The Author's POV

The situation in Idonea was anything but favorable for the three races.

The demons were relentless in their pursuit, and although those of the three races did their best to hold on, the situation started to deteriorate for them quickly, and their side began to suffer an increasing number of casualties as the war continued.

"Retreat!"

The situation got so bad that the three races were forced into a retreat.

Although the demons' numerical strength was not superior to theirs... They were significantly less well organized than them, and each of their strategies appeared to be easily seen through by them.

In the main camp of the three races.

The dimly lit hall was filled with the sounds of heated discussion as representatives of the three factions gathered to discuss the ongoing war with the demons.

"We can't go on like this."

The elves, with their lithe frames and pointed ears, stood alongside the orcs, their muscular builds and fearsome visages contrasting sharply with the elegant elves.

"Khh… I agree. We can't go on like this."

The dwarves, short and stout with thick beards, sat at the head of the table, their stone faces betraying nothing of their thoughts. They quietly listened to the conversation between the elven and orcen representatives.

One of them abruptly stood up and smacked the table.

Smack!

"Of course, we can't go on like this! All you brutes focus on is individual battles, and don't think about the greater picture!"

"Khh...Khh... We are not cowards like you, dwarves. We don't retreat the first moment something goes wrong."

"That's exactly why we're losing!"

"Calm down; that's only a small part of the problem. Reality is that the demons are stronger than us."

One of the elves said, finally intervening in the discussion.

"Blaming our individual shortcomings at the moment will bring nothing good to the war. We have to change the discussion to a more productive one."

"Even so..."

The discussion was tense, with each faction accusing the others of failing to do their part in the war effort.

"As things stand, what we need to do at the moment is minimize our losses."

As the debate wore on, it became clear to the three races that the current situation couldn't go on.

With each passing second that they spent here discussing, more and more casualties were starting to pile up, and every second mattered.

"It's not about minimizing the losses."

of the elven representatives spoke

that contained streaks of gold. She was the calmest

but that's not the main problem that

of the room like a bell. Her next words brought the entire

is find a way to deal with the

his face,

they have multiple Duke ranked, and even a Prince ranked demon protecting them… It's not something that we can

room fell into silence

open their mouth to argue with what he said, and

do we

An elf finally spoke.

against the Demon King.

elf never got to finish that

exact moment, while he was still speaking, everyone's expression

but at that moment, everyone stood up from their seats,

everyone to

"Retreat right now!"

the emergency portals in

"Send the injured first!"

"The elders have lost!"

***

"Reporting, the―"

the strategist's tent, the messenger was casually reporting the situation outside when their expression immediately froze. Not long after, their entire body

"Y,your highness."

look up at all. He even held his breath, afraid of somehow getting on his bad side

"Continue."

voice reached him, enveloping every part of his body and jerking his body up

himself standing a couple of meters away from the strategist, who was wearing a white mask and staring at him

"What's the current situation?"

"Ah, right."

recollected himself

the other races. The Patriarchs of the Pride clan and Greed clan have both sustained injuries, but they aren't extremely serious. They will need a bit of time

brows furrowed upon

of the Patriarchs have

was outside of

to get rid of them without suffering much, but he underestimated the tenacity of the

set to be retreating from the battlefield. They are barely holding on, and the war

"I see."

information slowly. It was only after a couple of minutes had passed that he raised

"You can leave."

dismissed the messenger and proceeded to sit back down in

of Jezebeth, who was seated

his eyes closed, and his lips were

as good as

about those words. Casting his gaze away from Jezebeth, he bitterly shook his

had been over ever since quite a while

back, he knew that the most powerful members of the three races had been disposed of and