Rise of The Demon General Chapter 804. Halting the Invasion

Krassazh drew nearer to Amon. Unlike the initial encounter, the Hyanid leader spoke directly, his tone laced with doubt. "And you are the one Xlasstazh prophesied to be our boon. Human, I must say that I find the prophecy hard to believe."

Amon, not flustered by the directness, replied, "I can’t quite bring myself to believe that I’m responsible for such an undertaking. Nevertheless, please rest assured that my desire to cooperate with the Hyanids is genuine."

As Krassazh closed the distance, Amon could distinctly sense the Hyanid leader. Yet, his cultivation level remained frustratingly indiscernible, as if shrouded by an intangible veil. This led Amon to realize Krassazh was employing a concealment art, and its potency was evident in how he approached undetected. Such an extraordinary display of skill spoke volumes.

A memory surfaced: Xlasstazh had mentioned Krassazh’s cultivation rested at the Intermediate Unholy Monarch Stage of the Monster Realm. This was a being, on paper, superior to Yao Ai – an entity Amon knew, for the moment, he should avoid provoking.

Krassazh’s gaze was intense, fixed on Amon for a prolonged period. Silence stretched between them, with Xlasstazh maintaining a discreet distance. The only audible sounds were the subtle scuttling of the Cryanid Ants and the occasional low grunts emanating from the Cryanid Queen.

Finally, Krassazh broke the quiet. "Tell me. How does helping my race benefit you? If you spout any nonsense about pity or a good heart, I will end you right here, right now. Your status as the Creator’s envoy or champion means nothing to me."

A low chuckle escaped Amon. "I am no saint, nor was I anyone’s envoy or champion. My motivations are entirely selfish. As I’ve told Ublaith before, my desires align with yours. While you seek to conquer the mainland for your race, I seek it for myself. Thus, I require your strength and your army. Once our objective is achieved, we shall divide the land equally. I believe this is a mutually agreeable arrangement."

"Hm..." Krassazh mused, stroking the delicate tentacles that adorned his chin like a wispy beard. "Alright. Let’s assume I believe you for a moment. How exactly will you assist my race in overcoming the humans?"

"First and foremost, you must withdraw your forces and cease all attacks against the humans."

An extended silence followed Krassazh’s statement. Xlasstazh shifted uncomfortably but dared not interject. Amon, however, remained composed, his expression unwavering, betraying neither anxiety nor concern.

"You possess a remarkable level of confidence, human, I’ll grant you that," Krassazh eventually conceded. "What if I refuse your proposal?"

"Then it will be a catastrophic loss for your race. You will have squandered the singular opportunity that could secure the future you so desperately desire for your people."

"Har, har, har," Krassazh boomed with laughter. "I just acknowledged your confidence, yet it seems I still underestimated it. I am uncertain whether to be convinced by your unusual self-assurance or utterly terrified by it. Should you have lived as long as I have, you would understand how overconfidence can spell ruin, not only for an individual but for entire populations."

"If you were privy to my past exploits, you would recognize my consistent ability to fulfill my promises. However, since you are not, all you possess is my word. Should you wish to test my capabilities with a task, I am willing."

Krassazh shook his head. "You have already accomplished the impossible by surviving the purging hole. I cannot conceive of a task greater than that. No, I am already convinced of your competence. What I question is your trustworthiness. How can I be certain that your request for us to withdraw our forces isn't a cunning ploy to grant the humans a respite, allowing them to bolster their defenses for our eventual assault?"

"There is no way for you to be certain," Amon admitted frankly. "As I stated, I cannot provide definitive proof. You must choose whether to trust me or not. The decision rests solely with you."

"Hm...," Krassazh turned his attention to Xlasstazh, who seemed inclined to finally offer his thoughts. "Supreme Leader, you are well aware of my stance on this matter. I find it difficult to believe the Creator would mislead us after guiding His prophecies to this extent."

Krassazh redirected his gaze to Amon. After a moment of silent contemplation, he finally spoke. "Until what point do you propose I halt our invasion?"

"Until I give you the signal," Amon replied without hesitation.

Krassazh shook his head dismissively. "Regrettably, that is insufficient grounds for me to be convinced."

"Very well. I shall be transparent about my strategy. There are two potential paths forward. The first involves me orchestrating a conflict among the human force’s three Domain Lords. If your intelligence on the humans is accurate, you should know these leaders harbor deep animosity towards one another. My plan is to wait until I instigate a war between them. Once their forces are significantly depleted, you can then strike and deliver the final blow."

"And how precisely do you intend to pit them against each other?"

"I do not know," Amon stated plainly.

Krassazh’s prominent brow furrowed in evident consternation.

"Yet," Amon quickly added, "I have already laid the groundwork. I merely require additional time and a more thorough understanding of the three Domain Lords before I can execute my maneuver. It will be some time before this becomes a reality."

"How much longer do we have to wait?" Krassazh inquired, his voice laced with impatience.

"I cannot say for certain. Perhaps a few more years," Amon replied. Seeing Krassazh’s brow furrow inches again, Amon continued, "Your people have been planning for centuries to invade the mainland. The true invasion only commenced about twenty years ago. What is a few more years in the grand scheme of things?"

"You mentioned two potential paths. What is the second one?" Krassazh pressed.

"The second path also requires patience, but its realization does not depend on my actions. I have no idea how long it will take. Are you familiar with the 'Purging'?"

"Hmm, I have heard it mentioned, but no, I am not familiar with its specifics," Krassazh admitted.

"I myself am not privy to the exact details. All I know is that it is a large-scale operation where forces from the lower world descend upon Aetheria."

"The surface world?" Krassazh clarified.

Amon nodded. "From the information I have gathered, those involved will be individuals with high cultivation levels. This implies that during the Purging, there will be a significant scarcity of high-level combatants in the lower world. That situation could present us with the opportune moment to launch our assault."

"And when will this Purging occur?" Krassazh asked, his gaze fixed on Amon.

Amon shook his head. "This is another detail that eludes me. The only certainty is that the Purging takes place every ten million years, and it is anticipated to be several years from now."

Xlasstazh interjected, "Our historical records do indicate a widespread disturbance in human activities occurring every ten million years. We were unaware of the nature of this commotion until this moment."

"Hmm, I am uncertain. Both methods you’ve described seem rather vague and lack a definitive timeline," Krassazh stated, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

"That is because my information is incomplete," Amon responded. "This is why I request your patience. You should conserve your strength until that opportune moment arrives. Refrain from further provoking the humans. Doing so might deplete your forces, leaving you unprepared for the main offensive when the chance arises. Worse still, your insistence on attacking could provoke the three Domain Lords, compelling them to unite and eliminate you. Should that happen, your prospects of success would plummet to nil."

A profound silence descended once more. Krassazh continued to ponder, his fingers rhythmically stroking his beard. After a full minute, he drew a deep breath and declared, "Very well. I shall take this leap of faith and place my trust in you. I sincerely hope you do not disappoint me, human."

"I will not," Amon affirmed.

"I am pleased you have made this decision, supreme leader," Xlasstazh remarked with a sense of relief.

"I will issue the order for my forces to withdraw. Will you be returning to the mainland to begin your promised endeavors?" Krassazh inquired of Amon.

"That is precisely my intention," Amon replied.

"We will not provide an escort for your journey back. You must navigate the return path alone. While humans seldom venture into this misty border, it is not entirely devoid of them. If even one of my people is seen accompanying you and word reaches the humans, it could jeopardize our entire cooperation."

"I understand completely. I never intended to accept an escort. I will manage the return journey on my own."

Krassazh nodded in approval. "Given your current cultivation level, I do not believe you have much to fear. You simply need to exercise caution and avoid straying into other territories. You are fortunate to have entered this specific zone upon crossing the misty border. The majority of the powerful spirit beasts have already been driven away by the combined might of our race and the Cryanids. Should you venture into a different zone, there's a considerable likelihood of encountering more formidable primordial beasts, or perhaps even deity beasts."

"We can indicate the direction of the mainland for you before you depart," Xlasstazh offered.

Amon did not strictly require the guidance, but he chose to respond politely. "Thank you. That would indeed be helpful."

Krassazh extended an offer for Amon to remain in their city for a few days and partake in their hospitality. Amon courteously declined the invitation, reasoning that it would be more prudent to avoid wasting time on non-essential activities. Krassazh expressed his approval of Amon’s dedicated attitude. Amon then took his leave, and Xlasstazh accompanied him to the exit.

Once the two had departed, Ublaith emerged from the shadows and questioned Krassazh, "Father, are you truly certain about this alliance with him?"