The mech took full advantage of the opening provided by the Marzu, and besides instantly slaying one of the massive demons, it dealt a serious blow to many others. At the same time, Z did not forget to observe the newcomers.
Although supposedly they were on the same side, there was no guarantee that the Marzu would be interested in cooperating. After all, unlike humans, the Marzu were one of the most famous and renowned warrior races in the Origin realm, and perhaps even beyond.
The group of Tyrannosaurus rexes, as they were called on Earth, towering and magnificent, had bodies adorned in sleek, shimmering silver feathers that could be seen through the many openings in their loose robes. These feathers, fluttering in the wind even as they carried a deadly sheen, cascaded down their massive forms, glistening under the starlight like a metallic cloak.
Each of them had tall figures, their muscular frame enveloped in this resplendent plumage, resembling silver armor that ripples with every movement. In fact, Z almost felt like the reason their robes were loose to begin with was so that their formidable figures do not remain hidden. Despite their formidable appearance, the feathers lent an unexpected grace to these ancient predators. The feathers started from the base of their skulls and cascading down their necks, backs, and tails, creating a mesmerizing display of silvery hues in varying shades and lengths.
Among this stunning group the leader was easily distinguished by a striking array of multicolored feathers amidst the silver. The shades of iridescent blues, fiery reds, and vibrant greens interwoven among the silver, created a breathtaking spectacle that commanded attention.
As these predators neared, Z recalled everything he knew about them. Looking upon their, suffice to say, abundant muscle and considerable size, it would be easy for one to assume that these creatures were designed for physical and close combat. Such an assumption would be incredibly incorrect.
Any and all proper studies of the species had concluded the same thing. The only reason they had such strong bodies was so that their bodies could tolerate the copious amounts of magical energy coursing through them. They hardly ever relied on actual physical combat!
In fact, the reason such a formidable race went extinct on earth, most likely, was solely due to the severe lack of spiritual energy, from which they extracted magical energy!
As they neared, Z could finally see that each one of them also wielded a staff or wand in their short arms. Each time they cast one of their spells, the wand or staff would glow before a devastatingly powerful attack rocked the demon army! Surprisingly, regardless of how powerful their attacks were, the space did not seem to destabilize because of it!
Truly, compared to the path of cultivators, magicians were mysterious and knowledgeable in many things.
Carefully, without breaking the flow of combat, Z positioned himself away from the approaching Marzu, putting a number of massive demons between himself and them. Until he knew for certain what their stance was, it would be best not to get too close.
Although the pressure on the mech dropped drastically with the arrival of the Marzu, the chaos increased drastically! The elements were flying all over the battlefield, from lightning to fire to ice and more. Thunder hit the demons as if it were a physical thing and rain passed through their bodies as if it were ethereal.
The spatial ripples caused by the mech's flaming spear no longer spread out evenly, and instead seemed to be guided towards the demons specifically like water flowing through a canal.
In the many hours that the battalion had fought, they had gradually moved away from the face of the cliff and came closer to the monument the demons were having constructed. Alongside killing this entire army, they had planned on destroying it as well. Now, even before the mech came close, the monument shattered as the ground itself split under the guidance of the Marzu magic.
The tide of the battle shifted drastically, with only the addition of twenty three Marzu against thousands of demons. Although the mech too had been fighting against the very same army for so long, he could not deny that they were extremely powerful.
One of the massive demons, in the shape of a decaying Wyvern, suddenly got the better of an exchange. With unmatched swiftness and an aim that could not be denied, it swept down from the air and managed to attack one of the Marzu. But the bitter exchange that it was expecting never happened.
With a roar that disoriented nearly half the army, the Marzu expressed its discontent, then bit down at the demon and ripped its head right off its body, killing it.
Clearly, although they did not use their physical capabilities in battle, they were more than equipped to if the need be.
Z, with neither the defense of the dinosaurs, nor the will to bite any demons, leaped to the side as the mech narrowly avoided an attack that came all too suddenly.
Up until now the battalion had been fighting a sea of demons, large and small. But with the added pressure of the Marzu, it seemed the true powerhouses were forced to make an appearance.
Two devils swaggered through a clearing amidst the endless demons, mocking expressions fixed upon their faces.
They were not intimidated at all by the situation, and instead seemed to be taking it as a game.
A solemn expression painted Z's face as he saw them approach. No matter what, they could not underestimate devils. As humans, the defeat of Ragnar against a devil of similar realm was a considerable mental blow, and served only to emphasize the inherent racial superiority of certain races.
Such advantages were not insurmountable, and did not necessarily mean that victory would always belong to devils. But they did mean that, regardless of the situation, they had to be taken very seriously.
But while Z prepared the mech for a tough fight, possibly even resulting in massive spatial tears, the Marzu couldn't care less.
Their leader, her feathers adorning her like warpaint, seemed to fix her gaze on the newcomers, and attacked without hesitation. Although their purpose in coming was to look for survivors and discover what the situation was, a glance at the half built monument was all it took for them to understand that the demons and devils played a massive role in their current predicament.
Dark purple clouds formed in the air above the devils, blotting out the sky. This was not a technique by the devils, but a spell of the Marzu! A grotesque hand, radiating an aura of severe repulsion, emerged from the clouds and slammed down on the devils, taking them by surprise.
Yet a moment later the hand was destroyed, and the previous two dashing looking devils revealed their true bodies! Both were tall, although one had completely red skin, three horns protruding from its head and a pair of thin, leathery wings, while the other was covered in gray scales. It had no wings or tail, but its horns looked more like a tainted crown than anything else.
Their power skyrocketed, and space seemed to bend around them, as if the weight of their existence itself surpassed what this place could tolerate. Their previous grins returned, and one of them was about to speak, when a devastating beam of purple fire streaked through the air, tearing space as it did, and struck them faster than they could react.
The devils were… pushed into the tear by the momentum of the blast. Their arrival, marked by an aura of impending danger and devastation, almost seemed comical in front of the abrupt nature of their departure.
The Marzu, who had specifically been trying to avoid causing space tears, were stunned. You could do this too?
Even Z was someone surprised by how easy that was. He did not think his plan would work, and so easily at that.
The only ones who weren't stunned were the demons. Finally free of the restrictions of their devil overlords, the army scattered like fleeing ants, unwilling to face these monsters any longer.
The Marzu quickly sprung into action, dissatisfied to allow any of the demons to escape. Z, on the other hand, was still hesitating. Was that it? Shouldn't there be more? What about the bad guys' final form? Or their secret backup plans?
He hadn't even had a chance to use technique: Big Ball of Ultimate Destruction. He was waiting for the critical moment when all hope seemed lost. But now there was an abundance of hope, and the enemy was escaping. Should he still use it?
Genuinely unsure of what to do, Z actually consulted Luthor.
"First, thoroughly destroy the monument. Make sure it's completely unsalvageable. Then approach the Marzu leader for negotiations. If we join forces, we'll be a much more formidable fighting force. The chances of surviving until reinforcements arrive will be much greater."
