The Magic Empire for 20,000 years

Chapter 288 Elian Goes to the Meeting Alone
The intense flames on Latour's body crackled and popped, his eyes burning with a thirst for revenge.

"Your Majesty Elion, let's immediately summon the ten legendary demons stationed at various bases and have a battle with those hellish bastards!"

He himself was no match for Zariel, this high-ranking legend.

But he believed that his master, Elian, was absolutely capable of standing up against this powerful demonic duke!
Of course, Latour, who had fled back from the front lines in a sorry state, was unaware that Zariel had a great devil by her side who was not much worse than herself—Overseer Bell.

The mage Gut, standing nearby, also spoke sternly:

"Your Majesty, we are only one step away from taking control of the entire Wanyuan Plain. We absolutely cannot afford to fail at this crucial moment."

"With the formidable enemy of hellish demons at hand, I also request to join the battle."

“If necessary, we can also recall General Thor, Dragon Vein General Gret, and others stationed on the Material Plane…”

Elian listened quietly, her fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.

All the clues instantly connected in his mind and became clear.

Pazuzu's "using one tiger to devour another" strategy...

The huge strategic and personality differences between Zaril and Bell...

as well as……

A crucial point that everyone has overlooked...

He suddenly chuckled, breaking the heavy atmosphere in the command center.

“I see,” Elion stood up. “Pazuzu wants us and the Nine Hells to fight to the death so he can reap the benefits.”

Gutt frowned: "Then we must not let his scheme succeed. We must immediately gather our main force and, before the devils can establish a firm foothold, drive them back to hell!"

Helen suggested, "Or...we could retreat temporarily and let the Demon Legion confront Pazuzu head-on?"

El-Erian shook his head.

His gaze swept over the crowd, a smile playing on his lips: "I think we might not be unable to have a talk with the devil, or even... cooperate..."

"Cooperate?" Latour nearly jumped up. "Your Majesty! Those are devils, hellish bastards! Their minds are full of deceit and trickery, how can we cooperate with them..."

El-Erian suddenly raised his hand and made a "stop" gesture.

Latour quickly shut his mouth.

“Pazuzu wants us and the demons of hell to both be severely damaged, so how can we do as he wishes?”

"Eldoron is not a demon of the abyss, and there is no ancient blood feud between him and the devils of hell..."

"If something can be resolved at the negotiating table, there's no need to resort to force."

Elian straightened his robes, turned and left, his voice resolute:
"Activate the highest level of emergency response plan."

"Before I return, hold the base. Without my orders, do not provoke the demon legion of the Nine Hells, and certainly do not start a full-scale war with them."

With a calm gaze, Elion stepped into the teleportation array leading to the front lines of the River Styx.

A dazzling light shone forth.

"I want to go there myself and talk to them..."

The monarch of the human empire, alone, went to the devil legion's camp.

………………

The dark, foul-smelling waters of the Styx rushed past, and the scorching wind swept across the land, carrying the stench of blood.

As the Devil Vanguard advanced, makeshift camps and outposts were set up here to prepare to receive more legions from the first layer of hell.

Suddenly, a flash of light appeared in the distance from the dense camp.

As the light faded, a figure emerged from it.

That was a human male.

With black hair and black eyes, a young and handsome face, and an expression that was frighteningly calm.

He just stood there, as if he were just there for a visit.

"Enemy attack!"

The piercing alarm instantly shattered the dullness of the military camp!

Clang.

Clang.

The sound of metal clashing rang out in rapid succession.

Large numbers of low-ranking demons—inferior demons, thorn demons, and beard demons—emerged from the camp, quickly forming battle formations, either lining up on the ground or flying in the air on alert.

Two legendary Hellfire officers flapped their wings and took to the air, hellfire gathering in their palms.

Rows of cold iron weapons were all aimed at the uninvited guest.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Elian's gaze swept over the imposing formation, and he spoke, his voice calm yet clearly suppressing the agitation: "Eldoron, the Magic Empire, High Mage Elian."

"Request an audience with the commander of the Avernas Legion, Grand Duke Zariel, or General Bel the Overseer."

"I have come for peace."

The message was relayed back to the central command tent at top speed.

……

Inside the devil's makeshift camp.

After hearing the report, Bell's ruddy face instantly darkened further:
"Lord Zariel."

He turned to Zaril in his steel seat, his tone urgent:

"This could be a trap!"

“A mortal mage from a material plane who dares to come alone to meet the commander must be either extremely arrogant or must have something to rely on.”

There's no need to agree to his request to meet.

"He should be detained immediately, or... executed on the spot!"

Zariel sat on the black iron seat, his chin resting on one hand, his wings flapping twice, and the flames burning on his head rising slightly.
"Oh? That human who controls half of the abyss?"

A hint of interest curved her lips:
"You've got guts. You dared to come looking for me..."

"Bring him in."

Bell was startled and said urgently, "But..."

“Enough, Bell.” Zariel’s voice turned cold. “He can’t possibly cause any trouble in my camp.”

She waved.

"Welcome them with the highest honors. Arrange for more guards."

"Yes." Bell bowed his head in response, his jaw clenched.

……

Elian entered the temporary military camp under the "escort" of two demons from the deepest hell.

The atmosphere inside the tent was heavy.

Zariel sat in the highest steel seat, with Bell standing below.

Both sides were lined with fully armed Steel Demons and Legion Demon Guards.

Feeling the sharp, menacing hostility emanating from him, Elian simply shrugged calmly, his gaze gazing upwards indifferently:

"Thank you both for receiving me."

He got straight to the point:
"My purpose in coming here is very simple: to avoid a pointless war that would allow the real beneficiaries to benefit."

"Eldoron is not a demon of the abyss."

"There is no mortal feud between us and the Nine Hells that has lasted for ten thousand years and is based on factional instincts."

Zariel laughed:
"A pointless war?"

"Aren't we all here to fight for control of this layer of the abyss?"

El-Erian shook his head and continued:
“The Wind Demon King Pazuzu is sitting on his stone mountain right now.”

"He expects your army to fight our Eldoron to a standstill, so he can come down the mountain and reap the rewards."

"I think this is not the ending that Nine Hells wanted."

Zariel's flames burned steadily on his head, and he remained silent.

Bell also had a furrowed brow; it was impossible to tell what this tall, red devil was thinking.

A moment later, a burst of snickering laughter rang out.

Zariel said dismissively:

"Mortals, whether you are outsiders from the material plane or the demon lord Pazuzu atop the highest stone mountain, as long as you are on this abyssal land, you are all our enemies."

"After I take your head, I will kill Pazuzu myself. You don't need to worry about it."

"Therefore, mortals, I advise you that if you have any self-awareness, you'd better hurry back to the material plane. The [Abyss Plains], the mouthpiece of the abyss, will sooner or later fall into the hands of our Hell legions!"

Elion stared directly at the devilish Grand Duke on the Iron Throne, his expression calm, and said, word by word:

"However, Your Excellency the Demon Lord, you should know very well that even if your army truly controls the [Plains of Ten Thousand Abyss], as a demon of hell, it is almost impossible for you to become a lord who obtains the will of the abyss."

Upon hearing this, the air in the tent seemed to freeze instantly.

Zariel's hand twitched rapidly, instinctively reaching for the sword hilt, but he immediately withdrew the movement.

A flash of anger crossed the eyes of the devilish grand duke.

(End of this chapter)