In the following days, Seraphina indeed followed Lina’s instructions, avoiding particularly strenuous activities.
Under the other’s multiple care sessions, she recovered much faster than expected.
Moreover, since she hadn’t taken those potions on time, her body also felt less weak, which was undoubtedly something that made Seraphina joyful.
However, her slight improvement did not dispel the growing unease.
The atmosphere at Blackstone Outpost grew increasingly tense. The messages brought back by patrol teams were more heart-palpitating each time—the lesser demons’ activities were becoming more frequent.
Moreover, they were no longer sporadically and instinctively impacting the outpost defenses as before but began gathering, even showing simple ambushes and flanking.
This was absolutely not intelligence ordinary lesser demons possessed.
“Mhm…… this should do.”
After finishing this dressing change, Lina gave Seraphina good news. “It should be fine in another day or two; this should be the last dressing change.”
Seeing the gradually subsiding swelling and bruising, Seraphina indeed felt the pain was not so obvious anymore. Large movements were completely fine.
Knock knock.
“Your Highness, Commander Bask requests you attend the meeting.”
An urgent voice came from outside the door. Seraphina’s expression instantly froze. “Lina…… you.”
“I’ll go with you.”
Seraphina’s original intent was for her to stay here, but Lina’s answer was unexpected.
“Mhm, alright.”
……
“There must be something behind them driving them!” Bask said gravely at the meeting, his rough fingers heavily thumping the tabletop.
“I personally observed those lesser demons; they are similar to what we’ve always encountered before, but their intelligence is simply not on the same level.”
He pointed to the area marked “abandoned mine pit” on the map. “Scouts report that the abyssal aura there is extremely thick. There is reason to suspect this anomaly originates from here!”
Seraphina sat at the head position, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the tabletop, listening to Bask and several captains’ analyses. The thread of unease in her heart was infinitely amplified.
Lesser demons, usually dumb as bricks, suddenly having “brains”—it must be the work of a “military advisor” behind them.
“Strengthen defenses. The mine pit’s location is no longer Demon Realm territory; its safety has nothing to do with us for now. If they don’t expand their activity range……”
Even Seraphina herself had no confidence in these words. How could lesser demons not invade here? It was just a matter of time.
“Before fully understanding, do not act rashly to avoid unnecessary casualties.”
Seraphina ultimately ordered, her voice striving to remain calm. “Once large-scale gathering is discovered, report immediately. Unless absolutely necessary, do not engage rashly. Those who violate orders may be executed!”
“Yes!”
After the meeting, Seraphina couldn’t help considering her own role. Movira sent her here to use strategy to stop the lesser demons’ attacks.
But…… it seemed strategy wasn’t needed……
No matter how smart lesser demons became, they were just a bunch of brute-force guys, and her own power…… was simply insufficient to confront even the weakest lesser demon.
Even without her, the leaders headed by Bask could formulate suitable plans.
So what was her role?
The orders were still carried out. The outpost was like a bow gradually drawn taut; with a command, it would shoot arrows piercing the air.
Two more days passed in relative calm, occasionally receiving some not particularly urgent information, as if they were just “sightseeing” and retreating after.
Even so, the invisible pressure in the air did not reduce at all. Seraphina could hardly sleep at night. Once this place was breached, her life would be taken as easily as reaching into a bag.
She didn’t want to die……
The slightest rustle could wake her, even though her sleep state was usually very good.
Lina could often hear Seraphina tossing and turning in the middle of the night, along with faint sighs.
At least there was good news: the old gardener had successfully grown a few green leaves on the black land……
Finally, on the third night, the “powder keg” around Blackstone Outpost, continuously added with gunpowder, had its fuse lit in an instant!
A shrill alarm horn tore through the night sky. This time, the urgency and sharpness of the sound far exceeded before!
Seraphina almost bolted up from bed, her heart pounding wildly in an instant.
As if anticipating this, without time to put on her cloak, she rushed out wearing only thin clothes.
Lina, after a brief daze, followed closely.
Outside was chaos. Torches were lit all over the mountains. If not for this incident, Seraphina wouldn’t have imagined Blackstone Outpost had so many soldiers.
Actually, from the battles in the past few days, she had somewhat noticed—because she never saw the same person twice.
“Your Highness!” Bask, fully armed, only revealing a pair of resolute eyes, galloped over. Following closely behind were the five hundred elite demon knights sent by Movira.
“It’s the mine pit direction!”
“A massive number of lesser demons are surging madly, mixed with some huge things!”
Seraphina climbed the nearest watchtower. The cold wind pierced her thin clothes, making her shiver, but the scene before her was even colder than the environment.
In the distant darkness, lesser demons roared like a tide, their numbers far exceeding any previous time.
“Damn it! How did they conceal their aura?!”
It should be known that in these days, Seraphina had never stopped sending soldiers to scout the mine pit, even dispatching Movira’s soldiers several times.
And the information received was just…… a little……
And in that twisted wave, several figures were particularly striking—extraordinarily huge shadows, giant lesser demons far larger than their kind.
Their bloated bodies were covered in rough hardened keratin. Limbs like twisted tree trunks; wherever they passed, the ground trembled slightly.
Several shadow demon soldiers, after multiple assaults, simply couldn’t penetrate the scales on its body!
It was like an enraged giant bear, rampaging on the battlefield, completely unreasonable!
After a brief palpitation, Seraphina quickly turned and shouted to the elite knights below the watchtower. “You, go to the front lines now!”
However, their leader said to Seraphina, “Sorry, Your Highness. His Majesty the Demon King’s order to us is to protect you, and these lesser demons……”
“Shut up!” Seraphina’s brows furrowed tightly, almost roaring. “Once they breach the outpost, this king will also face mortal danger! Leave fifty men; the rest all join the battle! With His Majesty absent, this king is the strongest will!”
To command these knights, Seraphina even changed her self-address to “this king.”