Pan Long moved fast, but the warriors of Goodness from Andralina were no slower.
He had barely cleared a safe stretch of riverbank when more than a dozen experts followed him across.
Some were wreathed in wild winds, some spread their wings, and some simply leaped across the river in a single bound. Like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displayed their own powers.
Behind them, sturdy galleys pulled away from the southern bank. Driven by the rowers' powerful arms, they went from a standstill to full speed in less than half a minute and charged straight toward the northern bank.
In that short time, the demons had reacted. At least four or five high-ranking demons roared curses and threats. Pan Long's grasp of their language was too poor to understand them, but the dozens of towering figures rushing toward him from every direction made their meaning clear enough.
"They're trying to surround me?" His gaze swept over them, and he laughed disdainfully. "Vrocks, Hezrous, Glabrezus, Nalfeshnees... Do they really think so little of me?"
In the Abyss, ordinary demons fell into roughly three tiers.
The first was represented by Balors and Mariliths. They were often the highest-ranking commanders below the demon nobility, serving in roles much like commandants.
The second was represented by Succubi, Vrocks, and Hezrous. They were the captain-level commanders of demon legions and could be considered the backbone of a demon army.
The third was represented by Manes, Quasits, and Dretches. They were the bottom rung of demon legions: cannon fodder.
Of course, demons could evolve. Once they grew powerful enough, many chose to strengthen their existing form rather than evolve into a new one. That made them far stronger than ordinary members of their kind, and their standing soared along with their strength.
Take