The maid squad is too strong, what use is there for me, the Demon King?

"There is."

I don't know how long we've been traveling along the highway according to the map, but the fact that the sun hasn't set yet tells me it's not night.

The blurry lines came into view, but as the distance decreased, those lines began to coalesce and rise, revealing solid outlines.

It wasn't the soft curves of sand dunes, but rather jagged, jagged, and imposing mountain ranges, like huge black fangs angrily thrust out from the depths of the sea of ​​sand, as if the earth itself couldn't bear the torture.

Its color is an absolute heresy in this golden hell: a deep, heavy, inky black that seems to absorb all light.

This black is not smooth, but covered with traces of wind and sand erosion, presenting a rough and broken texture, which appears even more weathered and stubborn under the glaring sunlight.

The mountains stretch endlessly, forming a towering and precipitous barrier. Their peaks are sharp as spears, and their cliffs are steep as if cleaved by an axe. No vegetation can soften their hard and cold lines.

Under the relentless, all-consuming sun, this continuous stretch of black rock stands like a giant shield, resisting the scorching rays.

"It's amazing that such a towering mountain range could grow in such a vast desert."

Gray sighed, and the situation at the entrance of the mountain valley that he had explored with his spiritual power made him frown slightly.

"Cultists..."

The only gateway to that precious shadow within the mountains is a narrow valley hidden deep within the folds of the black peaks.

However, there were no orc sentries guarding the valley entrance; instead, the cultists in blazing gray robes occupied this vital passage.

The heads of the cult members were deeply obscured by the wide hoods that were attached to their robes, with the hoods hanging low and casting heavy shadows on their faces.

In the shadows, one could only occasionally glimpse the same grayish veil covering the area below the bridge of the nose, and the cold, indifferent gaze that flashed through the gaps.

They often carried or leaned on distinctive weapons—heavy wooden staffs covered in metal and inlaid with dark red crystals, and bronze sickles carved with simplified small sun symbols and with exceptionally sharp edges.

As can be seen from the map, there is more than one entrance to the Shadow Mountains, but there are not many other entrances either. It can be said that each entrance is a key strategic passage.

However, it's basically to prevent outsiders from entering; once they come out...

First, consider whether you can withstand the scorching sun high in the sky.

Gray didn't know much about the current situation of Shad Mountain, and the only information he had was the history of the orc kingdom of Shad Mountain.

It was probably because it was time-consuming and laborious to travel from the mountains to the country of the Demelians, and it was not easy to pass on messages.

The communication device developed by Iota was also unable to transmit messages to Demirer's Shadow Court branch over such a long distance.

Gray didn't know the specific situation inside the mountains, but he knew that if the cultists had occupied at least one entrance to the mountains, the battle situation was definitely not optimistic.

"We received a request for help from Aita before, right? Although we sent Sita with people, is it... too late...?"

Transmitting information was extremely difficult; only a small number of people, who could traverse most of the desert, could be sent to Demüller to use the communication device.

It will take time for the rescue team to leave the desert, and it will also take time for Sita to lead his team into the desert to find the Shadow Mountains.

This back-and-forth took a considerable amount of time, from when Aita requested help to when reinforcements arrived...

"They shouldn't be so cold-blooded, right..."

Aita is also an eighth-tier professional among the Ten Shadows, with a moderate level of combat strength.

The opponent is the Flame and Destruction faction of cultists, one of the four minor factions within the Demon Order. The archbishop certainly doesn't have a ninth rank, and the number of eighth-rank bishops is also unlikely to be large.

Aita and her men, even if they don't kill countless cultists, should have no major problem surviving...

The more Gray thought about it, the less confident he became.

After several years of absence, only black and white photos of Eita, the seventh of the Ten Shadows, remain...

Gray immediately decided to disregard everything else and charge into the mountains first.

We need to find another way to contact Aita and Sita.

With a push of his foot, he shot out and arrived at the mouth of the mountain valley in the blink of an eye.

The cult members only saw a black shadow flash by.

The next moment, several cult members fell into pools of blood.

"Enemy attack!!!!!"

The cult members reacted quickly and shouted.

But after shouting it out, the cultist only felt his life slipping away.

Looking down, I realized that a large hole had appeared in my chest.

His body collapsed as his consciousness faded.

One second the cult members were issuing warnings, and the next they lost their lives. This bizarre scene threw the cult members into chaos.

"There's a dark shadow!" A cultist huddled in a crevice in the rock wall suddenly sprang up, his voice hoarse and shrill, filled with primal fear.

His hands, which were once as steady as withered wood, were now trembling violently and uncontrollably, barely able to hold the heavy, crystal-inlaid wooden staff.

This is a glimpse into Gray's movements, even if only his shadow is visible.

But speaking up at this time is tantamount to courting death?

Gray prioritizes attacking these "outliers".

Cult members who react quickly are usually higher-level professionals who can react swiftly, so dealing with them first is definitely not a problem.

As one gray-robed cultist after another fell, panic exploded like a drop of boiling oil being thrown into water!

The cultists near the point of attack retreated in fear, wildly waving their sun scythes in an attempt to drive back the unseen enemy.

The sharp scythe futilely sliced ​​through the air with a whistling sound, only stirring up the scorching airflow, striking the hem of its companion's robe or the rocks, sending sparks flying.

Some believers tried to form a defensive circle back to back, but fear distorted their movements, leaving the circle full of holes.

Their eyes, hidden deep in the shadows of their hoods, scanned every corner of the surrounding rocks and every swaying shadow as if the deadly darkness might pounce out from it at any moment.

The sun symbol danced on their violently heaving chests, a characteristic feature of the clothing of the so-called "Flame and Burning Faction" cult.

Chaos erupted at the narrow valley entrance. The cultists inevitably collided and shoved each other as they dodged, searched, and defended themselves.

The heavy wooden staff slammed into his companion's shoulder, and the scorpion-stinged spear's tail hook narrowly grazed the gray robe.

Many believers could not utter a sound, only suppressed, beast-like growls rumbling in their throats.

They huddled in what they thought was a safe corner, their bodies pressed against the scorching rock wall, their bodies trembling violently with fear beneath their gray robes.

This was a one-sided massacre!

As he reaped the lives of the cultists one by one, Gray confirmed that the high priest cultists guarding this stronghold, whose highest rank was only fifth, were not particularly powerful.

So, where will the core combat power be used?

This is understandable.