Because they didn’t know the encryption code, the message was easily passed over as a command message above their pay grade by most of the Sylvan Forces, but in the quarantine camp, it made its way directly to the intended targets.
Following the orders of the Patriarch, the Elders had worked their way into communications positions, not to transmit sensitive data but to be nearby when a message from home came through.
“Did you understand that message, Sergeant? The communications officer asked when she noticed the Elder smiling.
“Yes, Lieutenant. It is a Morgana Coven code, meaning that there is a scout one day into the wastes from the designated point, wherever that is.” He offered.
It wasn’t a lie, not exactly, but it was a very abbreviated version of the message.
“Anything else you can tell me from that brief communication?” She pressed.
“It’s the Demon Lord Wolfe. He should still be with Lieutenant Priya, as he didn’t mention a casualty. He’s also using a mundane army radio, their radio equipment is much better than ours, and that message was very clear even though it was faint.”
The officer gave him a strange look but waited until she had made a note and passed us along before asking anything else.
“I reported it as being sent between members of Priya Company who are in the Wastes. Why do you call him a Demon Lord? Guys bond and grant nicknames in their own way, but the witches might take that the wrong way.” She finally asked.
“He’s the one that held the barrier over the camp on the flank until his entire unit could escape. His Witches are here, working in the infirmary.” The Noxus Elder explained, gesturing vaguely toward the treatment area.
“Oh, that guy. We’ve heard a lot of fantastical stories about that particular Familiar. The aerial scouts have a flying unit headed that way right now without an urgent destination. I will have them divert to his location to see what he is celebrating.”
That was the consensus in the quarantine area, that he hadn’t been sending the message to them but to another scout he was working with to mark a victory in battle. Such messages were always in a code, so they didn’t give away exact positions, but you could tell when things went wrong.
Priya also heard the message, but as she didn’t understand the code, she could only guess that witches had made the attacks she had seen in the distance.
She made her way back to the Den since Wolfe should be returning from that direction as well, and her task for the day was complete. Stephanie rode quietly on her shoulder, on guard against attacks, but their day had been uneventful, much to her relief.
Far above their heads, hidden in the clouds, the flying unit was already aware of the day’s events and had tracked not only Priya but also Wolfe and his partner.
“That pair of demons is still waiting behind the hill. What do you think they’re waiting for?” The scout asked her wing leader, using magic to talk between their two huge eagle monster mounts.
“I think they’re working with the mutants to raid for supplies. They’re waiting for the humans to leave entirely so they can clean the area.
How bad is their luck, upsetting a pair of humanoid demons only one day from the border? That’s like stepping on a land mine in your own yard. Good news for us, though.
If the message we got earlier is correct, one of them should be the demon from the scout team as well. Command says he reported a combat victory today that we were supposed to verify. I’m not sure they’ll believe it without photographic evidence, though.”
The younger witch laughed. “If you told me someone had a machine gun firing [Fireballs], I would put you on mental health leave. I was on the line when the [Lightning Arrays] went off, but seeing it from above is different.
Do you think that’s his gift? Enchanted items? If it is, battlefield command would send an entire regiment out here to pull him and his Witch back off scout duty.”
ƥαṇdα-ηθνε|·ƈθm
“I’m just glad those two aren’t attacking us. Whoever said that feral demons were no bigger threat than mutants never gave one a machine gun.” One of the other scouts laughed before tucking away her camera and preparing to head back to the city.
“Let’s get out of here. The rest of the mundane army is still on the advance, and we don’t have a proper defence against the gas yet if the barriers fall.” The youngest agreed.
“Make a low pass first. We need to know if they’ve got anything unexpected down there. Anything we miss will cost lives tomorrow when they reach the city.” The leader reminded them.
That vortex was bothering her. It didn’t seem to be intentional, and nothing else in the area was brave enough to get close to it. If she was right, the demon’s attack had found an anti-magic weapon of some sort, and the spell had gone haywire. That was information that headquarters needed to know, especially with so many more mundane army units incoming.
Wolfe was about to give the workers the all-clear signal to make off with the supplies when the eagles came streaking out of the sky, circling over the sites before flying away again.
The one that circled the vortex looked panicked, though almost all of the anti-magic munitions had been melted to slag already, so Wolfe gave her the Sylvan military salute, hoping she would understand he was going to dispose of them.
Or, more correctly, the mutants were going to take the container away and bury it if it ever stopped burning. The effect seemed to have made a perpetual vortex, and it wasn’t safe to stand within twenty meters of the location without being secured to something.
“We can check on the progress of the fire another day. We’ve taken everything that we can. Let the mundane army try to figure out how to deal with that nonsense. It’s their weapon that caused the problem in the first place.” The fox demon snarled, giving the vortex a disgusted look.
“Not a bad plan. I have one last idea that I will try once we’re all a safe distance away. I’ll hit it with lightning and see if it destabilizes the vortex. If it does, they can finish the job right away.” Wolfe suggested.
“Why not? What’s the worst that can happen?” She laughed as the mutants left the area.
From a hundred meters away, with full mana, Wolfe cast the [Lightning Storm Array], dumping all of his remaining mana into the spell.
The response was instant. The spell was pulled into the vortex, which began sending out arcs of lightning like the world’s most deadly Tesla sphere.
“That. That is the worst thing that could have happened. What did you do? It’s almost close enough to singe my fur.” The fox demon amended with a laugh.
“[Lightning Storm Array]. I guess the vortex assimilated it. I would say it’ll run out of mana soon, but I’m not sure that’s true. That fireball should have only lasted a few seconds.” Wolfe sighed.
“On the bright side, we now have somewhere to dispose of dangerous stuff. If we just throw it at that thing, it’s as good as gone.”