After a brief rest, they were ready to resume their journey.
Aengus called out to Avelina.
"So, are there any other Dragon Empire soldiers nearby?" Aengus asked, his voice calm yet carrying an underlying threat.
"And don't even think about lying," he added, his gaze sharpening. "We have ways to ensure the truth."
Avelina flinched under the weight of his words, feeling the piercing stares of the powerful demons surrounding her. Their presence seemed even more oppressive than before, though nothing had visibly changed. It was as if the very air thickened with their power, their eyes locking onto her as if a single lie would seal her fate.
She swallowed hard and answered truthfully, "No, my lord. None remain. There were three thousand more, but they have already left. They decimated a few nearby villages and completed their objectives." Her voice trembled, betraying her fear of drawing their wrath.