[Demon Horns has reached Level 40!]

[Mana-infused Blood has reached Level 40!]

[Demon Flesh, Demon Bones, and Demonic Musculature have reached Level 38!]

[Demon Wings has reached Level 38!]

Here was a face I'd almost forgotten about. But I could not forget, for my memory was perfect whenever wanted it to be.

Across from me, inside a heavily soundproofed bar, was Karloom. A spy who I had once worked with, specifically for the mission to rescue a nomadic belfegor tribe. That was the one where I unleashed a bunch of goblins into the wild, which eventually culminated into both New Grandera and Edengar making use of this biological weapon.

Granuel had looked further into it, and he had to begrudgingly admit that both parties were now doing it. And worse, it was technically an ally of New Grandera that did it first. That we knew for sure.

…I really should not have done that.

"Would you be willing to assist in the liberation of Mortay Town? Or Handrick Town as it's now been renamed. But it's been ours first, and we wish to retake it!"

"Ah, a publicity stunt." I nodded knowingly. The territory was naturally originally that of the belfegors, but was conquered by the Angelorians, and then reconquered by the budding new power of New Grandera. It has since exchanged hands several more times over the decades. I wondered how the people who actually lived there fared. "Did the councillors, or someone else put you up to this?"

"...They did, yes. But I do personally believe it's a great idea, for reasons beyond public perception. I mean, it'd be good for morale in that very battle, but you have also proven yourself to be very powerful against armies. I don't think there's anyone else with quite that impact. So your addition will surely be a boon to this vital mission, especially now that you can finally show your true power!"

"Hmm." I thought about that, running my fingers against my cheek. I naturally never told him about how I'd been hiding much of my strength, but it was easy enough to make the connection now that I'd actually publicly shown my true colors.

"You don't have to if you don't want to, though," he added. "It was no formal promise between us."

He was right. I never made a promise so concrete. I said that I'd probably do it if he ever needed me for a job, but this was too much.

I leaned forward and took a drink. "I do think it's too big a favor for the whole goblin mistake that I made. I still got the job done , didn't I?"

"I understand–"

"So give me some time to decide. But do know that if I do this, then I'll ask for more payment than just a favor repaid."

"...That can be discussed, of course. Thank you."

"I haven't accepted."

"But I'm glad you're at least considering it."

"Fair enough," I chuckled and continued to drink.

~~~

"We shouldn't," Berry pleaded after I explained the offer I received. "I get it when we participated in that defense a few months ago. It was for a good cause. But we're trying to stay neutral, right?"

"Well, I've actually been doing some thinking." No one took the bait and made a joke. This was a truly serious situation. "Yes, war is very messy and I really don't like being involved in the middle of all that. But then I asked myself, am I really fine with either side winning here? Is it all the same? What if the Angerlore Empire gets its greatest wish and gains full dominion over this planet? Is that the kind of place I wish to live in?" I paused and looked at each of them as if they were giving their own answers right now. Some wore expressions more readable than the others. "The answer is no. There are a lot of things to hate about New Grandera, without even mentioning the northern half that we yet know little about. I'm sure I wouldn't like a world fully controlled by them either. But I would hate it a lot more if Edengar wins. If the empire wins. New Grandera isn't even aiming for world conquest so far. And at the end of the day, that's what these wars are all about. We're stuck between a rock and a hard place, but the answer isn't to just stand there like an idiot. You take the softest surface you can, and dig."

"So… we're going then?" Therick asked.

"I'm going. But you guys should decide for yourself what you want to do. You're in control of your destinies here. And I'll admit, an undeniable part of why I'm even considering this is that I owed someone a favor. It's certainly not the full story, I'm not stupid, I didn't give out a blanket favor, but it is at the very least a nudge. A weight on my scale. None of you have that weight on you, and I do not mind if I am left to go alone."

Not that I would be. Moonwash and Granuel were predictably locked in to join me. Angerly had some concerns, but she argued that it was part of her job and it would sometimes be unpleasant. War was never meant to be fun. Berry clearly did not want to, but if so many of us were down then she thought she had to anyway. That was very concerning.

"I can't just be the one who's too afraid and stays behind! What if something happens!"

"Berry…" I gestured towards myself. "I am going. It will be fine."

"You don't know that! It's war!"

"...Fair," I admitted. "But look. Listen. It's not healthy for you. None of us here want you to go."

"Didn't you just say that we need to dig the softest surface we can?"

"Well, I did. But that's not what I meant! I was referring to myself. Not you!"

"Oh… Okay. But if you wish to put yourself through it, then I will too! So… so if you don't want me to go… then don't go either…?"

"No. I'm going," I shook my head resolutely, a little bit annoyed at the transparent attempt to sway me by taking herself hostage. "I made my decision, and if that's really yours then so be it."

That made her hesitate, but she ultimately decided to stick to her guns and join.

So be it indeed.

My eyes naturally gravitated towards Therick next, the last person here to make a decision.

"I… I think I'll go, actually."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Oh?" I tilted my head with force. "Really? I did not expect that."

"Oh, well…" he scratched his head. "I just… I want to go. See it for myself, you know?"

"See it for yourself?" I repeated, and he winced. "Well, I think I can understand that. But I really don't think it's worth it if you don't want to. No one here will blame you for backing out."

"But I'll blame myself! Everyone's going. I'm a part of this team too."

"And you still will be. But if you're going then do it for yourself."

"...I will. That's why I said I… need to see this for myself."

"Fair enough."

Looks like we'll have the full team after all.

~~~

An army marched for Mortay Town, or Handrick Town, however one wanted to call it. Our wagons traveled alongside them, once again in a prominent position where everyone could see and feel inspired. The Hellvesters had come to be a household name.

I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

Oh, who was I kidding? I didn't like how I and the rest were depicted at times, but it was awesome to see art dedicated to myself, especially if it came about organically and not just as propaganda.

"HEY HAELL! WE LOVE YOU!" One of the far away adventurers shouted, before the more disciplined soldiers could admonish them.

"I LOVE ME TOO!" I responded with a hearty laugh. We were invited to play games and dine by many of our allies for this upcoming battle, and I actually allowed it to happen sometimes. There were occasional skirmishes that happened along the way, but I usually didn't have to get involved with those. It was usually just the lone spy that strayed too close, or a small group of operatives who wanted to destroy something or someone specific. The animals and monsters of the forest were absolutely terrified of an army over a thousand strong. Almost only the goblins were stupid enough to try and attack anyway.

Some of the allegedly smarter enemies tried to come after me, once dressed and disguised in our colors, but they quickly found out just how little I needed any guards. The army just annoyingly kept some with our wagons as some show of force or prestige.

There was another attempt at my life, this time with poison. The culprit almost managed to escape, but I was somewhat able to track them based on where my vengeance magic drifted towards. The fountan woman was executed, while Moonwash worked on getting the toxins out of my system. Her antidotes were already a bit better even if she was still far from mastering the intricacies of poison magic. I was just glad she was having fun.

~~~

Finally, after a few more days, we arrived. Mortay town was marginally in view, but before that was the army of the Edengarians. We didn't have much time to react because the inhexes were already rushing at us. I got off the wagon and flew into battle. They were attacking our frontlines, and streaming towards the left side of the formation. Thankfully, our generals had expected this, so our soldiers were well-prepared, with the heavier units already up front and taking the hits, while spearmen and others killed the halted enemies. Makeshift walls and pits had immediately gone into production the moment our march had stopped, forcing the inhexes into an awkward position, no matter if they jumped over them, jumped way higher than they should, or just barreled through if they could. There were critical weaknesses for every approach that our soldiers could exploit.

This reckless charge continued as I entered the battlefield. One tried to lunge for me, but I landed and dodged and sliced apart her sides as we passed each other by. My allies immediately began cheering, showing me firsthand just how much I could raise morale just by my sheer presence. That was no lie.

But there was no time to spend basking in that attention as I actually fell back to our shield line, and began to methodically splatter the heads of anyone stopped by our shield wall. My participation in their tactics bolstered our soldiers, and the inhex died in greater droves as projectiles rained upon them while their great momentum stalled. Counter-projectiles were naturally launched at us, but their aim was atrocious for the rest of the Edengar army was all the way over there. Someone muttered some curses on their side, and then withdrew the rest of their armed forces back into Mortay Town while the inhex continued to die and stall.

The reinforced fortress-grade walls would serve them well in the battle to come.

~~~

Except it didn't.

We did not let up on the offensive. Our commanders ordered us to trample through the remaining inhex the moment the enemy tried to retreat. I played along and charged alongside the vanguard, using my great offensive powers to clear out the enemies still in our path while trusting in my allies for defense. We suffered more casualties due to this approach, but our prey only fell further out of position as we continued to chase. One crustecar woman was left behind, and I easily killed her. More trailed too far away from the main group, and we slaughtered them. There were units on duty to intercept projectiles, and those who fell away from that umbrella of magic and shields died. The gates were closed shut well before every one of them could make it inside, leaving a foot crushed and cut off from a poor ogre who crossed the boundary at just the wrong time. Dozens were left stranded outside, and they fought to their last for they believed us to be nothing more than rebels who did violence just for the fun of it. There was simply evil in our hearts and nothing else.

There was only a brief pause in the battle. We did not stop, we could not. Our harpies flew up, and dueled with the ranged soldiers already there. They were being held back in a massive ranged battle, for these two factions had already been at war for a long time and had developed countermeasures for each other. But they had not yet adapted to me.

My evil eyes pierced into their souls, and my aura only amplified the effect. The harpies took that as their opportunity to counterattack and literally throw off the enemy. I landed heavily among their ranks and began to slaughter those who were left. A few more harpies arrived, carrying only our most powerful fighters with them. Ladders were put up now that we controlled this portion of the wall, my party among the people that made their way up. Our enemies tried to dislodge us from our position, while we worked to further entrench ourselves right above the big fuck-off gates. Their stairs were collapsed, ladders destroyed, and the two narrow directions along the ramparts from where enemy soldiers could storm in were held by our strongest defenders. I was right there along with them, spreading fire across their ranks, and having them panic as they were squeezed way too tightly together to dodge both the projectiles and their screaming fellows who were now on fucking fire. The harpies were focused on holding off the massive volleys we were now facing, yet many projectiles still made it through their barriers of wind, but not without being at least blunted. A fucking tyrantula of all things called up the walls, and immediately killed an entire party of adventurers who were defending from the ranged attacks coming from below. Their crustecar leader died in the beast's jaws, but she also clamped her claw shut on its head, buying us precious time. My legs cracked and broke, but it was worth it as I made it to the vulnerable section of our formation to kill the offending monster. It died and we suffered no further casualties from the tamers. Multiple shepherds from the Astro family were here, and they shared their leaders skill in taking control over the mind of wild beasts. It was a dangerous business to be in, for trying to tame wild animals would always carry a risk, no matter the magic. Every creature thought differently, and the non-sapient even more so. Few mind mages could ever manage to properly command them.

The battle continued. We were fine for now, but our enemies' time was running out. I could feel it in my hooves, from the shaking of the floor below me, to the desperation of this place's defenders. Sundertops, ogres, and more rammed the gates, until finally the hinges were pried open and our forces stormed in. A retreat was issued, but so many of the enemy soldiers would be slaughtered on their quest to flee… alongside civilians who happened to be in the way. The opposing commanders finally settled on the northern gate as their destination, where we had circled from the south. We were unable to stop all of them, but we still bled them dry for every inch.

We would've killed more had the plundering and raping not already broken out when the war was not even yet fully won. I flew down there and beheaded the centaur guy who started it and paraded his head around for all to see.

"LISTEN HERE YOU FUCKERS! WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS! WE ARE NEW GRANDERA! AND IF I CATCH ANY OF YOU TARNISHING THIS GREAT NATION'S NAME THEN I'LL FUCKING BEHEAD YOU MYSELF, GOT IT!?"

They were quiet. And then they cheered. I quietly clicked my tongue in annoyance at the framing I had to use, but it had the intended effect. I had an effect on people, and I would fucking use it.

""HAELL!""

""HAELL!""

""HAELL ZHARIGNAN!""

""HAELL!!!""

""HERO!""

""HAELL ZHARIGNAN!""

""DEMON!""

""HAELL!""

""HAELL THE DEMON!""

""HAELL!!!""

I smiled. They were cheering for me specifically just as much as they cheered for their homeland.

How very interesting.

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