Chapter 44- A long night

"It's been quite a day, Lucious." Bellatrix extended her hand which Lucious shook.

After turning the twilight general, Jessica and Kane into vampires, she had gone to loot the treasures stored here.

As she did, Lucious gathered intel on the Rennin Empire's plans. He knew there were several hidden bases like this one, but he didn't know their precise location.

Unfortunately, he didn't know where they were located either. But instead, the twilight general was able to provide something better.

Along the Eastern coastline of the continent within the Hozia Empire lies a temple with a teleportation rune.

He had yet to report its location and so any treasures that possibly lie within are untouched.

Had he reported it, then the Rennin Empire would have likely sent spies to explore the area before or during the war.

Lucious initially doubted he findings it as he couldn't recall such a temple in the area within the novel, but knew that the twilight general could no longer lie without permission.

"Thanks for letting me question him, and be sure to hunt the Queen of monsters generals quickly." Lucious grinned as several plans began to take shape in his mind.

"The Queen of monsters and her generals, this human and his fortress... I don't know what's worse, you using me to take out your enemies, or that I'm going along with it like some mercenary."

Bellatrix had some mixed feelings being used in such a way as a former noble of a powerful household.

He clearly knew things he shouldn't and she wanted to know how and why.

Part of her wanted to turn him into a vampire subordinate, however, she felt it a good idea to foster a good relationship with Lucious instead of forcing him against his will.

"I'll take care of them, but if they don't have any treasure hoards, then I think it'll be in your best interest you don't be here." Despite the veiled threat, Bellatrix grinned and flexed her wings.

After saying their goodbyes, Bellatrix and her new subordinates left in a cloud of black smoke.

"Lucious, I sent the others on ahead since you and this idiot will only slow them down. Tina will regroup with you by the entrance to get that eye fixed up."

Adrianna gently picked him up, as though he were made of glass then hoisted the former prisoner onto her shoulder as though he weighed nothing.

She could see Lucious had questions regarding his identity, and decided to fill him in before he could ask.

"His name is Darius, my reckless nephew. He heard about a human patrol on our lands then went alone to fight them."

Beastmen, elves and demons all viewed humans no differently to the horrible bloodthirsty monsters that roam the world. Due to this, Darius grabbed his sword and didn't think twice before he rushed out the door.

Unfortunately for him, the patrol consisted of five initial fifth stage aura masters while he himself is only a peak third stage mage.

"No wonder he lost, outnumbered and outmatched... he didn't think things through." Lucious said with a strained smile.

Adrianna sighed and didn't even bother to mention the irony of his words after Lucious fought someone two stages higher than himself.

"Let's go, we can leave the concealment artifacts where they are then report back."

As Lucious spoke with Bellatrix, Adrianna and her party had set up some extra defences to keep out any humans.

Despite not being sent here to take over the fortress, it was now under Hozia's control and Adrianna wanted to keep it as such.

Most of the fortress was still intact with only light damage done to the various buildings and some heavy damage done to the central building within the centre of the fortress.

With its current state, it shouldn't even take a full day to repair the damage, so long as we can get our hands on a dozen stage four mages with the earth element.

Resupplying is a different issue, especially since the treasury has been looted, but this could still be a worthwhile fortress to keep.

**********

The journey back was smooth and monster free, though it took a little longer because they had to haul back an unconscious carry-on.

Due to how the prison artifacts drained him of his strength, Adrianna suspected it would take him a week to awaken.

As the journey was only two days away, they didn't mind carrying him back.

Lucious had suggested carrying him one of the three prison artifacts now they it had been modified by Bellatrix to stop sapping everyone's strength, but Adrianna was against it.

She didn't trust her as Lucious did, and was a little glad that she didn't accompany them further.

[Host, by absorbing the aura and mana that has been stored, it is possible to quickly reach sixth stage aura and mana core development.]

Seriously?... Wait. what will happen to the others inside if I do that?

[Without the energy sustaining the artifact, those still imprisoned will die]

[Should I begin transferring the stored energy?]

Don't, leave the energy to sustain the prisoners. Though he was tempted, Lucious wasn't willing to condemn hundreds of thousands of innocent people to get stronger.

"I think I see Tina." Lucious pointed at a blue scaled lamia stood by the gates of Oura city.

Strangely enough, everyone in line to enter the city seemed to avoid standing near her and didn't make eye contact.

Guess people really, don't want to be trapped in a conversation with a lamia, huh?

Lucious grinned to himself as she darted forward to greet him.

"You're finally here, what took you so long? It's only a couple hours journey and yet you've been gone for days.

I was beginning to think you were in danger and was about to come looking for you but..."

Here we go again... wait, where's Adrianna? Lucious tuned out Tina as he looked around while being dragged back.

Looking around, he noticed that Adrianna had disappeared with Darius, presumably at the same time he spotted Tina.

"...and then he... are you listening to me little Lucious?" Tina seemingly caught on to him no longer paying attention and pouted.

"Sorry, sorry. I'm just anxious to get my eye healed. Once we get it fixed, then I promise to listen to your story." He nervously chuckled as he scratched the back of his head.

Tina was capable of crushing him with a flick of her tail if she desired it, and upsetting her could be dangerous to him if he's not careful.

"Deal, you don't have to report back until tomorrow morning anyway so I'll be accompanying you until then."

Tina wrapped her tail around his arm as she dragged him into the city towards a dark, gloomy alley.

"This way, the healer hates crowds but it's close enough to the reverse dungeon for him to get lots of business. Its funny don't you think, that he hates crowds but chooses to see lots of people to heal them and..."

Sigh

This will be a long night...