Fili's voice was hoarse as he answered Yang Kai's interrogation: "Modo arrived very suddenly. None of us saw it coming. Once he arrived, he immediately began deploying his forces. I was at his side the entire time and had no opportunity to send out any information."
Yang Kai said nothing, which made Fili uneasy. He worried that Yang Kai might blame him for the destruction of his tribe. Fortunately, after a short silence, Yang Kai asked again: "How much of his strength can Modo exert right now?"
Fili breathed a sigh of relief and replied: "He was injured while passing through the dimensional barrier. At present, he should only be able to wield sixty to seventy percent of his power. However, if given sufficient time to heal, he will grow stronger and stronger, eventually recovering to his peak."
"Sixty to seventy percent..." Yang Kai murmured. It seemed his guess had been right — Modo might be comparable to a Great Emperor, but he truly couldn't unleash his full power. Even so, a Great Emperor operating at sixty or seventy percent was still far beyond what he could hope to contend with.
"My lord, my cover has been blown. I'm afraid I can't go back," Fili said.
He had come out with four other Demon Kings, and all four had died. If he alone made it back while no Demon Saint was watching, it might have been passable — after all, his strength ranked fairly high among the Demon Kings. But if he had to face Modo, he would very likely give himself away.
"Mm." Yang Kai nodded, clearly having anticipated this. "I need you to take me to Stronghold Raging Current."
"Stronghold Raging Current!" Fili started in alarm, grasping Yang Kai's intent. "My lord, you truly mean to slaughter three hundred thousand demons?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Yang Kai gave him a flat glance.
Fili shivered and said worriedly: "But Stronghold Raging Current has over a hundred thousand demons stationed there!"
Over the past month, Yang Kai had killed well over a hundred thousand demons. Combined with those at Stronghold Raging Current, that would indeed bring the total close to three hundred thousand.
However, the largest outpost Yang Kai had previously destroyed held only ten thousand demons at most. Moreover, because of his roaming hunt, the demon defensive line had been drawn tighter and tighter, with scattered forces everywhere consolidated into a few major locations — Stronghold Raging Current was one of them. As far as Fili knew, eight Demon Kings alone were stationed there, with over a hundred thousand troops. Lord Wu Niu actually dared to target such a terrifying place?
Yang Kai glanced at him. "I'm not going alone!"
Fili froze, then quickly understood what Yang Kai meant.
It seemed that Lord Wu Niu's pieces planted within the demon ranks were all about to play their part.
Stronghold Raging Current had originally been the capital of a major barbarian tribe. After the demon invasion, that tribe had been wiped out, and their territory seized. It now sat deep in the demon heartland.
Over a hundred thousand demons gathered here produced a demonic energy so dense it had turned the surrounding sky and earth almost black. Eight Demon Kings presided over the garrison, commanding countless demon marshals and generals, rendering the stronghold virtually impregnable.
Because it was situated in the interior, the demons here had not yet clashed with the other races. But the bloodthirsty, combative demons longed every day to charge onto the battlefield, slaughter those weak outsiders, and claim this land for themselves.
Fili's unannounced arrival took the eight stationed Demon Kings by surprise. But Fili's strength and reputation spoke for themselves, so despite their surprise, they showed no excessive wariness. Instead, they warmly received him and probed indirectly for the purpose of his visit.
Fili kept his lips sealed on the matter, putting on an air of deep mystery that discouraged anyone from pressing further. They all wondered whether this might be Lord Modo's orders.
The Strength Demon Yura was one of the eight Demon Kings stationed at Stronghold Raging Current. In the exchange of glances with Fili, she read a great deal of hidden information — and it made her tense and uneasy.
Stronghold Raging Current soon welcomed still more Demon Kings.
The Shadow Demon Mokoto. The Flame Demon Levin. The Frost Demon Ashina...
Within the span of just three days, seven Demon Kings including Fili had gathered here from every direction, inflating the stronghold's total to a staggering fifteen.
Such a thing was exceedingly rare.
Modo had descended upon the foreign land, and under his command, every Demon King had their own responsibilities and territories to guard — they did not lightly leave their posts. But the arrival of Fili and the others had shattered that pattern.
Even the densest Demon King could tell something was about to happen.
The newcomers were probed by their counterparts, and the conclusion they arrived at was this: they had indeed been sent by Lord Modo, but none of them knew what the actual objective was. Only Fili knew the full picture.
Fili shut himself away and refused visitors, leaving everyone with no way to get answers.
This suspense came to an end five days after Fili's arrival. Inside the grandest structure in Stronghold Raging Current, all fifteen Demon Kings assembled together. Fili sat at the head of the hall as though he were the host, the ghost-fire in his eye sockets as calm and still as a pool of spring water.
The other fourteen Demon Kings were arrayed on either side in the seats of honor below. Not one of them raised their voice. Every pair of eyes was fixed on Fili. He looked up and delivered his shocking words: "There is a traitor among us!"
The great hall fell deathly silent. A long moment later, one Demon King finally spoke up in a low voice: "Fili, you're joking, right?"
"Surely there can't be a traitor among us? What could those lowly outsiders possibly offer that would make a Demon King like us defect?"
"Fili, if this is a joke, it's a remarkably poor one."
Several Demon Kings could no longer hold back and began clamoring over one another.
Fili said: "This is Lord Modo's judgment!"