Chapter 159: Chapter 28 Is This Considered Mage’s Hand?

“Boom boom boom boom boom boom…”

The Demon King’s army approached the Blood Clan Territory with overwhelming momentum, but it was just an approach. In short… this reckoning would not make the Blood Clan end up like the Gorgons.

Because they were useful.

But if they really did not learn, their fate would be similar to the Gorgons. Even if they truly repented, no matter how *useful* they were, they would not get a treatment better than the Sea Demons.

In other words, regardless of the attitude of the four territories in this reckoning, the worst would be the same as the Gorgons. The best situation would be like the Sea Demons, just going through some *psychological conditioning*.

“Senata, are you and the Blood Clan planning to try and negotiate a surrender?”

Yila asked, driving his Headless Warhorse, and spoke to the tiny white bat hiding under the miniature umbrella at the base of the horse’s neck.

If you looked closely, you would find many of the Headless Knights’ warhorses had such bats on them. These were the Blood Clan, transformed into this form for convenience in travel with other units.

It’s worth noting that these small bats were not realistic-looking ones; rather… their overall style leaned heavily towards impressionism and silhouette art.

Frankly, they looked more like Batman’s X-Batarangs, crafted into inflatable toys, filled with plastic using the toy mold, and then adorned with anime-style eyes, becoming sentient.

When transformed from humanoid to bat, the body mass seemed compressed… Yes, it was highly unreasonable and unscientific, but this world itself did not abide by science.

Or rather, *Magic* was the new science of this world.

In response to Yila’s question, the bat-shaped Senata turned her head. Her tiny eyes stared at Yila, nodding as she said, “That’s the reason we came… I must take responsibility for that betrayal.”

Responsible for that betrayal? Wait…

Yila felt the logic was a bit off. That betrayal definitely referred to the Blood Clan’s betrayal, not the Insect Man’s betrayal, nor any other territory’s betrayal. But wasn’t the person responsible supposed to be the betrayer?

If someone had to take the fall, shouldn’t it be me, who scared those Blood Clan into defecting?

*Yila mused inwardly*, looking at the small bats of the Blood Clan, fully prepared as they neared the Blood Clan Territory. He decided not to say anything.

Since this was something Senata and her clan had already decided, there was no need to persuade otherwise.

*Thinking this, Yila watched as the front troops halted under Lodya’s directions, slowly decelerating and stopped alongside them. The flag bearer on the side spotted the signal and immediately waved the flags to the rear, indicating to slow down and stop.*

This was a flag language designed to handle overly long frontlines; it seemed the same set of signals were used worldwide. Having mixed in the Imperial Army for so long, Yila could understand them.

But now, Yila belonged to the category who could understand but not personally execute the flag signals…

After all, flag signals were seldom used in front-line battles. Mostly, Mana amplified voices could be loud enough. Only in situations like this surprise assault was it necessary to minimize noise.

“What happened?”

Riding his horse to the front of the formation, Yila asked Satan Ye and the horse driver Hilena, and Senata nearby… Then he immediately saw the Blood Clan Territory’s open gate.

“It might be a trap.”

Senata said simply.

Everyone’s faces immediately showed understanding. Faced with such an obviously odd situation, everyone felt something was wrong, but… Yila couldn’t help looking towards the top of the city wall.

There was no Blood Clan playing piano under an umbrella, so Yila didn’t have that deja vu, but… he couldn’t help but think of a classic ruse.

“Empty city stratagem?”

Yila murmured to himself. Seeing the confused expressions around, he explained, “It’s a strategy where, in a dire situation, you pretend to give up resistance. If we overthink it, we might believe it’s a trap, missing the opportunity.”

Senata understood Yila’s meaning, nodded, and prepared to order the troops to enter the Blood Clan Territory, but was quickly stopped by him.

“Wait, but… It could also be a reverse empty city stratagem, pretending to use the empty city ruse, actually setting traps inside, waiting for us to overthink; or even a reverse-reverse empty city stratagem.”

Yila said, considering this kind of “I’m on the fifth level, thinking he is on the second level, but unexpectedly he is only on the first level.” While other leaders were at a loss, he didn’t want to think about it anymore.

After all, such strategies had little effect in this world.

“Forget it, I don’t want to think about it. This kind of tactic has a fatal flaw…”

Yila said straightforwardly, canceling the manifestation of the Fourth Wing Pillar*Headless Knight*Wing Spread. Watching Senata flap her wings and fly, he continued, “Empty city stratagem needs at least one city to work.”

Yes, great achievements could destroy, and the irresolvable… was not limited to power alone; it was something that both schemes and outright violence feared.

If the enemy used water attacks, then evaporate the flood; if fire attacks, cover the flames; if occupying high ground, then tear down mountains; if city defenses obstruct, then demolish the city; if forests obstruct, then burn the forests.

“First Wing Pillar*Witch Demon*Wing Spread!”

Yila said, and the gray-white wings instantly gathered behind him… This was a power he rarely used since arriving at the Demon King City, but his First Wing Pillar was not bound to the Crimson Dragon.

Though the Crimson Dragon was indeed useful.

“Mage’s Hand!”

Yila shouted. Accompanied by Vera expending large amounts of Mana, she stood up urgently, shouting, “Wait! Yila, save some! What did you just say… Mage’s Hand?”

Luckily, Yila intentionally controlled the magic expenditure, leaving half of the Mana for Vera. He waved his hand empty, and then the robust city wall seemed to be slapped by an invisible giant hand, collapsing noisily.

This power did not seem achievable by the so-called *Advanced Magic* Mage’s Hand.

…

Vera: What the heck, eight years old?