Wolaz narrowed his eyes at the light reaching into the heavens.
"What is that?"
The adjutant looked in the same direction and saw the pillar of light piercing heaven and earth, but could offer no answer.
"Send scouts already!" Wolaz roared, waves of sound rolling outward.
"Go find out if those damned Elves are behind this!"
"Roar!"
Dozens of Gargoyles perched on the World Tree's branches moved at the command.
They spread their fleshy wings and let out piercing shrieks, turning into streaks of shadow as they flew swiftly toward the pillar of light.
At that moment, the Elves in the valley were still reeling from the shock of the spatial magic array's activation.
Time ticked by.
A dark figure descended from the sky and landed heavily on the platform. It was one of the Gargoyle scouts sent out earlier.
It dropped to one knee, its voice hurried and hoarse.
"Commander!"
Wolaz stopped and turned, fixing its scarlet eyes on the scout.
"Speak."
"The source of the light... is indeed in the direction of the Elf Royal City!"
"That energy is extremely powerful. Judging by its fluctuations and aura, it's a spatial Portal of the Holy Human Race."
"They're probably opening a transportation passage!"
"The Elf Royal City?" Wolaz's mouth split into a grin, revealing a row of sharklike teeth.
"What are those long-ears trembling in the forest trying to do?"
"Summon reinforcements from another world?"
"Or activate some ancient magic?"
As it spoke, the mockery vanished from its face, replaced by a grave expression.
Either possibility meant an unpredictable factor.
And unpredictable factors were what it hated most.
It turned to face the countless Demon Clan soldiers assembled below, its voice booming like thunder.
"Assemble the entire army!"
Rumble!
The earth began to tremble.
On the flat ground in