After a brief rest, they were ready to resume their journey.
Aengus called out to Avelina.
“So, are there any other Dragon Empire soldiers nearby?” Aengus asked, his voice calm yet carrying an underlying threat.
“And don’t even think about lying,” he added, his gaze sharpening. “We have ways to ensure the truth.”
Avelina flinched under the weight of his words, feeling the piercing stares of the powerful demons surrounding her. Their presence seemed even more oppressive than before, though nothing had visibly changed. It was as if the very air thickened with their power, their eyes locking onto her as if a single lie would seal her fate.
She swallowed hard and answered truthfully, “No, my lord. None remain. There were three thousand more, but they have already left. They decimated a few nearby villages and completed their objectives.” Her voice trembled, betraying her fear of drawing their wrath.
Aengus, his Extraordinary Eyes glowing faintly, scrutinized her words. These eyes allowed him to read emotions and glimpse surface thoughts, while his Dragon Gaze granted him a potent eye attack capable of destruction.
Satisfied that she was telling the truth, Aengus’ gaze softened slightly, though the weight of his presence remained.
On the other hand, Bella and the others harbored a simmering anger toward the outrageous actions of the Dragon Empire—an instinctive reaction, given that they were of the same kind.
Yet, the matter was settled for now, and what else could they do now? Still, that didn’t quell the resentment they felt toward the Dragon Empire.
“Darling, we should return. We’ve been away from our territory for far too long,” Bella reminded him softly.
“Besides, I will have to appoint you as the new Marquis of Fortress City,” she added with a smile, her eyes locking onto his.
Aengus merely nodded. “Okay…” His gaze met hers, but his expression remained cold and indifferent.
Bella Bellfrost sighed in frustration. “Ugh, you’re such a boring man, darling!” She pouted, exasperated by her repeated failures to stir any emotion in him.
Was there truly no way to reach his heart?
Her mind wandered, troubled by the mystery. “What in the world did that Darkness Core do to him?” she wondered silently.
The surrendered Ogres, seeking protection for their people, had also joined the Army of Liberation. Their resentment toward Marquis Reynard, who failed to save them in time, pushed them to submit to the Supreme Leader of the Liberation Army.
Nearly 1,000 Ogres, including their elderly and families, had become part of the growing force.
As a result, a vast army of 3,000 to 4,000 soldiers and civilians could now be seen marching toward the same destination in the distance. It was a rare sight—humans and demons following the same leader in unity and obedience.
From afar, a lone demon stood silently, watching their retreating figures with smoldering eyes. After a moment of tense observation, the figure turned away, leaving in a huff, seething with anger.
—
The journey back to the Dark Swamp took only a few hours, their enhanced power and abilities hastening their pace. Along the way, they encountered a few minor obstacles, but nothing that could truly hinder them. Eventually, they reached the Horned Lizard Tribe, where they gathered the civilians for safety. With the Great War looming on the horizon, they needed to consolidate their strength and prepare for the worst.
From the Dark Swamp, the trek to Dark Valley was short.
Numbering between 4,000 and 5,000 strong, the combined force marched into the shadowed expanse of the Mountain-top Dark Valley.
The demons residing there watched the humans with growing curiosity, their eyes gleaming in the twilight.
“What are humans doing here?” a four-legged demon muttered to a nearby companion.
His companion chuckled darkly. “Maybe they’re foolish enough to trespass on the Lord’s territory. We might just get a human meat feast—who knows?” He wiped the saliva from his mouth, hunger flashing in his eyes.
While Sienna, Sen, and the others helped settle the newcomers, Maid Donna greeted Aengus and Bella with a warm smile, though she still bore the weight of her previous disappointment.
“Welcome back, Lord and Lady! I trust the hunt went well?” she said, maintaining her pleasant demeanor.
“Yes, indeed,” Bella replied with a reassuring smile as she stepped into the hallway. She knew that because of her, Donna had missed an opportunity to gain power.
Turning to Aengus, Bella asked, “Darling, when do you plan to head to Fortress City? You could catch far bigger prey there, though the limelight will be hard to avoid.”
Aengus, moving as though blending into the shadows, responded, “We’ll leave tomorrow. I need time to rest, Bella.”
Both Maid Donna and Bella’s expressions shifted, concern flickering in their eyes.
“Is it the same pain as before?” Bella asked softly, stopping him with a gentle hand. She placed her warm palm against his chest, her worry palpable.
Maid Donna, standing by, didn’t dare interfere. She averted her gaze, but her ears remained keenly attuned to their conversation.
Aengus delicately brushed her hand away from his chest and said, “Yes, it is the soul injury I got a few days ago. Do you know of any remedies that could heal or fortify the soul effectively?”
Bella, unfazed by his gesture as usual, responded, “Ah, Darling, the subject of the soul is truly natural and sensitive. So, they are difficult to come by. However, you already possess a solution.” A slight smile graced her lips as she spoke.
“I have a solution?” Aengus was perplexed by her words.
Bella continued, “You could utilize Naga pearls from Naganians to enhance your soul, though doing so would result in their complete demise, and the benefits would be minimal. Given your unique mutated soul, I doubt it would prove very effective.”
“No, that’s not an option,” Aengus replied, shaking his head to reject the notion. Although he appeared indifferent, he could never bring himself to commit such an unethical act.
Bella anticipated his reaction.
“Then it seems we have only one alternative: we must journey to the Crimson Demon City.”
