Rise of The Demon General

Amon came out of the sealed room after half a day. There was no apparent change to his body, internal or external. He wasn’t surprised. This was his first application. He had to repeat it a lot more times before he could see a result.

Thankfully, there was no disruption from the outside world. Lin Li informed him that several spirit beasts had tried to enter the cave, but they were weak. She and the battle puppets chased those beasts away. Amon complimented her for a job well done. She, the battle puppets, and the prison box returned to the black space ring.

Amon left the cave and went in the direction of Venal Virtuous City. That should be where his efforts all this year culminated.

*

With their domain lords gone, the Commitment and Mercy Domains fell into chaos. They couldn’t mount a good blockade against the zombie plague. Hence, the Undead Pestilence Poison spread more rapidly within these two domains.

After Yao Ai was abducted, Diu Cay was forced to split his force into two halves. One-half returned to the Mercy Domain to help the locals fend off the zombie plague. The other half remained in the Devotion Domain, searching for Yao Ai. This, of course, put them in constant conflict with the Devotion Faction’s army led by Hai Lao.

After several violent encounters, Hai Lao learned that Yao Ai had been missing, and Diu Cay was searching for her. Their battle became a race to see who could find Yao Ai first. Of course, they still fought each other whenever they met. The more enemies each side took out, the less manpower the other side had to look for the missing domain lord.

As for the other half of Hai Di’s army that was left behind in the Commitment Domain, they were ordered to return to deal with the zombie plague.

Because of the plague, most of the three factions’ forces were focused on the Southern side of their domains, except for Diu Cay’s and Hai Lao’s armies, which were looking for Yao Ai. These two forces were on the southwestern side of Devotion Domain.

Six days after the zombie plague’s outbreak, another development took everyone by surprise, especially the Devotion Faction. Out of the misty border located at the Devotion Domain’s northern part, a massive horde of Cryanids emerged.

They were like an unstoppable tidal wave. They swarmed the settlements near the border and took them down in a mere one day. They then moved south with haste. They encountered little resistance because most of the human forces were concentrated on the southern part of the domains. In just a few days, they were already deep into the Devotion Domain, without any sign of stopping.

*

In Venal Virtuous City, Hai Di was reading a report while frowning. He originally wanted to join Hai Lao in hunting Yao Ai, but he cancelled that intention after hearing about the zombie plague and Yao Ai’s disappearance. He decided to remain in the capital and continue recuperating, while waiting for further news before making his move. He had a hunch that the crisis was not yet over.

His hunch was proven true.

”Cryanid horde...?” Hai Di asked. ”I thought the Mercy Faction had already eliminated it when it occurred in their domain?”

”The Mercy Faction only drove them back into the misty border,” Xin Lie explained. ”They didn’t truly eradicate the horde.”

Xin Lie, Li Jing, and Hai Xuang were in the room with Hai Di.

”But why does the horde act now? This is too much of a coincidence,” Li Jing said.

”Are you saying that someone controlled the Cryanid horde?” Hai Xuang asked. ”The Cryanids are mindless beasts. Insect-type beasts are among the hardest beasts to tame. The number of beast tamers required to tame a horde of that size will be astronomical.”

”My spies did obtain a classified report regarding the incident of the Crynids’ invasion in the Mercy Domain years ago,” Xin Lie informed. ”In that report, it said that the Cryanids were controlled by intelligent creatures that seemed to be a hybrid between a Cryanid and a human. They called this hybrid Hyanids. It is probably these Hyanids that unleash the horde upon us now.”

”Can that information be trusted?” Hai Xuang asked. ”It sounds too far-fetched. An unknown creature that controls the Cyranids? Why haven’t we heard anything about it all this time? There are plenty of adventurers who have braved the misty border, but there is no record of anyone ever encountering such a creature.”

”Whether the information is true or false, the fact remains. The Cryanid horde is heading here with incredible speed.”

”By here, do you mean this city?” Li Jing asked.

Xin Lie nodded. She produced a map and put it on the table. He then pointed at it. ”Reports from our scouts indicate that the Cryanids moved in a straight line. They never change direction. If we draw a line from the border where they emerged to their current position and extend that line, it will cross this city.”

Hearing that, everyone was sure something was directing this Cryanid horde. Mindless beasts wouldn’t move with such precision.

”Why now? Of all time?” Li Jing asked.

”Isn’t it obvious?” Hai Di asked back. ”This is the perfect time for someone outside the three domains to mount an assault. Currently, the other two domains are a mess. The Commitment Domain has lost its domain lord. Its army is also in disarray. As for the Mercy Domain, its leader is heavily wounded and missing. Its army is split between searching for her and dealing with the plague. I am the only remaining domain lord still active.”

”Is Father saying that you are the target behind whoever is controlling the Cryanid horde?” Hai Xuang asked.

”I think that is very likely,” Hai Di replied.

”Then this someone is indeed very cunning,” Xin Lie said. ”With our army dealing with the plague, we don’t have enough force to fight off the horde. If we pull them back, the plague will spread. Even if we do, they will not arrive here before the Cryanid horde. From the horde’s speed, I estimate the horde will arrive in three days.”

”That fast?” Hai Xuang was surprised and demoralized by the revelation.

”Yes, I suspect the culprit behind this has calculated the timing to ensure our force isn’t around to face the Cryanid horde.”

”Wait a minute!” Li Jing exclaimed. ”From the way you said it, are you saying that the plague currently happening in all three domains is a deliberate act from the same perpetrator controlling the Cryanid horde?”

Xin Lie nodded. ”I think there is a high chance that this is the case.”

Li Jing went blank for a second as she pondered the fact.

Xin Lie turned to Hai Di and asked, ”Should we consider abandoning Venal Virtuous City?”

”Don’t be ridiculous,” Hai Di uttered. ”I am this close to becoming the ruler of this lower world. What kind of message will I send if I desert my capital when the enemy attacks? Let them come! I will crush that insect horde myself!”

”I don’t doubt Father can achieve that. Still, I worry that the enemies haven’t shown all their cards. We can’t let Father get tired from facing the horde. We need the support of a decent army to face the horde when it arrives.”

”What about Brother Hai Lao’s force?” Hai Xuang asked.

”If he marched back, he should be able to arrive at around the same time as when the Cryanids arrive, but he must leave now to make it,” Xin Lie replied. ”Of course, that means we must abandon the chance of finding Yao Ai before the Mercy Faction does.”

Hai Xuang turned to Hai Di and asked, ”Father?”

Hai Di let out a sigh. ”It can’t be helped. So be it. Sent them the order to retreat. We will look for Yao Ai after we drive the Cryanid horde back.”

”I will convey the order, but I have another suggestion, Father,” Xin Lie said.

”Speak.”

”We should let the citizens know what’s coming and draft them into a militia to help us fight.”

”After what happens to the militia that faced the Mercy Faction’s army, I doubt many will answer the call,” Hai Xuang remarked.

”Our enemy this time is different. Everyone should know that when the Cryanids invade, they will not leave anyone alive. I suggest we open our armory and distribute our weapons to the citizens. We should also send generous compensation of aer stones to the families of the ones who perished in the previous militia. This will show the others that there are rewards once we repel the enemy.”

Hai Di pondered the suggestion and replied, ”We will go with your suggestion.”

Xin Lie bowed and left to carry out the order. Li Jing went with her.

After the two left, Hai Di told Hai Xuang, ”You should bring your wife and son and head East. Find a place to lie low until things settle down a little.”

”Father, I won’t abandon you in your time of need!” Hai Xuang exclaimed.

Hai Di chuckled. ”Don’t be ridiculous. I have no doubt I will get out of this on top. What I don’t wish is for you to be in the crosshairs. When the battle begins, I can’t spare my attention to protect you or your family. You should bring them somewhere safe.”

Hai Xuang thought about it. He said, ”I will have people bring Lan Mei and my son away from here, but I will remain here to fight by your side.”

”... As you wish,” Hai Di replied.