The report arrived just before sunset, and William glanced down at his half-meter frame, still getting used to the reduced perspective. There were more tests he'd wanted to run with Arisu and the others, experiments to see exactly how his magic functioned differently at this size, but that exploration would have to wait. Serena and the captive lamia girls were the priority now, and every hour of delay meant another hour they suffered.
The demon wolf Ibuki paced restlessly near the cave entrance, all untrained energy and wild instincts. William watched her for a moment, weighing the risks, before calling over the Tribe Elder and Marigold. "Stay here and keep watch over things. If Ibuki gets too restless, take her for a run through the eastern woods."
The Elder nodded once, her staff hitting the ground with finality. "Safe travels, young king. May the shadows guide your path."
"They always do," William replied with a faint smirk.
He adjusted himself on Serena's back, settling into the familiar warmth of her scales. Behind them, Arisu stood watching with those expressive eyes, her lips pressed into a thin line. The other fox girls clustered around her, all wearing matching expressions of longing and disappointment.
"Master William," Arisu called out softly. "Come back safely."
"I will. Keep the cave warm for me."
The guilt tugged at him, but he pushed it aside. He'd make it up to them when this was over.
"Let's go," he said to Serena, and they departed into the forest.
Green and shadow blurred together as they moved, William focusing his attention inward on the flow of magic through his reduced body. The balance was tricky at this size. Too much power would make him unwieldy and difficult to control, while too little would leave him useless when they needed him most. He muttered adjustments under his breath, feeling the mana circulation shift and settle until it reached something stable.
"Master William," Serena said after a while, her voice carrying a note of curiosity. "Does the magic feel different at this size?"
"Different?" William considered the question, his hands idly tracing patterns on her scales. "It's more concentrated. Like trying to pour an ocean through a stream. The power's all there, just compressed."
"Is it uncomfortable?"
"Not uncomfortable. Just... intense." He adjusted his position slightly. "But I'm getting the hang of it. There, that should work now."
At this size, positioning came easier than before. He could move with Serena's rhythm instead of against it, settling naturally into her movements without constant correction.
The forest began changing around them as they traveled deeper. The path grew narrower, squeezed between dense undergrowth and roots that twisted like grasping fingers. Water trickled somewhere nearby, creating a constant backdrop of sound that never quite faded.
"Watch the roots ahead," Serena warned, her body shifting smoothly to avoid a particularly nasty tangle. "They're slippery here."
William tightened his grip instinctively. "How much farther to the border?"
"Another hour, maybe less. The terrain gets worse before it gets better."
She wasn't exaggerating. Shadows lengthened as the canopy thickened overhead, blocking out the fading daylight until everything existed in shades of gray and green. Moisture saturated the air, clinging to skin and scale, while dewdrops hung from every surface like tiny jewels catching the last hints of light.
William ran his hand absently along Serena's scales and felt her muscles tense beneath his touch. The ground had transformed into something soft and treacherous, the kind of terrain that could swallow the unwary whole.
"This path isn't easy," he observed.
"No, but it's the safest route. The main paths have triple patrols since..." She trailed off, her voice catching slightly.
"Since you escaped," William finished gently.
"Yes." The word came out barely above a whisper.
One of the other lamias slithered up beside them, "Serena, the path ahead splits. Which way?"
Serena's eyes scanned the approaching fork. "Left. The right path floods during this season. Tell the others to stay close and keep silent from here on."
The lamia girl nodded and fell back to relay the message.
William leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "Nervous?"
"Terrified," Serena admitted, surprising him with her honesty. "But we're doing this anyway."
"Good. Fear means you're taking this seriously. Overconfidence would get us caught."
The environment continued its transformation, the forest gradually giving way to marshland. Most creatures would find this territory hostile and unlivable, but it spoke to something in his demon king nature, calling him home in a way the bright fox territory never had.
"Master William," Serena said, breaking into his thoughts. "We're approaching the territory now. Can you feel it?"
William straightened, taking in their surroundings with fresh attention. There was something in the air here, a heaviness that pressed against his senses. "The guardian's aura?"
"Its presence, yes. Faint, but constant. Like a weight on the chest that never quite lifts."
The trees had mostly disappeared, replaced by open marsh where dark water pooled between patches of uncertain ground. It was exactly the kind of place he thrived in. Dark, damp, unwelcoming to most life.
"We'll stop here to scout," he decided. "You know this area better than anyone. Take your time and find us the best way in."
"Understood," Serena said softly, bringing them to rest near a cluster of mangrove roots that offered decent cover.
William could feel the change in her immediately. Her breathing shifted, becoming more controlled and deliberate. Her muscles coiled tight beneath him like springs wound to their limit. The swamp stretched ahead of them, water as dark as ink sitting between questionable patches of solid ground. The humidity here never relented, keeping everything perpetually damp.
"There," Serena murmured after a long moment of observation. "Three guards at the north perimeter, two more near the eastern bridge. But there's a gap in the southern approach. See those reeds?"
William followed her gaze. "The tall ones near the dead tree?"
"Yes. The patrols avoid that area. They think it's too shallow to traverse safely."
"But it's not?"
A ghost of a smile touched her lips. "It is shallow. But there's a submerged path beneath the water. I used to play there as a child."
"Clever," William said approvingly. "Can we make this work?"
She stayed quiet for another moment, her eyes tracking distant movement. Probably cataloging patrol patterns and guard rotations. Her tail swished once, then again, betraying the anxiety she was trying to hide. "Yes. I remember their patterns well enough. We can move whenever you're ready, Master William."
Despite the confident words, her voice came out strained. William shifted his weight slightly, and she inhaled sharply in response.
"Easy," he murmured. "Stay focused. We'll get through this."
"I know. It's just... being back here..."
"I understand." He kept his voice low and steady. "But you're not the same lamia who fled this place. You're stronger now. And you're not alone."
She took a deep breath, and he felt some of the tension ease from her body. "You're right. Let's move forward."
William pulled his aura back and dampened it down to nearly nothing. The effort came easier now after he'd released some earlier during the journey. Serena rose smoothly despite the difficult terrain, William still comfortably positioned on her back. He layered in some mass manipulation magic, keeping her movements fluid and silent.
"Remember," he whispered. "Slow and steady. No sudden movements."
The other nine lamias fell in behind them wordlessly, moving through the marsh like living shadows. They approached the reed bed Serena had pointed out, and true to her word, there was a firm path hidden just beneath the murky water.
They slipped past the first patrol cleanly. Three male lamias passed within meters, completely focused on their assigned routes and seeing nothing. One of them yawned loudly, complaining to his companion.
"I don't know why we even bother with night watch. Nothing ever happens out here."
"Quit whining. Captain's already in a foul mood since those females escaped."
Their voices faded as they moved on, oblivious to the very escapees they'd mentioned passing right under their noses.
William felt Serena's slight tremor at the mention of their escape. He squeezed her shoulder gently in reassurance.
Another patrol approached from the east, and this one was more alert. William pressed himself flat against Serena's back, pouring magic into dampening their presence until they were little more than shadows among shadows. His magic wrapped around all ten of them, bending light and scent away.
The male lamias slithered past, so close that William could see the scales on their tails. One of them paused, nostrils flaring.
"You smell something?" his companion asked.
William held his breath. Serena had gone completely still beneath him.
"Thought I did, but..." The guard shook his head. "Must be the marsh gas. This place reeks."
"Tell me about it. Let's finish the round and get back to the fire."
They moved on, and William didn't release his magic until they were well out of range.
"That was close," Serena breathed.
"How many more patrols?"
"Two, maybe three. But they'll be more spread out from here."
They pressed forward, each movement calculated, each pause timed precisely to the guard rotations. Serena navigated the treacherous ground with the ease of someone who'd been born to it, which she had. This place had been her home once, before circumstances forced her to flee.
"There," Serena whispered suddenly, gesturing with her chin toward a structure in the distance.
William could make out the wooden platforms now, reinforced with what looked like barrier magic. Torches flickered around the perimeter, but the coverage had gaps. Poor security, probably from overconfidence.
"The guards rotate every two hours," Serena explained quietly. "We're about fifteen minutes from the next rotation. That's when they're most distracted, checking in with replacements."
"Then we wait," William decided. "Get into position."
Before coming here on this mission, William had already confirmed the strength and appearance of their lamia guardian from Serena's descriptions. The other party's power was at the peak of the third order, with the possibility of breaking through to the fourth order at any moment. But from the current situation and circumstances, fourth-order magical beasts should be able to see everything within a hundred-meter radius using their magic power and magic senses. Since they hadn't been discovered yet, it meant that the other party's strength hadn't actually broken through to the fourth order quite yet. As for the appearance of the other party, unfortunately, only the leader tribe and the elders of the Lamia tribe knew what they actually looked like. They were the most authoritative and respected creatures in the entire group.
The minutes crawled by with agonizing slowness. William could feel Serena's heartbeat through the contact between them, hammering rapidly and hard but steady with determination despite the fear.
A bell chimed in the distance, signaling the rotation.
"Now," Serena whispered.