Chapter 85 - the history lesson continues

As John concluded his explanation of why the demon kingdom on their continent was distinct from the demon empire across the ocean, Oberon observed the young prince with a contented expression.

"Excellent answer! Keep going. The exciting part is yet to come," Oberon encouraged, urging John to continue.

Taking a sip of water to quench his thirst, John nodded and began delving into the events of the First Great Demon Migration.

"The invasion commenced on a seemingly ordinary day, the 5th of the month of the dragon, in the year 1000 of the imperial calendar," John recounted, his voice brimming with anticipation.

"On that fateful day, the demons, who had been meticulously planning their invasion for an unknown period, launched their first attack on the lands of the witches. At the time, the witches' domain, though rich, lacked adequate defenses, making it an enticing target," John explained, observing Oberon taking notes with occasional nods of approval.

"Regrettably, the attack caught the witches off guard, and within a matter of hours, the demons blitzed through their territory. Being primarily focused on alchemy and magic, the witches had neglected their defensive preparations due to the absence of major conflicts in our continent. Consequently, they succumbed to the invaders before their allies could fully comprehend the situation," John continued, his voice tinged with sympathy for the witches.

"Legend has it that Emperor Alberto von Eldrin only learned of the invasion after the witches had already capitulated, right in the middle of taking a shit, but those rumors are hard to believe. The demons employed some peculiar technology that disrupted communication crystals within the witches' territories, effectively cutting off vital information," John explained, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the demons' strategy.

"Fortunately, Emperor Alberto swiftly negotiated a temporary armistice with the Maritona Confederation, rallying nearly all the races inhabiting the continent within five hours of the witches' surrender. Thus, the Continental United Front against the demons was born. Surprisingly, the spriggans, seeking the Elven Forest as their reward, became unlikely allies of the demons," John elucidated, his voice reflecting the intricacies of the political landscape.

"Despite the united forces, their response was initially scattered across the continent, hampering an immediate counterattack. By that time, the demons had already advanced halfway into the empire, standing at the border of the elven capital. It wasn't until an amphibious assault successfully severed the enemy's supply lines that the tide of the battle began to turn," John added, his tone conveying the critical nature of the conflict.

"Nevertheless, the demons remained resilient, having conquered the orcish and beastkin territories entirely. With a constant influx of reinforcements and supplies from their homeland, their advance showed no signs of relenting," John expressed, his voice filled with a mix of admiration and concern.

John took a deep breath before continuing, "At this point, the war had essentially transformed into a grueling war of attrition. Borders solidified, occasionally shifting due to natural conditions, offering fleeting advantages to either side."

"It wasn't until a decade into the war, for reasons unknown, that the Yarcana Ocean became plagued by whirlpools and hurricanes. The destabilized mana surrounding the region severed the demons' supply lines, marking the beginning of their downfall," John recounted, his words echoing the turning point in the conflict.

"However, the war was far from over. During the twelve years that the demons had ruled over the witch and beastkin territories, they had effectively assimilated those regions, creating a self-sustaining colony. Although incapable of sustaining the war effort indefinitely, it provided enough resources to prevent their armies from starving," John shared, his voice filled with a mix of relief and caution.

"After twelve grueling years and two years, since their main supply line was cut off, the demons found themselves isolated primarily within the territories of the witch kingdom. They chose to make their last stand there," John continued, his tone brimming with a sense of finality.

"Right before the final battle, the father of the current demon king, a shrewd man, reached out to the emperor with a settlement offer. They proposed that the demon king would retain control over the witch territories. At the same time, the emperor would gain the title of the conqueror of demons," John revealed, hinting at the complexity of the negotiations.

"Initially, the emperor rejected the offer. However, recognizing the profound toll the war had taken on his people, he called for a conference that ultimately resulted in a settlement, shaping the borders that exist on the continent today. While many historians deem the emperor's decision unwise, believing that the demons could have been eradicated entirely, the soldiers who endured the horrors of that conflict held a different perspective. They understood that the potential power vacuum resulting from the demons' defeat, the demons were determined to take down all of them with themselves if they had to, and if that had happened…it's hard to imagine the consequences.," John concluded, his voice carrying a note of contemplation.

"Perfect, absolutely perfect! You've grasped the historical context remarkably well, good job, kid," Oberon commended, applauding John's effort as he finished speaking.

"Oh, shoot! I should hurry now," John exclaimed, glancing at the clock and rushing out of the room to attend to his lunch and evening training.