MTLNOVEL Chapter 224: I trust you
As the snow thickened and the icy winds howled, the dark beast tides descended without warning.
"This is the second wave of dark creatures, isn't it?" Orion asked, his voice calm as he stood atop the southern city wall, draped in a heavy fur cloak. His gaze was fixed on the bloodline warriors battling the dark creatures outside the city.
"Yes, the second wave. Their numbers are around five hundred," Delilah replied, standing close behind him. Though she wasn't directly involved in the fighting, she was well-informed about the situation.
"Stay vigilant. Last year, that Dark Butterfly left us with a threat. Who knows if it'll return to attack us again?" Orion's mention of the Dark Butterfly made Delilah's brows furrow slightly.
"The first batch of broadskull ravens that Lilith helped the tribe tame has already been sent out to monitor the surrounding areas. If there's any movement, we should get an early warning," Delilah said, though even she didn't sound entirely confident. While the broadskull ravens were flying beasts, the dark beast tides were known to include plenty of flying creatures as well.
"Don't forget, creatures like the Dark Butterfly are masters of illusions," Orion reminded her as he turned his gaze back to the battlefield. The fight outside the city had already ended. Under Thundar's leadership, the horde's warriors had swiftly annihilated the five hundred dark creatures.
"Come, walk with me," Orion said, inviting Delilah to join him as he began patrolling the city wall.
The guards, Dace and Otho, immediately understood the unspoken command and fell back, giving Orion and Delilah some space. Orion walked slowly, his hands clasped behind his back. Delilah followed silently, neither of them speaking a word as they made their way toward the underground fissure.
When they reached the edge of the bottomless abyss, Orion stopped and stared into its depths before finally breaking the silence.
"This is the escape route I've prepared for the horde. You're the first to know about it."
"Escape route?" Delilah asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"Yes. There's a habitable space beneath the bottomless abyss," Orion explained.
"This…" Delilah was stunned. She stared into the abyss, a place she had always regarded as a realm of danger and death. To think that it was actually Orion's contingency plan for the horde's survival left her speechless.
She turned to Orion, wanting to ask more, but he was already speaking with Lorelia.
"Have any of the little spiders returned recently?" Orion asked.
"Master, still none," Lorelia replied with a sigh, her tone heavy with disappointment. It had been a long time since any of her spiders had returned from the bottomless abyss with information—a troubling sign. Normally, Lorelia would send batches of spiders into the abyss at regular intervals, and at least a few would make it back. But recently, not a single one had returned.
"Keep sending them. It's impossible for none to come back," Orion ordered.
"As you command," Lorelia replied, though her voice carried a hint of unease.
After a long pause, Orion turned to Delilah, who was still processing what she had just learned. "Some of the spiders have successfully returned from the bottomless abyss before. If we ever face a catastrophic crisis, you'll lead the horde here."
"Orion, I…" Delilah began, but Orion shook his head, cutting her off. Without another word, he led her out of the underground fissure.
---
Once they were outside, Orion didn't bring up the topic again. Delilah, as the Elder of Stewardship, was intimately familiar with the horde's inner workings and was capable of managing its survival. She was the best candidate to lead the tribe to safety if the worst came to pass.
That was why Orion had brought her to the underground fissure—to prepare her for what might come.
---
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The next few days passed peacefully for the Stoneheart Horde. No Alpha-level dark creatures appeared, and the monsters outside the city became little more than opportunities for the warriors to earn merit. Orion himself enjoyed this period of calm.
When he wasn't spending time with Lilith and Lysinthia in his tent, he would occasionally seek out Delilah for more intimate encounters. For instance, at this very moment, Orion was in Delilah's stone chamber, enjoying her oral service.
"Why do you trust me so much?" Delilah asked softly after they had finished making love. She kissed Orion's cock tenderly, her voice filled with curiosity.
Orion knew exactly what she was referring to. Stroking her back gently, he replied in a calm tone, "Because you're the most suitable, and I trust you."
Delilah chuckled, her laughter light and joyful.
---
Their moment was interrupted by a voice from outside the stone chamber. "Your Majesty, we've received intelligence from the field!"
A succubus bloodline warrior's voice echoed through the stone door, cutting through the intimate atmosphere. Delilah frowned. For someone to interrupt her while she was with Orion, the matter had to be urgent.
"Wait outside," Delilah commanded.
Moments later, both Orion and Delilah, now fully dressed, stood in the chamber, ready to hear the report.
"Speak," Delilah said.
"Your Majesty, the forward scouts have reported that a large number of dark creatures are gathering near Blackstone City. Additionally, several of our broadskull ravens have been lost. I suspect there are flying monsters among the incoming dark creatures."
"Their numbers are estimated to be around thirty to forty thousand," the succubus warrior reported.
Hearing this, Orion remained calm, his expression unchanging. He even poured himself a glass of the succubi's special wine and took a sip.
Delilah, on the other hand, looked deeply concerned. Her brows furrowed as she considered the situation. After a moment of thought, she issued her orders.
"Recall half of the broadskull ravens. Have the remaining ones tighten their patrol radius to within a thousand meters of Blackstone City."
"As you command!" the warrior replied before leaving.
Once they were alone again, Delilah leaned against Orion, pressing her body against his back. "What do you think, my dear?"
Orion, enjoying the sensation of her soft breasts against him, smiled with satisfaction. "There's nothing to be alarmed about."
"A large group of dark creatures means there's likely an Alpha-level dark creature among them. This is an opportunity for the horde. It's what the elders have been waiting for—a chance to prove themselves. This is a good thing."
Delilah's body shifted against him, her movements teasing. Orion's desire flared once more, and he tore her clothes off without hesitation.
Delilah let out a startled cry, but before she could say anything, Orion silenced her with his cock. The chamber was soon filled with the sounds of their passionate lovemaking once again.
---
The next day at noon.
The southern city wall was ablaze with activity, torches lighting up the snowy landscape. Outside the city, shadows stretched across the horizon as the dark creatures approached in droves.
Orion sat at the highest point of the city wall, watching as Onyx, Rendall, and Thundar led the cannon fodder troops, hunting party, and cavalry corps into battle against the incoming dark creatures.
Among the horde of dark creatures was a massive tentacle monster, its size dwarfing the others. It was an Alpha-level monster and the leader of this wave.
Onyx was the first to engage the tentacle monster. Thundar wasn't far behind. Though he hadn't yet tamed an Alpha-level mount, he had managed to capture an icefield snow wolf using enchanted bells. Riding the wolf, Thundar quickly flanked the tentacle monster, joining Onyx in a pincer attack.