Then he activated his high-tech eye of scrutiny. Hawk's combat data appeared before him instantly. Strength one thousand four hundred and eighty-four. Stamina one thousand four hundred and fifty-six.
"Not impressive, but I suppose these are the numbers you're proud of. Let's start by taking away your strength."
The destruction of his arm drew one cry of agony after another from Hawk.
Then several flower petals came flying at Roland. It was Wynn attacking, but Wynn hit nothing. Roland dissolved into lightning and vanished. Wynn was stunned.
The eye of scrutiny activated. Wynn actually had two stats exceeding two thousand seven hundred, and he carried the potential of a demon king.
Roland let out a quiet laugh. "What a shame. A speed type demon over two thousand seven hundred. That's actually respectable. You're probably the fastest demon in the entire Dusk Realm, aren't you?"
Roland raised his leg and Wynn was sent flying, blood spraying from his mouth before crashing hard into the ground. The next second, Roland had his foot on Wynn.
"In that case, let's take away your speed."
The sound of breaking bone pulled a gut-wrenching scream from Wynn.
"You didn't actually think an ant could topple a tree, did you? Every single one of my stats crushes yours. What exactly do you think you're fighting me with?"
The next second, Wynn's eyes went wide. Countless copies of Roland surrounded them. It was a thunder phantom technique. As long as there was enough lightning in the air, he could generate an endless stream of clones. Every clone carried the same awareness and strength as the original, and the original could shift between any of them at will.
Weston saw it and lost all hope. Silvara was pinched in his grip like a tiny insect.
Roland posed a question that cut to the bone. "I often wonder, creatures as weak as you, why do you even bother existing?"
After what he had been through in childhood, Roland had come to believe their only purpose was to entertain him. There was no other word for it. Roland wasn't just dangerous. His mind was deeply broken.
Silvara had lost all hope. Then Roland kicked her aside.
Hawk said they had lost this time, but he wasn't afraid to die. Dying alongside everyone here. That's not the worst way to go.
The demon general who guards this nation. Even now he stands tall. What a backbone. "But giving up this easily takes all the fun out of it."
He turned and fixed his gaze on Wynn. He grabbed Wynn by the hair. "This is your son, isn't it?"
Hawk's heart seized.
Roland flashed a smile that belonged to something monstrous. He said he would spare Wynn's life on one condition. Hawk had to kneel and beg.
Hawk's jaw clenched. Wynn shouted that he would rather die than see his father humiliated.
Roland reminded Hawk this was his only chance. "Think carefully before you decide."
With a heavy thud, Hawk dropped to his knees. "I ask that you keep your word."
Wynn was stunned into silence.
Roland turned to Wynn, laughing in that twisted way of his. "And you want to save your father? You have the same chance."
Wynn roared at him to get as far away as possible. But the next second, Roland drove his sword into Hawk and began counting down. One strike after another. Wynn broke down. When Roland reached seven, Wynn couldn't take it anymore and dropped to his knees. Tears streamed down his face.
"Please stop!"
Silvara watched from behind, her own tears falling without stopping. Was there anyone left who could save them? Save the Dusk Realm?
"Well, now you've both knelt. This puts me in a difficult position. Which one do I let go?"
Hawk's heart hammered. He threw himself onto Roland's sword. He was trading his own life for a sliver of hope for Wynn.
Wynn completely fell apart. He never imagined Hawk would do something like that.
"Let Wynn go."
Roland was displeased. What does this old man think he's doing? "Who said you could throw yourself at me like that? You broke the rules."
He pulled his sword free. "I've decided to take back my promise."
He had been playing with him all along. "I hereby declare—"
He never finished. Wynn charged at him in a fury, but Roland ran him through without effort.
"On to the next game."
Silvara cried out. Both she and Weston could do nothing but watch through their tears. They were too weak to do anything at all.
The next second, Roland drove iron chains into the ground, and Silvara and the others were hoisted up like broken ragdolls.
Roland, in that moment, was like a weapon without a soul. No, something far worse. A weapon with a twisted one. He thought back to something he had done as a child, pinning small animals across a wall. Proof of his power.
Wynn took another sword strike. His cry of pain rang out. He looked like he was barely alive.
Roland smiled that sick smile of his. "Don't worry, I'll keep away from the vitals. Let's see how long you last."
He was going to cut him apart slowly.
He turned to the thunder drake. "Hey, get over here."
The thunder drake, still under his control, could only bow its proud head.
"Prepare for the final ceremony. Calling Deputy Commander Ragnar. You should be done having your fun by now. Signal the entire army to move in."
Then his expression sharpened. A different voice came through his earpiece.
"So you've finally grown bold enough to stage a coup."
"Who is this? Ragnar. Where is Ragnar?"
Roland was clearly rattled. Then a voice came from behind him. "Ragnar's right here."
Roland spun around. It was Gail, wearing the S tier Demon King warlord's battle set.
"I know enough of what happened to seize power. You were capable of something this monstrous."
Gail's knuckles were on the verge of cracking. He looked at the bodies on the ground. Gail's face darkened. "I'm the one who got them killed."
Roland was sitting on top of the thunder drake's head. He looked genuinely confused. "Coup? What are you talking about? This is a military campaign."
Gail was still talking to himself. "I should have seen this coming. An animal never stops being an animal. Any one of the crimes you've committed is enough to warrant death by a thousand cuts."
Roland was done with it. "Another one shows up. Just kill him."