At the meeting five days ago at the Countess' Palace, Night had given Roth the location of the inn in order so that he could be notified if the demons needed additional information. At the Countess' request, Night had been over to the Palace three times since then to answer questions.

This morning, Night found another message waiting for him after he returned from his morning errands. The Countess was requesting his attendance at a planning meeting for an upcoming special event. Night knew that this 'special event' was the upcoming attack on the City of Southern Wind, so he eagerly left the inn to go to the meeting.

It only took him a short while to get to the Countess' palace, so Night was slightly early for the meeting. However, the room was already filled with more than thirty people. From appearances, the other attendants seemed to be representatives from just about every group of demons....including some from the Cities of Northern Wind and Rising Sun. Night had assumed that this would be the main planning meeting for the demons' offensive against the City of Southern Wind....and it looked like he was right.

Looking around the room, Night saw a few familiar faces. One, in particular, caught Night's interest.

"Hello, Famine," Night whispered mentally at the fierce looking woman standing across the room.

"Hello, Night," Famine said with a slight hint of a smile. She seemed to be in a good mood. From what Night had heard when he talked to her last. The number of survivors that had started to show up in the City of Setting Sun was significantly more than previously expected. The current strength of her clan should keep her family with at least a Baron Clan status. Since she had some certainty that the clan would continue on, her mood had been much more agreeable.

"When we talked the other day, I forgot to tell you that you now have three new sisters. Distress got a bit carried away and adopted three gladiators to create the beginnings of her army," Night said mentally, "I will extend you the same warning that I have already given them. Do not take other souls to become Keres without my permission. Each Ker weighs on my own soul....and if there are too many, my soul could collapse and kill us all. You all need to have control when promoting others to your ranks."

Mere Pazuza, otherwise known as Famine, was currently looking at Night across the room with wide eyes. The bit of information that he had revealed was a lot to take in at once. After a few seconds, the shock on the woman's face receded and she broke her eye contact with Night.

"I have brought the items you need," Famine said While looking off somewhere else, "I will give them to you after this meeting."

Her words made Night really happy. over the last couple days, Night had an issue concerning his body skills cultivation. Luckily, Famine had contacted him through their mental connection to ask for some assistance with the manipulation on her blood body and revealed a bit of helpful information along the way.

Since she did not spend as much time in Night's soul space as the other Keres, Famine had basically had no time to practice shifting her appearance. Her blood body appearance had been based on her own self-perception, but she couldn't easily modify the look. Night had brought her back into his soul space to teach her how to manipulate the blood body properly.

During their meeting, Famine had mentioned her clan's body skills. Her little comment had sparked a whole discussion about body skills since she had more general knowledge of demon cultivation and methods. To Night's surprise, Famine actually had a few methods that fit in line with the body cultivation methods he needed. Night had been very grateful since he hadn't really wanted to deal with the Kimaris Clan due to a past conflict.

Although the Pazuza Clan had been aerial specialists, they functioned more like airborne knights than a flock of common warriors. Their place on the battlefield was more similar to aerial heavy infantry, so their body cultivation was just as important as weapon skills. After he asked, Famine had easily agreed to provide Night with the two demon body skills that her clan used to train themselves.

These two skills fit into the Body of Agility and Body of Endurance categories. Night felt like his luck was pretty good. When Famine was describing the skills, she had said that the Pazuza Clan's Agility and Endurance skills were of the highest class.....mostly because the Pazuza Clan had combined the two to give themselves agile flight for an extended amount of time. The Clan had actually worn heavy armor for aerial combat.....which was unlike any other demon clan....they practiced those skills to keep from getting worn out easily and to keep their movements quick. Most other flying demon clans only wore light armor...and all of them feared the Pazuza Clan.

In addition to gaining the two skills, Night had also gotten a lead on the remaining body skill....the Body of Storage. This skill was practically mythical based on Famine's description. Apparently, the skill would allow someone to store excess energies in their body for later use.

However, the method was rumored to need strength in both the body and soul. Although there were rumors that the method existed, no one knew exactly what demon clan trained in the method. There were a few hints but no one knew for certainty due to secrecy. From the discussion, the Kimaris Clan didn't have a method of cultivating this Storage skill. The lack of the skill was one of the reasons that their clan wasn't one of the strongest demon factions. From the hints that Famine had shared, Night learned that he only had one option to try in the City of Setting Sun....The Dreamwalker Clan....and they might not even have the skill since everything was based on rumor.

It had been an utter disappointment when Night learned that fact. He hadn't spoken to Lili in days....and he had knocked her unconscious the last time they spoke. After a little consideration, he figured that she probably didn't have access to the methods anyway. Although her father was from the Dreamwalker Clan, her mother was from the Limim Clan.....so he didn't think that cultivation methods would be freely traded between the two. If Lili wasn't an option, then Night's only route would be her dad...Roth Dreamwalker.....and that may prove to be difficult. He would have to figure out a way to deal with his God level 'father-in-law.'

A commotion in the meeting room brought Night out of his thoughts and back to the current situation. Everyone appeared to be present so the meeting was about to begin.

The commotion was due to Countess Asta walking in front of everyone to address the group.

"Thank you, everyone, for attending this meeting," the Countess opened her speech, "This meeting is solely about the planned efforts to attack the City of Southern Wind. The military advisors from the three cities have combed through the information that Night has given us as well as our own investigative information. With their knowledge, I believe that we have an excellent plan going forward."

"We have verified Night's information concerning the poison that was released in the City of Southern Wind. Since the flower poison needs to be inhaled to be deadly, several of our craftsman clans have worked together to develop a solution to that issue," the Countess announced as she pulled out what appeared to be several sets of mouthguards to pass around the group.

From what Night could tell, the demons had developed a crude respirator mask that could be carried by soldiers to prevent exposure to the poison. It was a simple solution to the problem but should be one of the most effective.

"The soldiers will each be issued one of these masks and the craftsmen are working around the clock in order to build the large amount that is needed. In regards to skin contact, the alchemists have developed a balm to place on the skin that can prevent an immediate reaction to the poison. Each soldier will be issued some of this balm to use on any exposed skin. While the masks and balm add a few logistical issues, I feel that this adequately protects the forces as we proceed forward."

Night was impressed that the demons had both confirmed the problem and developed a solution so quickly.

"Now, with those concerns addressed, I will be running through assigned tasks to each of your groups," the Countess announced.

Over the next couple of hours, Night listened to the Countess give directions to everyone present in the meeting.....everyone except him. Most others realized this too and Night could feel a few eyes watching him while he waited for his turn.

After waiting all this time, Night finally received the attention of the Countess.

'Maybe she is still mad over what happened with Lili,' Night thought.

"Night, you will be given a position of Special Commander in our forces," Countess Asta said Catching Night's attention, "You are one of the individually strongest Demigods in our army and you have also proven that you can bring down a human oasis on your own. I would like for you to help clear a path for everyone on the way to the City of Southern Wind. The function will be similar to a scout. You can go ahead of the war party and weaken each oasis with your particular set of skills.....then return to the army to give them information that they can use to take down the oasis efficiently. Is this agreeable to you?"

Night was quiet for a moment while he put his thoughts together. He didn't mind being by himself at the tip of the spear....especially since this gave him some degree of freedom. But he needed to get a few concessions if he was going to proceed with this route.

"I can do so under one condition," Night said in a manner that drew a few more glances from a few of the meeting attendees.

"Speak," Countess Asta said. Night could tell she was a bit aggravated, but he didn't care.

"I would like to save as many of the human slaves as possible. If I completely destroy the oasis, you must promise that the freed slaves will not be harmed...to the best of everyone's ability. They hate the Diego Family more than you do anyway and can add to the forces fighting against them. You won't have to worry about them turning to fight for our enemy," Night said.

"Why?," Countess Asta said, "Trying to build your own army?"

There was a bit of sarcasm and assumption in her voice, so Night responded, "No. And even if I did then you would have my allegiance....I am your daughter's mate after all."

The response was a load of shit and they both knew it. Night decided to be honest. Lying to this woman would be ineffective.

"I just think that these people deserve a chance at life. Have you ever lived as a slave? To kill them just because they are human is a bit much.....but if their behaviors don't fall in line...then they can be sorted out," Night said making his stance known.

He really didn't care about the individual people that much, but he just felt that everyone deserved a fair chance after being set free.

"I have spoken with Mere Pazuza and she has agreed that if the freed slaves can prove themselves to be responsible and work well with the demons, then the Pazuza Clan has no objection to them assuming the role of a Baron family in the City of Southern Wind once this is all over. This option makes me very happy...and being the strongest human on your side...this decision has my full support," Night said laying out the plans he had developed over the last couple of days,"If lumped together, the freed slaves could be an excellent benefit to recovering that City's strength in the future."

"We will consider your offer, but you request a lot for such a small task," the Countess said with an unpleasant look on her face. She seemed to be dismissing Night's opinion.

"It isn't a small task. I will be the tip of your spear. I will not only cause trouble for these oases as the army approaches. I will deal with all of them myself....the army will not be slowed or weakened at all by the oases," Night finished up with his offer.

"So you are saying that you will personally deal with each oasis on the route by yourself? If that's the case, then I agree to your terms. However.....please remember....if you fail to take down an oasis by yourself, then the conditions do not apply and the lives of the slaves cannot be guaranteed," the Countess replied after an exchanging a few hushed words with Roth.

"I can live with that condition, so I agree to your request," Night responded while cracking a smile, "So when do you plan on starting this attack?"

"In five weeks," the Countess said," Everyone is dismissed to finalize your preparations."