Gliding on the rocky surfboard was not easy for Peter and he was not helped by the weight of the cat demon in his back but it was quite faster than just carrying her by walk. Following his previous strategy to go to one of the town gates, Peter finally arrived at one of them after a couple of minutes. He let his ride go back into the ground as he took a good look at the gate.

  It was a large structure, purely practical with almost no decoration except a sculpted compass indicating West. The gate was a little higher than most of the houses around it. Peter wondered why the need for such tall walls. The helldogs were probably agile enough to jump over and Peter was not sure another town would try to assemble an army to raid Tol’Osa. Donero was quite clear that demons were more often than not cowards and would not risk their life unless it was necessary or really rewarding.

  Finding the barrack was quite easy as it was actually stuck to the town wall and an extension of the gate. The doors of the building were closed so Peter knocked.

  The peephole on the door opened revealing a pair of dark red eyes.

  “Who’s the idiot who disturbs us ? “ A feminine voice asked from behind.

  “Your leader with a wounded on his back. So you have around ten seconds to open the door before I do it myself in a way less subtle way.” Peter answered, putting his face with a large devious smile right in front of the peephole.

  “Sorry. The barrack is closed during preparation time. Come back later.” The demon behind answered with an arrogant tone before closing the peephole.

  Peter sighed, exasperated by the behavior of other demons. Why did they have to make it so complex ? Peter raised his left hand, trembling as the power under the ground obeyed and the ground started to shake.

  Suddenly a violent noise occurred behind the door as something apparently hit it with quite some strength.

  “I ordered you to send away the boring disturbing demons who would call for our help to solve meaningless tasks. Not to piss off our leader.” A loud male voice carrying a hint of madness shouted.

  The door opened as Peter let the power go back in the ground. Behind it there was the commandant whose body was covered with scars and a demon, apparently a bird one based on face and arms, laying down on the ground, slowly recovering. Peter was not sure, but he thought he already saw her behind the scar demon during the showdown at the central barrack.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “Hello Primordial Peter. Name’s John. Welcome to the west barrack.” John said with a deranging smile, inviting the Primordial to enter.

  “Thanks. I found, well saved, a wounded demon on my way here.” Peter said, entering the courtyard of the barrack. “Can I have some assistance ? Please ?”

  “You don’t have the best timing. We were getting ready to do a raid on a hellhound nest. We don’t want it to go bigger and to become a threat.” John said, keeping his weird smile. “So the whole team is packing and no one can take some time to help you.”

  “Were you going out of town the same day you were supposed to meet me ? ” Peter asked with the tone indicating he was not believing it at all.

  “Well, the expedition was planned more than a week ago and we won’t change our plan just because someone removed our previous leader.” John said, guiding Peter through a courtyard full of agitation and movement. Demons were running transporting packages to two vehicles looking like a mix between an old military truck and a medieval cart. ”The swarm already complexified the expedition by consuming resources reserved for it so the situation is actually quite dire and we don’t have anything to spare for a wounded one.”

  Peter was thinking about the information he had. From what he knew about those nests and the associated expeditions, disrupting it was not an option, but letting the cat demon out in the street was the best option for her to die. So the only option was injecting more resources in it.

  “How about I accompany you on the expedition ? You let a couple of members here to manage the barrack and heal my wounded one while I help with that nest problem ?” Peter proposed to John.

  The face on John was priceless as his twisted smile turned into a shocked expression.

  “But, but, what about the town ? What about …” John started.

  “Listen.” Peter said, interrupting the scar demon. ”Donero told me these nests were one of the worst things out there. You’re all still recovering from the swarm while I can easily deploy enough power to manage the situation. So I want your team to stand back a little and help the town while I’m dealing with the major issue. Any objection ?”

  Peter saw John hesitating and thinking before starting to yell orders.

  “West Security Team, courtyard meeting now ! ” John shouted.

  As soon as his word echoed around the building Peter saw each demon dropping what they were doing and rushing into a battalion formation in the middle of the courtyard.

  “Change of plan. Our leader, Primordial Peter is going to support us for the seek and destroy mission against the nest. So Zach and Lily, I want both of you with your teams at the barracks, we have a wounded demon that needs assistance and harvesters to contact, we may be able to support them sooner than before. Max and Blade and myself will do the operation with our teams. We’re going in with only a truck. Adjust preparations.”

  “Sir, yes sir.” Each demon saluted before going back to their task. A couple of demons went to Peter and took the wounded he was carrying before transporting her to a resting place inside the building.

  “So, Primordial Peter. I really hope you know what you’re doing. Let me give you more info about the operation” John said, indicating a door.

  “I also hope so, Commandant John.” Peter answered with a smile.