Chapter 202: Encirclement and Attack

“Captain… Viski, Senior Kiro, we…” John looked at Kiro and Viski anxiously, seeking their advice. At this moment, he truly didn’t know what to do. The battle had already begun, with the captain surrounded by a group of people. As the fight intensified, John was at a loss as to what to do.
“Rod…” Kiro stared at Rod ahead, his expression filled with complexity. He never imagined such a situation—Naitrod was actually a demon? It seemed like an absurd joke. No one would believe it if he mentioned it, yet the truth was right before his eyes, leaving him unsure of what to do.
Since they met in Fire City, the two had known each other for some time now. Kiro knew very well who Naitrod was. Without the cruelty and brutality of demons, though sometimes extreme, it was only directed at those who committed evil deeds. He would never treat good people or ordinary folks that way.
“No! Could it be…” Suddenly, as if recalling something, his expression changed drastically. In surprise, he muttered to himself, “I see… Maybe it’s true!” The next moment, his expression darkened slightly as if he had suddenly understood something.
Indeed, this scene reminded him of what he had seen in Fire City—the quasi-divine elder and the events that day. Why were those men in black chasing Rod? Why were they determined to capture him at all costs? Could they already know Rod’s true identity? And why would that elder risk his life to protect him? Could he not know Rod’s identity?
All these doubts flashed through his mind, causing him to frown.
“Kiro, what are you guys planning?” A familiar voice suddenly came from afar, making Kiro’s expression change as he looked up.
His eyes held countless complexities as he saw Rod staring coldly at them, surrounded by a group of people watching warily. Rod no longer carried the violent aura he had when they first met; he seemed almost back to normal, as if he recognized them.

At this moment, looking at the people surrounding him with murderous intent, Rod’s heart sank. He already knew everything that had happened before. Though his consciousness had been blurred at the time, he remembered clearly everything he had done, including the conversations and expressions of people like Nightingale. He could clearly recall that he was actually a demon—something he found hard to believe. How could that be? Yet the actions of those around him served as a reminder: his memories were correct; it was all true, nothing false!

“Rod, you…”

“Captain!” Seeing Rod regain consciousness, Kiro, John, and the others couldn’t help but shout.

“Monster! The demons retreated to the Source of Darkness thousands of years ago—how dare they come out and cause chaos now? We can’t let him live! Kill him! Don’t spare him!” Before anyone could say more, the officer’s loud roar interrupted their conversation, and those menacing figures immediately lunged at Rod again.

Amidst the flashes of swords and blades, Rod could only dodge helplessly. Once his consciousness returned, the fervent sense of excitement inside him vanished, replaced by a deep sense of exhaustion that spread throughout his body, leaving him feeling powerless.

Faced with an attack from hundreds of people, including Gold and Silver Warriors, and even a Royal-level powerhouse, Rod was in a desperate situation. His wounds kept increasing, and blood kept splashing everywhere.

Meanwhile, Kiro and the others stood quietly in place, doing nothing! Rod felt a chill in his heart. The people he trusted the most, his few friends, chose to stand by, to disbelieve him, to watch indifferently.

This caused all his passion and hope to crumble like a collapsing building, leaving the world filled with coldness.

“Kill them!” To survive, to keep living, to avoid dying here, he had no choice but to fight back. The Dark Dragon roared as it slashed around, killing everyone in its path. Every second brought screams, blood splashing, and lives lost.

Rod slaughtered mercilessly, and those people pursued him just as mercilessly. Screams, the clash of weapons, and footsteps once again filled the forest. The ravaged forest was once again abused like a violated woman by a group of men.

“Kiro…” Rod’s plight left everyone without a leader. They turned to Kiro, hoping he could offer some advice.

“Give up! There’s nothing we can do!” He said with a complex expression, a hint of bitterness and helplessness on his face.

What could they do in such a situation? Rod was a demon; though he was a good friend, he was still a demon. Could they help him escape? If so, they too would be seen as demons’ accomplices and become targets for pursuit across the entire continent. Nor could they join in chasing Rod—after all, they had been friends for so long and shared deep feelings. So perhaps the only thing they could do was stand by and do nothing.

“Damn it!” He threw his weapon away angrily, staring at the intense battle in the distance and watching his captain suffer injuries while struggling to hold on. John complained.

“Die!” With a loud shout, one of the powerful warriors at the beginning stage of the imperial rank, brought by Alice, roared and swung his great sword in a waterfall-like arc, aiming to slash Rod’s head.

“Get lost!” With a cold expression, his Shadowless Sword erupted instantly. More than a dozen figures moved among the crowd as Rod tried to defend against this attack.

A massive collision erupted, sending shockwaves everywhere. Many innocent soldiers were struck and fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

“Rod, hurry up and leave! Stop fighting—this way, you’re bound to die!” In his heart, Xuanyuan cried anxiously. Rod’s body was extremely weak now; his injuries were at the brink of collapse. If it weren’t for his demon transformation and subconscious strength, he would have already collapsed. Continuing to fight here would only lead to certain death.

Flames flickered in the distance as another large group rushed toward them. Seeing this, Rod grew increasingly anxious. The indifferent attitude of Kiro and the others had already filled him with despair.

Xuanyuan was right—the only solution now was to leave as soon as possible! With that thought, Rod searched for opportunities to escape this dangerous place while continuing to fight.

Footsteps grew louder, and soon a group of black figures appeared in Rod and the others’ sight.

“Over there! Hurry, go there!” It was Linda and Lucia’s voices. At the forefront were indeed the two of them along with an officer, leading a group who were rushing toward them at full speed.

“Trouble!” Seeing this, Kiro inwardly cursed. If Rod had been in dire straits under the siege of those people before, there had still been a glimmer of hope. But the arrival of these people was like a death sentence, leaving Rod with no hope left.

“Rod…” A cry from afar made Rod pause slightly.

It was Lucia’s cry. By his side was Linda, and another familiar face—General Lawrence, an officer of the Dark Legion. It had been a long time since they last met, and he still had that cold expression on his face.
“Demon! Damn it, attack! Kill this abomination!” As soon as Lawrence arrived and saw what was happening in the distance, he immediately recognized Rod’s identity as a demon. His eyes narrowed slightly before he shouted loudly at the soldiers he had brought with him.
“Demons…” Linda and Lucia were stunned. Rod in the distance… he looked terrifying. He was a demon. The situation far exceeded their imagination. Their initial excitement and relief vanished, replaced by despair. So many questions flooded their minds.
“Hehe… Come all at once! I’ll take them all!” Rod roared with a cruel laugh.
The red in his eyes intensified, his hair moving as if in a windless breeze as he laughed wildly, though his voice carried a hint of sorrow and misery.
With the elite soldiers of the Dark Legion led by Lawrence joining Rod, the situation became even more difficult for them.
He had become numb, unable to feel the pain from his wounds. The blood in his body boiled again, with a thirst for blood and brutality filling his mind. He wanted to fight his way out—he couldn’t die here, not like this. There were still so many things left unfinished.
With a loud cry that echoed into the sky, laced with anguish and defiance, he soared upward. The dark dragon rose and fell, taking lives with each movement.
“Stop him! Don’t let him escape! Block him!” Seeing Rod break through the weakest part of the encirclement and try to escape, the officer brought by Alice shouted loudly. Lawrence even joined the battle, standing in front of Rod.
“Lawrence, you… Kiro, what’s going on? Tell me! What happened? Why did it turn out like this? Why! Why… uuuu…” Watching what was happening, Lucia knew she couldn’t persuade them. She went over to Kiro and asked loudly.
“Hurry up and save him! Otherwise, he’s going to… Hurry! What are you standing here for? Kiro, Rod is your friend! And John and Viski too. You all have the ability—why not save him? He’s your captain. Aren’t you all close?” Getting no reply, Lucia anxiously grabbed Kiro and John’s sleeves, pleading loudly.

“Forget it, Lucia—he’s a demon!” With a sigh, Kiro spoke in a deep voice. The atmosphere was extremely oppressive; while the battle over there was fierce, here everything remained calm.
“Demons, demons…” Her eyes were filled with confusion. Lucia knew what demons meant, and her mind was in chaos as she murmured to herself.
“Get away from me!” His injuries grew worse, and he could no longer stand steadily. Rod felt unsteady, as if the sky itself was spinning. A powerful sense of weakness overwhelmed his body. Looking at Lawrence standing in front of him, he shouted loudly. He refused to give up; he couldn’t fall here. He had to fight his way out. He had to leave this place.