Step four.

As evening approaches, everyone munches on whatever food they have. It won't be long before the sun goes down. There's quite the army in front of you now. With all the pieces in place, it's time to enact the plan Nyllia and the others have decided on. Now she knows what units are in play. Everybody has their own skills--something they can contribute. After everyone is done eating, you call them over, and Nyllia rolls out a large scroll showing a sketching of the fortress' floorplan.

Just before she begins speaking, she's cut off by a voice.

"Don't forget about me~!" It's smooth, masculine, and it causes your blood to boil. An elf in shining armour steps into the camp--long blue hair blowing in the breeze. It looks like he's received a new shield and sword since the last time you saw him as well. Sir Elyndar Imaeris smiles wide. His perfect teeth shimmer, and his smooth, perfect skin are nearly radiant under the setting sun.

You can tell that even Nyllia is already frustrated.

"Oh great," Bek mumbles under his breath.

"Are we planning the attack? I received your message, Mr. Warren." He nudges you slightly out of the way to get a better look at the sheet of paper. "And how are you, Lady Tesgella?"

"Listen closely," Nyllia says. "Planning is vital in a situation such as this."

Mistress Dajy strolls around. She stretches, allowing her giant wings to span out around her. "Listen to the elf. She may be a holy woman, but she knows what she's talking about, and I won't have a hair on my darling's head be hurt."

"What the... Are we working with demons?" Elyndar reacts.

"We literally met up before, at the beach trip," you say.

"A trip I was so rudely denied."

"Didn't you cum in your shorts or something?" Delphi speaks up.

"I most certainly did not!"

"Where is the rest of your party?" Niki asks.

He bows. "I share with you my might. The others will not be joining us on this adventure. I do hope that is satisfactory."

Suddenly, you feel a tug on the back of your tunic. You turn to see a short girl with white and a black dress that cuts jagged at her thighs--socks reaching up just beneath it. The first thing you see, however, is the pointed cap in your face. You pinch the brim of her cap, and tilt it up to see her cute face, and her bright blue eyes.

"Excuse me," she says. "Is this where I sign up to fight the Demon King?"

You smile and chuckle. "Yes... Yes it is, Vivi. Now come on. We're just about to make our final strategy for tomorrow."

"I've seen the exterior. Let me help." She walks up beside Nyllia and begins to speak.

As everyone talks, you listen closely. The plan as a whole is actually rather simple, which is for the best considering some of the folk in your party. Everyone will effectively be split into two groups: Team **** and Team Strike. There is a perfect side entrance that's meant to be hidden, but thanks to Lynx's floorplans, you can see it as clear as day. Team Strike will take advantage of that. While they're making their way through, and taking out any of the Demon King's forces on the way, Team **** will be completely decimating the front doors. Not only will they have the firepower to do so, but they will be able to draw a lot of the enemies to them, making it easier for the other team to piece deeper.

The goal is to meet in the main hall and throne room of the fortress. After luring the Demon King there and weakening his forces, you and anyone else available will face him head-on to find an opening. Snow will then fire the PEG and weaken him, hopefully allowing you to finish him off.

Team ****:

• Niki Vakila (Front)
• Bekram Kholrann (Front)
• Zazra (Front)
• Bill & Phil (Front)
• Elyndar Imaeris (Front)
• Mistress Dajy & Succubi (Front)
• Fang (Front)
• Alice (Back)
• Yaera Tedrilui (Back)
• Rada Beela (Back)
• Eva Beela (Back)
• Peony (Back)
• Thomas Whitham (Back)
• Rinlin Vali (Back)
• Vivilia (Back)
• Jelly (Back)

Team Strike:

• Nyllia Tesgella (Front)
• Kyle Warren (Front)
• Amara Tedrilui (Back)
• Snow (Back)
• Delphi (Back)
• Yin (Back)

Nyllia speaks up. "Those in Team **** will have quite the battle on their hands. But I swear on my life, that us in Team Strike will strike quickly and with precision, clearing a path to pincer. Then we will take the king."

"And..." Alice speaks up, though shyly. She shuffles up to you and reaches up to the side of her head. With a pop, she removes her ear, and then hands it out towards you. "If I am on the other team, you can communicate to us with this. Meanwhile, I will keep the Arcane Eye on my person. Sending information may be vital."

"That's really clever," you say. "But what if you need to send a message back?"

"If you are utilizing the Eye, you can hear us, though otherwise, I do not think such a thing would be necessary. We will be busy fighting an army. It is you that will have more to say."

You hold the ear up to your lips. It feels strange, knowing the piece of her body is still alive. You whisper gently into it, "Can you hear me?"

In response, she lets out a quiet moan. Cyan illuminates her face. "Y-Yes," she mumbles.

You stow it safely in your pocket. "Well our team seems good. The smaller the better, and Lady Tesgella is the highest level of us all. Together, and with Amara's healing, we should be a powerful ****. Snow can cover us with range, Delphi has all sorts of utility, and Yin shouldn't get involved with the frontal chaos. Plus, she can teleport. That could be incredibly useful. Just remember, Yin. Don't be afraid to use that to escape if things get back."

Yin grabs you by the arm. "No. I will stay with you, no matter what."

"With the tree planted outside, I can support from behind," Peony says. "Then I will remain outside and cover an escape if necessary."

"Honestly, as long as I'm not in the middle of a fight, I should be able to walk around with the Arcane Eye activated," you say. "It'll be disorienting, but I can open and close the appropriate eye to keep focused. Then I can break connection when we run into trouble. In a way, it'll even tell you whenever we're in a fight, since the wings will disappear."

But where the hell is William? Or at the very least, one of his allies. We sent the message. I thought his entire plan was to kill the Demon King with my help...