My Love Debts Are Everywhere!

In the outer palace courtyard, over eighteen thousand soldiers of the Demon Army stood in neat formation.

Though silent, their powerful and domineering presence made anyone who laid eyes on them tremble in fear.

At that moment, three figures stood on an altar at the far end of the courtyard, gazing intently at the line of the demon army.

The three figures were none other than Liliana, Lyra, and Leon. However, Leon's appearance this time was strikingly different from usual.

His typical white robe had been replaced by a purplish-black leather mantle that draped down to his calves. Beneath it, he wore a black long-sleeved shirt crafted from dragon scales, accentuating his calm yet commanding presence.

His once-black hair had transformed into a striking pale white, while his beautiful golden eyes had changed to a deep purple—thanks to his transformation technique.

Completing his look was a black half-face mask that partially concealed his handsome features, drawing the attention of anyone who saw him.

Find exclusive stories on empire

Leon observed the entire Demon Army below with a calm demeanor, though a faint smile played on his lips.

"The Demon Army certainly lives up to its reputation," he whispered, admiration gleaming in his purple eyes.

Compared to humanity's forces, the Demon Army radiated a far more menacing and powerful aura—thanks to the demonic power coursing through them.

As the name suggests, demonic power resembles mana but possesses a more destructive nature. Unlike humanity's army, where not all soldiers harness mana, every Demon soldier is infused with demonic power.

This is why the Demon Army is superior to humanity's forces in terms of physical strength and other aspects.

At that moment, Liliana, standing to his left, took a few steps forward before halting and gazing intently at the entire Demon Army.

"Brave Demon Army, I, Liliana Crimson, thank you for joining this reinforcement force. I believe that each of you is a valiant warrior who will lead our Demon race to a bright future and victory in the war in the Desert of Chaos. So raise your heads and show the world that we, the Demon race, are the strongest!" Liliana proclaimed loudly, her fists clenched in determination.

At her words, the blood of every soldier in the courtyard surged with fervor, and they erupted into cheers.

"We are the strongest!"

"We will bring victory to the entire Demon race!"

"Long live the Demon Race! Long live the Demon Race!"

The once-silent courtyard now reverberated with the passionate roars of the Demon Army, sending chills down the spines of all who witnessed it.

Observing this scene, Leon couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and admiration for Liliana.

"Though Liliana often appears cold and indifferent, her ability to inspire the troops is truly remarkable," Leon thought to himself.

In every war, boosting the troops' morale through words is the duty of a leader or emperor. This not only elevates the soldiers' spirits but also provides them with a clear objective.

With such a goal in mind, the soldiers become willing to sacrifice everything—wealth, blood, even their lives—for victory.

In the past, he had often employed the same tactics to rally humanity's troops, allowing him to easily defeat the Demon race in previous battles.

Meanwhile, Liliana, observing their reactions, smiled faintly and nodded in satisfaction. This was the spirit she aimed to evoke.

After taking a moment to collect herself, she addressed the soldiers, "As you know, our comrades-in-arms are currently fighting against humanity's forces in the Desert of Chaos, united by a single goal—to bring glory and victory to the Demon race. However, the path to that glory is fraught with difficulty, and many have lost their lives on the battlefield.

Therefore, all of you standing here are the heroes who will carry on their fight."

After a brief pause, Liliana smiled and continued, "Of course, I will not impose my will upon you. If any of you do not wish to fight, you are free to leave this courtyard."

As soon as Liliana finished speaking, a heavy silence descended upon the courtyard, with no one daring to utter a word.

In that tense moment, a loud exclamation suddenly pierced through the ranks of the troops.

"Leave the courtyard? Your Majesty the Demon Emperor, if anyone dares to do so, I will snap their necks!"

The exclamation sent shockwaves through the entire army, but it quickly stirred the anger of the others.

"Exactly! Anyone who dares to defy us will find themselves unable to walk again!"

"Those who stray are nothing but cowards!"

"If anyone tries that, I'll send them straight to the underworld!"

Leon stood in disbelief at the scene, turning to Liliana with a look of astonishment.

"Damn... I thought Liliana was only slightly better than me in terms of army leadership, but I didn't realize she was this much better." Leon felt the corners of his mouth twitch slightly.

While Liliana's last words seemed generous, anyone with a shred of intelligence would recognize it as a clever tactic to close off any escape for the Demon soldiers who might consider leaving.

Leon glanced at some of the soldiers and noticed their tense and anxious expressions; it was clear they were unsettled by the situation.

Shaking his head, Leon withdrew his gaze and let out a soft chuckle.

"Liliana truly made a bold and decisive move," he whispered.

Liliana kept smiling as she turned to Leon and nodded slightly.

Understanding her signal, Leon slowly stepped forward and positioned himself right beside her.

Turning her gaze back to the army, Liliana pointed at Leon and declared nonchalantly, "In this line of reinforcements, I appoint Leon Orion as the leader. Every order and decision he makes reflects my authority. I expect you all to obey him. Do you understand?"

The entire Demon Army was taken aback by her words, and they turned to Leon with a mix of curiosity, confusion, and other emotions.

"Who is he? Why don't I know him?"

"I don't know either. Is he one of the eight Demon generals?"

"No, he isn't one of the eight generals. I've seen them in person, and none of them look like him."

"In that case, why did Her Majesty the Demon Emperor appoint him as the leader of the reinforcements?"

A commotion erupted among the Demon Army as skepticism about Liliana's decision spread.

Liliana was well aware of their doubts. She smiled faintly and said, "I know some of you are dissatisfied and skeptical of my choice. Therefore, I invite anyone who wishes to protest to step forward and voice their concerns."

Upon hearing Liliana's words, the commotion immediately quieted, and a soldier from the front row stepped forward.

The soldier appeared quite young, but his indifferent and proud expression was unmistakable.

He bowed his head respectfully to Liliana before raising it and stating, "Your Majesty the Demon Emperor, I wish to lodge a protest."

Pointing at Leon, he wore a disdainful expression as he continued, "The other soldiers and I don't know him, and we strongly oppose your decision. Moreover, we question whether he has the strength for this position. Therefore, I urge Your Majesty to reconsider."

"We urge Your Majesty to reconsider!" The soldiers in the courtyard echoed in unison, bowing their heads.

Liliana's expression remained unchanged; she had anticipated their rejection of her decision.

Without uttering a word, she turned to Leon and whispered softly, "I leave this matter to you, Leon."

Leon nodded slightly, a thin smile gracing his lips, then stepped forward, looking at them with a calm gaze.

"Greetings, Demon soldiers. I'm Leon Orion; it's a pleasure to meet you all," Leon said in a nonchalant tone. He added, "I understand that many of you are dissatisfied with my appointment as the leader of this reinforcement force. However, I assure you that I possess the ability to lead."

The entire army was taken aback by Leon's confident words, regarding him with newfound respect.

Despite the protests of over eighteen thousand soldiers, Leon maintained a calm and assured demeanor, clearly demonstrating his worthiness for the position. However, many still harbored doubts, including the young soldier in the front row.

He pointed defiantly at Leon and challenged, "Your words may sound convincing, but we want more than just promises; we demand proof. Show us your power, and then we'll consider trusting you."

Although the other soldiers stayed silent, their expressions and body language clearly conveyed their support for the young soldier's demand.

Leon merely chuckled in response; he had been expecting this challenge.

With a faint smile still on his lips, Leon nodded and said, "Alright, I'll show you."

As soon as the words left his mouth, his purple eyes flared with a purplish-black light. At the same time, the power of chaos within him surged outward, spreading across the courtyard and sending chills down the spines of the entire army.

Before anyone could react, Leon raised his right hand and brought it down with a swift motion.

*Boom!*

An immense, terrifying pressure crashed down on the soldiers, pinning them to the ground, completely immobilized.

Panic washed over their faces as horrified voices filled the courtyard.

"What is this crushing force!? Why can't I move!?"

"It's terrifying! I can't even lift a finger!"

"Somebody, help!"

The commotion spread throughout the courtyard, but Leon remained completely unfazed. He increased the intensity of the pressure he emitted, causing the faces of the soldiers to turn pale.

Under the crushing force, they felt as though their bones were slowly being ground to dust, while their flesh and muscles seemed to be on the verge of collapsing.

Sweat drenched their bodies, and some even began to lose consciousness from the overwhelming strain.

After a moment, Leon withdrew the pressure and smiled gently—though to the Demon troops, his smile was nothing short of terrifying.

"So," he said, his voice calm, "does anyone still have any grievances or protests about my being chosen as the leader of the reinforcements?"

--------------

A/N: I sincerely apologize for the inconsistent updates. Managing both work and college has made it difficult to find time, but I'm deeply grateful for your continued support over the time. Thank you for your patience, and please stay tuned!