CHAPTER 475: BEFORE THE FINAL MARCH

A week into the march, Roland faced thousands of demons who tried to block his path, but none could stand against him. Not when he was at his strongest.

With Stella always at his side, no one could touch the army behind them.

Each day, more soldiers and fighters joined their ranks. Hidden refugees emerged, and even demons who opposed their own kind flocked to them.

By now, Roland understood that not all demons were the same. Succubi, imps, and many others had been treated as poorly as humans. And even if Elios disliked admitting it, the army needed every ally it could get.

This time, however, no one went unchecked. Roland personally inspected each man and demon to ensure their loyalty.

"Two days from the capital... do you think the army will last?" Roland asked Renar. If there was one matter that demanded constant attention, it was their rations.

Renar exhaled slowly, his gaze sweeping the endless column of men and beasts moving behind them.

"The army will last, so long as we keep their spirits high and their bellies full," he replied firmly. "We’ve lost fewer than I expected on this march, and each camp we take strengthens us. Even so, fatigue weighs heavier than steel. One more day at this pace, and they’ll reach the capital still ready to fight... but if we stumble, even once, hunger and doubt will strike harder than any demon general."

A large army was nothing without food. Fortunately, demons needed to eat just as much as humans, so with every camp they captured, Roland secured enough supplies for his own.

Everything was going smoothly so far. The death of the Light Spirit Silmira had not only enraged the humans but had also stirred the spirits themselves to lend greater aid. This gave Roland’s army even more strength, and those who were blessed struck harder than ever before.

Still, he knew the demons were prepared. With so many generals left standing, he would have to be sharper than ever.

That night, they made camp just far enough to see the old castle of Elris. Roland could sense the demon army waiting within the fortress where Stella’s family had once ruled.

He stood beside her in silence, both of them gazing at the distant walls.

"You know," Stella whispered, her eyes fixed on the castle, "I never got to see it in its glory. But my father told me countless stories of how he grew up there as a child, before the demons took this land. He told me how his father would walk him through the flourishing kingdom, filled with happy people."

Roland could only imagine such a place. Even now, as he looked upon it, he could see where vast fields must have once stretched, where a great forest had thrived, and where the town had surrounded the castle. Now all of it lay in ruin, the dark sky masking whatever beauty it had once held.

"Don’t worry," he said softly. "We’ll take it back. By the end of this week, you’ll see your father on that throne again. And after that, we’ll march to free the other lands."

He wrapped his arms around Stella from behind. She shivered at the cold, but within his embrace, her trembling stilled.

The two returned to their tent soon after. They had only a few hours to sleep, and Roland intended to do nothing but rest. An attack could come at any moment, and he would always be ready. Even in sleep, he wore his armor, resting just enough to rise at a second’s notice.

Six hours later, Roland rose. It was barely dawn, but he wanted to be awake and ready for the greatest battle he had yet faced in his short life in this new world.

He tried to leave Stella resting a little longer, but the moment he moved, she stirred as well.

"Don’t think you’re leaving me behind again," she said, her voice steady despite the weariness of the night. "I’m ready for this fight, Roland... I couldn’t sleep, kept dreaming about it."

Roland chuckled at his wife’s words and helped her to her feet. With a touch, he restored her stamina, and together they stepped outside.

There, he found Renar seated on an old log beside Zavar, Lucien, and Halter the king, and the father of both Stella and her brother.

"I guess everyone is here then... how about we start this meeting?"

Roland’s gaze swept over the gathered leaders, generals, commanders, and even the king himself before settling on Renar. By now, it wasn’t only Roland who recognized Renar’s skill in strategy; everyone present acknowledged his ability to lead.

Only Morrag scoffed. As a demon, she likely knew more about the inner workings of their enemy’s plans than any of them. Renar, however, did not bristle at her reaction. He had learned to welcome her input, even if it was laced with bitterness.

"It seems someone here wishes to speak her mind," Renar said evenly. "Go on, Morrag. Tell us what you think first, so I can form a stronger plan around it."

All eyes turned to the princess of demons, the one who despised her own lineage, whose blood had been exploited until she loathed being the daughter of the demon king.

"If there’s one thing I know," Morrag began, her voice tight, "it’s that they’ve likely gathered at least eight of the demon generals. And these won’t be like the fools who rushed to their deaths against you, Roland. These are the best minds, planners, and inventors of tools you’ve never seen before. Worst of all, this is their ground. We won’t be fighting a siege. We’ll be walking into retaliation at its finest."

She shivered as she spoke, memories clawing at her.

She had seen too much of the experiments, the horrors inflicted on her own kind in the name of gaining an edge in this senseless war.

"That doesn’t mean we can’t win," Morrag continued, her tone steady despite the tremor in her eyes. "It means we must be careful. We cannot give them time to plan once we move inside. Every strike must be swift, either kill or retreat just as fast. The less they learn about our strength and organization, the better.

"And you should know, they won’t be alone. Their ties with the vampires remain strong. The best course is to divide them, to cut away that alliance before it suffocates us. Destroy the facilities that produce the red smog. There are four of them, positioned at the corners around this place. Bring those down, and you weaken both the demons and the vampires at once."

Everyone agreed with the plan. Renar, who had heard enough to begin shaping his own strategy, stepped forward.

"You’ve all heard her. We need to split up. I don’t think it’s wise to thin our forces too much, so there will be only three teams. Roland and Lucien will form one group, since the two of you should be able to handle two of the vents together.

"Stella, Morrag, and Zavar will lead the second group, supported by his half-bloods and the demons who have recently joined us.

"As for me, I’ll take my own men and target the nearest vent. That way, we’ll disrupt their movements before the full army can respond."

Everyone nodded in agreement. The only one who would remain behind with the main force was Halter Helstin, the king, who would stay to lead the central army.

Soon after, the four groups prepared to part ways. Stella embraced her brother and father before turning to give Roland a kiss.

Roland, however, could not shake his unease. They were deep within demon territory, and splitting up carried the risk of ambush. Still, it had to be done. The vampire’s influence had to be cut away once and for all; only then could they march against the demons without fear of that red smog choking the battlefield.

He turned to Lucien, his expression serious. "If anything happens, protect your father. I can go after Stella on my own if I must... but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that."

With that, Roland and Lucien set off toward the furthest vent a massive facility run by the vampires, where the dreaded red smog was produced.

The journey to the vent was a grim one. The closer they drew, the heavier the air became, tainted by the acrid scent of blood and smoke. Black spires of stone rose around the facility like jagged fangs, and a constant haze of red mist leaked from its towers, rolling low across the ground.

Roland felt like countless of eyes were watching from the shadows, but none dared approach yet.

The vampires were waiting for something.

He tightened his grip on his blades, the metal humming faintly with power.

"Stay sharp, Lucien," he muttered. "They won’t defend this place with their life. Stay close to me at all times while we look for the central crystals that are powering up this place."

Lucien nodded, his face pale but resolute. Together, they advanced.