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When Xen stepped into the battleground the demons had claimed for themselves, a faint red glow pulsed from his relaxed form. The pressure of that flicker of demonic energy was strong enough that Evan felt it in his bones. So did the demons.

The Hellguards froze mid-brawl, their sightless heads turning in Xen’s direction. He didn’t need to raise his voice to induce authority and muttered, “Kneel.”

And the six demons soundlessly dropped to their knees before him.

A jumble of expressions crossed Evan’s face: surprise, approval, confusion, and finally an irritated scowl.

If Xen could’ve stopped the fight that easily, why did he ask Evan for a kiss as if he’d never come back?

Tsk, I fell for a demon’s trick.

As the Hellguards kneeled, heads bowed, their rock bodies trembled and shook as if in fear. But one closer look at their clenched fists digging into the earth said otherwise.

They hadn’t knelt to Xen because they were pledging loyalty to him or begging for his mercy. Xen’s command had forced them to their knees, against their will.

Could Eternals command other lower demons into submission? Now that was something notable as a demon royalty.

Zeev rose with his mighty body before transforming back to his human form with a blast of light and dust. He took his place behind Xen, that ghostly mask back in place.

“Iwasgrowing tired of hunting for energy supplies,” Xen tilted his head, eyes as frosty as his tone, in stark contrast with the heat he was radiating near Evan moments ago. “You’ve come to me on your own accord. Good. Very good.”

Evan quickly realized what he was going to do.

Xen was going to absorb the demonic energy from all five Hellguards like he’d done with Zeev. But this time, it didn’t seem like he intended on stopping until the demons were reduced to their human forms. He would probably drain them dry and leave nothing behind.

Energy supplies, indeed.

Evan’s heart skipped a beat as Xen raised his hand and the Hellguards started trembling anew, in pure, unadulterated terror. The odor of their dread wafted off their forms and churned in Evan’s nostrils.

But as he started, Xen paused, eyes sweeping over the five rock figures. He hummed softly, as if he’d caught notice of something interesting.

Light blasted into the night sky as zaps of lightning burst forth from the cores of the Hellguards at various points on their bodies and launched into Xen’s open palms. Other than a slight twitch in his lips, Xen didn’t show much reaction as the demonic energy from five bulky Hellguards gushed into his body.

Maybe it was because these demons didn’t have three centuries worth of energy circulating in their cores like Zeev had, but this time Xen’s robe didn’t catch fire. Evan almost frowned at that before shaking his head.

Of course he didn’t actually want toseeXen’s naked torso.

When Xen was done, four of the Hellguards crumbled, rocks and all, turning to dust before dissipating into nothing. One, however, returned to his human form, albeit too frail.

Evan stepped out of the busted cave and moved a few steps closer to take a look at the individual.

The naked demon sat slumped on the forest floor, blood spurting from his nose and mouth. His shoulders were broad and heavy, legs long and muscular. When he lifted his head, bloodshot eyes locked onto Xen, full of contempt. He spat a mouthful of blood and jabbed a finger at him. “You fucking Eternal! Why are you back?Howare you back? And you start thrashing your own kind again after coming back? How fucking mighty of you.”

Evan cocked a brow, listening from a distance as the naked demon spouted curses at Xen, then pointed at Zeev.

“Andyou! Fucking dusty doormat slash ass-wipe that cleans the shit your master leaves behind, why the fuck are you here too? You’re ganging up on your own people; have you no shame?”

Zeev grunted and stepped forward, but Xen held a hand up, stopping him.

Xen prowled over to the naked demon and crouched before him. Even though they were almost similar in build, there was an air of poise and authority about Xen that the other fellow clearly lacked. “Long time no see, Gruu. I see you’re still chasing the wrong tail.”

Gruu spat up blood again, laughing through bloody teeth that glinted in the dark as he sneered. “What? You want me to chase yours instead?Tsk, tsk, tsk... What a disappointment, bearing the title of a King. You have to beg demons to follow you now? What happened to all that glory? That army that submitted to your whims, huh?”

“Shut your mouth!” Zeev growled, remnants of his original form in his tone. “I will rip your filthy tongue out.”

“You rat bastard! Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do?” Gruu bared his fangs at Zeev, then glared at Xen, who seemed unperturbed, almost bored. “And who the fuck areyouto tell me which tail to chase? I’ll follow whoever the fuck I want! I’m not bound to your royal ass like this fucker Zeev.”

Evan’s eyebrow twitched.