Chapter 81: The fight i

The two high-ranking demons stood in the palace compound, looking at Alexander as if they had known him for years. The demon with red hair and black streaks on his head frowned when he noticed that Alexander was simply standing there with his hands in his pockets instead of welcoming them properly.

"Why are you standing there like that? Is that how you welcome your visitors?" he asked, glancing at the black-haired demon beside him, who was wearing an amused smile.

Alexander stared at them for a moment before his lips slowly curved into a smile. Instead of looking offended, he seemed even more delighted by their complaints.

"Well, as you can see, I allowed you to enter the palace compound and even enjoy the fresh air for free. Isn’t that welcoming enough?" he asked with a wide grin. "If you wanted a special welcome, you should have sent a letter ahead of time so we could prepare something for you."

The black-haired demon sighed as he studied the playful man standing before them. He had heard many stories about the werewolves, especially the powerful warriors who served directly under the Werewolf King, but Alexander was not quite what he had expected. "Supreme Gamma Alexander, the current third-in-command of the entire wolf race," he said politely. "I’ve heard a lot about you."

Alexander immediately placed a hand over his mouth and blushed dramatically, as if the demon had just confessed his love for him. "Come on, you’re making my head swell!" he exclaimed, waving one hand in the air. "Keep talking like that, and I might start believing you’re my biggest fan."

The red-haired demon stared at him with an expression that suggested he was beginning to regret coming to the palace. "We only came to greet your king," the black-haired demon explained patiently. "We won’t take much of his time, so if you could kindly let us pass, we would appreciate it."

Alexander’s smile widened until it looked almost unnatural."Oh, that’s wonderful! You want to greet our king? What a lovely idea!" He stepped forward, spreading his arms as if he were about to welcome them into a grand celebration. "Unfortunately, you’ll have to pass through me first."

The black-haired demon’s smile disappeared. Beside him, the red-haired demon groaned and rubbed his forehead. "I knew this wouldn’t be easy."

The two demons exchanged a look, silently wondering whether the werewolves had sent their most irritating warrior to deal with them on purpose. They had expected a serious guard, perhaps someone who would ask about their intentions before deciding whether to let them meet the king, but instead, they had found a smiling man who seemed more interested in joking than doing his job.

...

From the upper floor of the palace, Ethan watched the scene below with his arms folded across his chest. He knew Alexander well enough to understand that his friend’s cheerful behavior was not a sign that he had forgotten how dangerous the two demons could be.

Beside Ethan, Hazel stared down at the compound with growing concern. She had heard that demons were powerful fighters, and some of them could fly while attacking their enemies, making them especially difficult to defeat in battle. "But I’ve heard that demons are very good at flying while they fight," she whispered, looking worriedly at Alexander. "Are you sure he can handle both of them?"

"That’s exactly what Alex was made for. Apart from His Majesty, he’s one of the best wolves when it comes to jumping and flying during battle. You should see him when he gets serious."

Hazel looked back at the compound, remembering the day Alexander had trained her. The man had shoved her aside so harshly that her spinal cord had broken, and he had behaved as if he had merely moved a chair out of his way.

She rubbed her lower back at the memory, even though the injury had already healed. If that’s what he does to someone he’s training, she don’t want to imagine what he’ll do to someone he’s actually trying to kill.

"He’s really that strong?" Hazel asked, still finding it difficult to connect the playful man she knew with the warrior Janet was describing.

.....

Alexander raised a brow at them, he finally reach for the two swords attached to his belt. He pulled them free and held them at his sides. "I’ll be quick," he promised, rolling his shoulders as he stepped forward.

The red-haired demon immediately moved closer to his companion, lowering his voice so Alexander wouldn’t hear him. "Don’t be fooled by that trap he calls a smiling face. I’ve heard that he killed one of our head soldiers by breaking every bone in his body."

The black-haired demon turned his attention back to Alexander, who was now casually swinging one sword in his hand as if he were playing with a toy. It was difficult to believe that someone who looked so cheerful could be responsible for such a brutal reputation, but the red-haired demon didn’t seem to be exaggerating.

The werewolves were full of strange people.

Caius, the crazy and annoying king, was known as the fastest head cutter among the wolves. Ethan had a reputation for removing someone’s heart before the victim even realized what was happening. And now Alexander, the man who smiled at almost everyone he met, was apparently a bone breaker.

The black-haired demon frowned as he tried to understand how such terrifying reputations could belong to people who behaved so differently.

What kind of race is this? he wondered. Does every powerful wolf have to be good at killing people in a different way?

Before he could think any further, something flashed through the air. Both demons reacted at once, throwing themselves in opposite directions as a sword flew past them and struck the ground behind them with a loud sound.

For a moment, they stared at the weapon in disbelief before turning toward Alexander. The man stood several steps away, holding his remaining sword with a bright smile on his face. "Oops," he said, looking almost disappointed. "I thought that would work."

The red-haired demon’s face twisted with anger as he glanced at the sword buried in the ground. "Did you just throw your sword at us?"

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Of course. What else was I supposed to do with it? Use it to cut vegetables?"

The black-haired demon stared at him, unable to believe what he was hearing. They came to check if the werewolf is really weak, not to fight his third-in-command in the palace compound. Yet Alexander had attacked them without even asking why they were there, and he was still smiling as if the whole thing were a game.

The red-haired demon stretched out his hand, and a sword appeared in his palm, surrounded by a thick red energy that spread along the blade. The air around him changed as his demonic power rose, and the playful atmosphere in the compound disappeared. "I hate brown wolves," he snarled, tightening his grip on the sword. "Especially the ones who think they can make fun of us."

Alexander laughed as he lowered his body into a fighting position, his remaining sword pointing toward the ground while his sharp eyes followed every movement of his opponents. "That’s what everyone says before I break their bones."

The black-haired demon finally summoned his own weapon, and the energy surrounding the two demons grew stronger as they prepared to attack together.

Alexander’s smile slowly returned, but this time, there was nothing friendly about it. "Come on, then," he said, spreading his feet and tightening his grip on his sword. "Let’s see if the demons are as strong as their mouths."

The two demons exchanged one final look before launching themselves toward him, their weapons raised and their powers filling the compound.

From the upper floor, Hazel held her breath as the battle began, while Ethan watched without moving, completely confident that Alexander could handle himself.

The palace guards quickly stepped back to give the fighters room, knowing better than to interfere with a battle involving three high-ranking warriors.