The Demon Horde was slow, most of them dealing with cramps and stomach flus that they had seemed to catch over the last couple of weeks.
Lezar smiled as the afternoon turned to night. Hidden amongst the Demon Horde were his own DCA soldiers. It had been easy for them to get into the camp.
The Demon Horde didn’t care who walked beside them; they just weighed whether it was worth stabbing them for what they had or not. The Demon Horde was growing in strength, due to their uncaring murder of one another to take another’s belongings and food or to eat them.
“Tonight’s the night.” Krenua stood beside Lezar.
“That it is,” Lezar said. “I am surprised that it has taken the Horde so long to start making leaders. If either of the plans are pulled off, then it will be the beginning of the end.”
“It does feel good to have a purpose once again. When seeing the Demon Horde, I can understand why the trust that we’ve built up within the Devil’s Crater Army is so useful. Without it, we wouldn’t be much better than the rabble down there,” Krenua said, a look of disgust on his face.
Lezar grunted in agreement and took one more look at the advancing Horde. Some were trying out their ability at flying, but it took time to understand how to do it properly. It also made beginner fliers vulnerable. It was easy to throw a rock at a new flier and bring them to the ground, stunned and weakened for another attack. Only the strongest Demons, those who had grouped together, or were just plain stupid, tried out flying.
“Without their aerial abilities, we’re going to be able to bleed them on the ground. Their loss of mobility is going to be essential for completing this. Make sure that you target the winged ones first.”
“There are only a third of them with wings—most of which have wounded wings. You can see the winged ones starting to group together as we had within our own horde when we crossed these plains. You and your brothers were the first of us to learn how to not only fly, but to fight while flying,” Krenua said.
“Exactly. Wings give them mobility and advantages. Tonight, we’ll take out the leaders among the Demon Horde. The more chaos within their ranks, the longer it will take them to reach Devil’s Crater and the more we can bleed them.” Lezar’s stony features turned into a cold, pleased smile.
“I’ll head down to the rest of the groups waiting. It will feel good to cut these ingrates down a bit.” Krenua looked over the two million-strong Demon Horde. His heart beat fast, a mix of excitement of battle and the fear of death that followed it.
“Good luck, Krenua. Bring me their heads.” Lezar held out his arm.
Krenua braced forearms with the general. “We’ll sow the ground with their blood,” Krenua promised.
Lezar nodded.
Krenua headed down the hill that they were using to watch the slowing Demon Horde getting ready to make camp for the night. Krenua jogged through the forest, his footfalls light as he made nearly no sound in his movements. It was only through his mini map that he was able to find the Demons assigned to the mission, every one of which from Lezar’s brigade.
They had traded their service clothes for rags in most places. For this mission, the Beast Kin were held back, as a very last resort. For this to go off without a hitch, the Demon Horde would have to think that their leadership was killed from within.
Krenua waited and looked over his interface, checking the linked scouts who were updating the map constantly with where the Demon Horde’s people were.
The Demons who had already inserted themselves into the Demon Horde camp also ran updates on certain high-value targets.
Dusk turned into night. Demons tried to hunt food down. Brawls started between the hungriest. With no meat to be found, the Demon Horde was not averse to killing their own and cooking them for sustenance.
Still, the DCA waited. The night came and the biggest fights came and went. Darkness descended as the Demon Horde started to fall asleep. The night’s air smelled metallic, telling of the victims who had already fallen.
“Go,” Lezar said over the brigade-wide channel.
The Devil’s Crater Army started to stand up in groups and headed into the Demon Horde’s camp. They looked like hunters who were just coming in late. Around fifteen thousand of the DCA soldiers were part of the operation. Facing over two million other Demons, it was hard to figure out that they were part of the same group.
Krenua waited for his group’s turn. They moved forward, relaxed and muttering among themselves as they got closer to the camp.
“Hope that there’s some damn meat to be had in the camp,” Krenua said as they walked.
“Well, if there isn’t, then we’ll have to make some of our own,” another said with a bloodthirsty smile.
“Look at these idiots—more scared of one another than of the creatures that should be in this area.” Ilia shook her head.
The camp seemed to be formed into a sort of arena: Demons around the outside, with the interior empty except for those brawling. The Demon groups had their backs to the forest as they watched their fellows they thought of as a larger threat than the natural beasts.
Krenua shook his head, agreeing with Ilia’s observation. “Easier for us,” Krenua said, as they moved toward the marked targets. “Spread out so we don’t look like a group.”
They moved apart. A Demon made a pass at Ilia, slapping her ass. Her sword took off his arm; his leering smile turned into a howl of pain before she slit his throat. He made choking noises, causing three other Demons to draw their crude stone weapons and move up to help. Their faces showed looks of shock as they saw blades suddenly emerging from the Demons’ chests.
The DCA left the dying Demons.
It’s pretty messed up that we’re kind of killing our younglings. They were made from the same base as us, though they’re pure destruction. The Dark Lord’s perfect tools: they’re dumb, strong, and loyal as long as they’re fed. Simple fact is that they’re coming to destroy my home and do that sadistic fuck’s dirty work.
“What are you doing?” a large Demon said as Krenua walked past him.
The Demon didn’t feel anything as Ilia’s blade cut out the tendons in his knee, dropping him down before she took his head off in a powerful blow.
“Killing you,” Krenua said, not feeling an ounce of guilt as he moved into the sleeping area. Other groups of DCA moved into the area at the same time.
Krenua walked under a low-hanging tree to see three Demons wrapped in their wings, sleeping around a tree. One of them looked around, her hand resting on her weapon.
Krenua didn’t give her time to react, putting his blade through her eye and into her skull.
She slumped to the ground. Krenua dispatched another Demon a second after; the third rustled in his sleep but didn’t rise.
Krenua made sure they would never wake from their slumber. The rusty smell of freshly spilled blood made Krenua’s stoic expression turn into a grin similar to Lezar’s.
DCA who had been hidden within the Demon Horde moved on their targets. Fifty thousand Demons died in a few short hours. Not a large number compared to the mass of Demons, yet nearly every one of them had been the strongest of the Horde. Potential leaders and groups were quashed in a night, while the most aggressive ones were left alive.
“Pull back. Good work,” Lezar said. The DCA melted back into the forest.
Krenua stayed up the few hours left until morning, watching the Demon Horde camp. Before night turned into day, movement started to fill the camp. It seemed that word had been passed. By the time the sun had risen, the remaining groups, the bottom feeders and the more aggressive ones were pulling themselves together.
Krenua watched as a battle played out in the middle of the camp. The open area in its center turned into a gladiator pit.
The Demons would probably level up but without leadership and their mistrust, it was like the first days they came to Emerilia. It was a free-for-all.
“We kill fifty thousand; they kill nearly two hundred thousand. Th
at’s what I call a strategic advantage.” Lezar watched the scene with Krenua.
“What do we do now?” Krenua asked.
“Nightly raids; I want to fan the flames. The more time we hold them back here, the longer Efri gets with his traps. I want them disorganized, sleep deprived, and unwilling to trust one another when we hit them.” Lezar looked to Krenua.
“I’ll see to it.” Krenua nodded and looked back to the camp one more time. Once they clear Efri’s traps, then they’ll be at Devil’s Crater and the real battle will start.
***
Josh watched the interface in front of Florence disappear. For a few moments, there was nothing. Then, the drop pad’s runes lit up. There was a flash of light as the drop pad had disappeared. In its place was a teleport pad. A control terminal sat on top of it.
Everyone looked around, as if stunned by what had just happened. It didn’t seem as nearly ground-breaking as they’d thought.
Josh knew that with time, this would change. It wasn’t having the teleport pad that would change Emerilia; it was what they did through the teleport pad.
“Get the control terminal off and put it in the control room,” Florence said.
Two Stone Raiders grabbed the terminal, moving it off to the control room on one side. The entire area around the teleport pad had been made for speed and efficiency as well as defense. They wanted to be able to control what went through the teleport pad immediately.
The teleport pad hummed with power; the Stone Raiders’ hands went to their blades.
A portal opened, showing Lucy on the other side.
“Well, it looks like it worked. Congratulations.” Lucy smiled at Florence.
“I didn’t think that it would there for a bit.” Florence laughed.
Lucy stepped from the guild hall and out into Verlun. The portal closed behind her.
“Ah, just had to ramp up the excitement!” Josh said.
“Yeah, ramping up the excitement has nearly turned me into a nervous wreck,” Lucy said dryly.
“Well, anyway, I have to get back to planning out a fight. I’ll see you ladies later,” Josh said, seeing that they were eager to catch up.
“Fine, go have fun. We’ll get your supplies sorted out.” Lucy waved Josh away like some annoying mosquito.
Josh grinned and headed for the control room, where the teleport pad’s controls were. As much as he was excited by the things going on in Verlun, when he thought about the impending war that was going to happen at Devil’s Crater, he couldn’t help but feel more excited.
Fellox’s hundred grand is as good as mine! What the hell can they do that compares to an entire war between two different groups of Demons with Beast Kin thrown in? Bloody hell, it’s nerve-racking, it’s nuts, and it’s bloody brilliant!
***
“What?” Geswald held his pipe in his numb hands.
“From the sources that we have, we’re getting reports that the Stone Raiders have installed a teleport pad at their new headquarters in Verlun. They are starting to talk to local businesses. We believe that it was put into place a few days ago. With their standing treaties with other nations for fighting on their behalf, their network is expanding rapidly,” Pete said.
Geswald looked at the man blankly. His eyes moved around the office he sat in but didn’t settle on anything. “What kind of monsters are they that they can buy a teleport pad? Where did they even get the drop pad from?”
Pete cleared his throat. Geswald’s eyes focused on him again.
“We have heard rumors of a member of the Stone Raiders being a Dwarven Master Smith. I think that is how they were able to make it. Three days ago, there was another teleport pad connected. This one in a town called Cliff-Hill. It’s an insignificant place, but the only place in Opheir other than Nadorf. They are connected to a Human city, Omal, as well as an Elven forest, Kufo’tel, and the Mithsia Mountains. Trade goes through the village, where they have large smithies and a ceramics factory. I have been looking into these factories and the smithies through the connections in the traders’ guild. They’re owned by the same person, Dave Grahslagg, the reported Dwarven Master Smith. He has multiple patents on different items and it seems that he is responsible for using all of the smithy and ceramics factories’ income to buy a teleport pad,” Pete said.
“So, the Stone Raiders basically bought two teleport pads in as many days. They call a Dwarven Master Smith one of their people and they can somehow get goods from somewhere on a near-constant basis?” Geswald sat back in his chair, feeling much older.
The guildmaster was right. I’ve never seen a guild have this kind of power before.
“We need to cancel all plans that we have with the Stone Raiders. They are not a group we want to anger. We can maybe pressure them in some way, but direct confrontation will lead to nothing,” Geswald said firmly, relieved that he had been held back from his hasty attack plan he’d made just a few weeks ago.
“Yes, master,” Pete bowed, wincing as he said the next sentence. “Lord Esamael received the same information as us a few hours before. He sent a message for you.”
“Well, out with it.” Geswald frowned.
“Lord Esamael, upon hearing that there is a second teleport pad held within fifty miles of his own teleport pad, has expressed his displeasure at the current situation. He wants us to do something about them. If we do not, then he will increase the cost of using the teleport pad, as well as taxes, while doing his best to interfere in our businesses. He said it in more flowery language.”
“Did he send his message to just us?” Geswald asked darkly. His mind worked to try to figure a way to balance himself between the Stone Raiders and Lord Esamael.
“No, he sent it to a number of merchants and traders. We have already received complaints from a few of them.”
“Esamael is a powerful man. His family has owned this town and its teleport pad for many generations. They’re more powerful than most kings. Their power is only beaten by the actual King of Gudalo on this continent. Even with no standing army, their ties make them strong indeed. With the new information about the Stone Raiders, we’re going to have to tread very carefully,” Geswald warned.
“Yes, master,” Pete said.
“Send word to the council in town that we need to discuss these latest developments.”
“I will see to it personally.” Pete bowed before he left the room.
Geswald looked around his office. He had been excited with the thrill of the hunt and his opportunity to show others his real power and crush a group of Players. It would have been perfect. Now that he knew of their true strength and pulled back his plans, he was getting forced from another direction to try to carry them out.
I need time to figure it all out, to see a way of keeping Esamael happy while not angering the Stone Raiders too much.
***
Lord Esamael drank wine from his ornate glass. It was handcrafted straight from Markolm. It was worth a small village’s income for a year. He didn’t really taste the wine that was worth more than a farmer’s yearly expenses. Opulence wasn’t an acquired taste; it was a standard to him.
He had silver hair and bright blue eyes. His jawline and well-groomed hair would make many girls swoon for him. He was well-built, the physique of a man who took his physical training seriously.
He let out an angry breath as he drank from his glass again. His eyes were fixed on the horizon. In the direction of his gaze lay Verlun. The Esamael family had not gotten to their seat of power through sitting back and letting others walk all over them. They were well versed in the art of backroom deals and non-physical arm-twisting.
Anyone who didn’t fall in line, they put them in place with force. They might not have a big standing army, but they controlled the gangs and crime in the region. Accidents weren’t all that uncommon.
I will have that teleport pad and I will get those Players to either leave or submit. They might be immortals, but they’re still weaker than my own forces and I
know where they respawn.
He drank deeply from his cup.
He had issued his orders out to the traders and other groups to start the discreet pressure. If the Stone Raiders didn’t take the hint, then Esamael would be forced to take things into his own hands. He was the law here. No one liked being in a cell for months; even the immortal Players usually changed their bodies after a few months.
Esamael turned from the balcony and headed into his castle.
Chapter 1: Eye Opener
Alkao watched as crate after crate of weapons moved out of the teleport pad. The Earth and Dark mages had been hard at work, raising what was going to be the new capital city of Devil’s Crater. Alkao had decided to call it Unity. It was meant to show how the Demons and Beast Kin had come together to make a place for them to live together. It was four kilometers wide, with a hundred-meter-wide moat around it. If the city expanded, then more moats would be put out every few kilometers.
The amount of earth that Fornau had moved was simply incredible. The Stone Raiders were only adding to his work. Unity had been on a slight rise; their efforts had turned it into a decent-sized hill.
Homes had sprouted from the ground, creating barracks and defensible structures around the teleport pad that was off center of the city. Administration buildings had been the first things to go up. Homes and shelters had also been formed.
Roads cut through the ground, making a road system for buildings that weren’t there yet. Each road was four wagons wide, with a sidewalk. Beneath it, something called a sewer system had been installed, as well as a running water system like what Alkao had seen with the Dwarves.
The Stone Raiders’ magical abilities made Alkao shake his head.
“Something the matter?” Anna asked from beside him.
“It’s just—seeing all of this. I didn’t think it was possible. The work that the Stone Raiders have done to help us. It’s incredible,” Alkao said.
“You’re on credit for the damn weapons, but with the rest of it, it’s more just seeing what they can do. It’s become something of a competition and it’s one way to level up skills they haven’t used before. I think most of them are grinding out their builder skill. There’s nothing much else to do until we start tearing the Demon Horde apart.” Anna looked over the growing city.
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