As the trio led by Qeathon, Porking, and Tunlun efficiently slaughtered hundreds of lower-level demons and swiftly returned, Falling-Flower City's masterful leader observed Eddie's reluctance to lead his team forward. Her gaze lingered on him, hinting at a deeper understanding of the lurking dangers.
She knew of the hidden enemy, a threat waiting in the shadows for an opportune moment to strike. This was a test not only of strength and courage but of wisdom and perception.
The ability to survive on the ruthless battlefield of the Tower of Heaven required more than brute strength. It demanded sharp wits and a keen sense for danger.
After all, the most powerful weren't always the ones who survived the longest or faced the most challenges. The world was full of fleeting talents, shining brightly for a moment before vanishing into oblivion.
Falling-Flower City's leader acknowledged the exceptional talents of Qeathon, Porking, and Tunlun, young prodigies even among prodigies. Yet, in her heart, she harbored greater expectations for Eddie, an unassuming thief whose depths she couldn't fathom.
"You have earned your honors, now return to the Tower of Heaven. Qeathon, Porking, and Tunlun, stay behind," she commanded the golden-armored guards to retreat through the portal. Ignoring the trio, she turned to Eddie, softly asking, "With such a vast number of enemies, why do you think they haven't attacked us more aggressively?"
The three young warriors were taken aback by her inquiry directed at Eddie. They couldn't fathom why such a revered figure would seek insights from someone they considered a nobody. Could this 'nobody' actually possess an intellect that outshone their own?
Inwardly, each of them wrestled with the situation, trying to formulate an answer that would surpass Eddie's. Why indeed were the demons holding back?
Despite not being directly addressed, Qeathon, Porking, and Tunlun's minds raced with theories, each determined to come up with a more convincing explanation than Eddie could offer.
Eddie's response to Falling-Flower City's query hinted at a shrewd analysis: "The mass of lesser demons doesn't pose a significant threat. If we faced an overwhelmingly powerful enemy, you wouldn't have led us into the Abyss."
This logic struck a chord with Tunlun and the others, who begrudgingly admitted its soundness. If an insurmountable force awaited beyond the portal, surely their leader wouldn't have risked such a foolhardy venture.
As she probed further, Eddie speculated, "I suspect a cunning commander among the demons, likely observing from the shadows. If we hadn't counterattacked, it might have resorted to other devious tactics. Our advance has likely made it hesitant, fearing an ambush. But the moment we show weakness, I'm certain it will strike. This fiendish strategist could very well be a Demon Lord."
At the mention of a 'Demon Lord,' Hessian, Eddie's teammates, and others trembled, aware of the dire implications. Such a foe could effortlessly obliterate anyone below the rank of a six-level master.
Falling-Flower City's leader corrected him gently, "Not a Demon Lord, but Hell's Baron Mocloud, a once-human transformed into a demon a millennium ago. He's deviously manipulative, preying on the vulnerable and ambitious. Just like Immon's fall, Mocloud lures his followers from the lower levels of the Tower of Heaven or remote areas, seducing them with power. The likes of Shentu could well have been his targets."
"Why would Immon target my sister, Eddie?" Eddie pondered, suspecting a deeper connection with Hell's Baron Mocloud.
"Plant-based war beasts are a bane to all hellish creatures. By harming your sister, Immon aimed to curb the growth of such formidable human allies. In the eyes of demons, plant-based war beasts are feared adversaries. I suspect Shentu's oppression of your sister might have been at Immon's behest," Falling-Flower City's leader revealed, shedding light on a critical aspect largely overlooked by others.
While the revelation didn't stir much reaction in the others, who had little interest in plant-based war beasts, it resonated deeply with Eddie. It explained why, three millennia ago, the Thorn Flower Fairy could single-handedly annihilate an entire army of fiends and vanquish three Demon Lords.
The Golden Crown Thorn Flower Queen was not only powerful but also the nemesis of demonic forces. Humanity's declining prowess against the demonic threat might be tied to their abandonment of plant-based war beasts.
"Without their natural nemesis, battles against them are indeed daunting," Eddie mused, considering the potential of nurturing the Golden Crown Thorn Flower Queen. "If I could cultivate it like the Thorn Flower Fairy, perhaps I could sweep through demon armies just as she did."
Falling-Flower City's leader sought his opinion again, "What do you suggest we do next?" Her query was more an opportunity for Eddie to demonstrate his strategic acumen than a genuine request for guidance.
While Jeames and his peers envied Eddie's receiving special attention, Yehken, Hessian, and others eagerly awaited his response.
"If we linger here, Hell's Baron Immon's suspicions will only grow. A direct confrontation might be our best option. I don't know what he's plotting, but it's certainly not good," Eddie's sense of impending doom grew stronger, suspecting that Immon was up to something sinister.
"Well said," affirmed the leader. "These demons are not here to attack; they're sacrificial pawns for Immon's grand scheme. You are humanity's elite, and I have been strict because of this. Now, make your choice: return safely through the portal or stay and challenge a demon general. As for Immon, I'll take care of him myself."
Immon's plan to use the legions of lesser demons as a ritual sacrifice was thwarted by the leader's foresight and resolve. Her only concern now was whether Jeames, Qeathon, Porking, and Eddie could defeat their respective demon generals and return safely to the Tower of Heaven.
"Who dares face me, Porking, in battle?" Porking, alongside Qeathon and Jeames, issued a bold challenge to the opposing demon generals, ready to prove their might and valor.
"You guys carry on, I'm feeling a bit peckish. Time for some late-night snacks!" Eddie was about to make a quick exit when a demon general wielding dual crescent blades soared into the air.
He threw something that landed between Hessian and Yehken, causing a dark pillar of light to rise. Eddie, cursing their foolishness for venturing into this demon realm, reluctantly dove into the fading black light to rescue them.
He found himself transported to a blood-red space, roughly the size of a soccer field. "Welcome to the battlefield of demons and humans. On my war monument, you'll be the 1,365th human warrior I've slain," the dual-blade-wielding demon general laughed heartily. At his feet, Yehken, Hessian, and the Lei brothers were lying in pools of blood, heavily wounded but still alive.
Eddie couldn't help but exclaim in disbelief, "Really? You guys got taken down this easily and you dared to attack the demon realm? Speechless. Demon General, did you ambush them?"
The demon general, clashing his blades together proudly in front of his chest, replied haughtily, "I wouldn't call it an ambush. They were just too slow to react."
Before he could finish, Eddie's fist had already connected with the general's nose. The demon was sent flying, crashing down heavily. Regaining his footing, the demon bellowed at Eddie, "Despicable! You attacked while I was speaking!"
Eddie, mimicking the demon's earlier stance, took out two small daggers and clashed them in front of his chest, tilting his head back arrogantly. "I wouldn't call it an ambush. You were just too slow to react!"