Adam's information pertaining to the devils was sent to the eastern and western command tents at once.
The Mana Core Magi stationed there did not question the veracity of the information. It had been personally handed down by the Dark King, and that was all the assurance they needed.
It was becoming increasingly clear that the battles that took place in the days that followed would grow in intensity. The Union Magi would not only have to fight the Magi from the Cult, but also against a type of enemy that they knew little about.
Just the existence of devils caused these Magi to tremble in fear. And the fact that they had to soon fight such evil beings made them even more nervous.
While the commanders of the Union Army were studying the devils, Rekan and his shadowkins had already arrived near the battlefield.
A journey that would have taken days was completed by the shadowkins in a matter of hours. They did not move across land. They traveled through shadows.
Behind the Empire's camps, the shadows stirred. A mont later, over a dozen dark figures rose from the shadows of trees and boulders and large enough objects, as if surfacing from still water.
Rekan's figure slowly turned corporeal and finally took shape. He was tall and lithe, clad in leather armor made from an unknown material. Twin daggers were strapped to his waist. His physique was that of a perfect assassin. The shadowkin behind him were no different.
The devil spread his senses across the Union's three camps. He stroked his chin and murmured, "Three hundred thousand strong. Dozens of Magi. And the vast majority consist of Apprentices."
A shadowkin stepped forward, his ashen face full of disdain. "So few Magi among hundreds of thousands. These people from the lesser worlds are truly pathetic."
Another devil nodded. "Just look at the mana in the air. I can't stand a mont longer in this barren wasteland."
"We still have to stay here for a few months at the very least," Rekan said with a snort. "So get used to it."
The others begrudingly nodded. Every one of them was a Magus who had ford a mana core. But the fact that they listened to Rekan spoke volus about his strength.
Besides, the devils of Hell lived in a strict cast system with a disciplined chain of command, where orders from their superior were to be obeyed without question.
It was a society built on one principle - might makes right.
Rekan spread his senses further, across the battlefield littered with broken weapons and sared with dried blood. He studied the enemy camp and learned that their numbers were the sa as the Empire's. The enemy Mana Core Magi, divided into three camps, were also roughly equal in number.
"It would appear several of them have gathered in one location in the central camp," Rekan murmured in amusent. "This makes things easier—"
Suddenly, his words caught in his throat, and his eyes slightly widened. He quickly withdrew his senses as if he had just learned of sothing very terrifying.
The other devils noticed this change. One of them couldn't help but ask solemnly, "What is it? What did you see?"
Rekan remained silent for a long ti. At last, he said in a grim voice, "I sensed soone in the central camp. A shadow… deep, vast, and…"
He subconsciously gulped as a drop of cold sweat trickled down the side of his forehead. "It was terrifying!"
"What!" The other shadowkins were stunned at that revelation.
They couldn't help but wonder just what kind of existence it must be for even Rekan to take it seriously. Not to ntion, this was a lower world.
How could a Magus on such a barren planet cast a shadow so deep and powerful that even a shadowkin devil would be wary of it?
Rekan recalled the words spoken by the lich.
The Dark King!
Assassins were cautious by nature. They did not rush, and they did not take unnecessary risks. Every move was carefully asured, and every detail was considered beforehand.
They only struck when they were absolutely certain the first blow would kill.
If there was even the slightest doubt, an unknown factor, a hidden risk, a chance of failure, they would not act at all. To an assassin, a failed strike was worse than no strike.
And Rekan was soone who had spent a lifeti battling demons in the Eternal War. He was a devil who had honed his prowess after carrying out countless assassinations.
So the mont he sensed the Dark King's shadow, he imdiately knew that this was an individual he could not take down on the first strike.
No… in fact, no matter how many attempts he made, he could not see a way to take down the Dark King!
When he realized this, he couldn't help but involuntarily clench his jaws. The fact that he thought he'd be unable to assassinate soone from the lower world wounded his pride.
But he was no fool. A lifeti of war had taught him when to press forward and, most importantly, when to fall back.
Pride be damned, he thought bitterly.
He quickly gave out instructions, "Attack the key figures only in the eastern and western enemy camps. Do not co anywhere near the command center of the central camp."
The shadowkins were taken aback by Rekan's assessnt. But they did not question his decision.
"Understood!" They acknowledged in unison and dissolved into shadows.
Rekan remained standing for a few monts, gazing toward the distant central camp. Only one thought echoed in his mind:
Just what kind of monster has this lowly world produced?
***
"…You have to be aware of the winged devils," Adam explained to the Magi gathered in the command tent.
"In our world, only the Mana Core Magi have the ability to fly," he continued. "But in Hell, there are weaker beings with this ability thanks to their physiology—"
Suddenly, he paused. His head snapped northward, and his eyes narrowed.
"Adam, what is it?" Anna, who stood beside him, suddenly felt her nerves tighten.
"Nothing, I…" Adam began, his tone uncertain. "I thought I sensed soone gaze in our direction."
"Could it be the devils?" Goro's voice bood in the tent.
Adam turned solemn. "It's likely."
He then turned to everyone and instructed, "Stick together and be on guard. At all tis."
***
In the eastern and western camps' command tents, several Mana Core Magi had gathered around a table, diligently studying Adam's notes on devils and discussing battle plans.
Unbeknownst to them, their shadows rippled.
A mont later…
Devils rose from those shadows.
User Comments
0 comments from readers