Volume 3 Chapter 7 (1/2)
Within his crystal room located in the depths of his dungeon, The [Evil] Demon Lord Morax who looked like a humanoid demon was enjoying his glass of wine. To go along with his drink were the images being projected by the crystal.
The images he saw showed the first room of his dungeon being turned into a sea of flames.
”Hmm, so it has come to this.”
He was aware that [Creation] Demon Lord Procell was strong. He acted prudently and thus teamed up with two other Demon Lords to wage war on Procell. Despite all that however, Procell's strength far exceeded any of their expectations.
At the moment, [Viscosity] Demon Lord Ronove's dungeon was also being invaded; the monsters gathered on the first room of his dungeon were being trampled and were about to grant easy access to the next room.
It was an unbelievable simultaneous conquest of two dungeons.
Already, their team's plan had collapsed. This plan detailed that should one of their dungeons be attacked, the forces from the other two's dungeon were to go out and invade Procell's dungeon.
”This, none of us could have predicted this. Well, maybe someone could have if someone like [Time] was the enemy.”
Morax uttered so as he watched the scenes being projected by Ronove's crystal that was then transmitted by the demon he lent to Ronove. This demon was one of a quadruplet of demons. Ronove and Zagan was led to believe that the demons lent to them were convenient means of communicating with one another but the truth of the matter wasn't so simple.
The quadruplets were constantly sharing what they sensed with one another. In other words, everything that was transpiring near the demons were being leaked to Morax.
The three allied Demon Lord each had one of these demons while the last one was entrusted to an ally Ronove truly trusted. This was to ensure that any information revealed in this war would be shared to that ally no matter what happens to Morax.
”[Creation]'s ability is worrisome.”
Procell's fox monster had annihilated Ronove's main host of monsters with just one blow. Furthermore, this monster was accompanied by another monster of about the same strength. Perhaps even the monster loaned to Ronove by a veteran Demon Lord would not be able to stop the invading monsters. Ronove was not at all at fault here; the enemy was just too strong.
More troubling was that Morax's own dungeon was under attack by griffons and their mysterious ordnance. High ranking, powerful monsters were one thing—for as much of a threat they were, their numbers were certain to be limited and in truth, Procell only had three truly peerless monsters—but for weak, low ranking monsters to be made to have such frightening offensive capabilities, it was a whole other conversation.
Given time, Procell would be able to earn even more DP and if so, it was only reasonable for the griffons and also the golems that obliterated [Wind]'s monsters to increase in numbers as well. Not to mention, Procell probably had other powerful cards at his disposal.
If left unchecked, Procell would undoubtedly be up to par if not stronger than even Demon Lords several generations ahead of him. And that would certainly result in some wrinkle in Morax's own ambitions in the future.
”We want to see him crushed, was it?”
Instilled with that desire, Zagan, a fool that believed himself to be surperior, was goaded into starting this three on one war and employing a method that was almost like cheating. Should such a method be found to indeed be in violation of the rules after the war has ended, Zagan would be deemed the primary instigator and be given heavy punishment while Morax should only receive minor ones.
Morax thought everything would go smoothly but then he never imagined Procell was this too out of norm. He realized then how naïve he still was and how much he still had to learn.
As it was, his crystal being broken was a certainty. So long as that remained as a fact, he had to think of ways to lose with minimal damage.
While pondering on such, the demon spoke. It seemed to be Zagan who was contacting him.
”Morax, what are you doing? I heard from Ronove that he was being attacked by Procell. I've already ordered my monsters to march onto his dungeon; hurry and order your monsters to do the same.”
Zagan had a stupid look on his face as he instructed Morax so. This guy's really the go-with-the-flow kind of guy, Morax thought, well, it was because he's an idiot that I was able to instigate him into this war so I guess whatever I say will not really matter. Though I guess I'm a fool as well for misjudging my opponent's strength.
”I would very much like to but my main force gathered on my first room have been annihilated. Despite splitting his troops to attack my dungeon at almost the same time as he's attacking Ronove's, his fighting force is still more than adequate. Procell's quite the cheat.”
Zagan's face immediately turned pale. It seemed that the shock was too much for a cowardly person like him. He blinked repeatedly and sweated profusely in his bewilderment but Morax did not have the luxury of time to wait for Zagan to recover from his shock.
”This is beyond what we predicted. [Steel] Demon Lord Zagan, what will our next course of action be? Will you invade his dungeon by yourself?”
The reply did come right away. Zagan repeatedly opened and closed his mouth, groaned, and then finally came to a realization.
”N-no way. [Viscosity] said his main force have already been massacred as well. That bastard Procell has to leave some of his troops for defense so are you saying he had enough troops to not only defend but to also win against two dungeons!?”
”I'm afraid so. Perhaps he saw through our strategy and as a form of defense, decided to go on the offensive. If so and he took out our troops gathered in the first room, he would then have fewer enemies to fend off. Really, Procell-dono is quite the schemer. So, what's our next play? ”
”Th-that bastard Procell, h-he had more troops than we thought. Our initial plan as it is of no use, absolutely wasted. Yeah, yeah, that's it, let's fortify our defense as we revise our strategy.”
Fortify our defense? While we revise our strategy? What is this guy saying?? Wondered Morax as he tried so very hard from cursing at him. I knew he was an idiot but I didn't think he'd be this much of an idiot!
Focusing on defense now would only give Procell the time to eventually finish conquering their dungeons and therefore the chance to recall back the troops he sent out. Even a monkey could see that so is he stupider than one?
”Hmm. I will try to buy you time as much as I can but sooner or later, Procell will break through. [Viscosity] probably won't hold on for long either. By defeating us, he would then be able to repurpose all of his troops. So the question now is, do you have the confidence to take on his dungeon by yourself?”
Morax knew this war was already a lost cause. That much was pretty certain but he couldn't very well do nothing and let the following developments be boring either for that would mean that the Creator would be bored. And if that Creator was bored of watching a lame [War], the punishment—determined by him—for the losers would of course be heavier.
According to his parent, the Creator's train of thought was plain and simple: anything goes so long as it was entertaining.
With that in mind, they had to at least give [Creation] Demon Lord Procell a challenge. If they failed to make this [War] a good show, it wouldn't matter who the main instigator was, all that would await Morax would be ruin.
”Invade by myself? Th-that would be a little hard”
”Ohh, only a little hard? So you can do it and win? As expected of the [Steel] Demon Lord Zagan”
”We-well, you know, my unique skill [Steel] is strong and suited for battle, after all.”
The glass of wine Morax held then showed cracks. It seemed that pretty soon, he would have reached the limits of his patience.
The [Steel] unique skill involved metal purification and metal manipulation. Also, depending on the magic power expended, Zagan could make metals with his unique skill. He boasted that he could make a fist-sized lump of orihalcum if he used up all of his magic power. It seemed he even equipped some monsters with weapons that used orihalcum as a material.
What the heck, if you want orihalcum, you could just buy it with DP via a [Mine]. Not to mention, Procell's monsters have countless ridiculous weapons.
”If you'll have my opinion, I think that if ever we're going on the offensive, it has to be now. Even by yourself, you should head to Procell's now less guarded dungeon.”