Unlike summoning people from Earth, teleporting there was not as simple or straightforward. And this was due to the dimensional barrier that had protected the world from extradimensional invaders such as Hellions.
Therefore, in order to get to Earth, the dimensional barrier must be severely weakened if not outright destroyed completely. Not only the dimensional barrier of this side must be destroyed, the barrier on the destination side must also be destroyed.
Dalton fully understood the consequences of destroying a dimensional barrier, but he wouldn't relent no matter what. He was willing to sacrifice everything for the chance to return home. It was that very desire that had kept him going after all of these years.
Not many Sages knew about the consequences of taking down the dimensional barrier, and those who did know were loyal followers of Dalton. Even so, none of them knew that the current demon invasion was the result of the barrier weakening.
Everyone had assumed that the demonic event happened earlier than it should, and those who dared to find out the truth had been silenced long before they could raise an alarm.
In addition, there was a real reason to why the Demon King had not attacked the Holy City Celestia to complete the conquest of the human race. And that reason was very simple.
"I thought that we had a deal?" Dalton asked once everyone had left him alone at the top of the Sage Tower. His question was not directed at them, obviously.
His shadow fluctuated before responding to his question. "We have kept our end of the bargain, Sage, as none of us have stepped anywhere within the vicinity of your city with the exception being me."
"What do you call that then?" Dalton pointed at the countless undead attacking the barrier protecting the Sage Tower and the surrounding area. His eyes remained focused on the strongest undead he had ever felt.
And that undead was Michael.
Michael had stopped attacking the barrier, as he came to the realization that the barrier could not be breeched or destroyed even with the combined might of his Undead Legion.
As a matter of fact, Michael felt that the barrier was strengthening, and he pondered where the Sages had managed to acquire an incredible amount of magical power.
Since barrier could not be breeched or destroyed despite his vast power and army, he decided to just bypass it all together. He theorized that the barrier did not fully enclose the Sage Tower and all of the surrounding areas completely, and therefore, he ordered some of his servants to start digging.
His servants did as he commanded, and they did so out of view while the rest of his Legion continued to attack the barrier. It was to keep up appearance. As for he himself, he simply spectated to conserve his strengths and magics for the battle ahead.
The demon hiding within Dalton's shadow took a moment of silence before speaking up. "An anomaly, unfortunately. It aura is similar to an Undead King, yet, it is not at the same time. We have tracked it since it first appeared, but we have not confronted it even now."
"Why?" Dalton questioned. "Why have you allowed it to roam freely?"
"Because it is an unknown anomaly," the demon answered after another short silence.
The real reason was actually because Michael had managed to kill one of the Generals, Lord Balthazar, with an unknown mean, and that terrified the Demons.
Hellions were immortal, existing on multiple planes of existence. The Physical Plane was one of them, and when a Hellion dies a mortal death, its soul would be sent back to their dimension, allowing them to regain their physical form once more.
Demons were considered to be Hellion as they had this ability, and as such, upon death, Lord Balthazar should have returned to Hell Plane. However, he did not, and the reason that he did not was because his soul was either captured or destroyed.
The Demon King surmised that the soul of Balthazar was destroyed as there was no traces of the soul to be found, and to be able destroy a demon soul, Michael was on the same level of a Pillar of Hell.
Even the Demon King himself would not offend a Pillar of Hell, as their power was absolute. He might call a King, but against a God, he was no more than an insect. And besides, he was not the only King.
There were other Demon Kings as well as Queens in Hell, and they were all servants to a Pillar of Hell.
"That is unacceptable," Dalton responded. "If your kind desires access to Earth and countless of souls then tell your King to stop that thing from breaking into here before the teleportation array is realized completely!"
The demon did not response, as it was awaiting an answer from the Demon King himself. It was merely a low-ranking demon, after all, and all it could was relaying messages.
"We shall stall it until your array is complete and the dimensional barriers are destroyed," the demon finally relayed the response.
"See that you do, or I will use everything to strike you down," Dalton threatened.
"Your threats mean nothing, Sage, for we cannot truly be killed," the demon snorted. "Now, continue your end of the bargain, as we shall uphold ours."
Dalton did not say anything further, as there was no point. Instead, he resumed watching the undead horde relentless assaulting the barrier, trying to break through.
Their effort was pointless, for as long as there was magical power available within the Sage Tower, the barrier would not collapse not matter what happened. Despite that, the unending attack on the barrier did put a great strain on the Sage Tower and its magical reserve, thus forcing Dalton to sacrifice every non-essential people within the barrier.
It was necessary, and Dalton would gladly sacrifice everyone to meet his goal. Not only that, he would probably sacrifice Earth and all the people on it as well.
From outside the barrier, Michael eyed Dalton. He noticed that Dalton was talking to someone despite no one was with the man on top of the tower. And while Michael could not see who Dalton was talking to, he could sense it.
And it was a demon due to the demonic energy.
"You dare conspire with demons!?" Michael cursed before he felt a massive surge of demonic energy behind him. He turned about and came face to face with a demon. No. A demoness.
"Greeting, Undead One," the demoness greeted with a courteous bow. "The Great Demon King would like to have a word with you – eek?"
The demoness gasped as Michael grabbed her by the throat before strengthening his grip. His strength was many times greater than even the strongest demon, and the demoness was merely an emissary.
An expendable emissary.
"Tell me. Why I should not kill you right now?" Michael questioned. While he hated humanity for what had happened to his sister. He also hated the demon kind. Even more so than humanity. Furthermore, as an undead, he knew they had subjugated his kind, using them as an expendable vanguard.
"I… I would only… only stain your… hand… Undead One…?" the demoness gasped out the words while struggling. But her struggle was pointless, as she did not have the power to break out his grip. "And it is… is bad to kill… the emissary…"
Michael took a moment before releasing her, as she amused him. "If the Demon King wanted to have a word with me, he can come here himself."
The demoness nodded. "The Great Demon King said that –
Her relayed words were interrupted due to the incredible pressure crushing down upon her. Her knees weakened until she collapsed to the ground, looking up.
"If the Demon King wanted to have a word, he can come here himself," Michael repeated as his mere aura continued to assault the demoness.
"Yes… Undead One… please forgive… me…" the demoness uttered as her entire body slammed against the ground due to the pressure. Even the ground was cracking. "Please… forgive… forgive me…"
"No," Michael said as he continued to turn the demoness into a pancake. A bloody pancake. Literally.