"Based on the existing intelligence, the general staff's conclusion is roughly this," Edith said, tapping the table. "This arson is very likely a feint."

"A feint?" Iron Axe pondered. "Are you saying the enemy's target isn't to cut off our supply line?"

"The devils would like to, but they can't." Edith pointed to the map. "The distance from the ruins of Taqila to the northern end of the forest is even longer on the plains, exceeding five hundred kilometers. How much red mist would they need to carry to walk to the arson zone and ambush there? I think the colleagues in Taqila should be very clear about this."

"Without establishing a 'bloodline' or having outposts, the army can't support such a long front," the Taqila representative Phyllis paused. "According to past experience, five hundred is about the limit for the devils."

"And the Forest Terminus is a permanent site with complete defenses; it's no exaggeration to call it a small fortress." Edith continued, "His Majesty made relevant plans a long time ago. Once the enemy sets fire to the forest, Yezi xiaojie will create a safe enough firebreak to cut off the fire outside the station. This firebreak is also a natural shooting range. Without cover or concealment, there's no difference between the devils wanting to cross the firepower of several bunkers and sending five hundred people to their deaths."

"To take a step back, assuming they really have a way to send the army into the Maze Forest without cutting off supplies, then arson is an act of exposing themselves." Dawn added, "It might be better to launch an attack directly in the middle of the night—after all, the forest itself is a kind of cover. Before entering the area under Yezi's control, they can easily hide their movements."

"That makes sense..." Iron Axe nodded. "However, neither Sylvie nor Lightning and Maisie at the front have discovered any traces of devils—if they intend to attack Taqila No. 1 station again, it's probably too late to start acting now."

"This is also the puzzle we haven't solved yet. Perhaps the enemy has thought of new ways to deceive reconnaissance, or has invested new weapons we've never seen before." Edith replied frankly, "But a feint doesn't necessarily have to be one east and one west."

"You mean... Taqila No. 0 station?"

"Our current reconnaissance focus is all on the front of the railway laying, so we can't rule out this possibility."

"However, the farther away from the front line, the more limited the number of troops the devils can invest." Iron Axe said thoughtfully.

"That's the point." Edith affirmed.

"I understand," the commander-in-chief instructed after a moment of silence, "After Her Majesty the Queen returns safely, let Black River No. 1 go to Taqila No. 0 station, and No. 2 will cruise between stations 0 and 1. The rest of the troops will remain stationary and increase the alert level by one until the alarm is canceled. In addition, even if it is unlikely that the devils will launch an attack from the north of the forest, it is better to put out the fire as soon as possible." He turned to Agatha, "Can this be entrusted to you?"

"Don't worry, we will do our best." The Ice Witch responded.

"Very good. The reconnaissance on the front line remains unchanged, and the main focus is still on the Taqila line. Sylvie xiaojie—"

"Leave it to me." Sylvie nodded.

Iron Axe clapped his hands, "Judging from the current speed of the fire's advance, it will probably burn to the edge of the Forest Terminus in the evening. If the devils don't know that Yezi xiaojie can isolate the fire with her own strength, then the moment the sun completely sets should be the moment they show their fangs. Now we have about an hour, everyone move!"

...

Standing on the top of the camp watchtower, Sylvie felt a slight coolness in the breeze brushing her cheeks.

The setting sun was slowly sinking into the earth, and the brilliant afterglow dyed half the sky red. The vast grassland seemed to be dyed in three distinct colors. The farthest was gold, shining with the sun; closer was red with green, which, with the reflection of the sky, looked like a purple sea of flowers. The grass under her feet was covered in shadow, tending towards blue-black, the color exclusive to the night.

Such a beautiful view can probably only be seen in this boundless "wilderness."

However, it is also a countdown to the coming war.

Every time the sun goes down, it means the enemy is one step closer to them.

Against this backdrop, even the most moving natural scenery loses some of its beauty and becomes bleak and desolate.

Sylvie turned her head and looked southwest—although the Maze Forest was not within the observation range of the Magic Eye, she would still take the time to glance at it, for reasons she couldn't explain, just feeling vaguely worried.

Looking back, whether it was the judgment given by the general staff or the orders issued by Iron Axe, there was nothing to criticize. If not watertight, at least steady and cautious. Devils lacking red mist supplies are like a nailed line, the longer it is pulled, the weaker it becomes. If they are really coming for the Forest Terminus and Taqila No. 0 station, the garrisoned defenders are enough to hold out until reinforcements arrive. There is no doubt that the enemy can invest the most strength in attacking the foremost front of the railway.

But why... does this worry linger?

Sylvie shook her head, suppressed the distracting thoughts in her heart, and was about to scan the front-line positions again when a spot of light suddenly appeared in the corner of her eye.

Light?

How could it be—?

She widened her eyes in surprise and looked towards the light—it was bright red, like a dazzling flame, and after entering her field of vision, it was moving rapidly towards the south end.

Strange, was she seeing things?

The Magic Eye shouldn't be able to see that far.

That's right, it really can't—the large patches of black in her field of vision proved this. Beyond the range, the Magic Eye would lose its omnidirectional observation ability and shrink back to a normal perspective. In dim and dark environments, it's difficult to distinguish the junction of the earth and the forest; it's basically pitch black. It is precisely because of this that the spot of light is so conspicuous.

Since it's not an illusion, what exactly is she seeing—?

Sylvie suddenly felt a chill rise from the soles of her feet, running along her spine, causing her to shiver uncontrollably.

She knew what she was worried about.

It was also something that everyone had overlooked.

What she saw was magic!

And extremely vast magic—

The observation range of the Magic Eye is limited because it is restricted by itself and cannot spread magic power further. But when there is a strong source of magic power, such fluctuations will act on the Magic Eye, thereby being "seen" by itself, like sunlight that forcibly penetrates closed eyelids and reflects in the pupils!

To be directly sensed at this distance, what level has the magic power of the newcomer reached… to such an amazing degree!

Curse Demon.

Only this name remained in Sylvie's mind.

The humanoid alien race in the ruins of Taqila, the commander of the devil army. As a general, he has always been the core of the army. When the two armies confront each other, the general is like a chess player, determining the outcome with the victory or defeat of the chess game, and rarely goes into battle himself.

But they overlooked that the other party is also a powerful high-level devil, and has terrible fighting power himself.

And at this moment, the moving speed of the red dot is still increasing, almost close to three times the flight speed of Maisie's dire beast.

From the beginning, the other party was targeting Yezi!

"Run... run..." Sylvie couldn't help shouting, "Run, Yezi!"