It didn't take very long for Ele'hunda to return to Lipsilk's side. Unexpected, Lipsilk had also sensed how dangerous the succubus was, so he had chosen to trap her in a Fairy Barrier. This was a magic skill unique to the leaders of the fairy species. While not nearly as versatile as Soph's barriers, and lacking the ability to grow and improve, this skill more than made up for those flaws with its sheer sturdiness.

Ele'hunda landed next to his friend and cast him a sidelong glance. "Using a barrier to contain the enemy. Ingenius, Lipsilk."

"I always was smarter than you, so it's no big deal," Lipsilk joked. The next moment, the entrapped general punched the barrier, making it shake and crack slightly. Lipsilk's face fell, so he doubled down on his concentration. "Is the vampire dead?"

"So you knew he was a vampire straight away?" Ele'hunda asked in response.

"Of course I did. I'd know that mana flow anywhere. Unlike us living beings, his mana was flowing in reverse. A telltale sign of the dead. I could also smell a lot of blood coming from him. Your senses are far too weak when it comes to these things," Lipsilk remarked.

"Yes, they are." Ele'hunda didn't argue. "Anyway, yes, he's dead. in both body and soul. I had some trouble and had to rely on Lone, but regardless, the bastard's dead."

The succubus wasn't deaf and the Fairy Barrier didn't erase sounds, so she frowned in response. "You, a big brute, managed to kill Van? I find that very hard to believe."

Ele'hunda couldn't help but laugh. "Think what you want, but that corpse-defiling motherfucker has defiled his last corpse."

Lipsilk raised an eyebrow at the King's unusually coarse language. Ele'hunda shrugged his shoulders. "Lone has rubbed off on me a bit."

The succubus licked her lips seductively at those passing words. "I wouldn't mind rubbing off on you a little bit, tough guy. Why don't you convince your little friend over here to drop this little toy of his, hmm? I'm wasting an awful amount of my energy on it... energy that could be better spent... elsewhere..."

"Has she been like this ever since we were teleported away?" Ele'hunda asked as he completely ignored the woman.

Lipsilk nodded grimly. "Be careful. She's constantly using some sort of vocal-manipulative spell that's built to seduce the senses and make you her pawn. I can barely resist it thanks to my acute magical senses. I think it gets more hold over you if you answer her or talk to her."

Ele'hunda stroked his beard calmly. "I'll be fine in that regard. I may be bad at sensing and using magic, but you must be forgetting how resistant High Elves are to magic, even if I'm unlucky enough to be talentless in the arts."

"I'm not forgetting. Be mindful. Run away the second you think siding with her might not be a bad idea," Lipsilk insisted.

"She's that powerful?" Ele'hunda asked with a bit of surprise in his tone.

Lipsilk grimaced as the succubus attacked the barrier once again, further weakening it. "Yes. I am diluting the effect somewhat, but it is not something to be overlooked. If you wish to help, use what little ability you have and apply it to your mind immediately. I know that regardless of your talent - or lack thereof - Head Maid Bel'lok is famous for beating simple mental defensive techniques into you royalty."

"Right you are. It took me two-thousand-years to even get the basics down, but yes, I can shield my mind," Ele'hunda replied.

"Good. Do it quickly. I can't hold this vixen for much longer." The king did as he was told and erected a suitable mental defence. It was far from perfect, but it would hold out for a short while at least.

"So, what's the plan here? You know anything about how she fights?" Ele'hunda asked.

Lipsilk withstood a third attack from the succubus. He could feel that the next one would probably break his Fairy Barrier. "Nope. I knew I couldn't take her down on my own, so I trapped her straight away. I was honestly hoping Lone's friends would show up, the Tylwyth Teg in particular. We could have used her illusion magic."

"Okay. Let's just go with the usual. It's been a long time since we last fought together. Just the two of us," Ele'hunda said with a big grin on his face.

"You and your entire family. Bunch of battle-junkies, I swear. At least Her Highness is different. Took after her mother she did. But yeah, sure. Like the good old days." After saying that, the barrier collapsed entirely.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Well then, boys, is it finally time to dance?" the succubus said as she sauntered forward, all the while shaking her hips alluringly.

----------------------------------------

Swind and Soph were greeted by both Lone and Eolande after a short journey from the cave. Lone rushed to Soph's side and almost immediately began to heal her hand.

"Lone! You can't!" Soph tried to pull her wrist away but to no success. "You need to save your mana points!"

Lone shook his head. "It doesn't matter anymore. I already used some on saving Rachel's life, so I figured I may as well go the whole nine yards."

Eolande had a sorry look on her face. "As soon as I had put Rachel to bed in my Glade, Lone insisted that he fixed my mana organs. You know how he gets. Just don't try to stop him. It's pointless."

"Rachel?" Swind muttered under his breath.

Soph looked back and forth between Eolande and Lone before sighing very softly. "Okay... You're so stubborn, Lone."

Smiling mischievously, Lone replied, "That's part of my charm, isn't it?" He then returned his attention to using his Creation Magic to heal Soph.

Everyone tried their best to ignore the horrifying noises Soph's hand was making. A minute passed before Lone finally let go of her wrist. The bandaging that was previously stopping her blood from seeping out disappeared into his Dimensional Storage.

"I noticed some damage on your mana organs as well. Particularly the heart. It's fixed now. You girls, both of you, rest here for a little bit. I want you both to go and help Lipsilk and Ele'hunda when you have some mana back. He said that the succubus was the strongest one out all of them, so I want you two to back him and Lipsilk up," Lone said in a firm voice.

Eolande and Soph nodded while Swind could agree with what Lone was saying, but something was weighing down on his mind. "Mr Immortus-ss, you ss-saved Rachel's-ss life?"

Lone just shook his head. "Not completely. She's out of danger for now, but her soul still needs tending to. I'll do it after this war is over. From my understanding, she tried to sacrifice herself to kill the Slime Emperor general. She succeeded, but thankfully, she survived. Eolande brought her to me and I healed her body."

Swind walked up to Lone and put his fleshy hand on his shoulder. "Mr Immortus-ss, I owe you a debt far greater than I can ever hope to repay if what you ss-say is-ss true."

Lone brushed Swind's hand off and he rubbed his nose in embarrassment at Swind's serious words. "She's a Wanderer. I'd have done the same for any of you. Anyway, it looks like you saved Soph and Sophie too. So we're even. Besides, there really isn't any time for this. We need to focus. Swind, do you want to stay with Rachel in Eolande's Glade until everything is done, or do you wanna return to the main army? You stand no chance against the last general - assuming Sophie beat yours, Soph - or Ythmagobla."

Soph had a downcast look in her eyes. "Sophie tried really hard... But... But Scratchy got away... She's really hurt though!"

Lone's heart stung when he heard the desperateness in Soph's voice. She wanted Lone's acknowledgement. Lone would be lying if he said that he wasn't disappointed. No matter how injured Scratchy was, she was still an XXX-ranked general under Ythmagobla. Nonetheless, Lone put on a smile and rubbed her head lightly. "You did great. I'm sad that Sophie couldn't kill her, but you both did your best, didn't you?"

Soph nodded her head furiously.

"Then it's fine. It'd be selfish of me to ask any more from you than your best." With that said, Lone turned his attention back to Swind. "Well?"

"Mr Immortus-ss... I cannot take you ss-saving Rachel's-ss life ss-so lightly, but for now, yes-ss, I ss-shall return to the army. I wish to be by Rachel's-ss ss-side, but ss-she is-ss ss-safe for now, ss-so I would be better off putting myself to use elsewhere," Swind replied with many emotions interwoven into his words.

"Okay then. Good luck," Lone said his goodbyes and then resumed his meditation for the third and final time.

Soph and Eolande joined him. They weren't lucky enough to own the Meditation skill like he did, but they still focused their minds to try to recover as much of their mana points as possible.

Swind didn't stick around any longer and left for the main battlefield where the general army was no doubt continuing to crush the remnants of Ythmagobla's main forces.

----------------------------------------

Several dozens of miles away from the eastern world tree, a massive dark-purple cloud was crossing vasts amounts of land in the blink of an eye.

This cloud was Ythmagobla. 'I didst not wisheth to int'rvene so lief, but two of mine own children has't been vanquish'd while anoth'r is on the cusp of death.  I shalt obtaineth vengeance f'r thee, mine own children.'

Ythmagobla's mind was clouded with rage. He knew who was responsible for the deaths of Van and Benka. He did not blame Rachel, Eolande, nor did he blame Ele'hunda. Sophie and Soph were also free of guilt in the Ancient being's eyes.

'The one known as 'Lone'.  I shall maketh sure yond thy death is not a painless one f'r leading the daws who is't did dare to harmeth and slayeth mine own family,' Ythmagobla swore to himself as he came closer and closer to the world tree. He would be upon it in no less than five minutes.

----------------------------------------

Meanwhile, in the Palace of Okur, Tapper grinned from ear to ear. "Good, good, good! I wasn't... wrong! Truly... interesting!"

Tapper laughed maniacally for some time before he mumbled once more, "The fox has... developed... well. I wonder... How will he... fare against... the dragon?"

He stroked the sun on his cane a few times before he turned his old and lifeless face to stare at the Empress of Taslo. "I shall... be going to the... world tree. I wish... to watch this... in the flesh. Invade with... the enhanced troops... in exactly... two hours."

"Yes, Tapper. I will do as you wish," the Empress said as she made sure to humble herself. She cared little for the gazes of contempt that the people in the opposing faction to her rule were giving her. She'd rather be looked down on by such fools than have her empire destroyed by the madman in front of her.

"Good..." Tapper then tapped the end of his cane on the floor several times. His body contorted and disappeared entirely in response after a few short seconds had passed.