Chapter 561
Kaelen remained calm. "Indeed," he confirmed. "Which is why I’ve called on you to act as my assistant. Together, with our magi-tech system, we must figure out a countermeasure for everyone." He paused, his gaze hardening. "The shield put up by the Sixth-Tier Mage won’t hold on for long, and we can’t depend on them to continue helping. We have to figure something out fast, or we’ll meet our end before even taking a foot into the abyss."
On the other side of the abyss, Vorenza’s subordinates reveled in a grim satisfaction. They watched with glee as the Empire’s army descended into a chaotic period of madness. A surge of temptation ran through their ranks – to strike now, to capitalize on the disarray. Yet, they hesitated, their predatory instincts tempered by caution. They were keenly aware of the three powerful mages, each no less formidable than Vorenza himself, hovering ominously in the clouds above.
Their caution was immediately validated. One of the formidable mages descended, her power rippling outwards, seemingly quelling the most overt psychic assault. The demons, however, were not truly disappointed. This minor setback was merely a ripple in the grand scheme. They knew, with absolute certainty, that this was just the beginning of the Empire army’s descent into a living hell.
This night’s psychic attack was but a brief, introductory wave. From this point onward, the true nightmare would begin. Each fallen demon, each slain Empire soldier, would fuel the next, stronger wave of psychic assault. The battlefield, once a strategic ground, would soon transform into a dance of madness, a spectacle the demons eagerly anticipated. They understood that the true war was not just one of blades and spells, but of minds and sanity.
Back in the Empire, a new and unsettling problem was brewing. For the first time since the invasion began, another Demon King, one who had previously remained aloof and seemingly uninterested in the conflict, had begun to make his move. Before this, his actions, and the Empire’s responses, felt more like a cautious dance, a play-fight where neither side truly pushed for victory.
This Demon King, now identified as Zarvok, surprised the Empire with his first official maneuver. After his recent discussions with Ikenga and Keles, Zarvok’s objective had become crystal clear. He gathered his forces to strategize on how to seize control of the territory where the "Goblin’s Mother" was located.
Zarvok’s overarching goal had always been to conquer this world without inflicting irreparable damage. This objective remained unchanged even as he initiated this new, aggressive offensive. He understood that the "Mother is the goblin empire’s weakness," a leverage point that would ultimately force them to concede their world. Gaining possession of it was now his singular focus, before the war escalated beyond control.
It so happens that Ikenga and Keles had provided Zarvok with the very means to achieve his new objective. He immediately bestowed the two Sixth-Tier souls he received from them upon two of his most trusted subordinates. These two demons had lingered at the peak of the Fifth Stage for over five centuries, awaiting precisely such an opportunity to ascend. Zarvok’s calculated move provided just that.
With this, his power grew exponentially, as he now commanded two Sixth-Tier demons. While their newfound strength elevated them to a status of near-equals rather than mere servants, their deep respect and obedience to Zarvok remained unwavering, a testament to his pivotal role in their transformation.