Ch.147Omen (2)

The reorganization of the legion had entered its final stages.

First, the aerial forces raised on the farms were scheduled to be transferred to the human realm. They were the wyvern units that would roam the vast human territories, detect threats in advance, and launch raids when necessary.

The Black Horn northerners took charge of them. Having grown up in harsh lands from birth, they were accustomed to handling magical beasts.

When the thousand troops lined up before the Demon Lord’s castle, it was a magnificent sight.

“This is a force that doesn’t exist in the celestial realm, Your Excellency!”

Verdia exclaimed excitedly. After dealing with heavy knights on the ground for so long, she couldn’t hide her excitement at seeing the nimble aerial units.

“With this, our demon realm has gained the upper hand against the celestial realm.”

“What upper hand?”

“Pardon? Surely these aerial forces represent the excellence of our legion.”

Verdia was taken aback by Durin’s indifferent reaction. She had expected him to be pleased with the steady progress toward their original goal of diversifying troop types, but he seemed utterly uninterested.

“Your Excellency, is there something not to your liking?”

Verdia asked with concern. Durin shook his head.

“That’s not it. The wyvern units are necessary resources for the legion.”

“Then why…?”

“Because it can’t be called an advantage. The archangels can fly.”

Their white wings were not mere decorations. Lower-ranked angels were not permitted to fly and typically crawled on the ground, but those of high authority were different.

To rule over humans for a thousand years and display their majesty, they needed to possess such abilities.

Flight was fundamental. A position from which they could survey the world, always looking down.

That was the power that made angels rulers.

“Ah, I understand now.”

Although Verdia had participated in the southern front, she hadn’t directly confronted Rupiel and was unaware of this fact. Upon realizing it, she felt quite embarrassed.

Meanwhile, Spranches took control of the inspection. A lizardman guided Durin to the next location.

“Look, Your Excellency. The legion has finally been completed.”

They climbed up the castle wall and surveyed below.

A hundred thousand troops were lined up waiting for him, extending beyond the horizon. There was no noise.

They were an army desiring only war, completely obedient to Durin’s commands.

“First, the infantry is composed of the existing Durahan, the southern forces, and the eastern forces.”

These were the most influential units in the current Demon Lord’s castle.

The traditional Durahan halberdiers, who served as the anvil, were at the front, while the southern and eastern forces with spears and shields protected the flanks.

As veterans who had engaged in the most battles with the celestial realm and achieved many victories, they were the most trusted units in the legion.

“The eastern forces lack combat experience, but we’re training them well by dispatching non-commissioned officers from the southern forces.”

“I will personally see to them. To minimize any disturbances.”

“As you wish, Your Excellency.”

Durin was satisfied with the solid infantry, which had always been the main force surpassing the celestial realm.

Next were the forces he had truly been eager to see.

“The cavalry. Consisting of thirty thousand troops total, with ten thousand northern beast riders, fifteen thousand heavy armored cavalry, three thousand light reconnaissance units, and the final two thousand being the Fallen Angel Knight Order.”

The northern forces, proven in the recent human realm battles, were now harmoniously integrated with the newly joined central forces.

These units were intended for various operations, such as intercepting the enemy’s knight order before they could break through our infantry lines—our only advantage—or securing victories when the battle was decided.

With the Fallen Angel Knight Order, composed of elite soldiers in smaller numbers than originally planned and directly under Durin’s command, they had established a solid fighting force.

“Finally, the Black Army.”

That name that had disappeared. Durin stopped in his tracks. Looking up, he saw the forgotten banner fluttering.

“This is a new legion composed of soldiers from each continent who fought against the celestial invasion, those with strong distinctive characteristics.”

The army Durin usually led was always colorless and odorless. Focusing on strengthening infantry to counter the uniform celestial assaults and developing cavalry had inevitably transformed it into a dull and ordinary force.

These were special cases. Coming from the east, west, north, and south—continents with distinct characteristics—they had fought against the invasion with such unique traits that they were difficult to integrate into regular units.

A prime example was the western monster legion.

They possessed the ability to crush enemy cavalry but were so battle-crazed that coordinated operations with allied forces were impossible—they would charge recklessly into battle.

These forces, capable of defeating celestial beings but difficult to properly control, had finally stepped to the forefront.

“The commander will be Monster Queen Yoannina.”

“His Majesty has found the right person for the job.”

“In truth, there weren’t many suitable archdemons. The Eastern Grand Duke must assist the king in ruling the demon realm, and the other continental powers already have their assigned units, so there was only one demon left.”

“I see.”

There was Aurelia who ruled the south, but she wasn’t suitable for commanding armies.

She could drive troops like a battle overseer, but would be useless in a fight between powerful beings, so it couldn’t be helped.

“Your Excellency, the legion is now complete.”

Durin returned to the center of the castle wall.

With the Demon Lord’s castle as his backdrop, he could face the legion spread out before him.

There was no burning passion. The iron army quietly awaited orders.

War.

They thought only of advancing to the celestial realm again to reclaim their homeland.

“Perfect.”

For the first time, he gave his approval. The demon realm, which had always felt lacking, had finally formed its army.

The legion he had once dreamed of in the observatory had risen again.

Those who had overcome trials by treading over corpses had carried on their ancestors’ will.

“I leave the rest to you, Spranches.”

“You must have business elsewhere.”

“There are always things to do before a great war.”

Spranches bowed his head.

“Leave it to me. I will keep them ready to march at any time.”

“Excellent.”

Durin commended the lizardman and immediately moved on.

His next destination was back inside the Demon Lord’s castle.

#

The demon realm observatory, tracing the future in the night sky.

A dark space. Beyond the hazy Milky Way, the whispers of the hidden sky could be heard. Mystery and discomfort intermingled. It was a resonance that ordinary beings could not withstand.

“Fate is smiling.”

The prophecy witch opened her closed eyes. Her consciousness floated in a world both quiet and tumultuous.

“The great flow has begun again. A battle that will decide between hope and despair will soon occur.”

Her hand reached out as if to touch the sky. Records were engraved in her hazy eyes. They contained celestial secrets. They should not be carelessly revealed, but there were no gods to reproach them for breaking this rule.

“Are you prepared?”

Turning around, the witch’s gaze fell upon a demon.

Regent Durin in black armor. A warrior who had killed countless angels without revealing the face hidden behind his helmet.

His will, tempered by duty, was harder than anything in the world.

“I remember our first conversation.”

“If it was then… it was at the shrine of the southern rock.”

“I said that if fate was inevitable, I would enjoy it.”

At that time, no matter how strong they were, there were many walls they couldn’t overcome. They couldn’t catch the fleeing Demon King and had to watch the celestial realm’s invasion with open eyes. They endured a war of countering the enemy’s attacks.

“Now I want to ask you.”

“As it happens, fate is watching from beyond that Milky Way.”

The witch pointed to the ceiling. In the dark night sky, movement could be seen stirring in the hazy mist scattered across it. Having obtained the power of a god, he too could see it.

The flow of the future that sorcerers often spoke of.

He couldn’t peek at it like they could, but he was certain that fate was watching him. Durin smiled deeply.

“Do you really think it’s inevitable?”

The demon realm had overcome all trials. It had withstood the celestial realm’s interference and stood tall in the human realm.

Hardship would naturally follow. The terrible pain they would experience in war would come, but he wasn’t afraid.

“We have the advantage in the decisive battle.”

It was different from before. The time for patience had long ended. Demons no longer needed to cower.

If they declared war, he would not avoid it but face it head-on. The legion was growing even at this moment. Even if the archangel commander came in person, they could fight by manifesting divine power, so they were not at all inferior in strength.

“We will advance to the heavens.”

The regent was confident.

#

Serphin discussed the future with the Eastern Grand Duke in the king’s great hall.

The first topic was the current state of the human realm, which had fallen into chaos. The angels who had perfectly controlled the east had begun to apply pressure again. They sent the Knight Order gathered in the papal territory to pressure the World Tree Forest.

The south was directly connected to the demon realm and difficult to attack, so they chose a part that was far removed.

Yoannina had dispatched troops to strengthen the border, but that too was not easy.

“If the corridor is under pressure, we won’t be able to provide troops and supplies in time.”

“We could hold them off by mobilizing the power of the World Tree, but we might suffer great damage before the great war.”

It was an undesirable direction. In a defensive war of attrition, angels who could mobilize countless humans from the central continent had the advantage. To prevent this, they could either send the legion to plunder the southern region of the central continent or send reinforcements to the east.

“The troops we sent in advance have all been deployed for defensive operations. It’s time to send out the newly reorganized legion.”

“If we send a large force, the archangels will immediately send down the holy army.”

“I’d like to cut off the head of the Warrior Archangel who was dispatched first.”

While a great war was fine, continuously weakening the enemy’s forces seemed like a good approach.

The Warrior Archangel. As the spearhead of the celestial realm’s military might, if they could break him, they might be able to end the war with minimal damage.

“Your Majesty.”

“Speak.”

The Eastern Grand Duke respectfully offered his advice.

“This is an opportunity to train the eastern forces, which lack combat experience compared to other armies.”

“Hmm.”

“With Yoannina, the master of defensive warfare, there’s no problem with the commander. Make this opportunity a solid stepping stone for growth.”

“Very well.”

Serphin rose from his seat.

The demons gathered in the king’s great hall bowed their heads.

“Prepare for war. This time, we will cut off their breath.”

The Demon King had finally made his decision.