"There should be more than just these major figures in the Black Prison. As far as I know, quite a few servants and incarnations of the Old Gods are imprisoned there as well, but none of them have shown themselves yet."
Hilda rubbed her hands together and spoke first, trying to contend for that precious Talisman of Evil Warding. "...As the saying goes, 'The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the yellow bird behind it.' No one knows how many demons, ghosts and monsters are still lurking beyond the reach of the sky-lantern light and Hellfire."
Professor Yao nodded slightly.
"Of course there are Yellow Birds. There is never any shortage of such birds." He did not deny Hilda's judgment, but neither did he fully affirm the young teaching assistant's speculation. "But finding the right moment to swoop down before the mantis devours the cicada is very difficult... Everyone knows birds are blind in the dark, and what the Black Prison lacks least is darkness."
A faint, flattering chuckle rose between the towers.
It seemed everyone found Old Yao's analogy rather amusing.
Hilda sighed softly. Knowing her words had failed to hit Old Yao's sweet spot, she honestly stepped back.
"I believe the prisoner alliance is riddled with internal conflicts,"
another young wizard seized the chance to speak, boldly adding, "The number of prisoners in the Black Prison is ultimately limited. They are fewer than us, yet they dare to launch attacks from all sides without choosing a main direction of assault... Other than internal entanglements, mutual wariness, and an inability to reach a unified decision, I can think of no other explanation."
"And the school's strategy of remaining unmoved as a mountain through wind and rain, sitting firmly by the fishing platform, letting them attack from all sides while