"The Eight Demon Generals' objective is probably far more than just inflicting casualties on this wave of demons…"
After retreating behind the eleventh bronze wall, Leilin watched the encircling net gradually taking shape, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes.
"If we merely relied on the walls to kill enemies, the powerful ones among the demons could still escape in the end. Slaughtering nothing but cannon fodder like manes—the Abyss generates these low-rank demons endlessly every day, so it would cause virtually no damage…"
"Their real target… should be the high-ranking powerhouses in the demon army—Mariliths, Balors, perhaps even a Flame Balor!"
Although the demon army still held a numerical advantage, it was no longer as overwhelming as it had been at the start.
As the demon horde pushed ever deeper, their elite warriors gradually found themselves drawn into the trap.
…
"Get ready! This time, we're going to teach those Abyssal mutts a lesson they'll never forget!"
At the highest point of the battlefield, eight powerful Pit Fiends had gathered together. The oppressive auras they radiated surpassed even those of ordinary Pit Fiends—these were the Eight Demon Generals!
If they could devastate the demons' forces to the maximum degree—or even conquer the Abyssal Plains outright—they would not only earn the favor of infernal power but also secure a crucial basis for Asmodeus's reward.
A recent, vaguely circulated rumor had set all eight generals on edge, making them eager to establish merit.
After all, that meant the throne of a Lord of Hell!
If there was anything that Pit Fiends—who already stood at the apex of the infernal hierarchy—still craved, it was overthrowing the ruler of one of Hell's layers and claiming that throne for themselves.
The disappearance of the Lord of the Second Layer, combined with Asmodeus's recent unusual movements, had shown them that this possibility was within reach!
"Next, we'll need your help!"
One of the Eight Demon Generals approached the lair of the Chromatic Dragon.
"Naturally! As long as you honor your promises afterward!" A deep, resonant voice boomed from within the cave, carrying immense dragon pressure—and beneath it, the distant roars of other male dragons.
"Of course. After all, we've already signed a contract, haven't we? Devils' credibility is famous throughout the multiverse!"
The Pit Fiend smiled and departed.
…
"They've made their move!" Leilin keenly sensed the shift in atmosphere. A flood of commands went out and were executed flawlessly by the devils.
Under the devils' deliberate slackening of defense, the eleventh bronze ring was breached, then the tenth, the ninth… all the way down to the sixth ring near the core, all "barely" overrun by the demons.
Seeing that it was genuinely possible to breach the bronze fortress and achieve an unprecedented feat for the Abyss, the demons went completely berserk.
The entire bronze fortress had become an enormous war trap—grinding down the demons' numbers while simultaneously forming a vast pocket.
"Now! Strike!!!"
Eight Pit Fiend silhouettes materialized at the very front of the battlefield, their thunderous roars echoing throughout the bronze fortress.
"ROAR!"
A massive teleportation spell blazed to life, and then a mountainous body came crashing down—crushing the demons who couldn't dodge in time into bloody paste.
This was the bronze fortress's original master, now its guardian—
"Remember your promises!" Tiamat roared skyward, its colossal frame plugging the outermost breach in the wall like a living barricade. A tangible dragon pressure erupted outward.
"ROAR!"
Over a hundred feet of lightning, acid, corrosive gas, frost, and flame simultaneously erupted from the dragon's five heads. In that moment, it had become a veritable siege fortress, instantly clearing the surrounding demons.
"Draconic Magic—[Summon Allies]!"
The same teleportation glow flickered around Tiamat, and five slightly smaller chromatic dragons materialized. They swatted demons aside with enormous claws and occasionally tore into them with razor-sharp fangs. Horrifying crunching sounds filled the air as ichor and blood dripped continuously from their maws.
"Tiamat is really going all out, isn't it? Looks like the Eight Demon Generals offered something truly tempting!"
Leilin only glanced at the outer battlefield before turning his full attention to the fighting before him.
The infernal power network was surging at a furious pace—clearly the Eight Demon Generals were now expending resources without regard for cost, willing to pay any price.
Squad after squad of elite devils materialized—devils that hadn't been seen before. Most wore exquisite armor and wielded weapons imbued with supernatural properties, taking up positions at the gaps in the previous walls.
Tiamat and the five dragons served as the critical closure of the bag formation, while these devils filled in the remaining gaps. The bronze fortress closed up perfectly, enveloping the vast majority of the demons in its center—including, of course, the high-ranking ones.
[Ding! Host has received a task! From Balzefen of the Eight Demon Generals! Objective: Transfer command to your deputy! Mobilize all elites and execute a surround-kill on the enemy's high-ranking demons!]
"As expected! Hanalin, you take over here. Everyone else—squad captains, with me!"
Leilin roared, leaping from the wall. A powerful infernal aura erupted from his body.
On the other walls, the devil beheading squads—already prepared—launched their sorties, intercepting the enemy's high-ranking demons.
"Charge! Kill them all!"
At this point in the battle, even the high-ranking demons were swept up in the chaos. Retreat never crossed their minds. Abyssal war cries shook the entire battlefield.
"I'm just here to put on a show—I'm not actually a devil, so there's no need to go all out!"
Leilin wisely abandoned the direction where the Flame Balor was—that was the Pit Fiends' prey. He also avoided the Balors that looked like they possessed excellent bloodlines and the most powerful evolutionary potential, instead positioning himself before a Marilith.
But to the other devils watching, the Marilith Leilin had chosen was noticeably more muscular than its kindred. Six thick arms each gripped a razor-sharp supernatural weapon, and its aura was practically at the threshold of legend.
"Damned devils!"
Upon spotting Leilin, the innate antipathy drove the blood-maddened Marilith into a direct charge.
Six scaled arms blurred through the air, generating terrifying shearing winds. Like three swift assassins fused into one, they formed a massive storm of blades that seemed poised to mince Leilin into paste.
"Too weak—though the weapon technique is actually decent! Worthy of a master in the material world!"
Leilin shook his head internally, though outwardly he let out a hiss. From his hand, a steel serpent whip studded with dark barbs lashed out and collided with the Marilith's assault, sending ripples through the air.
"Dual-blade work is quite good. Probably has the[Melee Weapon Mastery]talent… and[Multiweapon Fighting]…"
With just a single exchange—before the Chip even needed to scan—Leilin had seen through more than half of his opponent's capabilities.
"Fine then! I'll play along for a bit!"
A strange force emanated from Leilin's fingers, forming a series of circular patterns that turned the massive iron whip into a spiraling tornado.
The initial trickle of power, amplified through each successive loop, surged to its absolute peak and roared down upon the Marilith.
Crack! Shatter! Sounds of weapons breaking and bones pulverizing came from within the vortex. Wisps of blood mist continuously spewed from the swirling storm.
When Leilin retracted his whip, all that remained on the ground was a mound of pulp and the fragments of several weapons. The Marilith had vanished without a trace.
"How boring. Put in even a little effort and they can't handle it…"
Leilin sighed. His proficiency with melee weapons had likely reached grandmaster level by now. A near-legendary Marilith simply wasn't worth the effort.
"Maybe… I could try something more challenging. A Balor would make an excellent specimen and test subject…"
Leilin surveyed the battlefield.
At this point, having fallen into the devils' ambush, the demon army had already lost more than half its forces. The constant interception of their high-ranking members had thrown the army into even greater chaos—or perhaps they had never been particularly good at following orders to begin with.
Some demons, driven completely mad, ignored their own peril and charged headlong at the towering bronze walls, only to die under the fortress's defensive machinery.
At the center of the battlefield, several massive curtains of flame blazed with destructive force so great that even the frenzied demons kept their distance, forming distinct circles. Within them, one could hear the roars of demons and the cackling of devils. With Leilin's sharp vision, he could peer through the flames and glimpse the clashing silhouettes of colossal demons and devils.
"Just moments ago, several of the Eight Demon Generals used[Greater Invisibility]and[Greater Teleport]to ambush and critically wound a Flame Balor. They're currently mopping up…"
Even just observing, the vorpal sword flashing like lightning in the besieged Flame Balor's hand, along with its flame whip, still gave Leilin a powerful impression.
"Truly the Abyss's premier combat breed—they carry a wildness and dominance that Pit Fiends lack. What a pity that their chaotic evil alignment prevents them from wielding every ounce of their power perfectly…"
The Flame Balor was prey for the Eight Demon Generals, and Leilin had no intention of interfering. Circumventing the main engagement at the center, he fixed his gaze on an injured Balor.
As the Flame Balor's pre-evolution form, the Balor merely lacked that primordial chaotic trait and flame abilities—but Leilin still found it an intriguing subject for research.