from all over. A translucent banshee seized the opportunity to snatch the coin away.
Although the swarm’s dense attacks and the Mages’ Magic eliminated most Demons before they could fully emerge, the fissure only grew wider. A sulfurous, abyssal aura billowed out as magma churned within. The edges of the rift even began to spread into the air, like a wound torn in the very fabric of space.
Banshees, Flame Demons, Abyssal Demon Bats, Dreadfiends... One after another, twisted faces filled with hatred, greed, and destructive desire scrambled out of the ever-widening fissure. Vying for the coin and eager to devour each other’s souls and flesh, they began to brutally slaughter one another the moment they arrived in the Material Realm.
In the blink of an eye, the area around the fissure was overrun with various Low-Middle Tier Demons, transforming it into a chaotic killing field.
It was at this moment that Dominic wrenched the bone spear from his chest. A viscous black substance instantly writhed to fill the wound, knitting together into new flesh until the injury was completely gone.
"We’re leaving."
He gave Arthur a long look, then met up with Samuel, Allen, and Vincent. The four of them abandoned the bewildered Knights of the Garrison Legion without a moment’s hesitation. Leading their demonic retinue, they rode their warhorses away from the battlefield and began to watch from a distance.
Arthur didn’t give chase.
His soul fire burned steadily. He knew full well that he alone was no match for three experienced legion commanders and a powerful court mage all at once.
Calvin, Glen, and Anna, who had been hiding nearby, rode up on their warhorses.
Glen glanced at the rising Magic Flying Carpet and shouted, "Arthur, what are you waiting for? We have to run! This place is about to become a Demon’s nest!"
"Alright." Arthur snapped out of his daze and turned his horse. He rode off with Calvin and the others, quickly leaving the increasingly dangerous area to rendezvous with the Knights of the Arevalo Clan.
The Knights of the Arevalo Clan were retreating in an orderly fashion under Levin’s command. Meanwhile, the Demon Legion, directed by Beet, fell back while continuing to attack the Demons pouring from the fissure, attempting to create a safe distance.
Only the Knights and soldiers of the Garrison Legion, ruthlessly abandoned by Dominic, remained where they stood, facing the encroaching demonic tide.