I set out for the Former Demon Territory that afternoon.
What should have been a vast, empty wasteland now held an impossibly large lake—one I had created myself using magic.
Two large ships floated upon the surface, stationary and positioned a short distance apart. Soldiers of various races moved back and forth between the two vessels, locked in combat. It was a fierce struggle, though this was no actual battlefield. It was a training exercise designed for naval warfare.
Interference from nations beyond our shores had become frequent of late. They dispatched spies, negotiated with other countries on the continent, and provided supplies. Most of these actions seemed centered around the Demon King.
I didn't particularly mind. It was simply proof that the current Demon King’s fame had finally reached every corner of the world. Grom, for one, had been so overcome with joy at the news that he looked ready to burst into tears.
Given these circumstances, I decided to conduct this exercise. If we were to eventually expand beyond the continent, the Demon King’s Army needed to be capable of fighting at sea.
I had originally planned to create the lake within the Demon King’s Domain, but I changed the location at Diera’s insistence. She claimed she wanted to put the vacant land here to good use. Her argument was sound enough, so I had complied.
The participants were primarily soldiers from the Demon King’s Army. We had called for volunteers regardless of race, and they were more lightly armed than usual, giving them an overall agile appearance. They were split into red and blue factions. The objective was to seize the flag stationed on the enemy vessel.
"Kuhahahaha! Make way! My path is clear! Step forward, if you have a death wish!"
Diera, clad in red, bellowed from the deck. She danced across the ship, indiscriminately firing the guns in her hands. Soldiers in blue flinched or collapsed as they were struck by the pellets; those less fortunate were knocked straight into the lake.
Occasionally, she even hit her own allies in red. They scrambled frantically to stay out of her line of fire. Diera’s aim was poor and her style reckless; she was likely firing without a single thought in her head. Because of this, she was feared by both sides.
The ammunition being used was a non-lethal variety made primarily of resin. While it stung considerably, it wasn't fatal. Most of the soldiers carried similar weapons.
Diera fought with visible relish. She had volunteered to help with the training, but that was clearly just an excuse to have fun. One look at her was enough to confirm it.
For the record, I had given her permission to request the creation of other special terrain in the future. There is truly nothing in the Former Demon Territory; its only merit is its size, and almost all of it has been left abandoned. At most, one might find the occasional pile of rubble. Since every training session meant a new playground for her, Diera likely saw this as a win-win situation.
"Is there no one who can stop me? I shall welcome any challenger!"
Diera moved across the battlefield with total freedom. She used her Chains of Light to maneuver through the air, showcasing a three-dimensional combat style that defied the cramped confines of the ship. Her talent for battle was truly in a league of its own.
Suddenly, a high-output magic power reaction appeared behind her. Diera sensed it and furrowed her brow. She drove her Chains of Light into the ship’s mast, swinging like a pendulum to move at high speed. A flash of an axe cut through the air exactly where she had been standing a moment before.
"Ho-ho, not bad! I'd expect nothing less from the previous Demon King. Heh, my pirate blood is boiling!"
Dorda the Dullahan laughed with pure delight. Wreathed in Purple Lightning, he toyed with his axe. He wore the blue of the opposing faction. The wolf-head attached to his neck bared its fangs in a predatory grin.
Dorda had been speaking with a fluency that was unimaginable given his usual behavior. Normally, he only regained his sanity for fleeting moments, but for some reason, the clarity wasn't fading. The sharpness of his techniques was as excellent as ever as he joyfully charged Diera, holding his own against her.
In terms of pure combat ability, Diera was undoubtedly superior. Despite that, the two seemed evenly matched. It wasn't that Diera was holding back; rather, being on a ship seemed to stimulate Dorda’s instincts, drawing out his latent potential. Looking at him, it was easy to see why he was once known as a Great Pirate. It made sense that the previous Demon King’s Army had gone out of their way to avoid provoking him.
"The moment he steps onto a vessel, he regains his senses. His pirate blood must be calling to him."
A voice spoke from beside me. I turned to see Logan, the Elven Chief, standing there. He was drenched from head to toe and looked remarkably displeased. He had just climbed out of the lake, hence his current state.
"The training seems to be going well," I remarked.
"It would be perfect if Diera and Dorda would settle down," Logan replied, running a hand through his wet hair.
He cast a disparaging look toward the two fighting on the ship. He was visibly annoyed. I had seen the whole thing—Logan had been sent flying into the lake by a single blow from Dorda. If he hadn't used Spirit Magic to defend himself at the last second, he likely would have been seriously injured. Dorda, however, showed no signs of remorse. I considered warning him later, but by then, he would probably have lost his sanity again.
Meanwhile, the other soldiers were fighting hard. They grappled with one another, putting their bodies on the line to board the enemy ship. The exchange of gunfire was constant. The battle between the two factions was nearing its climax.
"Acquiring latest tactical data—updating orders. Second Unit, standby. Third Unit, maintain the forward defensive line."
At the edge of the ship, Yura was commanding the Blue Faction. She stayed back from the front lines, focusing on learning how to direct her subordinates. I had heard she received advice from Henry, and she seemed to be taking it to heart. Yura, who had once been so clumsy, was growing steadily.
Dorda was also providing instructions at key points, resulting in impressive coordination. On the other hand, the Red Faction’s commander, Logan, was currently standing next to me. His absence had thrown their chain of command into chaos, and the Red Faction was being driven into a corner. Diera, their leader, was far too occupied with her duel with Dorda to notice that Logan had even been eliminated.
The soldiers who had fallen into the lake climbed back onto the shore one by one, watching the remaining combatants. Regardless of their faction, the dropouts chatted and laughed with one another. I saw several of them shouting jeers and enjoying the spectacle. It seemed they were getting some much-needed recreation while tempering themselves through the exercise.
The climate here is mild. Moving one’s body to the limit and then taking a dip in the water must have felt refreshing.
In the end, the tide of battle never turned. The training concluded once the Blue Faction secured the flag.