Chapter 560: Devil’s imprint (Part 1)
Translator:
Nyoi-Bo Studio
Editor:
Nyoi-Bo Studio
Saleen requested to keep watch overnight because he wanted Lex to have peace of mind by proving that there was no estrangement between her subordinates and himself. Saleen also knew that the demons could easily kill the magic beasts, and he could obtain intermediate level magic nuclei.
An intermediate level magic nucleus did not appear to be more valuable than a high level magic nucleus, their exchange rate was very disproportionate. The function of an intermediate level magic nucleus could not be replaced by a high level one.
It was just like how an intermediate level magic nucleus could not subst.i.tute a low level magic nucleus. The function of each type of magic nucleus had their own special significance. On the battlefield, an intermediate level magic nucleus was the most important strategic a.s.set.
Due to low quant.i.ties of high level magic nuclei, they could not be distributed to an army. Even if there was a corresponding quant.i.ty of high level magic nuclei, a sorcerer was required to be present to stimulate the energy within them safely.
After allocating the guard duty tasks, Saleen rested in his barrack with Sika. He took out the clan badge. He caressed it in his hand and felt more a.s.sured. In the past six months or so, the lightning energy within the clan badge had been fully recharged, the badge was ready to release another attack.
Six months might seem very long, but Saleen had made the badge absorb the power of the twenty-four lightning dragons in the G.o.ddess’ necklace to ensure that the badge could launch another attack within six months. Had he relied on himself, he would have to spend a very long time in order to recharge the badge.
The G.o.ddess’ necklace made Saleen have a love-hate relations.h.i.+p with it. Without the G.o.ddess’ divinity, it was impossible for one to enter the s.p.a.ce necklace. A normal human, even with the st.u.r.dy body of a swordmaster, would be crushed into smithereens the moment they tried to enter the necklace. Only a dead item could be stored in the necklace, but it would also lose its original attributes gradually.
The necklace could not be used as a spatial equipment, but the twenty-four lightning dragons were living in it comfortably. Since they had a soul contract with Saleen and had obtained the Power of Life during incubation, they could make the necklace their abode.
The development process of these twenty-four lightning dragons was very strange. The flow of time within the necklace’s s.p.a.ce was not regulated, so it was very onerous for Saleen to control the dragon’s development. The lightning dragons had once grown to forty-five yards long, but they had reverted to one yard at the moment. After every round of intense transformation, Saleen would obtain a batch of lightning dragon skin. The defensive power of these skins was very high, but in Saleen’s hands, their greatest use was to be made into scrolls.
If Saleen became a sorcerer, he would not have to worry about getting materials for high level scrolls anymore.
The current lightning dragons could not even aid Saleen in battle, they could only double as an auxiliary power for the badge so that the badge could regain energy as soon as possible. This clan badge was Saleen’s trump card, as long as the aim was locked onto a target, no one could resist its attack. That supreme demon in Lorga City was killed in one hit by Saleen, it was very decisive and thorough. At that point in time, Saleen could not even believe it had happened.
The barrack was designed according to the bunk in a Qin’s camp. Even though it was an eight-man barrack, it could in fact contain forty people. An elite troop would be a.s.signed with four support troops. Under battle conditions, be it a heavy cavalryman, light cavalryman, or heavy infantryman; these soldiers would live with support troops so that they would be ready for battle anytime.
The standard allocation to a heavy cavalryman was two to three horses, three long weapons, four short weapons, and four support troops. Every soldier in Qin would be given horses. Only the mountain troops, light infantrymen and scouts did not have support troops around to take care of things. Their training and fighting would be greatly hampered.
Even though the scouts had horses with them, they had to take care of the horses independently. The warhorses were very special. No matter the circ.u.mstances, they would not move about restlessly and make any noise. The scouts also acted alone because the presence of support troops would affect their concealment and speed of travel
That way, an emblem group of one-thousand men could easily balloon to three-thousand men during wartime. If it was an emblem group of heavy cavalrymen, there might be almost six-thousand people.
All along, Lex had little support troops, but the barracks were designed in strict accordance to the standards of the Qin army.
In Tanggulasi Empire, the status between a support troop and an elite soldier had a large difference; they were not allowed to live together. Tents would be set up outside the barracks to house the support troops.
Eleanor sat on the bed meditating while Jola and Su remained next to her. Su was still young, so he was not interested in mature ladies like Eleanor, but Jola’s eyes were affixed on Eleanor, never leaving her once.
As Sika was Saleen’s woman, Jola did not wish to provoke her. Jola was obviously a Silver Grand Swordmaster already, but he could not defeat a Caucasus person. This made him disinterested in seducing Sika.
Getting rejected and walloped was way better than being despised.
Sika laid on Saleen’s bed, she did not even remove her armor. This armor was newly crafted by Saleen, it was comfortable and contained a permanent Cleaning spell.
Nailisi led the four demons outside to keep watch overnight, thus the barrack was silent. Only the demonic spirit had nothing to do because his offensive power was a little too low, so he was thrown into the barrack by Nailisi.
Saleen lifted his eyelid, and asked, “Yes?”
The demonic spirit felt a shudder in his heart. Just as he was about to say something, Saleen said, “What is your name? Never mind, it’s not easy to remember it, so you shall be called Erbai.”
“Erbai?” The demonic spirit heard this name, and looked confused. Saleen had other plans, it was said that many demonic spirits resembled humans, so they could be used to form a scout platoon.
A demonic spirit’s status in the demonic plane was slightly higher than a magic bug, they were even inferior to the imps. Demonic spirits were best in riding with the situation, concealing, escaping, and observing. This demonic spirit was at a low grade, even if he did not sign any special contract, he would not betray Saleen. Back in the demonic plane, other creatures would control their destiny, they had gotten used to that.
“Erbai, what is it?” Saleen asked again.
The demonic spirit Erbai was aghast. He wanted to chat with Saleen, so that the master of his master’s master would have a good impression of him. “If possible, I will complain about Cuisi and the rest. The best case scenario will be to make Saleen sign a contract with me, so I don’t have to put up with those demons anymore.”
As Saleen’s azure eyes stared at him, those pupils with unparalleled purity contained an irresistible majesty.
Yes, it was majesty. That pair of eyes struck a special feeling in the demonic spirit, it was like when he was chased by an imp when he was young, where he eventually escaped to the peak of a mountain. At that time, there was a storm happening, so he crawled into a hole and held his breath, thus only hearing the rumble of thunder.
The thunder penetrated the soil directly into his ears, sending shudders into his heart.
Saleen was only gently glancing at Erbai, yet it caused him to feel like he had returned to that day when he was hiding in a hole. Saleen was akin to the ferocious lightning in the sky.
Saleen laughed, then said, “If you are going to complain about Cuisi and company, save your breath. If you do not have any special abilities, I can only keep you from being eaten by them.”
The demonic spirit was spared because Cuisi and company wanted an avenue to vent their anger. If they got tortured by Nailisi, they would still have a place to vent their fury. Saleen knew about this, but he did not want to settle the problem for the demonic spirit.
The demonic spirit was not human, no matter how tough his life was, it was none of Saleen’s business. The demonic spirit’s power could not even pose a threat to Saleen at all. With this demonic spirit around, Cuisi and company were obviously happier than before.
Seeing that this human mage was so intelligent, the demonic spirit had dismissed the notion of tricking Saleen. He only said, “Sir, my vision is very powerful. With some simple training, creatures of my race make proficient archers.”
“Archer?” Saleen maintained his smile, as he thought to himself, “With an elf like Eleanor around, you are nothing.”
“Sir! My memory is very good, my sense of direction is very strong. Without a horse, I can still run for several days without resting. I am the best choice to be your scout!” The demonic spirit explained to Saleen in a song-like rhythm.
“Do you have a deep understanding about the demonic plane?” Even though Saleen had long wanted the demonic spirit to be a scout, he did not agree immediately. Before Nailisi summoned more demonic creatures, he did not want this demonic spirit to slacken. A position attained through hard work would appear more precious.
Saleen only made a pa.s.sing remark. Unexpectedly, the demonic spirit Erbai immediately said, “Of course, even Master Nailisi will not know more than me. I was originally an isolated piece of trash in the demonic plane, but a devil valued me, so I became a servant. Even though I was only in charge of cleaning, I had heard many secrets about the world of magic in the devil’s palace. I have learned the demonic language, Sir, I can learn magic!”
Erbai answered in one go, then looked at Saleen. Saleen also looked at him, then with a thud, Erbai suddenly knelt before Saleen, pleading, “I beg Sir not to allow Cuisi and the rest to continue hitting me, I am willing to give everything to Sir. Yes, a demon may not be loyal, but a demon also has a heart, I will be grateful to Sir forever!”
Sika was actually pretending to be asleep, but when she heard the mushy confession by this demonic spirit, she could not help but cackle.
“It’s only a beating and you cannot take it? What if you fall into the enemy’s hands, are you going to reveal everything about me?” Saleen was not laughing, he actually became frosty.
While crying and sniffing, Erbai replied, “Sir, Tolesi is a… soul demon!”
“Are you afraid of him?”
“Yes, I am deathly afraid of him!” The demonic spirit was not embarra.s.sed, he answered honestly.
“Seems like you aren’t afraid of me, you dare to spread rumors about them in front of me.” Saleen stared by Erbai with a partial smile, thinking to himself, “A devil’s subordinate should have a devil’s imprint on them I guess. Since he is so fearful of Tolesi, it means that Tolesi is of a high value. Even a devil’s imprint cannot stop Tolesi’s soulish attacks, seems like Nailisi has summoned only talents for me!”
“Sir, of course I am afraid of you. Sir isn’t a demon though, you are reasonable. By pleading with you, I still have a chance of staying alive.”
“Staying alive? Cuisi and company do not plan to kill you.”
“Sir, if I disclose the devil’s secrets by accident, I will die at once!” Erbai had begun wailing.
“Oh? You were just saying that you will present everything to me, does it mean that the devil will spare you if you tell me his secrets?”
“Yes, Sir, please remove the devil’s imprint from me!” The demonic spirit Erbai prostrated on the ground furiously. Luckily, creatures from the demonic plane had the toughest skulls, and he was not seen bleeding.