The maid squad is too strong, what use is there for me, the Demon King?

Phoenix did indeed intend to create a brief opening during the intense confrontation, taking advantage of any gaps or mistakes in the opponent's attacks. Even if he could only manage to escape the hall with Taric and Sophia and flee into the complex passageways of the ruins, he would still have more room to maneuver.

He had even secretly calculated several possible escape routes, just waiting for the right opportunity.

But now, the other party has clearly seen through his intentions.

This seemingly "moderate" encirclement actually cut off all his escape routes!

Those two black-robed men who retreated to the flanks were clearly there to block the exit!

The continuous suppression with ranged attacks was to prevent him from having the opportunity to charge up and unleash a powerful spatial breakthrough technique.

This tactic is more like how an experienced hunter deals with a powerful prey that has fallen into a trap—not in a hurry to kill it, but to gradually deplete its strength and wear down its fighting spirit, and finally to easily harvest it.

"This is really difficult... This is going to be a real problem." A sense of helplessness welled up in Phoenix's heart.

The opponent possessed exceptional tactical skill, seamless teamwork, and formidable strength, and had completely seen through his trump cards and intentions. If this continued, his magic would eventually run out. At that point, not only would his own life be in danger, but Taric and Sophia would also be doomed, and more importantly… Her Highness…

The thought that Philippa might be facing that unfathomable demon king alone filled Phoenix with anxiety. He had to break through as soon as possible! He had to find her!

However, the predicament before him seemed almost unsolvable. He tentatively manipulated a spatial blade to shoot at a seemingly weak wall on one side of the hall, attempting to forcefully break open an exit.

However, it was immediately intercepted and annihilated by several precise magical attacks and the sword energy unleashed by the swordsman.

With their escape route blocked, the drain on resources continued. Phoenix's face grew increasingly pale; maintaining such a large-scale spatial barrier was costing him far more than he had anticipated.

He glanced at Tariq behind him, his face ashen with pain and despair, and Sofia still unconscious. A heavy pressure almost crushed him.

"Could it be... that I'm really going to perish here?" The thought surfaced uncontrollably, but he immediately suppressed it. No, there's still a chance!

The foundation of a ninth-tier expert is by no means simple!

A resolute glint flashed in his eyes as he secretly began to devise a backup plan that would require a huge price but might break the deadlock.

However, he was reluctant to use it unless absolutely necessary.

The battle has now entered a more dangerous and agonizing stalemate.

—————————————————————

The silvery-white light and the intense sense of spatial tearing receded like a tide.

Philippa crashed heavily onto the cold, hard ground. The violent impact worsened her already serious injuries, and she couldn't help but let out a painful groan.

My internal organs felt out of place, and the wounds on my shoulders and body burned with pain. My vision was blurred due to blood loss and excruciating pain.

She struggled to prop herself up, fighting off the dizziness, and looked around anxiously.

This place is no longer the vibrant, decaying atmosphere of the Whispering Forest, but a completely unfamiliar, oppressive, and suffocating space.

It appears to be the interior of an extremely magnificent palace, but its style is ancient and eerie. Huge stone pillars support towering domes, and the air is filled with millennia-old dust and a deep, cold, lingering magical energy, a stark contrast to the bright and warm atmosphere of the Church of Holy Light.

No one is empty.

Where is Tarik? Where is Sofia? Where is Grandpa Phoenix?

"Tarik! Sophia! Grandpa Phoenix!" Philippa called out in a hoarse voice, the sound echoing in the empty, deathly silent hall, but receiving no response. Only her own echo added to the loneliness and foreboding.

A chilling fear gripped her heart instantly. Her companions were gone! Were they teleported elsewhere, or...?

Just as she was in a state of utter confusion, an indescribable sense of dread, seemingly emanating from the depths of her soul, jolted her awake! The ominous premonition was like ice water poured over her head, making her blood almost freeze.

She moved her gaze slowly and laboriously, until finally it settled on something not far ahead.

There, a figure stood quietly, seemingly out of nowhere.

A large black robe covered his entire body, and even his face was hidden in the deep shadow of the hood, making it impossible to see any features.

He stood there quietly, as if he had existed there since time immemorial, blending into the desolate ancient palace.

He didn't exude any overwhelming killing intent, nor did he display any exaggerated magical fluctuations, but simply standing there brought an unimaginable, suffocating sense of oppression. The surrounding air seemed to become viscous and heavy because of his presence.

Philippa's pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints, and she almost stopped breathing.

This aura... she could never be mistaken!

Cold, profound, and domineering, it carried an indifference and majesty that transcended all living beings... It was exactly the same as the sky-covering magic she saw in the secret realm of the final trial of the Holy Light Pilgrimage, and the traces of magic she felt in Eagle Territory!

However, the aura of the demon king before them was even more restrained, or rather, suppressed, and did not erupt.

It's the Demon King!

He was the mastermind who, before the teleportation, shattered Grandpa Phoenix's magic with unparalleled and tyrannical power and forcibly abducted them to this place.

Anxiety and fear arose spontaneously, and a terrible thought even rose in her mind.

So that's how it is... What monster attack, what fierce battle... Could it be that all of this, from beginning to end, was a trap set by this demon king? Was his purpose to separate her, the hero, and her companions, leaving them isolated and helpless before him?

Moreover, after defeating two eighth-tier monsters, her entire hero team was severely injured. Even at her peak, Philippa felt that she was still far from being able to contend with the Demon King.

Anger, fear, and a sense of humiliation at being manipulated overwhelmed Philippa instantly.

Ignoring the excruciating pain all over her body, she gripped the hilt of her sword with all her might, supported herself, and stood up unsteadily. Her amber eyes were fixed on the black-robed figure, filled with vigilance, anger, and barely concealed fear.

"Demon... King..." she squeezed out the two words through clenched teeth, her voice trembling slightly from weakness and tension.

She didn't know the true face of this demon king, nor what his purpose was, but at this moment, facing the most terrifying being in the world alone, the powerlessness brought by the unknown and her serious injuries made her feel an unprecedented fear.

The figure beneath the black robe remained silent, the shadow of the hood like an abyss, gazing upon the wounded hero.