{Chapter: 236: Alison And Dex}
Many came from betrayal, from cowardice, from people choosing self-preservation over unity.
The old, bitter truth of war.
"People share fortune together," Dex murmured in thought, "but they handle hardship very differently."
Alison glanced at him. "Exactly."
Dex leaned back, eyes thoughtful. "Still, I doubt the nations surrounding that front would just watch it all fall apart. They should be offering support, if only to buy themselves more time."
Alison nodded slowly. "They are. Supplies, reinforcements, spellcasters from allied states—they're doing what they can. Even old enemies have come together, setting aside past grudges. It's strange seeing people who once would've torn each other apart now working side by side."
"That's how it goes," Dex said casually. "When the threat is big enough, survival forces cooperation. Even if someone secretly wishes their rival would die, they still grit their teeth and deliver aid—hoping the other side can hold the line so they don't have to."
He paused, then narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
"Still, I don't think the demonic tide will spread too much farther anytime soon. Not unless..." His voice trailed off.
"Unless what?" Alison asked, raising an eyebrow.
Dex shrugged slightly. "Unless another exceptional demon descends into the field." 'The one like me.'
Dex did not think that the demonic disaster in that place could expand to a too great extent in a short period of time.
After all, the strong people in this world are not decorations. After all, they are elites supported by the high-level world. No matter how rubbish they are, they can only be so rubbish.
Unless there's another win there.
Once again, an outstanding demon who is almost as good as him has descended!
That's not easy to say...
Although this possibility is not high, it does exist.
There are so many talented demons in the Abyss, so it is normal that there are a few demons cheating as fast as him. Who knows where they are running around.
Each one of them is like a nuisance, making people want to beat them to death.
Alison gave a small, quiet laugh. "Modest, aren't you?"
"I'm just honest," Dex replied with a small grin. "There are too many demons in the Abyss to count. It's only a matter of time before another freak crawls out and starts ruining someone's week. You never know where they'll show up."
He took another sip of his drink and sighed. "Each of them is like a walking disaster. Arrogant, clever, and completely unpredictable. You can't reason with them, and you definitely can't ignore them."
Alison swirled the contents of her glass, eyes lingering on Dex.
"You speak like you know them well."
"I've had my share of... encounters," Dex said with a vague smile. "And trust me—every time you think you've met the worst, the Abyss sends someone even worse."
For a brief moment, silence lingered between them again, not awkward, but contemplative. War, demons, betrayal—it was too much for one conversation, yet strangely comforting to speak of it openly for Alison.
"It is indeed tragic," Dex said, his tone calm but thoughtful, "but with the solid foundations that each country has built over the years, the situation should be able to stabilize sooner or later. After all, the demons of the Abyss aren't exactly united. Their internal strife is severe. Once they realize they can't gain further advantages, they'll likely decrease their attack frequency and turn against one another."
Dex wasn't just making hopeful guesses. As a demon who could know them better than hom. Based on what he knew of his infernal counterparts, this was not only possible—it was expected.
Based on the nature of his compatriots, Dex spoke some truthful words.
He was still able to grasp the personalities of those guys.
"If they can't kill the enemy," he added, smirking faintly, "they'll gladly turn around and start killing each other. That's just how they are."
Alison listened carefully to his analysis. For a moment, her shoulders relaxed ever so slightly, her expression reflecting a small sense of relief. His words weren't just comforting; they were rational.
Having spent centuries stationed at the frontlines—watching, learning, surviving—Alison could attest that Dex's assessment wasn't far from reality. The abyssal forces had always been defined by chaos and a complete lack of discipline. The only unifying command they followed was to charge and slaughter. Once the momentum was gone, they turned into a rabid pack, tearing through each other just as easily as they had torn through humans.
"You're right," Alison admitted. "The way they fight—if you can even call it that—is mindless. If we hadn't relied on their lack of coordination, we never would've held the line for as long as we did. The number of demons that die to their own allies during a battle is often just as high as those we manage to kill ourselves."
She paused, looking into the distance as though seeing it all again—the blood, the fire, the shrieking of madness made flesh.
Apart from that, there is no tacit understanding between them and they fight like mad dogs.
---
After a brief silence, she turned back to Dex, her expression hardening again.
"Your analysis is likely accurate," she said, her voice firmer now. "But what concerns us the most right now isn't the regular demon horde—it's the one who orchestrated the plague that destroyed the Golili Line of Defense. That bastard is still in hiding, and we have no idea where."
Her brows furrowed in frustration.
"That demon's existence is the single most dangerous variable threatening the security of all nearby nations. If we don't neutralize him soon, he could shift the entire balance of this war. He's already done it once."
She took a deep breath and went on, her voice taking on a grave tone.
"Even now, after several years of research, we still don't have any reliable way to defend against the curse he used. If it appears again in another region... we could be looking at another catastrophe just like the Golili incident. That's why we've already submitted a formal report to the [General Command], requesting emergency distribution of countermeasures and special materials to every nation. We have to prepare, even if we're not entirely sure how to fight it yet."
As she spoke, memories stirred in her mind—unwelcome ones.
She could still remember the demon clearly. He stood tall in blood-colored armor, his aura distorted by infernal fire. Despite being ranked as a [Middle Demon], his combat strength was frightening—comparable, if not superior, to most [High-Rank Demons].
She and Emerson, both demigods, had barely managed to hold their own against him. It had been a two-on-one battle, but slowly, steadily, they were being pushed back.
"He would've taken one of us down if he hadn't retreated," she murmured to herself.
It had only been their reinforcements approaching that had caused the demon to vanish without a trace. If he had stayed just a few minutes longer, she doubted she or Emerson would be alive today.
Emerson, despite his strength, had ended up in critical condition. One of his arms had been shattered, and the strange poison coating his own blade had invaded his internal organs. If not for immediate divine-class treatment, he would have died.
That battle had left a scar in Alison's heart—not from fear, but from uncertainty. The red demon didn't match the profile of the plague bringer in appearance or abilities, yet her instincts told her they were connected. Deeply so.
Ever since then, she'd quietly activated her private network, using all the favors and connections she could to track the red demon's movements. But the trail had gone cold.
Nothing. Not a whisper. Not a shadow.
It was as if the demon had never existed at all.
And yet... she couldn't let go of the suspicion.
Still, the idea that the red demon and the plague demon were the same entity seemed ridiculous on the surface. Their magical signatures were entirely different—one rooted in disease and rot, the other in flame and violence.
How could one being possess such contrasting talents?
No. It couldn't be.
"It's impossible," she muttered. "A Middle-Rank Demon can't hold off two demigods, resist coordinated mental assaults from archmages, and release a continent-wide plague curse… right?"
Even thinking it made her feel like she was losing grip on logic.
'If more demons like that appear… can the Mi Ling world even survive?'
She exhaled deeply and shook her head, chasing those thoughts away like flies buzzing around an open wound.
---
What Alison didn't notice at that moment, however, was Dex, who suddenly stiffened beside her. His eyes twitched, and a strange glow flickered behind his gaze—as though some instinct had been triggered.
'...Huh? That feeling again…'
He frowned slightly, then blinked in surprise.
'My innate ability is acting up! Someone nearby is praising me for being handsome... or strong!'
Dex's gaze scanned the room, but no one else was close enough. No voices were shouting praises or cheers. That could only mean one thing.
His golden eyes shifted to Alison.
'It must be her. She's the only one around with the mental power to trigger my innate ability just by thinking!'
'She's never seen me fight in this form, so she probably doesn't know how strong I actually am... which means—'
'—She must be praising me for being handsome!'
'She has never fought with me in this form before, and doesn't know my actual strength, so she probably isn't praising me for being strong in her mind!'
'Then you must be praising me for being handsome! !'
'This female elf is really good at judging things!!!'
A proud grin began to form on his face as he gave her a sidelong glance, glowing with self-satisfaction.
'This elf lady really has a good eye for beauty!'
Dex's Favorability Toward Alison: +5!