Chapter 240: A Sudden Change of Atmosphere
Meanwhile…
In a large tent, located tens of kilometers from the human troops’ camp, five figures—four men and one woman—gathered around a table laden with fruits and beverages.
They were the leaders of the Demon Race troops: Archdemon Heidel and Demon Generals Lilith, Teran, and Garan.
At this moment, they were engaged in a lively discussion about the war, savoring the fruits and beverages on the table, their expressions reflecting their hidden satisfaction.
“Archdemon Heidel, I didn’t expect that with Her Majesty the Demon Emperor’s strategy, we could hold off humanity’s army and gain the upper hand while minimizing our own losses,” Teran said, eating grapes with an indifferent tone but evident excitement.
Beside him, Garan, who was also enjoying the fruits, nodded in agreement.
“Teran’s right; I was equally surprised,” Garan said, his voice tinged with curiosity. “This is the first time I’ve seen such tactics in a war. Though a bit underhanded, they’re remarkably effective, and I’m very curious about how Her Majesty the Demon Emperor devised this strategy.”
In his previous wars against the Sword Hero, he had always engaged in direct combat without considering complex strategies.
As a result, he had faced constant defeat, leaving him deeply frustrated.
Now that he had seen the profound effect of strategy on battle outcomes, he recognized how misguided he had been in the past.
Had he employed a variety of war strategies, he might have defeated the sword hero back then.
Meanwhile, Lilith, who had overheard the conversation, rolled her eyes and shook her head slightly.
“Even though we currently have the upper hand, we must remain cautious. Humanity’s troops are formidable, and they will undoubtedly take measures to counter our strategy,” she said with a cold and indifferent tone.
In this battle, she had encountered a worthy opponent, one who might even be slightly stronger than herself.
Rain Violet, the Great Mage of the Human Race, was indeed a formidable mage with extraordinary talents and abilities.
During their battle, she witnessed Rain Violet effortlessly casting multiple high-level spells simultaneously, which greatly astonished her.
High-level magic was inherently mana-draining, and performing several such spells at once could quickly deplete one’s mana reserves.
Moreover, mastering the technique of simultaneous high-level spellcasting was exceptionally challenging, even for a sovereign mage like herself.
Thus, she had to concede that Rain’s talent and ability were indeed superior to her own.
‘If only someone like her had been born into our Demon race, it would be a tremendous asset,’ she thought with some regret as she sipped her hot tea.
Meanwhile, Heidel, standing across from the three, sipped his coffee with a faint smile.
“Lilith is correct—we must not become overconfident about our current success. The human race is known for its cleverness and cunning, traits that surpass our own. Therefore, we must always be prepared for any unexpected moves they might make,” Heidel advised calmly, like an elder imparting wisdom.
As an archdemon with extensive war experience from fighting alongside the Demon Emperor in the previous era, Heidel’s insight was deeply rooted in experience.
In the past, Heidel had witnessed the human troops, led by the three heroes of that era, overthrow the Demon Emperor and several other archdemons, making him experience fear for the first time.
As a result, despite their current success, Heidel was unwilling to be careless, wary of the possibility that history might repeat itself.
Teran and Garan nodded in agreement with Heidel’s statement, immediately dispelling any feelings of arrogance they had.
“By the way, Archdemon Heidel, may I ask you something?” Teran inquired, his expression a mix of hesitation and curiosity.
Heidel nodded slightly and replied, “Certainly, Teran. Feel free to ask.”
Teran took a sip of his tea before asking, “Archdemon Heidel, I’ve noticed that Sword Hero Leon Kruger is absent from the human lineup. Does this mean he truly was defeated by Demon Emperor Liliana?”
Despite widespread reports from the Holy Empire of Elysium and general belief among the Demons, Teran remained somewhat skeptical.
He had fought Leon several times and knew firsthand how formidable his power was, making him doubtful about the hero’s death.
Teran’s sudden question caught Garan and Lilith by surprise, their interest quickly becoming evident. Lilith, in particular, displayed a mix of agitation and curiosity.
Heidel didn’t respond right away, instead continuing to sip his coffee with a calm demeanor.
After a moment, he set his cup down and turned to Teran, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
“The sword hero Leon Kruger is not dead yet,” Heidel said briefly, causing Teran, Garan, and Lilith to freeze, their eyes widening in shock.
“Not dead yet? If that’s the case, then—” Teran began, but before he could finish, a demon soldier in heavy armor burst into the tent, his hurried steps and panicked expression catching everyone’s attention.
“Apologies for the interruption, generals! I have urgent news to report!”
Heidel, Teran, Garan, and Lilith were momentarily taken aback but quickly shifted to a state of alertness.
“Urgent news? Tell us immediately!” Garan demanded in a loud, stern tone, causing the demon soldier to momentarily falter before regaining his composure.
“Generals, we’ve received word from our spies on the front line that the human troops have retreated from the Desert of Chaos,” the demon soldier announced, his voice trembling.
Teran, Garan, and Lilith were momentarily stunned, disbelief etched on their faces.
“Retreating from the Desert of Chaos? Are you certain this information is accurate?” Teran asked urgently, his expression somber.
The demon soldier nodded vigorously, his panic still evident.
“This news has been confirmed as true, General Teran,” the demon soldier reported, causing Teran, Garan, and Lilith to exchange puzzled and astonished glances.
Heidel, however, remained calm and indifferent, continuing to sip his coffee.
“There’s no need for such an alarm,” Heidel said lightly. “It might only cause unnecessary panic.” His words prompted Teran, Garan, and Lilith to take a moment to compose themselves.
Once calmer, Teran turned to the demon soldier and issued his order: “Inform the rest of the Demon troops to stay on high alert and keep monitoring the human forces. Report to us immediately if anything unusual occurs.”
The demon soldier quickly nodded and replied, “Yes, General Teran!”
He then hurriedly exited the tent, leaving Teran, Garan, Lilith, and Heidel behind.
As the soldier departed, the three remaining figures turned to Heidel with serious expressions.
“Archdemon Heidel, what should we do now?” Lilith asked, her brow slightly furrowed.
Heidel set down his coffee cup and met their gaze with a calm and steady demeanor.
“For now, maintain the troops in a state of readiness and stay vigilant,” Heidel instructed in a nonchalant tone. He then turned his gaze to Lilith and added, “Also, promptly inform Her Majesty the Demon Emperor of this situation.”
The three nodded in unison, responding, “Yes!”
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