War clouds hung over Redstone City.
At dusk, Nova stood on the walls and could see cooking smoke rising from the distant demon camp.
In the other direction, a long line of people fleeing the city snaked away.
Though only a detached demon force was coming, Earthpeak Fort, famed for defensibility, hadn’t lasted two days. No one believed Redstone City would fare better.
Nova’s heart was equally uneasy.
“It’s confirmed,” a lazy voice came from the shadows. Nightowl had appeared unnoticed in the corner, stretching her long body inelegantly. “Leading them is Xenophon, that pighead duke.”
“Xenophon!” Nova’s eyes lit up at the name!
“Hey, hey, you’re not still thinking about that decapitation plan, are you?” Nightowl raised an eyebrow. “That’s not temple-tier; it’s a duke! Did you stuff your head with magic crystals like the old mage and fry your brain?”
“I’m perfectly clear-headed.” Nova stood and paced the battlements. “If it were any other duke, I’d turn and run. But Xenophon is different… He was gravely wounded by the Sword Saint and definitely hasn’t recovered. This fragment’s greatest power is amplifying life loss from wounds. If we hit him, we have a real chance to cripple or even kill him!”
His tone grew more excited. “And from what I know, Xenophon is a famous meathead. If we taunt him as the weaker side, he’ll probably take the bait!”
Nightowl wasn’t convinced. “Too many assumptions. What if his wounds healed? What if he ignores provocation? What if the branch can’t kill him?”
“Then,” Nova stopped pacing and said calmly, “probably only you could escape alive.”
“Why go this far?” Nightowl’s voice carried confusion. “We could fight symbolically, then slip away in the chaos. That’s defensible to the kingdom. Why risk our lives?”
“This is a gamble!” Nova turned to his teammate, eyes burning. “Win, and we’re undisputed heroes of the United Kingdom! Fame, wealth, power! As long as the kingdom survives this war, we’ll have everything! Didn’t you always want to set up those weird trap enforcements? Become landed nobles and you can do whatever you want in your territory. Though I bet you’d turn it into a mess.”
Nightowl pouted but didn’t argue.
Nova took a deep breath and continued. “And Gar, Ivan, and I don’t want to see the kingdom completely crushed by the Empire. That future… is too bleak.”
Nightowl stared at Nova for a long while, then suddenly reached out.
“What?”
“The branch! I’m a shadow walker; best suited for ambush. Plus I’m an elf; long lifespan. You’re already going gray at the temples. One full-power use and you’ll croak. Fame, wealth, power? Dream on.”
Nova knew she was right and smiled bitterly. He solemnly placed the Heartwood in her hand. “Remember: if the first strike fails, run with it immediately. Don’t use it twice… it’ll kill you.”
“I’m not suicidal.”
Clang!
A sudden metallic clatter made both instantly alert. They quickly found the source: a fallen standard-issue guard spear.
“Which lazy bastard left their weapon lying around?” Nova frowned, walking over, thinking wind must have knocked it over.
Nightowl said nothing, eyes scanning rapidly.
Seconds later she dove into the wall’s shadow.
Moments after, she burst from the shadow in front of Nova, black dagger pinning a similarly black, ethereal bug to the wall.
The bug struggled silently, then died. Its body rapidly decomposed and vanished without a trace.
“What is that?” Nova’s face was grave; he hadn’t sensed it at all.
Nightowl clearly didn’t know either. “Never seen it, but it lurked in shadows. Probably a demon trick.”
Nova nodded and hurried down the wall to rearrange and strengthen patrols.
…
…
Sunset. The demon camp not far from Redstone City was still “lively.”
“AAAAAH—!”
A snakefolk missing half his tail writhed in agony on the ground, but no one spared him a glance.
Nearby, a circle of demon soldiers nervously held torches, closing in on the center. Firelight illuminated a black shadow darting left and right, trying to escape the heat.
“Tighter! Tighter! Don’t let it get away again!”
“Close the circle!”
“It’s coming… it’s coming!”
A shadow bug leaped into the air, instantly shot through by a lizardman arrow. Cheers erupted.
But the cheers were soon interrupted by another distant scream. Soldiers had to raise torches again and rush, under officers’ scolding, to the next disturbance.
Similar chaos broke out everywhere in camp.
Inside the central tent, Duke Xenophon’s abdominal sword wound ached faintly. The outside clamor made rest impossible. He angrily threw open the tent flap to vent, only to sense something odd overhead.
His long axe flashed coldly. A balloon-like monster burst.
With its death, a nauseating stench spread. No poison, just unbearable odor that clung to the tent.
“Clang!” The axe slammed into the ground. “Only these cheap tricks!”
An aide, more knowledgeable, stepped forward. “Your Grace, these should be abyssal summons.”
“Abyssal? Like Velariss’s abyss beast?”
“Yes, but far weaker. Likely a group of low-tier dark mages causing trouble.”
Xenophon sneered. “Humans preach banning abyssal magic, but when death stares them down, they use it anyway! Since they’re summons, find those dark mages and chop them into goblin feed!”
The aide lowered his head awkwardly. “Subordinates have searched, but… the enemy hides too well…”
“A bunch of dark mages and not one found…” Xenophon stared at the aide who didn’t dare look up and snorted coldly.
His pig brain flashed with insight. “They’re stalling for time. Pass the order: no matter how anyone sleeps tonight, at dawn tomorrow, full army assaults Redstone City!”
With that, he returned to his tent, ignoring the camp’s disturbances.
…
Meanwhile, hidden in multiple anti-detection arrays, Aidin, looking like he had overdosed on mana potions, sat beside the Puchi working hard to fish summons from the abyss. It was even getting irritable. “No more shadow bugs or stink bugs, you trash! Eighty-plus pulls; time for something good, right?!”
(End of Chapter)
