HPDBC Chapter 475: Before the Final March
Chapter 475: Before the Final March
A week into the march, Roland faced thousands of demons who tried to block his path, but none could stand against him. Not when he was at his strongest.With Stella always at his side, no one could touch the army behind them.hing I know," Morrag began, her voice tight, "it’s that they’ve likely gathered at least eight of the demon generals. And these won’t be like the fools who rushed to their deaths against you, Roland. These are the best minds, planners, and inventors of tools you’ve never seen before. Worst of all, this is their ground. We won’t be fighting a siege. We’ll be walking into retaliation at its finest."
She shivered as she spoke, memories clawing at her.
She had seen too much of the experiments, the horrors inflicted on her own kind in the name of gaining an edge in this senseless war.
"That doesn’t mean we can’t win," Morrag continued, her tone steady despite the tremor in her eyes. "It means we must be careful. We cannot give them time to plan once we move inside. Every strike must be swift, either kill or retreat just as fast. The less they learn about our strength and organization, the better.
"And you should know, they won’t be alone. Their ties with the vampires remain strong. The best course is to divide them, to cut away that alliance before it suffocates us. Destroy the facilities that produce the red smog. There are four of them, positioned at the corners around this place. Bring those down, and you weaken both the demons and the vampires at once."
Everyone agreed with the plan. Renar, who had heard enough to begin shaping his own strategy, stepped forward.
"You’ve all heard her. We need to split up. I don’t think it’s wise to thin our forces too much, so there will be only three teams. Roland and Lucien will form one group, since the two of you should be able to handle two of the vents together.
"Stella, Morrag, and Zavar will lead the second group, supported by his half-bloods and the demons who have recently joined us.
"As for me, I’ll take my own men and target the nearest vent. That way, we’ll disrupt their movements before the full army can respond."
Everyone nodded in agreement. The only one who would remain behind with the main force was Halter Helstin, the king, who would stay to lead the central army.
Soon after, the four groups prepared to part ways. Stella embraced her brother and father before turning to give Roland a kiss.
Roland, however, could not shake his unease. They were deep within demon territory, and splitting up carried the risk of ambush. Still, it had to be done. The vampire’s influence had to be cut away once and for all; only then could they march against the demons without fear of that red smog choking the battlefield.
He turned to Lucien, his expression serious. "If anything happens, protect your father. I can go after Stella on my own if I must... but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that."
With that, Roland and Lucien set off toward the furthest vent a massive facility run by the vampires, where the dreaded red smog was produced.
The journey to the vent was a grim one. The closer they drew, the heavier the air became, tainted by the acrid scent of blood and smoke. Black spires of stone rose around the facility like jagged fangs, and a constant haze of red mist leaked from its towers, rolling low across the ground.
Roland felt like countless of eyes were watching from the shadows, but none dared approach yet.
The vampires were waiting for something.
He tightened his grip on his blades, the metal humming faintly with power.
"Stay sharp, Lucien," he muttered. "They won’t defend this place with their life. Stay close to me at all times while we look for the central crystals that are powering up this place."
Lucien nodded, his face pale but resolute. Together, they advanced.