Upon returning to the Royal Capital, I immediately used teleportation magic to transport the Demon King’s Army to the Forest of the World Tree.
We arrived deep within the woods. To avoid any unnecessary chaos, I chose a location some distance from the elven village; there was no need to offer the elves a formal greeting at this stage. My focus had to remain entirely on the upcoming conflict.
The Demon King’s Army would launch an immediate strike against the Empire's forces. My sensing magic allowed me to grasp their positions with absolute precision, right down to their specific formations.
I turned to inspect the force gathered behind me. Roughly a thousand soldiers were packed between the trees. Among them were two hundred monsters; the remaining eight hundred were ghouls and skeletons. Against an Imperial force numbering in the tens of thousands, my numbers might have seemed meager.
However, a larger undead presence would have caused the ambient miasma to become too concentrated, potentially poisoning the World Tree's forest. Now that the elves were my subjects, their forest was my property, and I had no desire for its wanton destruction.
Furthermore, this scale was more than sufficient to annihilate the Empire's Army. They were, after all, a mere army of tens of thousands. In truth, I could have reduced them to ash by myself, but I refrained from doing so. I needed to establish the Demon King’s Army as a credible organizational threat. In the long run, cultivating the strength of a collective is far more beneficial than relying on individual power. This would also serve as a practical exercise for my troops. The soldiers of the Empire would simply have to be the sacrifices for their growth.
"Heh, so this is the Forest of the World Tree? It doesn't look all that mystical to me."
Henry stood with his hands on his hips, peering around with curiosity. He was the only executive I had brought for this operation. Grom and Luciana had been given separate assignments; our current strength was already more than enough, and they had tasks only they were suited for.
"Fighting for the sake of elves... that’s a first for me. I’m actually starting to feel motivated."
Henry gripped his bow, a predatory, savage grin spreading across his face. There hadn't been any large-scale combat lately, and the battle-hungry Henry was likely growing restless. He was a peculiar man who had joined the Demon King’s Army simply out of a love for war. I expected great things from him today.
"So, Boss, what's the first move?"
"This."
With a thought, I commanded the majority of the undead to advance. They moved in eerie silence, fanning out as they pushed through the forest. I had warded them with protection magic to ensure the Holy Aura wouldn't impede them, along with various enhancement spells to bolster their resistance against fire and magic. Their defensive capabilities were dozens of times higher than a standard undead.
Even with fewer than eight hundred, they would pose a significant threat. At the very least, they would buy me time. The undead surged toward the Empire’s flank from within the forest. Moving in a straight line, it wouldn't take them long to arrive. Since they were a diversion, I expected them to be destroyed, but any casualties they inflicted on the enemy would be a welcome bonus.
"Are we staying here to wait, Boss?"
"Yes. We teleport the moment the vanguard makes contact."
"Right on. A surprise attack, eh? Sounds like a blast."
As I spoke with Henry, a figure approached from the direction of the village. It was Logan, walking toward us with his staff in hand. My monsters tensed, but I signaled them to stand down and stepped forward to meet him.
"What do you want?" I asked, my voice flat.
"I wish to accompany your army. This battle decides the fate of my people. As their chief, I must take part."
"...Very well."
Logan knelt, and I gave my consent. His presence wouldn't hinder our operations, so I had no reason to refuse him.
"Hahaha! Now that’s the spirit! I take it you’re not just watching, but planning to get your hands dirty with us? Glad to have you."
Henry offered a casual handshake, completely unfazed by the chief’s imposing aura. Logan hesitated for a moment before reluctantly taking the hand with a deep scowl.
"............"
During the handshake, Logan's eyes briefly flicked to me, silently asking, Who is this lunatic? I looked away, feigning ignorance. I couldn't exactly act friendly with him while my subordinates were watching. It certainly wasn't because I lacked a proper explanation for Henry's behavior.
We waited. I monitored the undead through sensing magic as they closed the distance. Soon, I felt the Imperial camp burst into activity. They had detected the approach and begun their counterattack. Their response was surprisingly swift for being caught off guard. One by one, the signals of my undead began to blink out.
"It's time."
"Roger that. Alright, you lot! Move out!"
Henry shouted, raising his bow high. The monsters let out a thunderous roar in response. Their morale was peak; I had no concerns regarding their performance. The only slight issue was Logan, who winced at the noise, pressing his hands over his pointed ears. I sympathized, but he would have to endure it.
I cast the teleportation magic, shifting the Demon King’s Army to the forest's edge. We emerged on a grassy plain marked by gentle hills—ideal terrain with few obstructions. Ahead of us sat a sea of tents, flanked by familiar banners. This was the Empire’s makeshift base.
Beyond the camp, soldiers in matching armor were engaged with the undead pouring from the tree line. From our position, we were looking directly at the Empire's rear. The diversionary force had successfully set up a pincer maneuver.
I extended my hand and unleashed a bolt of black lightning. Just before it struck, the bolt slammed into a shimmering barrier of defense magic. They were prepared for magical bombardment, at least. The lightning shattered several layers of shielding before finally dissipating. In the distance, I saw several enemy casters collapse, coughing up blood from the magical backlash.
"Whew, as expected of the Boss. No mercy at all," Henry teased with a whistle, twirling his bow between his fingers.
The flash and roar of the lightning had alerted the Empire to our presence. I could see units scrambling to turn and face us. But it was too late. The Demon King’s Army was already set. Now, the slaughter would begin.
"Ready when you are, Boss."
"Go. It’s in your hands."
"You got it!"
Grinning wildly, Henry raised his arm and bellowed a command.
"Form up!"
On his order, a hundred monsters lined up in a perfect row. They nocked their arrows and held their breath, moving with a terrifying, fluid precision. These were Henry's hand-trained elite archers, the product of grueling, blood-soaked discipline.
"—Loose!"
Henry’s arm snapped down. A hundred arrows took flight at once, tracing a high arc through the air before raining down upon the Imperial ranks like a storm.