NOVPUBDawn finally broke!
With the arrival of dawn, the Dark Bat Hawk flock reluctantly flew away from Delilah's temporary camp.
"What a troublesome bunch of monsters!"
Delilah looked up, watching the departing Dark Bat Hawk flock, and finally heaved a sigh of relief.
Throughout the entire night, the invading armies had killed many Dark Bat Hawks.
However, many bloodline warriors in the camp had also been ambushed by Dark Bat Hawks, either snatched away in their beaks or dragged into the sky.
None of these companions escaped; all were torn apart and devoured.
The greatest number of casualties were among the human mercenaries and dwarves.
Because their builds were relatively small, they were the easiest to hunt.
"Relay the order: the entire camp is to rest in place and catch up on sleep. We will continue advancing after noon."
This was the order Delilah relayed to all armies. After a whole night's ordeal, most people in the invading armies were extremely exhausted.
Too much stamina had been consumed; everyone needed rest.
"Have the squads that were off-duty last night patrol the camp perimeter and maintain vigilance!"
Delilah issued a second order. She had anticipated such a situation when dusk fell the previous day.
Therefore, there had always been a combat team in the camp conserving stamina, precisely for moments like this.
"You should rest too!"
Delilah walked over and stroked the Four-Winged Blood Bat, which was covered in wounds. Last night, relying on its superior strength, it had single-handedly fought an entire flock.
The Four-Winged Blood Bat was also injured, but fortunately, they were all superficial wounds, nothing serious; it would recover with some rest.
However, the Four-Winged Blood Bat's stamina was truly and utterly depleted.
"Eat this!"
After tossing some healing magical plants into the Four-Winged Blood Bat's mouth, Delilah then stuffed a ball of Alpha-level life essence into its beak.
"Too extravagant!"
These were the true thoughts of the Bearmen brothers, Brontes and Steropes. They knew very well how precious the thing Delilah was feeding the Four-Winged Blood Bat was.
That was Alpha-level life essence, a truly high-tier strategic resource.
The two brothers had fought tooth and nail in the Valkorath Realm, and all their battle achievements combined had only allowed them to exchange for four balls of Alpha-level life essence.
To advance to Alpha-level, all their Alpha resources had been completely consumed by the two brothers.
And now, seeing Delilah feed Alpha-level life essence to the Four-Winged Blood Bat, how could they not be envious?
Just as Brontes and Steropes were inwardly envying the Four-Winged Blood Bat, a shadow appeared in a corner of the tent, instantly attracting the brothers' attention.
Seeing it was a member of the Sentinel Corps, Brontes' and Steropes' tense bodies slowly relaxed.
Compared to the scorpion soldier standing motionless in the corner of the tent, these Bearmen brothers appeared much more simple-minded and quite a bit cuter.
"What intelligence?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Sentinel Corps has found traces of Drusilla."
"Be more specific!"
"Secret signs, left a day ago. She also left a secret letter."
This was good news. It meant their direction of advance was correct, and they were even closer to that city of dark creatures.
"Dispatch scouts ahead. I want detailed intelligence on the terrain and enemies in front."
"As you command!"
The Sentinel Corps member disappeared into the shadows without attracting anyone's attention.
However, it did draw Saelen over from not far away.
"Your Majesty, is there some good news?"
Delilah nodded but didn't specify what the good news was, instead changing the subject.
"Don't you need to rest?"
"The blood elf clan is naturally strong in mental strength; we can go several days and nights without rest."
Saelen said this very proudly, feeling honored by her noble bloodline.
Delilah smiled without speaking. The blood elf clan's bloodline was indeed quite good, but that only applied to the High Elves.
As for those lesser elves, many were captured by slaver groups and became sex slaves for many races.
However, Delilah couldn't possibly expose these matters to her face.
"You blood elves have outstanding archery skills. Last night, you were the most dazzling warrior, and the greatest contributors were also you blood elves."
This was a tone of gratitude; Delilah spoke very sincerely.
The performance of the blood elf archers last night was indeed very striking.
Large numbers of low-flying, predatory Dark Bat Hawks were forcefully driven to high altitudes by this group of archers.
"Your Majesty, if there's anything our blood elf race can do, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Our blood elf race is very willing to serve you and everyone!"
Delilah nodded, giving Saelen an extra look.
Just for that last sentence, Delilah had to regard Saelen with more respect.
Because Saelen understood a principle: in another world, under such circumstances and encounters, only by following Delilah's lead, with her as the core, could one obtain more benefits.
Of course, Saelen wasn't the only one who understood this principle.
However, they had made the opposite choice.
Inside a temporary tent, by a bonfire, eight humans were sitting upright, roasting meat and drinking.
Conditions were crude; everyone was drinking and eating meat merely to alleviate the fatigue after staying up all night.
Of course, there were also unconventional ones: some were resting with their eyes closed, some were kneeling in prayer.
"This cup, to commemorate the brothers who were snatched away last night."
The speaker poured the wine in his hand onto the bonfire; the flames instantly shot up high, illuminating everyone's varied expressions.
"They're already dead. What's the use of saying so much now?"
Someone, slightly drunk, grumbled resentfully.
"They were merely paying a mercenary's dues to the gods. Returning to the embrace of the gods, isn't that good?"
Someone whispered, showing no attachment to their fallen comrades.
"According to the plan, shouldn't we be leaving?"
No one knew who suddenly brought this up.
The temporary tent fell silent. No one spoke; no one wanted to be the one to take the lead.
"Following the Stoneheart Horde, we can only eat leftovers; we'll always be the ones who get the least."
"Is there really a city ahead? Who can be sure?"
"Even if there is, will our mixed contingent sooner or later become someone else's cannon fodder?"
"Are you willing to hand over your lives to be ordered around like slaves?"
The wine on the bonfire burned out, and the flames receded.
Someone hidden in the darkness began to speak inflammatory words.
Although it was inflammatory, what was said was also true.
Delilah truly did intend for the mixed armies to share the pressure; this was an open strategy that no one could evade.
Because those who went to battle on the front lines were mostly bloodline warriors of the Stoneheart Horde.
If it really came down to the mixed armies, they would have to bite the bullet and go.
"If we're leaving, let's do it soon. Anyway, we're not Stoneheart Horde people."
"After we leave, all the gains will be ours; no one will compete with us for them."
"Staying here, we can't even out-compete those foreign races for loot."
"Besides, you cowards wouldn't dare to do anything underhanded..."
The speaker's mouth was covered by someone, not daring to let him continue.
However, everyone present knew what that person was talking about.
The great fire previously ignited by the Stoneheart Horde had burned many Hatchery Spiders, and many people had entered Shadowcrag Forest to rake in the benefits.
