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703. Planning and Waiting

“...you will be totally and utterly fucked.”

I stared at Hartia as he finished. The Fairy had his arms crossed across his chest, and he leant back in my [Prison Of Isolation]. He looked away from me as he chuckled.

“Of course, I would try my best to help you. But… I can’t do much in here.”

He shrugged at me as I pursed my lips.

“And besides, my only useful Grand Skill against Jofis isn’t ready yet. I don’t think I stand a chance against him without it— sure, I can probably survive his attacks for a while with [Fractal Barrier], but that’s pretty much all I can do.”

“How long will it take for the cooldown to end?”

I asked as I placed a hand on my chin. Hartia shook his head.

“It isn’t an ordinary Grand Skill, so it will take a long time. Days, at the very minimum.”

“That’s…”

I hesitated. It was hard to keep track of time here in the Netherworld, but if I had to guess, it had been only about a day or a day and a half at most since Hartia and I fought each other. I could tell because [My Flames Shall Burn Until Eternity Ends] was already available for use, and soon, [Divine Essence] would be available too. [Claw of Corruption] was also available thanks to my Class advancement, but that was besides the point. The point was that some time had passed, but not a lot of time.

And at the current rate Jofis was tearing through my clones, it would take another day at most for him to get to us, even if we immediately relocated from our current position now.

I looked back towards Haec and Taburas who were standing off to the side. The two of them wore grim looks on their faces, resigning themselves to having to face Jofis head-on without a plan.

But I didn’t relent. I knew this was a war— that sacrifices had to be made. However, I needed to tip the odds in our favor. I couldn’t just let us face this massive threat without a method of guaranteeing our success.

I was not stupid. Even if I enjoyed a challenge from time to time, I did not want to die either.

So my eyes flickered as my mind raced— as I tried to formulate an idea in my head. Then I looked through the eyes of my clones. Five of them were still searching the Netherworld for something, and it didn’t seem like they would find it anytime soon. Meanwhile, I had three clones left flying through the Expanse.

One of them was currently being chased down by Jofis. I gave her the command not to engage with him— to just distract him for as long as possible. So that the others could at least escort the remaining legions that have yet to arrive to us, and they weren’t unnecessarily slaughtered.

That’s right, I told myself. The most important thing we need right now is time. As long as we have time, we stand a better chance of winning against Jofis.

I raised my head as I stared at Hartia. I looked at the [Prison of Isolation] he was held in. He was flitting back and forth between the walls of corruption lazily. And my eyes lit up.

“I have an idea.”

I said as a grin spread across my face. I looked towards Hartia, and he raised a brow at me.

“What is it?”

“First of all, I’ll free you from my [Prison of Isolation] if you promise you’ll help us beat Jofis.”

I spoke simply, and Haec blinked. He took a step towards me.

“Salvos? What are you doing?”

“It’s fine, Haec. Since nobody here has collars anymore, it’s not like Hartia is a major threat anymore. So we don’t have to worry.”

I reassured my companion as he clenched a fist, eyeing the Fairy.

“I see…”

Haec gritted his teeth, before sighing. Hartia snorted at that. I shook my head.

“Anyway, that’s just the first part of my plan. The second part of my plan requires you to take everyone gathered here and to leave this place.”

I nodded at Haec and Taburas. The [Succubus] frowned at that.

“You want us to leave? What about you?”

“I’ll stay here. Wait for Jofis to arrive here. Once he kills all my clones, he won’t have anyone else to hunt down or follow. That means he will be forced to come here.”

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I explained simply. Haec’s brows snapped together.

“You want to face Jofis alone? That’s suicide.”

“No, I won’t be alone.”

I grinned at them.

“Because—”

And their eyes widened when they heard what I had to say. They exchanged a glance, before Taburas pursed her lips.

“Are you sure that plan will work?”

She asked, and I shrugged.

“It has to. I mean… it probably will work?”

I wasn’t sure. But based on all my past experiences, I thought it would work. Haec met my gaze, and I didn’t waver. I believed in my plan.

And seeing that, Haec believed in it too.

“Very well.”

My first companion drew back as he turned towards the gathered legions with us. He gestured at Taburas to follow, and she nodded. Pausing for a moment, Haec glanced back at me one last time.

“I believe in you, Salvos. But most importantly, I believe you will survive this.”

“Don’t worry. If I thought I was going to die, I wouldn’t be doing this.”

I waved a hand dismissively. And Haec chuckled as he left me behind.

“Fair enough. I’ll see you later, then.”

“See you.”

I bade both Haec and Taburas farewell, before watching them gather up the remaining legions for a moment. Next to me, Hartia piped up.

“So—”

The Fairy started. And I opened up a rift, sending him flying into [The World Of My Mind].

“Stay put, alright?”

He just screamed in response as I watched him vanish into my pocket space. I took in a deep breath as I sat down on top of a white rock, before casting my gaze in the distance. I could see through the eyes of my clone as she was caught by Jofis.

“Now… I wait.”

I whispered as my clone exploded from the battle. And as I waited, I began to ready myself, distributing my Secondary Skill Points. Especially since I had also leveled up in both my Subspecies and Class once from freeing the other legions earlier today.

Salvos (The Enemy of the Demon King) (The Devil’s Daughter)

Species: [Primeval Demon of Pride]

Secondary Species: [Lesser God]

Subspecies: [Angelic Devil Princess] - Lvl. 169

Class: [C-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝rr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝pt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝d Appr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝nt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝c-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝] - Lvl. 154

General Skills:

[Advanced Mana Manipulation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Corruption Mastery] - Lvl. 1

[Identification] - Lvl. 6

[Racial Skill: True Divinity] - Lvl. 1 (Maxed)

[Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension] - Lvl. 2

[Rest] - Lvl. 5

[Wisdom of the Old Gods] - Lvl. 5

[Title Skill: Demonic Essence Resistance] - Lvl. 1

[Title Skill: General Status Effect Resistance] - Lvl. 1

[Title Skill: Invoke Wrath] - Lvl. 1

[Title Skill: Influence Wild Demons] - Lvl. 1

[Title Skill: The Devil’s Grace] - Lvl. 1

[Racial Skill: Divine Essence of the Angelic Devil Princess] - Lvl. 1 (Maxed)

Stats:

[Available Stat Points: 0]

[Vitality]: 330 (+150) (+10)

[Strength]: 330 (+10) (+10)

[Endurance]: 330 (+10) (+10) (+3)

[Wisdom]: 490 (+40) (+10) (+50)

[Agility]: 530 (+10) (+10) (+5)

Skills:

[Available Skill Points: 1]

[Angel’s Wings] - Lvl. 15

[Barrage of Cinders] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Divine Demon’s Mark] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Divine Haste] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Intimidation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Faux Limbs] - Lvl. 25 (Maxed)

[Divine Nebular Construct] - Lvl. 25 (Maxed)

[Divine Strike] - Lvl. 15

[Divine Radiant Slash] - Lvl. 15 (Maxed)

[Sacred Hellfire] - Lvl. 18

[Salvo of Vanity] - Lvl. 25 (Maxed)

[The Call of Armageddon] - Lvl. 15

[The Holy Flames] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Passive - Angelic Premonition] - Lvl. 15

[Passive - Weapon Mastery] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Available Grand Skill Points: 0]

[Claw of Corruption] - Lvl. 2

[My Flame Shall Burn Until Eternity Ends] - Lvl. 3 (Maxed)

[Unused Skill Slot] x2

Secondary Skills:

[Available Secondary Skill Points: 0]

[Corrupted Draconic Fury] - Lvl. 1

[Cluster Time Dilation] - Lvl. 10

[Greater Teleportation] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Manifestation of the Old Gods] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Prison Of Isolation] - Lvl. 17

[Riftwalk] - Lvl. 2

[Truth Divination] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Worldbreak] - Lvl. 5

[Passive - Corrupted Dragon Scales] - Lvl. 1

[Passive - Corrupted Regeneration] - Lvl.1

[Passive - Master of Material Manipulation] - Lvl. 15 (Maxed)

[The World of My Mind] - Lvl. 1

[Unused Skill Slot] x1