The demon army actually halted five miles away, a distance that was threatening yet not quite close enough to be an immediate danger.
This was quite baffling.
Logically, seeing so many of us, their instincts should have taken over.
Yet, they were able to suppress their instincts?
To me, this was almost unheard of.
Demons capable of suppressing their instincts were exceptionally gifted, as their intelligence was far higher than that of average demons.
I simulated many possibilities in my mind, but if the enemy's formation was so organized and solid, it would leave no opening for cavalry. A head-on charge would inevitably come at a painful cost.
"Scout again!!"
"Yes!"
The scout quickly withdrew, but as he left, another knight suddenly approached.
"Reporting! An individual suspected of being a general has emerged from the demon army and wishes to meet with our commander at the front."
What?
Since when did demons follow such gentlemanly etiquette?
Wasn't this a human custom?
"Your Highness, I think this is dangerous. It is better not to go."
Ligeia looked into the distance. Unlike the other knights, Ligeia had rested enough, and the bracelet on her wrist was once again fully charged with elements.
She was my most important trump card. It would be a problem if she failed at a critical moment, so I had hardly let her show her face.
"Can you determine the opponent's level?"
"In response to Your Highness, your subordinate is incompetent and could not get close to him."
The knight's response made me frown.
I still did not know how strong the opponent was, but among these tens of thousands of troops, my safety was at least guaranteed.
In that case... there was no harm in meeting.
"Ligeia, you wait here. Lina, Dominica, follow me."
Hearing my words, Dominica instinctively wanted to dissuade me, but Lina became excited instead.
"Meeting between the two armies? You are quite bold! I like it."
I rolled my eyes at this improper Saintess of War.
"Notify the entire army to clear a path."
Dominica had a hint of worry in her eyes. I knew what she was concerned about and gently patted her shoulder.
"It is fine, I will be alright. Lina is with me. Go on."
Dominica said nothing, nodded, and turned to give the orders.
Soon, the knights in front cleared a path. The Saint's Carriage moved forward slowly, traveling about three miles before finally arriving at the front line.
I looked up and stared at the person in the distance.
It was... a demon who appeared to be a demonized human.
However, unlike Butcher Zuka, this fellow had no women around him. He did not possess that wretched demeanor of a demon, nor did he have their typical ugly appearance.
On the contrary, he was quite handsome, with long hair flowing behind him and a face like a woman's.
This guy actually had feminine features?
Could such a being even survive among demons?
Had he not been targeted by other demons for his looks?
For a moment, my thoughts turned a bit vulgar.
Lina led the ten thousand Black Armored Knights, following closely behind the Saint's Carriage.
When the opponent saw the Saint's Carriage appear, his eyes lit up. A wicked smile played on his lips as he fixed his gaze on me.
Suddenly, he spoke.
"In a thousand years... you are the first to dare set foot on this island so openly. If I am not mistaken, you must be the Saintess of the Moon?"
The demon standing beside him immediately shouted the words across to us.
Standing at the front of the carriage, I had the Sword of Fidelity hanging at my waist. To prevent any accidents, the Moon Banner had already been erected on the carriage.
"It is I. Then I must ask, who are you?"
Lina rode forward and repeated my words loudly to the other side.
The distance between us was about five hundred meters. It was not easy to be heard by voice alone.
Both Lina and the demon beside the general were using elemental vibrations in the air to transmit their voices.
"Nothing much, just a Demon Emperor."
The opponent spoke with a smile, but those words made my heart sink halfway!!
A Demon Emperor!
This was the first time I had faced a level 70 being head-on.
My heart grew cold as I stared at him.
"For a Demon Emperor to lead an army personally, you truly think highly of me. What does the Demon Emperor wish to say? If there is nothing, I shall return."
The man opposite me wore a smile, but his eyes were full of aggression. It felt as if he wanted to pin me to the ground the very next second.
Even at a distance of five hundred meters, this feeling was as clear as if he were right in front of me.
"Saintess of the Moon, I have been planning for so many years. I never expected you to deliver yourself to my doorstep. What trump cards do you actually have? Why not tell me? If I find it troublesome, I might not mind letting you have your way."
Have my way?
These words startled me. Did he already know our strategic plan?
No, impossible!
Only a few top figures knew the entire plan.
He was bluffing!
"Have my way? Do you mean letting me slay you with my own hands? If that is the case, you might as well come over now so I do not have to waste any more effort."
With one hand on my sword hilt, I did not know what kind of personality this Demon Emperor had.
If he suddenly turned hostile, a few hundred meters would not stop him.
However, since I dared to come, I was fully prepared.
"Heh! Saintess of the humans, do you only think of killing me? But you should know, if I were gone, what would happen once these demons become enraged?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a roar suddenly erupted from the distance.
Along with the roar, over a thousand massive figures appeared at the rear of the demon army.
It was the demonized giant race!
The giant race could be considered the most powerful existence on the battlefield.
A casual swing of their weapons could produce the power of a full-strength strike from a level 40.
Even if these demonized giants were not yet adults and had no skills, their physical constitution alone was enough to crush most races on the continent.
Even the powerful Ox-Horse tribe and Lion-Tiger tribe would not want to provoke them.
Let alone the giants who were enhanced after being demonized.
Along with those thousand demonized giants, a black tide appeared in the distance.
I frowned slightly, observing the distance.
I could see that the vast majority of that army consisted of demonized humans, though their equipment clearly indicated they were not regular troops.
Perhaps this Demon Emperor had discovered our arrival and, lacking enough power on the island, had scrambled together whatever demons with a bit of combat ability he could find?
"Luo Li, do not be afraid. Those are not regular troops. They do not even have a proper formation."
"I know."
Lina was worried about me and said this. Of course, I knew they were not regular troops.
However, the numbers were still terrifying.
At a rough glance, there were at least a hundred thousand.
Including the hundred thousand regulars in front of us, there were nearly two hundred thousand demons in total.
On our side, we only had eighty thousand knights. We were being crushed in terms of combat power.
Demons were not a race that could be easily fought. Even if the military strength were equal, the power demons could exert gave them the advantage.
I frowned. The situation was becoming troublesome.
Should I use my trump card or not?
If I used it, victory would be certain, as I was confident I could suppress these demons.
But if I used it now, would it affect anything else?
"Demon Emperor, since I have come this time, I intend to wipe you all out in one go. Saying all this is useless. Let us see the truth on the battlefield."
"Heh! Do you mean to compare our generals?"
The Demon Emperor's smile looked so cold. Compare generals?
Only a fool would agree to that. We were not even on the same level. Why should I compare myself with you!!
"Saint's Carriage, withdraw."
I did not want to talk any further. Whatever happened would be settled on the battlefield. There was no need to waste words with him.
Seeing the Saint's Carriage retreat, the Demon Emperor's brow furrowed slightly. He suddenly raised his hand and aimed it toward me.
I froze, instinctively becoming alert.
But... nothing seemed to happen around me?
Just then, Lina suddenly leaped from her horse, her greatsword blocking the space in front of my eyes.
Looking at the girl's back and her flowing ponytail, the sound that shook the heavens was the clash of metal.
Clang!!
Accompanied by this deafening metallic collision, Lina seemed to take a heavy blow, her body sliding backward.
I quickly reached out and pressed my hand against Lina's back, casting a healing art. Using this surge of vitality, Lina braced herself and kicked her greatsword hard.
Dong—!
Like a tolling bell, the sound echoed around the Saint's Carriage. The massive blade came to a complete stop. Lina frowned and whispered to me.
"Be careful. That was the Demon Emperor's skill."
"I understand."
I responded softly.
At the same time, Lina laughed loudly.
"Demon Emperor of the demons, a dignified level 70 being, can only use such despicable sneak attacks!? How utterly pathetic."
However, the opponent's response left her speechless.
"I am a demon. Since I am a demon, there is no need to talk logic with you, is there?"
Holy crap!
Who taught him to be so confidently illogical?
If Lina hadn't been by my side, I would have been in trouble just now.
"But since you could block my strike, hm... very well. Words are useless. Let the war begin."
Dammit!
Starting a war just like that. Do you think the battlefield is your home?
Uh... actually, it really is his home.
We came here to raid his base. Since we couldn't see eye to eye, let the war begin!
In the distance, the Demon Emperor floated in the air and waved his hand.
"All forces, attack!!"
Holy crap!
Absolutely no tactics at all, just a direct charge?
However, at this point, it was too late to organize anything else.
"Dominica, signal the flags. Flank charge! Do not engage the Demon Emperor head-on!"
"Yes!"
I turned back to look at the Demon Emperor.
Although knights had the advantage in a charge, the problem now was who would stop this Demon Emperor.
If he wasn't stopped, the momentum of the army's charge would inevitably be torn apart.
"Vanguard, prepare for battle!!!"
Amir and Kiran had now arrived beside the Saint's Carriage, each leading nearly five thousand knights to guard it.
Following the Demon Emperor's command, the demon army behind him instantly went wild.
Countless demons let out unintelligible roars, and the earth began to tremble...
The battle had begun!
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