The Demon Empire army that was scattered near the border as a strategy to easily gather and deploy for their 10-year-plan had successfully gathered near the Forest of Death on short notice. And these short notices were of course in the span of a week. A week's worth of time was something that someone from a fast-paced world like Clay would find utterly slow.
When the demon army had successfully gathered, Clay's own army was already set up in every ambush position within Mount Moribor. He did not lead the soldiers himself. He suggested a non-conventional tactic popularized and called Guerilla Warfare on Earth. He suggested that they send small teams of highly trained infiltrators to sabotage the demon armies' supplies and even reduce their numbers through bombing and ambushes. Because of this, for the whole week that the scattered demon army gathered, they were picked off one after another by the teams that Acadria deployed.
Of course, not every demon army gathering was covered by the teams they deployed, however, in merely a week, the tens of thousands army that should have been, was reduced to only slightly more than half. The result was devastating. If this army was deployed to 'test' the waters and peer deep into the abyss that is the summoned Hero, then this army would struggle greatly just facing the army that Acadria deployed behind the subterfuge team.
The Empire then heard of news of its predicament after 3 days of non-stop riding by the messenger. And this 3-day gap in information further reduced their troops to merely 25% of its former glory. Acadria was now overwhelmingly more numerous than the enemy. When they captured the imperial army that successfully gathered after a week, or at least what's left of it, Acadria demanded a letter be sent to the Empire to discuss details of compensation for the damages their conspiracy and schemes had cost Acadria as a kingdom.
"The goal isn't to ask for compensation. The goal is to delay even further. After we're done with these soldiers, capturing them, and detaining them here, we need to march forward discreetly towards the Imperial Capital, Throst. That's where the real battle will occur. Whether they survive as a race, will depend on their answers."
"Such a plan, my Lord, is simply genius!"
"I try, but I'm clearly not a tactician. We'll play a game like chess with the empire. So, for now, let's see how they respond. Going forward we'll continue this action and reaction with the empire."
"Understood!"
Clay was like playing the Horse on the chess board, jumping around, and eating Pawns all over the chess board. Soon, when the empire fully had news and realized the problem, as expected, they sent flying-type demons over to serve as intel gatherers. Along the flying-type demons was a figure that corresponded to a Bishop in chess, someone powerful enough to serve as guardian for the troops against a strong cadre. However, Clay didn't assign Horses as powerful figures. He assigned teams of covert specialists. And so, when the bishop-figure of the empire arrived and found traces of the enemy movement, he easily countered the Horses' moves and reduced them to corpses.
It was a loss for Acadria, but the purpose of the Horse had been fulfilled already. While the Bishop was hunting the Horses, a large group of Pawns marched towards the Imperial Capital of Throst.
Clay was constantly monitoring the army's movement with his Divine Sight's sub-skill, Clairvoyance now at MAX level. He always knew what was happening at the front. When the bishop noticed that there were no troops that pursued them in retreat, he had a sinking feeling in his chest.
"Something is odd about this. It's like someone's holding my heart in his palm and toying with it. I must return with haste and report this to her majesty, the Empress!"
Jaques was a demon lieutenant in the great Lion Crest Legion. He was a demon from the Demon Falcon bloodline and his elite Demon Avian troops were topnotch. When he was assigned to lead the intel gatherers, he knew that something had happened at the frontlines for his services to be needed this urgently. His loyalty was to the Empress, who showed great strength through publicly obtaining the approval of all others. Cruel as it may be for other races, but strength spoke a million words in the Demon race. And so, he admired her and was loyal to her.
What Jaques did not know was while he was racing towards the capital, a few demon-occupied cities were already occupied by the human troops successfully. They imprisoned everyone they captured, forbidden by Clay to kill any non-military individuals. They used their own homes to imprison the people. Clay also knew that this will not last so, they only stationed a few hundred soldiers in those villages and cities to keep watch before following behind the advanced troops a few days later. Like this, their advance was steady. And when Jaques who was in a hurry passed said villages, he ignored them seeing as there were no signs of destruction.
Demon Empire, Imperial Palace.
"What of the backup we sent to the frontlines?" asked the cold beauty, Jacqueline.
The Frozen Throne was in a daze when she first heard of what happened and immediately acted against the flow by sending someone powerful enough to face an army of humans alone via its advantage over them in flight. However, she still felt uneasy about the whole ordeal. Now that she asked, she found that it was odd for the troops to get decimated without so much as any mana fluctuations in the past few days that registered on their radar indicating mana bursts that exceeded the norm because of fighting.
"Your majesty, it is unfortunate that our soldiers have yet to arrive in their retreat, it is better to consider them lost and prepare the main army of our Empire to intercept the enemy regardless of if they choose to attack or stay passive and hidden."
"The Left General is agreeable, your majesty. Since our plans have been likely exposed, and judging from the silence of the other races, the humans must think to settle this with us quietly. I can't see how they can get an advantage over the political stage like this, but in terms of military strength we are still superior to them. More numerous. We should deploy the main army at once!"
"Your counsel is of course appreciated. However, there is something that's lacking in all your plans. The fact that the other side has a hero! Freshly summoned and 'weak' he may be, but we know how unreasonable heroes can be. If we forget something so basic, what hopes do we have in expanding and eventually conquering the world when we are blinded by our perceived 'superiority'?" Jacqueline realized that the only explanation for their losses now, would be the hero's appearance and involvement somehow.
"Heed my orders!"
"Hear, hear! Your majesty!"
"Send the Salamander Legion to sweep through all territories towards Mount Moribor at once!"
"Your majesty! The Salamander Legion is your personal army, how could they be deployed and leave you vulnerable?"
"Who would dare to think that my fists aren't heavy enough in the Demon Empire?"
"There is none, your majesty! There is none! I misspoke! I misspoke!"
"Good. Now, execute my orders immediately."
"Yes, your majesty!"
Meanwhile, Clay was sipping tea reclining over his seat. He was looking towards the ensuing conflict. The legion was advancing slowly, the enemy legion, that is. Clay had seen the Legion of the empire amassing. However, he was not worried. Once they arrive near the Imperial Capital, he had ordered them to hide within the vast lands of the empire. Pawns had to be reserved for when the final assault is launched. With the empire sending a bishop-figure and retreating immediately after, Clay's playfulness was piqued. Usually, in chess, when the bishop moves, it moves in strides across the board, if you get distracted by the bishop, it leaves you open to other attacks. So, what he did, was directly send the Queen, that is himself. This move was to remove any variables from cropping up in this little chess match against the empire.
"I'll start moving from now on. The empire must be getting nervous and angsty on the edge of their seats."
"My Lord, is that wise?"
"Hmm. I don't know, but I still want to try."
"Should we send someone with you?"
"Can someone keep up with me though?"
"That…"
After shutting up the King, Clay left for the Northeastern Border and into Demon Empire territory.
Meanwhile, Jacqueline sent for the Salamander Legion to sweep for the cities and villages only to find that indeed, they have been infiltrated and the culprits were nowhere to be found. Traces of their journey were well-hidden or naturally destroyed by nature. The commander of the Salamander Legion, Agamemkeru, one of the Grand Generals of the Demon Empire, was not despairing. In fact, he was calm and cool as ice.
"You may have succeeded in hiding if you faced the main army of the empire, but now that I am here, you have no chance!"
Agamemkeru snorted and came a 20-foot Salamander that stood beside him. And this Salamander could only be considered small when compared to Agamemkeru who was over 30 meters tall. Any average demon would look like ants I front of him. This was the prestige of the Grand Generals who personally guarded the emperors of the empire.
"My beloved pet, go ahead and find traces of those intruders and I will reward you when we get back."
Agamemkeru petted the head of the Salamander that was flaming. The flames on its head couldn't even singe his skin. Once Clay saw this, he would also flip out for the Empire sending in Rook-like figures here. In fact, just as Clay arrived where he could see the gigantic body of Agamemkeru, he was stunned and clicked his tongue.
"Wow, they aren't playing around, are they? That's a freaking monster! Is that even considered a demon?!"
Clay's mind raced and even though he already analyzed this monster and saw its information, he was reluctant to engage. After all, all he relied on was a strong body of transformation with his bloodline, even though this was not the full transformation yet, he still felt a little apprehensive. It was as if his guts were telling him to avoid this monster.
"When did I become such a wuss? Why would I run away from a fight just because they are big? Isn't it true that the bigger they are the harder they fall? Wouldn't today be the day that I slay giants, like, literally?!"
Clay accelerated towards the monster of 30 meters and came to him face to face. Before the Salamander could even more a step more, Clay had punched the Salamander's leg and it burst into fine liquid. The Salamander became a cripple with one casual punch!
"Whoa! Is my strength really that awesome now? I've regained my confidence!" Clay rejoiced in his mind. However, the monster general, Agamemkeru was looking at the scene of his pet being injured greatly by a puny being, and a humam at that, and he was furious!
"How dare a puny human hurt my beloved pet?! You must have a Deathwish! Die!"
Clay was in for a fight! He was indeed asking for it, however, Clay had yet to understand the folly of underestimating anyone or anything in this world that's governed by 6 gods for millennia. Heroes weren't the only means of dominating in all the races. There were other factors as well, and just as he had a bloodline within himself, so does inhabitants of this world! A world of pain and a bitter medicine was about to be delivered!