Reborn as an Extra Chapter 715: Island Felina. Part-2.

After exchanging pleasantries, the group proceeded towards the nearby convoy of vehicles.

In contrast to the opulent sports cars favored within the human empire, the Beast Archipelago leaned towards the preference for robust muscle cars.

The entire procession consisted of imposing, jet-black muscle cars that seemed to exude an palpable aura of might and dominance!

If he were still in his previous life, Rio might have easily mistaken such a convoy for a clandestine mafia operation.

"I was genuinely taken aback when I learned this meeting would be convened in the Beast Archipelago; typically, such gatherings occur within your human empire or the Elven Empire..."

"The last instance of holding a meeting in the Beast Archipelago must have been well over a century ago!"

Settled into one of the muscle cars, Riku took the driver's seat. Ashtel occupied the front passenger seat next to him, while Rio and Link found themselves relegated to the rear, sharing the backseat with the two elders.

The young ladies, meanwhile, had opted for a separate vehicle, leaving Rio and Link to endure the elders' discussions on political and weighty matters with growing boredom.

Link's expression was a clear tell, almost as if it were broadcasting, 'Why must I be separated from my waifu! This world is utterly cruel to us waifu enthusiasts!'

Disregarding the two youths sulking in the back, Ashtel rested his head against the plush seat, adjusted his seatbelt, and then spoke.

"This particular meeting necessitates an even greater degree of secrecy."

"Your territory was selected precisely because it would be exceedingly difficult for any adversaries to anticipate our choice of hosting here, given our hiatus of centuries from this location!"

As Ashtel's gaze swept over the passing scenery, he observed the hundreds of beastfolk diligently working within the military camp, preparing the grounds for the imminent arrival of additional dignitaries, and he continued,

"To be completely candid, I would have much preferred to circumvent hosting such a convention within the human empire or the elven empire..."

"After all, wherever these types of assemblies take place, the likelihood of the demon race launching an assault on that nation escalates dramatically in the future, as that locale becomes conspicuously marked as a strategic target by the demon forces..."

Riku offered a confirming nod to Ashtel's assertion.

"Indeed, I too would have found it preferable to avoid such a vexing concern; unlike the human and elven races, our population is not substantially large..."

"A full-scale offensive by the demon race would inflict devastating losses upon us; the protracted thousand-year demon extinction war exacted a grievous toll."

"Nearly half of the beast tribes that once thrived prior to that thousand-year conflict were annihilated by its conclusion..."

Wars are universally akin to catastrophic events; regardless of which side initiates the conflict, all participants endure immense suffering.

The human race experienced losses numbering in the millions upon millions; the elf race narrowly averted the utter destruction of their World Tree; the fairy race and the dark elf race were subjected to brutal massacres; and countless other races were irrevocably erased from existence.

The beastfolk were far from immune to this widespread calamity.

In ages past, they boasted a diverse array of beast tribes living in amiable coexistence, yet now, scarcely ten tribes of beast folk remain extant.

The majority have either succumbed to extinction or dwindle to mere handfuls of members, teetering on the precipice of oblivion.

Only the Feline, Fox, Dog, and Bird tribes possess a reasonably substantial population; the remaining tribes are precariously sustaining their existence.

This precarious situation serves as a primary impetus for the Beastfolk's profound emphasis on cultivating their burgeoning talents.

They commence with an inherently limited pool of potential candidates, and failing to ensure the emergence of new SS-rank individuals periodically could jeopardize the stability of their nation against both internal strife and external threats.

Much like any other sovereign entity, the Beastfolk have grappled with internal political discord and friction among their disparate tribes.

The sole factor preserving their unity and maintaining national stability has been the unwavering dedication and effort of their nation's SS-rank powerhouses.

"The recent activities of the demon king are a source of considerable unease; I must maintain constant vigilance these days..."

"I would abhor witnessing a repeat of the mermaid island tragedy befall any others..."

Ashtel inclined his head in agreement with Riku's expressed sentiments.

"I understand... a formidable demon general wrought havoc in that location; I was among the select few SS-rankers who engaged him in a siege and ultimately dispatched him to the afterlife..."

The Demon King of the demon race has remained an unchanging entity for millennia, whereas the demon generals undergo frequent transitions.

At times, there are none, and at other junctures, their numbers swell into the dozens!

A significant factor enabling the demon race to readily acquire substantial reinforcements is their possession of a distinct strategic advantage.The vast expanse of the universe's spirit realm is dominated by a sea of corrupting miasma, with a significant portion of the cosmos choked by this vile substance. This particular solar system stands out as a nexus of incredibly high mana density across the entirety of the universe. Consequently, demons from every corner of the spirit realm and beyond are drawn to this location, unleashing chaos, violence, and pure hatred. Periodically, the spirit realm spontaneously tears open, forging wormholes that disgorge hordes of demons. These newly arrived fiends then seamlessly integrate with the existing demon population on this planet, endlessly reinforcing their numbers. Unlike human and other races, who must diligently train their members and endure decades of waiting for a new SS-ranker to emerge, And at times face centuries of dread due to the absence of any SS-rankers, demons possess an inexhaustible reservoir of readily available soldiers. They can afford the luxury of casually dispatching a random demon general to any locale, sowing destruction and discord. Even should such a demon general meet their demise, another will inevitably appear sooner or later, posing no significant loss to the demon race. This serves as a primary catalyst for the demon race's ability to remain on par with the global alliance, sustaining their solitary war without facing utter annihilation. So long as miasma pollutes this universe, their infernal existence will know no end.