A Core Ship From The Start

Chapter 2652: Chapter 1786: This Hero Is Super Tough

Icksfolya, a world completely occupied by the Demon King.

This is the destination Isis told Duanmu Huai.

Not only that, she specifically gave a reminder.

"I think you must be wondering why we can only summon Heroes, rather than using our own Strength to eliminate the Demon King. Actually, the reason is simple. Just as we deities can give powers to Heroes from the Isekai world, granting them Strength, there are also deities that bless the Demon King. In other words, this is actually......"

"To put it bluntly, it’s a Proxy war."

Duanmu Huai was not unfamiliar with this. Clearly, the Unified Divine Realm is on the side of Humans, while the deities on the other side are on the side of Demons. The two sides may have had direct confrontations in the past, or maybe not. But regardless, the situation has developed to this point, and it’s now essentially a contest between their proxies.

"That’s right, originally I wanted to give you more help, but whenever I think about that world, my mind seems shrouded in fog, making it impossible to foresee anything. Although the previous Demon King in that world also had similar powers, this time it’s even more severe."

As she spoke, Isis’s expression became increasingly grave.

"Moreover, the Demon King who defeats the Hero and brings Destruction to the world will receive blessings from the evil dimension. Not only will the Demon King benefit, but even the Demon Beast’s Strength will become exceptionally strong, far exceeding the standards of the world you were in before. Even so, are you still going?"

"Of course."

This time Duanmu Huai summoned 100 Night Guards, accompanied by Mary and Hei Chuan Chi Yin. Mary mainly came as the Secretary, while Hei Chuan Chi Yin—she currently has no official duties like others, so being idle, Duanmu Huai brought her along to experience this Tribunal endeavor.

Upon hearing Duanmu Huai’s answer, Isis didn’t say much more, instead nodding to the side. Then, another Goddess with red hair stepped forward. Compared to the usually silly-faced Lisetta, this red-haired Goddess appeared much more composed, if not slightly melancholy.

"I will be the one to open the Teleportation Portal for you this time..."

"Why?"

"Eh?"

"Why you? Not Lisetta?"

Duanmu Huai stared at the red-haired Goddess, even though she seemed more reliable than Lisetta in many respects, Duanmu Huai wanted an explanation. Upon hearing his inquiry, the red-haired Goddess hesitated for a moment and then lowered her head.

"Because... it was me who was responsible for summoning the Hero to that world to defeat the Demon King, but ultimately failed..."

"Oh, I see."

The choice was made because she was more familiar with that place, having once ventured there.

Even if it ended in a GAME OVER.

The red-haired Goddess didn’t seem willing to talk further on this topic and quickly shifted the conversation.

"Although we left, I have been observing the situation in that world ever since. The aftermath has been very dire. The entire Continent has been ruled by the Demon King’s minions, and Humans have become Slaves, livestock... even regarded as playthings or food..."

Upon hearing this, Lisetta looked nervously at Duanmu Huai, worried he might erupt with anger. Contrary to her expectations, Duanmu Huai seemed indifferent and calm, almost as if he hadn’t heard anything. The blonde and black-haired girls beside him reacted differently; the former took notes, seemingly recording the red-haired Goddess’s report, while the latter covered her mouth with her hand, showing unease and tension.

"... this time you will be transferred to a town called Jia’erbanuo. There, it’s primarily a hub for producing and exporting docile Slaves, so the local Humans’ lives are relatively bearable... even so, they only escape being playthings or food to some extent..."

As she spoke, the red-haired Goddess took a deep breath and lowered her head again towards Duanmu Huai.

"Perhaps I shouldn’t say this, but it was my failure that led to all of this. So... I implore you, save that world."

"This is the duty of the Tribunal."

Duanmu Huai showed little concern for the red-haired Goddess’s plea.

"Open the gate."

The red-haired Goddess said no more, beginning the preparations to open the gate. Meanwhile, Lisetta took the opportunity to approach Duanmu Huai and whispered.

"You’re very calm; I thought you’d be furious after hearing about the Humans’ plight."

Duanmu Huai glanced at Lisetta.

"Because I’ve seen it often."

"Seen it often?"

"Yes. You think Humans ruled by Aliens and Demons fare well? That they merely live poorly or end up as Slaves? Reality is not so simple. Treated as playthings, Slaves, food, even used as practice targets, or simply twisted into mindless Monsters. These are the fates Humans face when defeated by other Races. Why do you think the Tribunal seeks to exterminate all non-Human existence? Because their mere existence poses a Threat to Humans. Perhaps not now, but maybe hundreds of years later, they could threaten Humanity’s Survival, becoming the fiends that strip us to the bone. To prevent this, they must be completely eradicated; once extinct, there’s no need to worry about them threatening Humanity in the future."

"..............."

Lisetta stood there, speechless, gazing blankly at Duanmu Huai, not knowing what to say. Previously, if she had heard Duanmu Huai say such things, Lisetta might have thought he was simply paranoid or overly alarmist.

But now......

Nonetheless, Duanmu Huai clearly had no intention of further explaining to Lisetta and turned to Hei Chuan Chi Yin beside him.

"Chi Yin, observe and learn well this time, accumulate experience, understand?"

"Ah, yes, I understand."

Hei Chuan Chi Yin nodded nervously, despite not having ventured into that world yet; just hearing what the red-haired Goddess said made it hard to imagine and accept.

But the task must be done.

As the Teleportation Portal opened, the group crossed through into the other world.

This place is literally a devil world.

The purple sky, debris of collapsed buildings everywhere, the turbid air assaults the senses, even causing extreme nausea. Hei Chuan Chi Yin and Lisetta hastily reached out to cover their noses and mouths, while Mary slightly frowned but quickly shifted her attention to the surrounding buildings.

"This is the starting town...... Even in a game, there’s never an opening this terrifying."

"I think there are quite a few games where you open your eyes to a scene of ruins."

Duanmu Huai glanced around and quickly locked onto a target.

"There’s a noise ahead, let’s go check it out."

Having said this, he led the group along the street forward.

Turning the street corner, Lisetta witnessed a surprising scene ——— not far beside them was a park, which should originally be a place for the people of this city to relax and entertain. But now, the park was still entertaining, only...... its clientele had changed.

In the park, a group of various orcs were chatting, looking quite harmonious. They all held chains in their hands, and the other end of the chains...... bound naked humans!

These humans were crawling on the ground, looking just like pets.

And the orcs conversed about this.

"Oh my, your pet is still so ugly."

"Better than your shabby bug."

"Do you guys even feed their fodder properly? They’ll starve to death like this."

"If they starve to death, just buy new ones. Hey, look over there?"

While the orcs were talking, they glanced this way, clearly seeing Duanmu Huai’s group. This startled Lisetta, thinking they would immediately attack. But unexpectedly, the orcs were not alarmed; instead, they curiously greeted them.

"Yo, who are you guys? Newcomers?"

"Is that your new pet? It looks quite nice."

"Uh........."

Upon hearing the orcs speaking, Lisetta displayed a subtle expression, she couldn’t help but glance at Duanmu Huai beside her, as well as the Steel Warriors dressed similarly behind him......

Indeed, they didn’t quite look human.

However, Duanmu Huai obviously didn’t intend to waste words with them; he simply gestured.

"Eliminate them."

As soon as Duanmu Huai’s words fell, the Steel Warriors raised their guns, aiming forward.

What ensued could only be described as a massacre.

The defenseless, unsuspecting orcs were no match for the Night Guards. A single barrage reduced dozens of orcs gathered in the park to mincemeat. Only those humans treated as pets were now huddling in terror, clutching their heads, quivering. They seemed to have entirely lost their human consciousness. Even when the Night Guards attempted to lift them, they scrambled to evade or whimpered for mercy.

"How outrageous! How can they do such things to humans?!"

Seeing this, Hei Chuan Chi Yin was incensed, and Lisetta nodded emphatically.

However, Duanmu Huai merely glanced at them.

"Why not?"

"Huh?"

"Don’t we treat pets like this too? Some treat pets as their children, while others treat pets as targets for abuse. There are humans who abuse their pets everywhere."

"That’s true...... but, but they’re humans?"

"Humans are just another species. We enslave other species, so we must also be prepared to be enslaved by other species."

Continuing, Duanmu Huai shifted the conversation.

"Therefore, to prevent such things from happening, the Tribunal aims to eradicate any species that might enslave humans."

Upon hearing this, Hei Chuan Chi Yin and Lisetta both swallowed nervously. They finally understood why Duanmu Huai was so calm. He wasn’t simply angry over humans being enslaved. On the contrary, he acknowledged this fact and sought to eliminate its preconditions. Essentially, Duanmu Huai’s extermination of these Aliens wasn’t founded on emotion but on a cold, hard fact.

Just as humans would die from malnutrition without eating meat, to Duanmu Huai, killing all aliens threatening human survival was axiomatically necessary. This wasn’t about justice or evil, right or wrong. It was just what must be done, simply as that.

His eradication of these orcs wasn’t because they were evil, but because they posed a threat to humans and thus had to die.

Thus, even if the orcs here weren’t enslaving humans, but were coexisting peacefully with them, in Duanmu Huai’s eyes, there wouldn’t be any difference.

Just as now.

Duanmu Huai turned his head toward the nearby Night Guard Captain.

"Search this city, eliminate any alien on sight."

Then, he casually issued the order as if enjoying afternoon tea.