Chapter 410: Fishing In Troubled Waters
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The lava flow suddenly surged, bubbles rose from the lava. Lily immediately jumped ten metres back. "What did I just stir up?"
Everyone eyed cautiously at the surging lava flow. Hao Ren activated his Steel Membrane Shield and stood in front of Nangong Wuyue: though the siren maiden was good in defense, but the high heat and dry environment made her the most vurnerable among them. The lava flow surged for about ten seconds before a rumble was heard and an ernomous monster rose up from the lava!
The monster had a figure of a human but was covered in hot lava and stood wobbly at four metres tall in the lava flow. The monster was without a face but appeared at a loss as it turned its head around frantically as if trying to sniff out something in the air. Lava was dripping down its body back into the lava flow with white smoke rising up.
Looking at the creature which was perspectively challenging, Hao Ren became nervous. "What's that?"
"Don't be afraid. It's just a lava demon." Lanina let everyone take a step back. She stared at the lava creature, brows knit together and asked unsurely, "Polu?"
The ernomous lava demon reacted when it heard the Lanina's voice, bending down at where Laniana was and making a series of undiscernable grunt. Lanina took a few steps back to avoid lava dripping on her head before she made the same grunt to communicate with it.
"The two know each other?" Hao Ren nudged Y'zaks. "What are they saying?"
"I've no idea." Y'zaks scraped his bald head. "Lava demon is a lower life form, very unintelligent. I used to train them as guards in various lava lakes. Lanina is the only one who can communicate with them, though I've no idea how she does it."
Hao Ren looked on in astonishment as Lanina talked with the lava demon. "As a succubus, she is really weird."
Y'zaks shrugged. "Perhaps there was something wrong with my teaching..."
After Lanina talked with Polu, the lava demon, it disappeared into the lava flow with a grunt. Then Lanina told them worriedly, "This place is basically under Serathon's control. His forces and the allied army are in a stalemate near the Osidian Plain. It's not known what they are fighthing for. His soldiers are everywhere."
"So this area was used to be Biggie's territory?" Vivian's brows pulled together. "What happened to your men?"
"Those who survived had fled to the other dimensions. The rest have become traitors." Lanina said in an emotionless tone of voice. "Most middle and lower demons have no sense of loyalty. To them, who is more powerful, who will be their boss. So they are our enemies now. But then it's a good thing: Serathon distrusts those turncoats, he gathered them around Red Peak which is near to Osidian Plain. So we're not going to bump into them."
Hao Ren let out a sigh of relief. Those turncoat demons were the biggest threats: they recognised Lanina, and could even sensed the presence of Y'zaks. Once engaged, those demons would be more dangerous than allied army.
"Serathon and allied army are in a stalemate in Osidian Plain?" Y'zaks rubbed his chin in thought. "Allied army is a formidable foe, a standoff means that Serathon must have sent his main forces. No wonder he has abandoned The Demonic Foundry."
"After all the trouble, they were just after your daughter?" Hao Ren suddenly sensed something wasn't quite right. The standoff between the demonic king and the allied army for over half a year for a kid just didn't make sense.
Y'zaks's emotion changed. He clenched his fists and said, "I don't care what they are up to. I must go there."
"Wait a second," Vivian suddenly said, "Is the intel the lava demon provided trustable?"
"Absolutely." Lanina smiled and said, "Lava demons aren't intelligent, but they wouldn't lie. They know the situation on the ground by way of the network of the magma in the crust of the earth. I'm the only one who could understand their language. No one else could master this web of intel."
Hao Ren was doubtless about it. He led everyone leaving the hot lava flow and heading toward Osidian Plain.
As expected, they began to bump into the lower demons who were patrolling the area. As they drew near to Osidian Plain, they saw more demons and even armed Serathon's soldiers. During their landing near the Demonic Foundry in Serathonian Plane previously, they were using the clouds in high altitude as a cover. But here, Hao Ren didn't intend to go in discreetly—they were here to do reconnaissance, hiding themselves would only make the work difficult.
So everyone was making contact with the lower demons cautiously.
And there was a risk in doing so. But they had already agreed beforehand a way to disguise themselves. To make sense of the situation, they had to make contact with the enemy—it was a necessary risk. With their abilities, dealing with the lower demons was just a piece of cake, even if they risked getting exposed.
On the the desolute, scorched red land, two burly demon guards with a single horn on their forehead and their small team were passingby. The demon guards draped in armour of Serathon and despite their rock-like skins were exposed to the scorching heat, they seemed to enjoy the weather very much. They occasionally looked back at the demonspawns and the frightened humans behind them, and talked loudly among themselves. "It's good weather. And it's also a lucky day."
"Definitely."
Never have I thought of we could catch the fellows during the shift changes. It seems the allied army isn't as strong as thought."
"Definitely."
"It's said that the allied army has been searching in Osidian Plain for half a year. If they keep this longer, they would have died from noxious gas poisoning without needing our help. Could this be what Serathon has in his mind?"
"Definitely."
"By then I might be able to retire, and become a captain. Then I can eat human at least once a week. Such a good life!"
"Definitely."
"Tsk, I like your honesty."
"Definitely."
The two demon buddies were chatting as they walked, proving that demons were emotionally-capable creatures. Suddenly a group of humans appeared in front and stunned them. They raised their weapons instinctively. "It's human!"
"Look carefully, idiot!" Lanina strutted toward the two demon guards. "A higher demon is here!"
Though the two demon guards were twice as tall as Lanina, the little succubus was talking to them like a boss. The two demon guards appeared not upset. They lowered their weapons as they saw a succubus was also taking a group of humans as prisoner. "It's ma'am succubus."
Succubi had low combat strength but their high intelligence and magic skills put them on the higher rank of demons. They were natural commanders and strategists, and revered by the grassroot soldiers.
"Are you going to Osidian Plain too?" Lanina asked loudly as if she was their superior, her tone of voice sounded so naturally.
"Yes." The two demon guards were a little confused. "We inadvertently caught some spies of the allied army on the way. We're taking them to the officer in the front line."
"I happen to go to Osidian Plain too." Lanina pointed at Hao Ren and his company behind her. "I too have a few new servants. They haven't been brainwashed completely. I will put them under your custody. Save me the trouble of looking after them."
One of the demon guards nodded. But the other one suddenly said as if he had realised something. "Of course. But could you please show me your ID?"
Lanina took out a pack of half-empty chewing gum which she took from Hao Ren's house earlier and waved it in front of the demon guard. Her eyes glowed in blue and her voice low like in sleepwalk. "This is my ID..."
Lanina had never really practiced her seduction ability. Trying to use this ability on the elite demons would be difficult but the lower demons would be easily susceptible to it. The two demon guards nodded impetuously.
So Hao ren and his men had infiltrated the small demonic convoy. Then they continued heading toward Osidian Plain.
The two demon guards began talking again.
"Do you think ordinary soldiers like us have chance to get a succubus as wife?"
"Definitely."
"Get lost! I couldn't stand your hypocricy."
"Definitely."
Hao Ren was listening to their conversation from behind. "....."