Chapter 690 - Asking for Help, Marks Early Morning Visitors (2/2)
”Then, you guys are preparing to intercept them?”
Mark asked further.
”Yes.” Diwata nodded with a grave look. ”However, some problems cropped up.”
”And that is?”
Mark raised his eyebrow.
”Not all of our forces wanted to participate in this battle.” Diwata Iraya replied with a grieved look. ”The likely to be the primary goal of the Demons was to increase their numbers. Thus, their targets were the humans up north. Knowing that intercepting the Demons was equal to protecting those humans, many of our people lost the urge to fight the Demons.”
Hearing that, Mark understood the situation. And all of it was the fault of humans, in particular, religion.
From Amihan's story before, their kind was hunted by Spanish Missionaries in the past. It was very likely that it also happened here. With the experience that the Elementals and Spirits had with those humans, it was not surprising that many of them did not want to help.
However...
”How stupid,” Mark remarked without holding back. ”They did not want to participate in the battle because it would be protecting humans. Don't they understand that after the humans were done in, they would be the next ones to follow?”
Hearing that, Diwata Iraya and Deriellio fell silent. They understood the situation well and even if many of their people did not want to help, these two would still be present in the frontlines. That was how the hatred towards humans was also deep-seated among magical races.
”Can't you two force those that did not want to help in the battle?” Mark asked. ”You two are leaders of the group, right?”
And to that question, Diwata Iraya shook her head.
”Us Diwatas were born to represent freedom and justice. Forcing people is more or less denying our existence.” Diwata Iraya replied solemnly. ”The only thing we could do was try to convince them. We can't force anyone except for the judged.”
The judged. It was those that committed crimes under the jurisdiction of the Diwatas.
”Then, you two are here to ask my group to help, isn't it?”
Mark understood the situation. His frank question made Diwata Iraya and Deriellio quite awkward. Even Aliya that was being silent since they arrived smiled bitterly. By the looks of it, if Mark declined the two, Aliya would step forward to try and convince him. It was quite a sly trick for the two who claimed to be righteous.
However, instead of telling them his answer, Mark asked another question.
”Then what will those idiots do?”
”Who?”
Deriellio asked back.
”Those that did not want to fight. Who else?”
Mark sighed in annoyance.
”They will be waiting inside my domain until the battle passed by.”
Diwata Iraya answered Mark's question.
”So, they won't come out and just hug their knees waiting, is it?”
Mark mocked.
The two leaders sighed. Luckily, Ordulk was no here or that guy would end up getting riled up by Mark's words. After all, that guy was actually one of those that did not want to stand in front to protect humans.
Mark then turned to the two with a serious look.
”How many individuals will fight with you two?”
”About three hundred.”
Diwata Iraya replied.
”Isn't that too little?”
Mark was at a loss for words.
”The majority of people in my domain are Yasaws. By stature and magical abilities, they were lacking for battle and only a few dared to.”
Diwata Iraya explained with Deriellio nodding in agreement.
”How about the enemies?” Mark asked again. However, the two fell silent as they could not give a concrete number.
”Any estimate?”
Mark changed the question.
”About a thousand or two.”
Mark stared at Diwata Iraya incredulously. It looked like they were going to fight a losing battle. The Diwata might be powerful. But if she was asking Mark for help, it meant that the enemies might have someone as powerful as her to tie her down.
”Alright, I'll help,” Mark said with a sigh. ”But with some conditions.”
”What conditions?”
Diwata Iraya asked warily.
”Don't worry, it's not anything bad,” Mark replied. ”I'll tell you guys while preparing.”
Diwata Iraya and Deriellio frowned. However, as the people asking for help, they could not say a word at all.
”By the way,” Mark turned back at the two. ”Since you two said that the Demons were still preparing, when do you think are they going to attack?”
”We don't really know. It could be tomorrow or the next day.” Diwata Iraya shook her head. ”However, there is one thing for sure. They will start moving at midnight when they were the most powerful.”