393 Chapter 393: Sabotage (2)

Phineas POV

Reports of tainted supplies, malfunctioning weapons, and disrupted communications spread like wildfire through the base. It was as though a dark cloud of suspicion hung over us, and no one was above suspicion. The trust had crumbled and there was barely a way to stop it.

I couldn't believe it. The chaos within our ranks was spiraling out of control, and paranoia had infected our every thought. As the enemy's relentless war machine bore down on us, I knew something was terribly wrong.

I saw my comrades exchange wary glances, question each other's motives, and engage in whispered conversations that dripped with suspicion. Friendships forged in the crucible of battle were fraying, and alliances were dissolving. No one knew who to trust, and it was tearing us apart from the inside.

We're already barely trusting the demons as is...some are accusing the demons of being responsible for sabotaging the supplies themselves, and the demons retorted and accused the heroes.

However there's no way that this was done by the heroes' side, only the heroes themselves could do that and leave no trace as they are just that quick and powerful, but...this wasn't them...so it must be a person from that village, and I have 2 prime suspects in mind, Perseus or Chief Aminu.

But there was no way to prove that, we were warriors, dedicated to a common cause, but now we were more divided than ever. The realization dawned on us that we had been infiltrated, sabotaged by an enemy we couldn't see, a traitor among us.

In our desperate quest to identify the spy, our attention turned inward, away from the imminent threat outside our walls. I felt a sense of helplessness as our enemy capitalized on our internal strife. We were destroying ourselves while they remained concealed, manipulating our every move.

If it's Perseus...let's hope he sleeps with one eye open, I'm coming after him right after this calms down.

*****

Perseus POV

"Wake up." Maple said as she shook me, "Your grandparents are here for breakfast."

"5 more minutes please."

"I'm not your mother."

"Well, I'll make you a mother soon, but please let me sleep."

"You-WAKE UP!"

"Alright, alright."

I got up and looked at her flustered face, that comment really had a great impact on her. I teased her a bit more and went to eat breakfast with everyone. I can see that they already started to pack things up early and will be leaving the village soon.

We talked and relaxed for a bit, and since I had free time, I decided to take a stroll, but the village was more quiet than usual.

Families had hastily packed their belongings into carts, and children clung to their parents as they prepared to leave the only home they had ever known. The fear and uncertainty etched into their faces were heart-wrenching. I watched as the elderly and the sick were loaded onto wagons, while the able-bodied villagers carried what possessions they could on their backs.

I wandered through the village square, where the market stalls had stood, now almost vacant and lifeless. The gentle rustling of leaves in the nearby trees was the only sound, a stark contrast to the vibrant market atmosphere that had once thrived there.

I went down the tree, there was a heavy blanket that wrapped around the village like a shroud. Once vibrant streets were now deserted, and the hush of uncertainty hung in the air. Every footstep, every whispered conversation, seemed to amplify.

So I went to the gods' old home that I had teleported nearby, it was the only place that somewhat had visitors, and it included people from elsewhere as well. The roses visited once they heard the news of their old home being here, and they proved the doubters wrong.

Now they come here to pray for peace and safety as only the anti-magic cult would try every way to discredit the tales of the sun and moon god.

Refugees who had left their homes behind, escaping the destruction that the conflict had brought, had found their way to the temple, some even requesting for sanctuary. I went around and could see some setting up camps nearby as this place became somewhat of a sacred place.

It won't be long, but the world will try to come here for safety as well, because whether you are demons or humans, the sun and moon gods are the only existence they can't disrespect as they are still the parents of their respective gods.

But as I walked, I saw a very familiar figure.

"Lloyd, what are you doing here?"

"Just for a quick prayer." he answered, "You?"

"A walk...so I'll get straight to the point, why become a rep of the enemy?"

"The Tartians are not your enemy." he denied

"Not yet, I know that you're pretty smart, we're going to be at war soon."

"I had no choice, my friend. I was adopted and raised by your so-called enemy's royal family. They're my family, too. None of you are"

"The village would have offered you proper parents if you didn't have any, people like my brother were adopted, you left on your own choice, heck, don't you have your- Bro, how can you turn a blind eye to our people's? What's the point of standing by the heroes? Even if they like your existence as you helped them, but...the people don't like us, we are half-demons."

"I haven't turned a blind eye. I've tried to negotiate for peace, but it's complicated. And it's not about turning a blind eye, but about the family that has shown me love and care. Our existence as half-demons may be a constant struggle. But I can't just abandon the family that raised me, no matter who I am."

"I'm not asking you to abandon them. I'm asking you to think and pull out of this thing, you'll be dying for nothing, you were adopted for the sake of your blood, and they'll marry you off for connection-"

"So?" he retorted, "Family is family, and I stand by my kingdom."