At sea, aboard the Emerald Dream of the Elf Fleet.
Admiral Lilaana leaned against the battered railing, gazing toward the beach now shrouded in smoke and shaking with gunfire. Her pale silver eyes were filled with undisguised shock and confusion.
Those Bagnians... had they actually done it?
Under harassment from gargoyles and direct attacks from the Abyssal Demon Dragon, they had forced a bloody path to the coast, paving it with their ships' hulls.
Their losses had been devastating, with at least twenty ships sunk forever along the way, but they had ultimately succeeded.
The terrifying antiaircraft firepower they unleashed after landing had even forced the Abyssal Demon Dragon to retreat for the moment. That was even further beyond Lilaana's expectations.
The weapons these humans used were not magical, yet their destructive power and coverage rivaled mid-tier magic.
"What are they trying to do?"
An elven officer beside Lilaana murmured the question.
"Beyond that beach lies Crystalsong Glade. It became a demon stronghold long ago. Passing through it to reach Mooncrown City is all but impossible now. Why would they pay such an enormous price to land there?"
Lilaana's delicate brows drew together. She could not understand it either.
Were they trying to escape the demon dragon at sea?
But even after landing, they remained exposed to the demons' aerial threat.
Were they trying to attack Mooncrown City?
Though the terrain made landing easy, it was far from an ideal point of entry.
Whatever their reasons, the resolve, courage, and powerful ground-combat firepower this human fleet had displayed were undeniable.
They had drawn the attention of the demon dragon and large numbers of gargoyles, substantially easing the pressure on the Elf Fleet.
"Admiral."
Another officer spoke up.
"Mooncrown City has sent a magical message asking about these humans."
Lilaana took