Aengus arrived before him, his expression calm as he looked at the Tribe Chief
With a heavy heart, Gourmond loosened his clenched fists and lowered his gaze. “What… would surrender entail my lord?” Gourmond gave in, feeling utterly defeated.
“Surrender your lands, your resources, and your loyalty. In return, your tribe will live under our protection. You will be given power to join our cause. ”
Gourmond hesitated, his pride and duty at war with the harsh reality of his situation. But as he looked around at his people—at their fear, at the hopelessness in their eyes—he knew the answer.
Swallowing his pride, he spoke the words that sealed his tribe’s fate. “We surrender!”
—-
The news of his defeat and surrender quickly spread among the hundred or so combatants of the Horned Lizard Tribe. It was ironic how their fate had been sealed so swiftly. But what choice did they have? Though they carried the diluted bloodline of the black dragon, it wasn’t enough to secure their place in a land ruled by raw power.
A few, driven by pride and foolishness, attempted to resist, but their efforts were in vain. They were swiftly executed, a brutal reminder that disloyalty would not be tolerated.
With the situation settled, Aengus and Bella moved on to their next conquest, now with another hundred Horned Lizard warriors added to their growing army. The ordinary tribespeople were ordered to remain behind, guarded by a few demons, with instructions to head to the Dark Valley at a later time.
—
“Darling, why are you always in such a hurry?” Bella asked with concern as they soared through the sky, their wings cutting through the wind.
“You should’ve taken a moment to rest. I can see you’re struggling to breathe. What’s going on with you, Aengus?”
Aengus, still adjusting to his wings, remained silent, flying ahead without a word.
Bella sighed in frustration. Sometimes, she felt like smacking some sense into him.
“Master, your soul injuries are getting worse. You really need to ease up on using your skills until you find a way to heal your soul,” Manas warned anxiously.
“I know..”
Behind them, Vespera and a few vampires followed at a distance, while on the ground below, his loyal subordinates tried to keep up, racing to match their pace.
“So, sister, where are we headed next?” Sen asked Sienna, a hint of frustration in his voice. “We didn’t even get to fight last time,” he grumbled.
Sienna chuckled. “We’re going to the Orc village next. But don’t get overconfident, Sen. The orcs are known for their bloodthirsty and ferocious nature,” she warned.
“I know, Sister. I’m not a kid anymore. Plus, I’ve received some power boosts from him. I’m close to reaching Greater Demon rank, just like you,” he said with a proud smile.
Sienna’s expression darkened as she furrowed her brows. “Show some respect, Sen,” she said sternly. “He may not be much older than us, but you shouldn’t speak so casually about him.”
Sen let out a sheepish grin. “Oops, I forgot. But, Sister, aren’t you being a bit too protective of our new lord? Is it just respect… or something more?” He smirked mischievously, clearly thinking along other lines.
Sienna’s heart skipped a beat, her face flushing slightly. “What nonsense are you talking about? I was just warning you,” she retorted, flustered. “You’ve become quite bold to tease your older sister like this!”
As the siblings continued to bicker, the hundreds of demons, led by their superior, marched steadily toward the Orc village.
—
After nearly two hours, they arrived near the outskirts of the Orc village and set up camp to rest and regroup before launching their attack.
Aengus and Bella flew ahead to scout the area from the sky, gathering intel on the enemy. However, the scene that unfolded below left them both stunned.
“What… is this?” Bella muttered in astonishment. “How did humans get this far into demon territory?”
Aengus was also equally intrigued.
Below them, just outside the Orc village, a fierce battle raged between hundreds of humans and orcs. The humans vastly outnumbered the orcs and appeared to have the upper hand in the fight.
Aengus couldn’t fully grasp what Bella was saying.
“Bella, if we can cross into the human realm, why can’t they enter back?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Bella shook her head. “You’re missing the point, Darling. We used a special treasure to cross realms, and it only allows a small number of people through. Our mission was to retrieve the Darkness Core from the Dreadnaught Colossus, under the command of Demon Lord Beelzebub. But, as fate would have it, that core ended up inside you.”
“Anyway…” She sighed before continuing. “It’s simply not possible for humans to cross the realm boundary with so many people. Not unless…” her voice trailed off, a terrifying thought crossing her mind.
“Not unless what?” Aengus asked, noticing the sudden shift in her expression.
Bella’s face turned serious. “Not unless the realm boundary has been severely weakened. And if that’s the case, it can only mean one thing: the great war is coming… and it would start very soon.”
“Oh…” Aengus mulled over the news thoughtfully.
This could be an opportunity to catch Beelzebub off guard and weaken his forces. On the other hand, in the worst-case scenario, he could be thrown onto the battlefield as cannon fodder. The Demon Lords wouldn’t hesitate to summon every demon under their command—living or dead.
“Let’s go, Darling,” Bella said, her purple eyes shimmering dangerously. “Let’s see what these humans want and why they’re after our prey.”
Aengus nodded in agreement, and together they descended, their wings beating in unison as they prepared to confront the unknown threat below.
As they descended, dark clouds began to gather overhead, casting an eerie shadow over the landscape. The blood red sun struggled to pierce through the thickening gloom, its rays dimming as if acknowledging the ominous presence of Aengus and Bella. The atmosphere around them grew heavy, filled with a sense of impending conflict.
