fynovel Chapter 393: Between Two Armies
Chapter 393: Between Two Armies
Azrynn let out a slow, steadying breath, her hand still pressed against her chest where the warmth of the mana potion was spreading. Her voice carried a note of quiet admission."I’m still not used to using that much mana at once. I end up wasting a lot of it."
Alice’s ears twitched, her dark violet eyes studying Azrynn with something that might have been approval. Her voice carried a note of genuine acknowledgment.
"But you can control the earth like that—with such precision. That’s impressive."
Adam’s internal voice was quiet, surprised.
’Alice... actually complimenting someone? That’s rare.’
Before he could voice the thought, a sharp sound cut through the forest—shouts, distant but growing louder. The three of them tensed immediately, their hands moving instinctively to their weapons.
Adam’s voice was low, sharp. "Something’s happening."
From their vantage point at the edge of the treeline, they could see the Solarian camp in chaos. Mages were forming barriers, soldiers scrambling for formation, and at the center of it all—
A demon assault.
Adam’s eye twitched as he watched the demons pour into the camp, their horns and pointed ears unmistakable even from a distance. He turned to Alice, his voice carrying a note of sharp disbelief.
"What the hell? Demons? Attacking Solaria?"
Alice’s ear twitched, her tail swaying with barely concealed fascination. Her voice was low, curious.
"I don’t know, but it looks like they’re enjoying themselves."
The Solarian commander, a grizzled veteran with a scarred face and a massive greatsword, parried a demon’s strike and shoved the creature back. His voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
"Hold the line! Don’t let them break through!"
A demon soldier lunged at him, twin blades flashing. The commander met the attack head-on, his greatsword carving a devastating arc that sent the demon staggering back with a deep gash across its chest.
The demon commander, a tall figure with spiraling ram-like horns and skin the color of ash watched from the back. A cold, mocking smile curved his lips.
"You humans are so predictable. Always defending, never attacking. No wonder you’re losing this war."
The Solarian commander’s jaw tightened, his voice carrying a note of cold fury.
"Where did you get our location, demon? Who told you we were here?"
The demon commander’s smile widened, his voice carrying a note of smug satisfaction.
"I don’t need to tell you anything. All you need to know is that your outpost is about to fall."
The Solarian commander’s eyes blazed. He raised his sword high, his voice thundering across the camp.
"Mages! Form a barrier! Don’t let them advance any further!"
The mages responded, their hands weaving intricate patterns as a shimmering dome of blue energy materialized around the camp’s inner perimeter. The demon soldiers slammed against it, their weapons sparking against the magical barrier.
The demon commander’s smile didn’t waver. He raised his staff, his voice cutting through the chaos with cold authority.
"Mages! Show them what true power looks like!"
Two demon mages stepped forward, their hands already crackling with dark energy. They chanted in unison, and a wave of shadow erupted from their palms, washing over the Solarian barrier like a tide of black fire.
The barrier cracked. The soldiers behind it screamed as the shadow wave consumed them, their bodies disintegrating into ash.
The Solarian commander’s face went pale, his voice cracking with disbelief.
"High-level magic?! How do you have high-level mages?!"
The demon commander’s smile widened, his voice carrying a note of cold satisfaction.
"Did you think we came unprepared? You humans are so arrogant—you never expect an opponent who can match your strength."
Azrynn’s voice came out in a low, strained whisper, her yellow eyes fixed on the chaotic scene unfolding in the camp.
"This is... a complete mess. Two races fighting each other—right in front of us."
Alice’s tail swayed, her voice carrying a note of cool fascination.
"Interesting. Look at that demon commander—he’s holding his own against the Solarian leader."
Azrynn’s eyes narrowed, her voice carrying a note of reluctant observation.
"I don’t understand why they’re fighting. The Solarian camp wasn’t supposed to be attacked."
Alice’s voice dropped, sharp and certain.
"Someone must have leaked their location. Either that, or the demons have been tracking them all along."
Azrynn’s voice was quiet, her brow furrowing.
"How are the demons this organized?"
Adam’s crimson eyes swept the camp, his posture still concealed by the camouflage. His voice came out low, thoughtful.
"This doesn’t look like a small raid—it’s a full assault. Whoever’s leading these demons isn’t just aiming to cause chaos; they’re trying to take control."
Alice’s dark violet eyes narrowed, a note of cold realization creeping into her voice.
"This is how conflicts start—one side pushes too far, and the other responds. And then it spreads. What we’re seeing right now could set off a chain of events that affects the entire region."
Adam’s gaze fixed on the demon commander—a tall figure with a staff that crackled with dark energy. His voice was low, measured.
"That demon commander is remarkably skilled in group tactics. You can see the experience in every move he makes. We need to stay cautious and try to read the situation before we act."
Alice’s ear twitched, her voice flat.
"Or we could just watch them burn each other out and leave. That’s the smarter move."
Azrynn nodded slowly, her voice carrying a note of grim agreement.
"She’s right. Getting involved would only drag us into something we don’t need. Let them fight."
Adam’s voice came out quiet, but carried a note of reluctant honesty.
"I know. But I can’t help being curious—what’s a demon commander doing this far out? And why attack a Solarian supply outpost?"
Alice’s ears flattened, her voice sharp with panic as she shot Adam a desperate glare.
"Don’t do anything stupid, Adam! Remember, we’re infiltrating here to stay hidden! If we get caught, everything falls apart!"
Before Adam could respond, the demon commander’s voice cut through the chaos, smooth and cold. He twirled his staff, and behind him, a spectral aura began to take shape—ghostly figures writhing and twisting, their forms barely visible but unmistakably present. His voice carried a dark, commanding edge.
"Well then. It’s time to wipe out these humans entirely. Leave no one standing."
The Solarian commander’s face went pale. His voice cracked with recognition.
"That staff... don’t tell me you’re the Soul Reaper?"
The demon commander didn’t answer. Instead, one of his subordinates stepped forward—a demon with a chilling aura and eyes as dark as void. His voice was low, sharp, carrying an edge of cold certainty.
"Commander. There are others nearby."
The demon commander’s eyes gleamed with surprise. A slow, amused smile spread across his face. His voice carried a note of dark delight.
"Hoh? This is unexpected. Show yourselves."
The Solarian commander’s eyes darted around, his voice sharp with suspicion.
"Others? What others?!"
Alice’s tail shot straight up, her voice cracking with panic.
"I told you! This is bad! We’ve been found!"
Adam let out a low, resigned sigh, his hand already moving to dispel the camouflage. His voice carried a note of dry resignation.
"Can’t be helped."
The camouflage shimmered and faded, revealing the three of them standing at the edge of the treeline. Adam’s voice carried a note of reluctant honesty as he met the demon commander’s gaze.
"I didn’t expect anyone to detect us. That Null-Sense Ward Orb was supposed to be a decent artifact."
The demon commander’s smile widened, his voice carrying a note of cold amusement.
"Your artifact is not the issue. Your soul, however, is quite distinct. It carries a... lingering presence. My subordinate is attuned to such things."
Alice’s voice came out in a low, pointed mutter, her cat ears flat against her head.
"Knew it. I said this was a bad idea."
Adam’s voice was calm, meeting the demon commander’s gaze without flinching.
"We’re not here for a fight. We were just passing through."
The demon commander’s smile didn’t waver. His voice carried a note of cold curiosity.
"Passing through? At a time like this?"