"Retreat!" Leohard forced these words through clenched teeth as he gazed upon the intangible red Disaster Pillar rising again from Bull Territory.

"But Commander! We're just one step away! Just one step from annihilating them completely! Let us try again! The influence of the red disaster is still low, we have...!" Jena, already drenched in blood from fighting, pushed back her soaked hair and shouted.

Before she could finish, Leohard's furious voice interrupted, "I said retreat! That's a military order! Rest assured, we haven't failed, this is part of a strategy devised by Shitang, uh, Lord Sifuer. We retreat temporarily to avoid unnecessary casualties, but in an hour we will return to this land!"

"Yes!"

Following Leohard's order, all the members of the Knight Order tearfully abandoned the bodies of over three hundred comrades, gave up the next wave of attack, and altered their formation to begin retreating toward the junction.

It was clear the Disaster Legion participating in the battle wasn't willing to waste this opportunity to thoroughly beat a defeated enemy; they, with heavy losses themselves, decisively pursued the weakened foe, intending to drag Leohard's troops to death within the red disaster.

At this moment, several Hell Three-headed Dogs, having successfully united, stepped forward to cover the rear of Leohard's main force, charging straight at the Red Armored Warriors. Though there was already a disparity in strength and the red disaster's influence was growing, weakening the Hell Three-headed Dogs. They couldn't inflict much damage on the Red Armored Warriors, and were easily slain, but even so, these Hell Three-headed Dogs did not retreat, fearlessly charging the enemy, using their flesh and blood to stall the enemy's pursuit.

Leohard frequently glanced back at the battlefield behind them as they marched, witnessing his vassals easily sliced into two by the opponents, and the Demon Crocodile, which earlier held its ground proudly against the Sleeper on the hillside, had lost its majesty and was now feebly resisting, caught by the tail and battered by the Sleeper.

His heart bled; these creatures, though referred to as the Vassal Army, shared very close bonds with their masters. Every Demon Race member would raise one or more creatures as personal vassals, from the Shadow Source Insect of youth to Hellhounds and Harpies. With increasing strength, more creatures would willingly follow them. These creatures were not only assistants in battle but also intimate companions. It's this emotional foundation that makes them willing to sacrifice their own lives for their masters in combat.

"Shitang Long Si! You better bring us victory as promised!" Leohard turned his head back, clenching his teeth while tightly gripping his horse's belly.

Kodwen, from the depths of the forest, echoed the same sentiment. He found himself caught in a dilemma; he realized the young noblewoman was truly committed to fighting alongside the mysterious interplane figure. He was uncertain what hidden schemes lay within this collaboration, but he was aware he had been completely dragged into this war.

His troops were scattered within Sifuer's main force, while he, along with several esteemed colleagues from the sanctuary, were "honored" to be selected as the personal guards accompanying the central unit, protecting the noble beside them. Yet everyone knows if any of them showed the slightest hint of cowardice or attempted to flee, the true confidants of this noble would swiftly decapitate them.

The negotiation promise of being able to refuse combat under the red disaster, at this moment, became nothing more than a joke of the past. Kodwen already knew the promises of nobles were always mere expedients.

What could he do? He had considered resisting but, unable to match them, could only go with the flow. Kodwen's heart was conflicting; he hoped for victory, willing to sacrifice his life for the honor inherent to the Demon Race, but he feared ultimately proving fruitless, sacrificing his life meaninglessly on a battlefield they couldn't win—this was the psychological shadow brought by successive defeats.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Sequential muffled blasts pulled the veteran's thoughts back to reality; soil was tossed up from the distant clearing outside the forest, accompanied by thundering booms, indicating the enemy vanguard had arrived.

This was caused by the moving Magma Insects triggering the Demon Fire buried underground. Unlike worldly landmines, the Demon Fire is unique to the Hell Plane Demons. Its temperature is remarkably low, not harmful to touch, yet its flames contain an aura of decay and death. Highly adhesive and difficult to extinguish once attached, the Fire of Death burns the surface of its victims, swiftly draining their vitality.

The Disaster Legion previously suffered from this Demon Fire at Goat Horn and sent Magma Insects to probe this time, achieving one of its intended aims without ensnaring the enemy's main force.

"Lord Sifuer, haven't our allies dealt with the enemy's Disaster Pillar yet? According to reports, he should have reached Napas Valley by now!" Kodwen swallowed a mouthful of saliva, mustering courage to inquire.

His question immediately captivated the knights beside Sifuer, anxiously observing their noble leader. Sifuer, holding the reins seated steadfastly atop the Eight-legged Giant Beast, replied coldly, "Focus on your duties; this is not something you should be asking!"

Kodwen wanted to rebute, but upon noticing Bailang's ominously sweeping gaze, he prudently shut up and stepped aside. At this moment, a breathless courier burst into the forest, reporting urgently, "Commander, Leohard has withdrawn his forces from Bull Territory beyond the red disaster zone, moving to converge with us, but the Disaster Legion trails them closely. Leohard requests guidance on whether to proceed with the planned interception."

"Yes, instruct the flagbearer to inform Leohard to commence interception immediately. Do not allow the enemy from Bull Territory to breach our defenses before we entirely wipe out the enemy reinforcements, preventing a pincer attack on our forces!" Sifuer commanded loudly, gripping her sword tightly, her quivering tone betraying the tension within.

As the courier acknowledged and ran out of the forest, the red disaster loomed closer over the scorched earth freshly exploded. The Disaster Legion, timed precisely, promptly arrived just after the virtual pillar activated in Bull Territory. The mountainous Sleeper advanced ahead, its colossal presence exacerbating the restlessness within the forest-bound demons.

He definitely will succeed according to agreed plans! Sifuer comforted herself inwardly as the helmet visor was snapped shut.