The Wastes.


    A group of demonic creatures floated atop the destroyed terrain where Elder Flock and Dartex have fought before.


    "Do you sense them, Nish''taka?", said the figure in the middle.


    His 3-meter tall body towered over the rest. The demonic wings on his back battered with scars pped furiously, generating shockwaves every time.


    Itsrge fists were gripped tightly on the sides. He was waiting for a reply from the slithering demonic creature down below who was busy smelling out any leftover scent from Elder Flock and Dartex.


    "Their scent stops here, Der Henderral.", Nish''taka solemnly replied. A grim expression was stered on her face.


    Therge demonic creature started fuming in anger. The tworge horns on his head started to bend inward in a gruesome manner.


    "Der Henderral, it is best to forget about this incident.", a demonic creature with crow-like features tapped on his shoulder, "The grand n should take precedence. Dartex has already done his part. Regardless of where he is now, we would still be found out sooner orter."


    "What is more important is that we should focus on disrupting our enemies for as long as we can. The moment that they realize what is happening, all will be toote.", the crow''s dark eyes glinted coldly.


    "Your suggestion, Allustro?", therge demonic creature asked. His anger was soothed under this crow''s presence


    After all, he was a respected strategist from the Otherworld.


    Allustro stared at the northern direction with a serious expression.


    "We have ordered Dartex to spread the corruption far and wide. Most of its victims have already developed to the mind retraction stage with the help of Minjax."


    "The group of northern barbarians are on their way back to the Norva Assili, and Dartex stealthily intercepted the marching band of the Creed cultists on the outskirts of the Morning Star Empire Capital City before the Herald of the Dragons interrupted our ns earlier than expected."


    The crow snorted in disdain. The Knights weren''t aszypared to the old bastards from the League of Wizardry.


    Despite this setback, it proved surprisingly good for their other ns, however.


    Their recent attempts of abducting people from the rural areas attracted the attention of the Knights. As such, the Knight''s ranks were thinned out from the inside by letting them freely investigate the incidents.


    Allustro wasn''t the slightest worried that the Knights would suspect them for now. Their escape methods were greatly improvised.


    No one but the lone supreme archmage from the League could sniff out their presence in the area.


    "We will first use the Norva Assili to create a disruption, while the Creed unsuspectingly breeds new followers which we will use on ater date."


    "Our dear prophet has umted much ire from the public so this will take a little more persuasion to convince the public to gather their trust."


    Therge demonic creature snorted, "Then what about the elves? And the dwarves?"


    "They aren''t an easy force to reckon with.", he advised.


    The armada of archmages from the elves, and the dragons who are now allies with the dwarves were an invincible force for the demonic creatures to face head-on.


    Even though a portal was open for them to connect with the Otherworld and other worlds, arge amount of power was required.


    This surge of power would be sensed by the Magi Elder, alerting the entirety of Aludia who would then respond to the existential threat of the demonic creatures and stop them from whatever they were trying to aplish.


    As for the empires and factions proactively attacking the Wastes, it wasn''t a profitable investment. There was nothing valuable in this forsakennd.


    Moreover, fully exterminating the presence of the demonic creatures would lead to surveince problems from the League and the Knights.


    At least, with the demonic creatures continuing to exist here in Aludia, they would be able to monitor their movements, though they were bound to regret such a decision for ater date.


    Regardless of reasons, because of the absence of aggression from their enemies, the demonic creatures were able to empower themselves over the years.


    Allustro nodded his head, "We are setting up a war between the Grurad Mystic Manor and the Alderian Terrestrial Sanctuary. The abducted elves are secretly stored from an inconspicuous ce inside the Grurad Mystic Manor."


    "Once the elves find out, it will be another war between the two.", the crow''s eyes glistened in delight.


    The Grurad Mystic Manor was and full of demi-humans exiled from the Sanctuary because they werebeled as impure, or were convicted of heinous crimes from the past.


    If the elves found out that their brethren were being locked up like rats in such a foul ce, anger will erupt from the depth of their hearts and initiate a war until the other side is destroyed.


    "The Vortex Ascendancy event is also near. The realm on the other side that the dwarves have been guarding for centuries is now popted with lesser and higher demons, the marasakas and karageros."


    "The deathly surprise will surely earn them a quick trip to the death realm.", Allustro coldlyughed.


    Those dwarves were highly arrogant and prideful as years passed mainly because they managed to establish an allegiance with the powerful dragon tribes.


    This lowered their guard, giving way for Allustro and the other demonic creatures to sneak on the portal''s entrance and make it a breeding ground for the demonic creatures and alike.


    Hearing the good news, therge demonic creature smirked.


    "Good, good. It seems like you have nned all of this secretly on our backs, Allustro."


    "I was worried that if I tell everything on a moment''s notice, Der Henderral, our demonic brothers and sisters would becent like our enemies. I wouldn''t want such a thing to happen now, would I?", Allustro replied.


    "If this grand n works as expected, Lord Master Vaha wille back and reign terror once again!"


    Hearing his name gave rise to adrenaline for each demonic creature present. Their eyes widened in frenzy, raising their heads to the sky and loudly shouting.


    Just as they were celebrating, another demonic creaturended on their position. When the dust settled, its four horns stood out.


    A menacing look was stered on his face. His two arms on the right, however, were cut off from his body.


    Scarlet blood poured out from it, shocking the other demonic creatures.


    "Simonte, what the hell happened to you?", therge demonic creature asked.


    Simonte knelt in disgrace, "Der Henderral, I am sorry. I tried to hold the Herald of the Dragons for as long as I could, but I was unable toplete my mission."


    "The Herald of the Dragons, Miguel Luchador? But how? You are supposed to be as powerful as him!", therge demonic creature was in disbelief.


    "The-the divine me dragon blood awakened inside him. It must be because of that thing that happened a day ago! That was why he was able to injure me this much!", Simonte exined.


    "Divine me dragon blood… divine, divine, divinity!"


    A scarlet aura emanated from therge demonic creature''s body.


    "Miguel Luchador, you will pay for this!"


    …


    Dulrak''s Ruins.


    The members of the Creed and the League stood their grounds, wary of the surroundings for any iing attack.


    A dragon''s roar was heard, alerting everyone.


    From the sky fell a draconic figure withrge draconic wings extending from his back. Hended fiercely to the ground.


    "Settle down, everyone. It''s someone from the Knights."


    Magister Amos calmly approached the draconic figure, "Herald, what brings you here to Dulrak''s Ruins?"


    "Dartex, where is he?", Miguel asked.


    "Elder Flock went out to pursue him. You won''t need to worry about that.", Magister Amos calmly answered.


    He didn''t include Eluard''s presence, nor the Heavenly Magic Academy. Everyone from before agreed to not whisper a word or story about the involvement of the Heavenly Magic Academy in this incident.


    It was of utmost importance to hide this information for as long as possible.


    "Is that so?", Miguel doubted Magister Amos'' answer.


    "You seem to havee from a recent battle, Herald.", Magister Amos noticed.


    "Hmph, if it wasn''t for a demonic creature blocking my way, I would''ve dealt with that Dartex instead.", Miguel harrumphed.


    He had to thank the person who assimted with the divine me dragon''s blood, allowing the sleeping blood in his body to awaken just in time to defeat the demonic creature.


    "What? A demonic creature blocked your way?", Magister Amos was shocked. Or rather, he acted to be as shocked as he was.


    They already knew of the Otherworld''s involvement with Dartex.


    Magister Amos have to set up a pretense that it was his first time knowing of this matter or else Miguel might sense something suspicious.


    "Hah, you old fools from the League are always sloppy. Nevertheless, since Dartex is already dealt with, I will go back now.", Miguel jumped to the sky and disappeared in a sh.


    He didn''t give a damn about whatever business the League or the Creed have with the teleportation magic formation in Dulrak''s ruins. He has to report what happened here back at headquarters.


    ''The recent abduction incidents must also be rted to the demonic creatures. It seems like they are nning something big.''


    He didn''t think that the n was about the direct revival of Vaha. If it was, then the demonic creatures should have started plotting against them from centuries ago.


    Why would they only start now?


    Back at Dulrak''s Ruins.


    Magister Amos stared at the distance.


    Amotion suddenly erupted behind him where the entrance to the ruins was located.


    He turned around and saw Magister Jaggos approach him with a dark expression, "What happened, Magister Jaggos? Did the teleportation magic formation act up again?"


    Magister Jaggos nodded, "Magister Amos, Elder Flock has returned. However, he seems to have encountered trouble."


    ---VOL. 1 END---