It was a nightmare!
Spectres haunted the Demon Camp that night, and they were almost impossible to defeat.
If a Spectre was warded off, then just as flies would return to the filth, they would gather once more to torture them.
It was quite unfortunate that none.of the Demon Generals were any good at fighting incorporeal entities. Even if they were, the ability to stand up to the swarm of Spectres was another thing entirely.
As such, screams and shouted filled the air of the Demon Camp.
"Aduuuu! I'm here for you!!!" Hogun's thunderous voice echoed as he swiftly made his way to Adu's camp. A worried expression played out on his face, but he pushed aside his fears and proceeded to help his friend.
Hogun knew he was being selfish, considering he was abandoning the camp he led, but Adu's situation was serious.
Why?
When it came to Spectres, Adu was a big scaredy cat! That's right, he would completely break down like a baby!
'To preserve his dignity, and also to save him before he has a heart attack... I have to hurry!' With this thought, Hogun quickened his pace.
Fortunately, their camps were right beside each other, so it didn't take him any time to cross over.
It took him even less time to find his dear friend curled up in a corner as Spectres surrounded him.
'God, he looks so pathetic.' Hogun sighed in exasperation, watching as his comrade was crying and shivering in his curled up state.
What other choice did he have, at this point, than to help his sorry excuse for a friend.
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"T-thank you so much, Hoguuuunnn."
"Ew, stop bawling on me. Get a grip!" The lion-faced Demon knew it would turn out this way.
Adu was just so terrified that he refused to let go of Hogun after the latter rescued him from the swarm of enemies that couldn't even hurt him.
"Can't you walk on your own now?" He murmured, glaring slightly at Adu who remained stuck on his back like a leech.
"I can't. My legs won't work." The flat answer of the child-like Demon made it evident that he didn't want to walk.
"Why don't you fly then?"
"A-are you crazy? You want me to share the same airspace as those things? You crazy?!"
Hogun gave up on his efforts to reason with his friend and simply accepted his fate as a piggyback rider.
'This is so humiliating...'
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This torture of the Demons lasted nearly all night, and everyone was so relieved when dawn reared its head.
The Spectres dispersed, since they couldn't be seen in daytime, much to everyone's relief. By the time it was completely morning, the Demons saw how messed-up their camp was. Not only was morale down, but most of them hadn't slept a wink.
They were physically exhausted, and their hearts were weak as well.
It truly was the worst!
The Demon Generals knew they were in a bad place, and they once again organized their virtual meeting through the Divining Orb. Everyone was present.
"What now? I think it's safe to say that the humans are behind this assault." Hogun grumbled.
He had been in charge of both Adu's and his territory, not to mention piggybacking the incapacitated Demon. Out of everyone, he probably had it the worst.
~Yeah. After what they pulled off yesterday, I think this has to be them. It's surprising, though... how they were able to know about our weakness.~ What seemed like Kiko's voice rang out of the Divining Orb.
~The morale of the troops has hit rock bottom, and they are all plain exhausted. If possible, I'd prefer it if everyone took a moment to rest, but...~ Heshu's voice trailed in uncertainty.
"Yeah. The enemy could use that chance to strike. Strategically speaking, this would.be the perfect time to strike. We must remain vigilant."
The Demon Generals concluded their meeting by deciding to maintain constant vigilance. It was the only way to about any surprise attacks or ambush.
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Carelessness was an enemy!
And so, even though rest would have been the preferable option, the Demon soldiers all prepared for an inevitable battle.
They waited and waited.
They waited the whole day.
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"H-how is this... why are they not attacking?!" Hogun had bags under his eyes, and he was irritable beyond words.
With rising anger and a deep seated anxiety, the Demon General wondered what the enemy was waiting for. It was practically evening already, yet...
'... I don't understand!'
The troops had simply wasted more of their energy by remaining vigilant. With no enemy attacking z they could have rested from their exhaustion.
"It almost feels like they're playing us, those humans."
~Bastards. Just wait till I get my hands on them!~ Adu's voice sounded from the Divining Orb.
'It seems like he's fine now.' Hogun took a mental note.
The Demon Generals were having another meeting, and this time it was organized by Heshu—a true surprise.
While he had been the first one told of the mission, and its details, the Demon preferred everyone doing their own thing. It seemed he despised too much communication between them.
It wasn't like anyone really disliked the idea, but Demons like Adu thought he was stuck up.
Why, then, did he organize this meeting?
~I spoke to the Lord.~ Heshu's message cause everyone's body to stiffen.
Lord Valefor was one of the several Demon Lords within the large and prosperous Demon Realm. His influence and power made those of lower estate tremble in awe and reverence.
They had all agreed to inform him about the human problem, but now that Heshu went ahead with it, they felt oddly humiliated.
The ghost incident played in the minds of all the Generals, and they felt a great wave of awkward shame.
~He has given us the permission to directly engage the enemy. I believe we should wait till tomorrow before we attack. Our troops can rest for tonight, and then we'll give it our all tomorrow.~