Chapter 990: Demon Commander in person
Crack.
The Seventh Prince clenched his fists tightly, straining to analyze the situation as deeply as possible.
The scattered local soldiers lying on the ground were not the real army. They were more akin to an aerial defense system and a means of territorial control. Their presence made it nearly impossible for warships to move freely in the air, land safely, or establish a base of operations without first engaging in a significant battle.
If the ships ignored these locals and attempted to advance, they would face constant harassment from below. While individually weak, their sheer numbers rendered their attacks impossible to disregard. If the ships attempted to land amidst them, they would swarm from all directions, destroying the vessels.
Keeping the warships in the air wasn't a practical solution either, especially against the instant spatial portals. Amon and his forces could appear directly atop a ship, destroy it, and then move on to the next. In a battlefield swarming with martial emperors, especially one against the True Beginning Empire with its endless innovations, warships are nothing more than a means of transportation.
The only viable option, as the Seventh Prince now understood, was to advance on foot. But deploying ground troops brought its own nightmares. The demons would use those cursed portals to summon an equal number of soldiers, engaging in close-quarters combat almost immediately. They would deliberately integrate into the ranks of their soldiers, disrupting formations, supply lines, and strategic support structures. It wasn't organized combat-it was pure chaos. The demons' goal was simple: to eliminate the possibility of using artillery or the Cataclysm Sealing Cubes.
If the prince deployed 50,000 troops, the demons would counter with 50,000 of their own, throwing them straight into the hearts of his men. Should the prince attempt to use a Cataclysm Sealing Cube to wipe out the demons, he'd inevitably sacrifice an equivalent number of his own troops in the process!
What if he deployed his entire force? His 500,000 soldiers and 600 martial emperors could surely overwhelm any tricks.
"Idiot!" he muttered, slapping his own forehead before shaking his head to refocus.
Deploying the entire army now would be the gravest mistake-a move that would play directly into the demon commander's hands. If he committed all his troops, Sakaar, the supposed demon commander, wouldn't even need to bring in his true army. Instead, he'd open portals to unleash an endless flood of local civilians into the fray. What could 500,000 soldiers do against millions-or even billions of locals?
A massive loss of civilian lives? Clearly, Demon Commander Saksar didn't care. Judging by the terrified expressions of the locals, the demon had likely threatened them into throwing their lives away.
An unfathomable waste of energy pearls? These demons seemed completely indifferent to their value, treating the pearls as if they were more abundant than bread and water.
He couldn't maintain his forces in the airspace over the southern region, nor could he take a step on its soil... He hadn't even set foot in the southern region, yet he was already in a checkmate.
"....." The Seventh Prince's gaze turned fiery with frustration as he glared at Amon, but he knew he had no choice. Taking a deep breath, he reluctantly signaled to his brothers and the generals. "Order the army to retreat to the borders of the central region!"
"Big brother, what are you-?!" The prince who had been laughing moments ago was taken aback by this sudden decision.
"Do it!" The Seventh Prince turned toward his brothers with an air of absolute authority, his piercing gaze holding them in place until they nodded reluctantly and returned to the ships. He watched the massive fleet begin its slow and deliberate retreat until they safely got out of the danger zone.
Turning back to face Ammon, the prince's expression was calm but resolute. "I apologize, but I won't be granting your wish today."
"And you won't achieve yours either," Ammon snapped, irritation evident in his voice. Yet, despite his frustration, he refrained from further provocation.
The demons' mission was unchanging: maintain their stronghold in the southern region and ensure the imperial forces remained paralyzed, while they themselves remained ready for battle at any given moment in case his excellency issued a summon.
"That might not be entirely true," the Seventh Prince smirked, his voice carrying quiet confidence as a faint smile curved his lips. Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and flew back to the mothership. As he ascended the gangway, his voice rang out, low but audible, "I'm not the kind to leave empty-handed, you shall soon know who are you messing with."
"...?" A deep unease settled in Amon's chest, his instincts screaming that the seventh prince was plotting something. It was a sensation he couldn't shake. And soon, his fears were realized.
Vroooom!
The mothership's rear engines roared to life, glowing with an intense blue luminescence that bathed the surrounding area in an eerie light.
"No!!" Ammon's eyes widened in shock as his left arm morphed into a massive cleaver, gleaming menacingly. He lunged toward the ship with all his might, the air around him trembling from his power. But the ship's thrusters ignited with blinding speed.
With a whoosh, the warship vanished into the horizon, accelerating to reach a speed approaching that of light.
Winter's Punchment City-
Whoosh!
The very fabric of space shuddered as the massive ship materialized out of thin air, its arrival heralded by a low hum that resonated through the empty landscape.
"..." From the bridge, the Seventh Prince surveyed the desolate expanse with sharp, calculating eyes. There were no signs of the demon army, nor the scattered soldiers who had been positioned in a meticulously spaced formation just hours earlier. The closest radar signatures of enemy forces were now detected miles away, their absence both puzzling and suspicious.
Then, a glint of metallic light caught his attention from the corner of his eye. He pointed sharply, his voice filled with excitement. "There!"
In the distance, towering against the bleak horizon, stood a massive, intricately designed metallic archway: the southern region's spatial gateway, its imposing structure glimmering ominously under the faint sunlight.
"...Hmm?" But just as his gaze settled on the gateway, another figure drew his attention. A Demon, nearly three meters tall, loomed atop the gateway, monstrous, spiral horns pulsing where his eyes should have been. Around him swarmed an army of what appeared like hideous, blood-colored insects, buzzing nonstop.
"...Are those the infamous Blood Daisys?" As the ship closed in, the prince's breath hitched, his eyes widening in disbelief at the ghastly display. "It's Sakaar- the demon commander
Sakkar!!"
Clank.
The ship's heavy doors slid open, and the Seventh Prince stepped out alone, his figure radiating a commanding aura. The distance between him and Sakaar was now no more than a few hundred meters, close enough for every word to be heard, every subtle expression to be
seen.
"I didn't think my grand prize would double today! Do you think you'll relive your fabled victory of halting one of our fleets single-handedly in this very spot? I'm afraid you've grossly miscalculated..." The prince's voice was laced with both confidence and mockery as he retrieved a dark, foreboding cube from his coat, holding it up like a trophy. "Today will be the last day of your life and one of the most glories of mine!"
"...." Sakaar, his towering form unmoving, stared at the cube with an unnerving stillness. The cube's sinister aura seemed to resonate with his very being, yet his expression betrayed neither fear nor surprise. Slowly, he rose to his full, menacing height, his movements deliberate and almost taunting. "Are you certain you wish to do this? Your brother's end was far from glorious. His miserable shape still I can see even if I don't have eyes, and his screams - oh, they're the lullabies that sing me to sleep these days."
"To kill a dangerous foe like you and destroy an enemy space portal in one fell swoop- well, that's a fair trade for the life of someone as insignificant as me," the prince replied, his calm smile now tinged with a hint of cold determination.
"...I don't believe you," Sakar said, his deep voice reverberating with dark certainty as he tilted his head slightly, his monstrous features contorting in a mockery of thought. "You're not that type of man. You wouldn't sacrifice yourself- not for anyone."