Elina, hearing the tiger commander's sentence, cowered within herself, feigning terror, but deep down, her smile became as icy as Lysandra's gaze. These people were the embodiment of everything worst about hero guilds - proud, ruthless, and ready to sacrifice anyone they deemed a rung on the ladder to fame.
They planned to turn her into a living shield, cannon fodder that would be the first to enter the beast's maw.
In the circle of the campfire, the commanders began to refine their strategy.
"Judging by this deserter's description, even though Verial was crushed, the Demon King must have bled his forces dry as well," the bear commander muttered, scratching his overgrown chest.
"Shouldn't we strike now, before he manages to replenish the gaps in his undead army? A few days is not enough for a full regeneration."
The tiger leader, however, slowly shook his head, the firelight dancing in his predatory eyes.
"Verial died due to recklessness. We will not repeat his mistake. We will wait a few more days."
The werewolf commander, who had been silent until now, nodded in approval. "Agreed. As soon as the guild master or his deputy arrives here, that demon's fate will be sealed. Even if he is a tactical genius, he won't survive a clash with the true power of Aethelgard."
"Let's establish the entry plan," the tiger continued, tracing a primitive map on the ground with a claw. "The canyon is too obvious; it's surely bristling with traps. We will bypass it. We'll enter the Valley by air or by the river. We strike straight at the heart, at the nest, before they can detect us."
He then pointed at Elina, who still remained in her wolf form. "As for this remnant... lock him up. Post extra guards and make sure they don't let him out of their sight. Do not let him escape until he leads us to the Demon King's altar."
Elina was brutally jerked by two guards and dragged to an improvised cage in a darker part of the camp. Listening to the echoes of their conversation, she felt a rising unease. This challenge was different from the previous ones.
These heroes matched Verial in strength, but surpassed him in caution and organization. They had elite units, they planned a landing that bypassed the main defensive points, and even more powerful reinforcements were on the way.
"The Boss is in real trouble..." she thought, looking at the bars. She couldn't escape to deliver a report in person, and any attempt to slip away would end in her death.
However, these overconfident warriors failed to notice one detail. As Elina was thrown to the ground in her cell, a small, black shape slipped out of the wide sleeve of her werewolf attire. The transmission bat-toad, nearly invisible in the darkness of the night, noiselessly unfurled its membranous wings.
Seizing the moment when the guards looked away to mock the "cowardly Werina," the small familiar took to the air.
Noiselessly, like a forest ghost, it left the Red Blood Hero Association camp, carrying in its small head every piece of information, every detail of the plan, and every threat uttered that night.
***
The night over the Valley of Darkness was peaceful, and Lilith, leaning against the cool balcony balustrade, allowed the starlight to reflect in her red eyes. The silence was interrupted, however, by a sudden vibration of the system interface.
It was a message from Morana.
Morana: "Dear Lady, the cauldron hasn't cooled for a moment! The first batch of potions has been completed. Would you like to take a look at the results of my witches' work?"
Lilith: "So fast? Show me what you've brewed!"
Two item descriptions appeared in the chat window, immediately catching Lilith's attention:
[Lesser Health Potion]: Made from Life Herb. Upon consumption, restores 25 health points in just 10 seconds.
[Lesser Regeneration Potion]: Made from Lunar Ginseng. Upon consumption, restores 40 MP in 10 seconds.
Lilith raised her eyebrows, impressed by the alchemical craftsmanship. This was something entirely different from directly chewing the herbs.
Although the raw material had similar stats, the herbs required a long time to absorb, and their regeneration was slow and intermittent - in the heat of battle, they were practically useless.
Meanwhile, Morana's potions worked almost instantly. Ten seconds is an eternity in the world of battle, but also short enough to snatch someone from the clutches of death or renew mana for one last, decisive spell.
Lilith: "The quality is impressive. How much do you plan to ask for them on the market?"
Morana: "I plan to list the life elixir for 150 gold, and the mana regeneration for 200. However, for you, Boss, I have a special discount - 50 gold less on every bottle!"
Lilith quickly calculated it in her head. One hundred and fifty gold a bottle? That was expensive, even luxurious. However, in the face of approaching wars and hero raids, potions were a matter of life and death. Every self-respecting Demon King would want to have at least a few such flasks at their belt. T
he demand would be gigantic. Morana's discount was an expression of a sincere desire for cooperation - the witch knew that without herbs from Lilith, her production would grind to a halt.
Morana: "If you think the terms are alright, I'll send you the goods first toward the repayment of my debt. In the future, I'll also make sure you always have the right of first refusal!"
Lilith: "No problem. I await delivery."
When the chat window went dark, Lilith smiled to herself. Imagining Morana's rising profit bar, Lilith felt a sting of inspiration. The elixir market was insatiable, and the demand for medicaments exceeded the wildest expectations.
"I must find my own alchemists," she thought, her eyes wandering over the territorial maps.
"Which races handle the cauldron best? Elves? Maybe some forest sprites?" This was another argument for expanding the Valley to the status of a multi-racial city as quickly as possible.
After a short system consultation, Morana sent the promised goods. Suddenly, 20 Regeneration Potions and 10 Health Potions materialized in her inventory. Thus, the witch's debt was repaid.
Both parties finalized the agreement: Lilith received a guarantee of a first look at new products and the lowest prices, promising in return that she would not flood the market by reselling her goods. She also ensured Morana constant discounts on raw materials.
It was a classic win-win arrangement. Although the profits from alchemy were tempting, Lilith felt no jealousy. She knew the witch earned through unique skills, while her own agricultural empire brought in a fortune without the need to toil over brews.
At this stage, being the "Potato King" was still the most profitable career path.
The peace was interrupted, however, by a sudden squeak. A dark shape flew through the balcony window and landed on the railing, nervously flapping its wings. It was Lilith's familiar, which was connected to Elina's pet.
When Lilith listened to the encoded report, her eyebrows rose high.
"What?" she murmured, straightening up. "A huge group of Heroes has gathered in the Forest of Chaos?"
Any other Demon King at such a moment would have panicked, feverishly barricading the doors and counting the remaining skeletons. But Lilith... Lilith felt her mouth twist into a predatory smile. Instead of fear, pure joy burned in her veins.
To her, the Red Blood Hero Association army was not a threat. They were free providers of experience points and rare items who had just decided to deliver EXP packages right to her door.
"The stronger the Hero, the more beautiful and pure their soul is," she whispered, her eyes glowing with a dark brilliance. "They want to bypass the canyon and enter by the river? Lysandra! Kala! Get ready. We have guests who are very eager to give us their stats."