Alex couldn't help but feel grateful for the company, knowing that it was a comfort to have fellow demons of lust by his side.
Batibat began by outlining the plan that he and Alex's allies had devised. "First things first," he said, "I devised a strategy along with Asmodea, Limbra, Sitri, and Orcus. Limbra is doing reconnaissance from the air in the hopes of locating our allies or acquiring any intelligence on our adversary. When Asmodea and Sitri conduct their investigation on the opposite side of these ruins, the rest of us will wait for them in the primary courtyard of this location."
Alex nodded, impressed with the plan. "It seems like it could work. Since I first arrived here, I have made sure that our location is still the same."
Batibat nodded in agreement. "Good. It's important that we maintain our position until we can locate our allies and come up with a more detailed plan of action."
Asmodea posited that the location in question was Hell.
"It is, as she said previously, the wasteland of famine that rules over the realm of hell," Orcus chimed in. "This is where the souls who have sinned excessively by indulging their gluttonous appetites are sent. At present, I'm unaware of its exact location, but I do know that any souls who are fortunate enough to find even a morsel of sustenance must protect it at all costs, lest it be snatched away by another soul. As we don't belong to the clan of demons responsible for maintaining hell, and we're still alive, we can't see the souls of the departed. Thus, we must thoroughly search for any food or drink we come across."
Alex took in the information and felt a chill run down his spine. It was a daunting task, but he knew it was essential to their survival. "Understood," he said, with determination in his voice. "We'll do whatever it takes to find sustenance."
Orcus nodded his agreement. "We have to keep moving forward, regardless of how difficult the road ahead may be."
"We are indeed fortunate. It's a stroke of luck that the courtyard where we're supposed to meet is like a little oasis in the middle of the city," Alex replied.
Orcus nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it does seem almost too easy. But we shouldn't complain. Let's make our way back to the meeting point, assuming that the others have already arrived there, or keep searching until we find someone else. It's getting dark, and we've been here for almost two hours. We don't want to risk losing each other."
Alex looked around and then down at his feet. "Speaking of which, we should also be careful not to fall into any pitfalls or traps. This place looks dangerous, and we don't know what's lurking in the shadows."
Orcus chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm an expert in traps and pitfalls. And as a demon of gluttony, I have an excellent sense of smell. So if there's anything dangerous around here, I'll sniff it out."
"Alright. We spent most of our time searching for the others, so the return journey won't be as time-consuming as the trip here," Alex remarked. Suddenly, the ground began to tremble, and his expression shifted to one of bewilderment.
As if out of nowhere, a sandstorm materialized, propelled by a sudden gust of wind that swept through the area without warning. The wind was so strong that it caused Alex to lose his footing, and he stumbled, barely managing to stay upright.
The sandstorm was so intense that it obscured their vision, and they could barely see each other, let alone their surroundings.
The sound of the wind was so deafening that they could barely hear themselves speak, and Alex felt as if he were being battered by tiny stones as the sand pelted his skin.
It was a disorienting and frightening experience, and Alex couldn't help but wonder what other dangers lay in store for them in this mysterious, hostile land.
The sudden appearance of the sandstorm was unexpected and caught Alex off guard. There had been no indications that such a weather phenomenon was imminent, and it seemed to manifest out of nowhere.
The strong burst of wind accompanying the sandstorm only added to the confusion and chaos.
Despite the unexpected turn of events, Justinian's decision to delay the battle by a day had proven to be advantageous. It had allowed Alex to thwart any possible interference from the enemy camp.
Batibat, on the other hand, seemed to have his doubts about the situation. He expressed his displeasure with a shout as he led Alex and Orcus up into the tower. It was clear that he had concerns about the events unfolding around them.
Alex detected a tone of apprehension in Batibat's voice, prompting him to inquire further, "Why is that? While I agree that we should avoid going out until the storm has abated, I don't understand why we wouldn't be able to reunite with the others in the oasis at the courtyard."
"A potential long-term supply of food and water has been unearthed as part of the punishment meted out by the storms. The sandstorm then moves on, and as it does, it reshapes the entire region, altering the pathways, rock formations, and even whole mountains, such that any soul that is unfortunate enough to become trapped there would forever be forced to struggle against starvation and thirst. The euphoria of finding a source of water or food is immediately washed away, and the mind of a soul is steadily chipped away at as a result. To put it more simply, the entire terrain has undergone significant transformation. It is a labyrinth that never ends." Caeotrum said, seriously. "The test that Justinian is giving everyone is wrong since it is impossible to test someone cognitively or strategically if our complete group isn't together. Hell is a horrible place to be in."
"Whoa... That's hell, all right, we'll give you that much. WELL! This should be enjoyable." Alex's sarcasm could only get him so far in terms of preparing him.
----
(A/N: Hello guys done reading. If yes, send a power stone, 1 power stone is also enough we just have to increase fan value, so 1 power stone is enough, but if you like the novel I won't mind if you send more stones, and plz don't forget the gifts.)
Thank you very much for all your support.
I will upload 5 extra chapters for every 1 magic castle� . If someone is interested and want extra chapters. You know what to do. � �