606 The Return of the Brave Warriors, A Warning and the Reward He Wanted (1/2)

The flames that engulfed the forest was still not extinguished but was already weakened enough by the rain for the warriors to force their way through. Tired, injured, and heavy-hearted, they pushed their way up the mountain why Mark covered their rear.

Mark faced the horde of infected Spirit Races. Even though most of them chased after the retreating Demons, there was still a lot left to tail Mark and the warriors of Stone Fortress. Among them, a few infected Demons could be seen here and there. Facing all these enemies alone, Mark was forced to use his miasma to block magical attacks that came his way. Fearless and with a grin on his face, he tainted the charred forest with blood and dust of the disintegrated bodies of the infected.

The warriors saw how Mark fought and wanted to join him. However, with their current condition, they would be more baggage than help.

Nevertheless, to Mark, it was the best scenario. He was not covering the rear just for everyone to retreat safely. The actual reason that he did this was because he would be able to gather more crystals without getting too much attention. With this large amount of magical infected, Mark was bound to get more crystals than he would expect.

Unfortunately, his fun ended soon as the reinforcements arrived halfway up the mountain. They helped the injured and faced the remaining infected together Mark. He could only shrug at this. Fortunately, he already got a number of crystals that he was satisfied with.

Even Diwata Danaya came with the reinforcements and gave treatment to the injured soldiers. Because of this, their pace sped up as they climbed the mountain. Of course, even though the warriors were healed, they were still far from being able to join the fight.

Unexpectedly, not all the warriors were healed. A few remained injured and weakened. It was no doubt that they were bitten. Even so, the bitten warriors were still brought up the mountain. If they turned, in the least, they would die in the land they protected.

Soon, they reached the Stone Fortress and killed all the remaining infected. To no surprise, no one celebrated the return of the warriors. It was not like they did not want to. It was more of that they could not.

The number of warriors from different races that went down the mountain to fight the infected horde was more than enough for a safe return. Even if some accidents were to happen, it would be minimal. This time, however, less than a third of the warriors returned, and if not for Mark, it was possible that none of them would be able to return at all.

The result of the forest being burnt to charcoal was an enormous setback to everyone living in the Stone Fortress. Not only the forest served as a natural defense and catalyst for the illusion magic of the Tikbalangs, but it also attract beasts that could serve as food for its people. There was also a lot of herbs, fruits, and vegetables that could be picked around the mountain.

Now, everything was gone.

They could only wish that they had anyone that could use water magic. Unfortunately, all of the people here were either forest or mountain dwellers. Races that were capable of water magic lived near large lakes and the ocean. Not in the middle of the mountains.

In this situation, there was more to mourn than to rejoice. One thing that everyone here regrets at this moment was that they could not tear Tierio into pieces on the spot.

***

After their return, Mark was escorted by a servant to a room where he could change his clothes. He fought under the heavy rain. It was no surprise that he was dripping wet, and his clothes and armor were stained with blood and mud.

”I'll be waiting outside. Please call me if Sire needed something.”

The servant said as she closed the door after Mark entered.

Mark could not help but look around the room. Rather than a simple dressing room, it was quite extravagant. It was clear that it was another guest room. He would not complain if he was brought to an empty room since he only needed to change clothes.

Changing clothes, that was what Mark only needed to do. Yet, he could not bring himself to remove his clothes at all. He could not help but sigh.

”What do you need from me?”

Mark suddenly spoke, facing an empty corner of the room. There was nothing at that corner but the shadow of the curtains from the adjacent window.

But as Mark asked his question, that very shadow distorted and seemed to have moved from its two-dimensional plane to a three-dimensional one. The shadow formed a humanoid silhouette before a person's features appeared. Looking at it, it was a woman.

The shadow turned into a dark-brown skinned woman with pitch-black hair, black eyes, pointed ears, and two short horns on her forehead. Her below shoulder-length hair complemented her dark colored skimpy-looking tight clothes. Her body was quite proportional, except for her chest that was on the flat side.

”Just what the hell are you looking at.”

The woman insecurely asked as she covered her front.

Mark, on the other hand, did not care about her question as he was only observing the intruder in front of him.

”I asked first. What do you want from me? I'm going to change my clothes so you better leave.”

He had no interest in interacting with her at all. The only reason he called out was only that this Demon was inside the room where he was supposed to change.

Still, it was quite a surprise to find a demon woman lurking inside the Stone Fortress.

The woman frowned as she noticed Mark's lack of interest in her. She was quite proud of her figure and appearance even as a demon. He did not even introduce himself or ask her name. With an annoyed snort, she went straight to the point.

”What is a Pureblood Demon like you doing? Why are you helping the Spirit and Elemental Races?”

Of course, that would be the question. This woman was obviously in cahoots with the Demon Army that ambushed the warriors of the Stone Fortress and set fire to the whole mountain. And Mark, a Pureblood Demon, was the one that stopped them.

Furthermore, Demons and the Spirit and Elemental Races were enemies. It was quite unbelievable that Mark was helping them.

”Why should I answer that?” Mark frowned. ”It's none of your business. I won't say it again. Leave while I'm still not inclined to kill you.”

Mark was already emitting killing intent that made the woman shiver.