Marshal Silver's calculation was undeniably correct.
Three days later, when Nezha revealed to Monkey that General Nate would soon leave the South Heaven Gate Fleet and return to Cloudrealm Sky Harbor, Monkey's reaction was to scratch his head—over and over again.
It was obvious that Marshal Silver had struck his sorest spot.
A gentleman's revenge may wait ten years, but those ten years are truly hard to endure.
Monkey understood perfectly well: previously, the Heavenly Fleet kept General Nate stationed at the South Heaven Gate Fleet precisely to prevent him from seeking revenge. Now, recalling him at such a sensitive moment—and sending a fleet to escort him and the soldiers who took part in that attack—was clearly a trap, dug for Monkey to fall into.
But should he jump or not?
To be honest, he wanted to jump—even knowing it was a trap, he still wanted to jump.
General Nate was a senior commander of the Heavenly Fleet. If Monkey missed this chance, unless he someday captured Cloudrealm Sky Harbor or completely crushed the Heavenly Fleet, it would be almost impossible to get another shot at revenge. Both options were nearly impossible, at least in the short term.
Watching those teary-eyed little demons clap their hands raw, shout themselves hoarse, and tirelessly try to squeeze closer to him, Nigel Wyrm suddenly realized that some things can't be won by sheer strength alone.
But how could he deal with the trap that had been set?
He hadn't yet come up with a solution. But first, he recalled Nigel Wyrm and those Spirit-Transformation demons who had been out raiding. To deal with General Nate, Monkey needed their strength.
By the evening of the day after learning General Nate would leave the South Heaven Gate Fleet, the raiding squad, after more than a month away, finally returned. Nigel Wyrm was at the lead.
The moment their figures appeared at the horizon, all of Blossom Mountain erupted in waves of cheers.
Demons at the watchposts waved flags and shouted, the guards hammered their shields and roared, and the logistics crew broke protocol to deliver extra fine wine. Nigel Wyrm and the raiding squad were the center of attention.
Every demon poured out, a dark, surging tide. The scene was so intense that words could hardly describe it.
One by one, the unsuspecting Spirit-Transformation demons were hoisted overhead by swarms of lesser demons, tossed into the sky, grinning from ear to ear. Nigel Wyrm, too, was celebrated by the crowd.
Princess Marina Azurewave fought through the crowd of demons and threw herself into Nigel Wyrm's arms, her eyes overflowing with tears of joy.
Louis Quickpaw insisted that a cultured demon ought to lead a proper drinking game at a time like this. Unfortunately, no one agreed, and before he could explain the rules, he was left out in the cold.
The eagle demon decided to show off his "ten-li archery" skills and challenged Shortbeak, who also claimed to be Blossom Mountain's top marksman. The two stood on the summit, shooting arrows endlessly—who knows if they ever hit anything.
After drinking too much, Rhino sat alone in a corner, sobbing his heart out—probably missing his wife. Monkey watched, feeling a pang of sorrow, but couldn't think of any words to comfort him.
When they were pushed in front of Monkey, these hulking elite demons all blushed with embarrassment.
"What's wrong with you all?" Monkey asked, frowning.
"W-we're just not used to this. Hahaha..." Nigel Wyrm stammered.
The once fiery atmosphere froze for a moment, then erupted in thunderous applause.
In the bustling crowd, those elite demons were suddenly as awkward as children. The Spirit-Transformation demons who hadn't joined the raid watched from the sidelines, faintly jealous.
Such treatment was enough to make anyone envious.
Not a single demon approved for this operation was weak; at minimum, every one was at the Spirit-Transformation Stage. With that kind of power, before the Heavenly Army began its mass purges, any of them could have easily become a local demon king.
But no matter how many followers one has, how many are truly loyal?
Watching those teary-eyed little demons clap their hands raw, shout themselves hoarse, and tirelessly try to squeeze closer to him, Nigel Wyrm suddenly realized that some things can't be won by sheer strength alone.
For example: genuine, heartfelt respect and admiration.
Sometimes, pure giving yields far more than mere taking.
He finally understood why humans loved being heroes. That feeling couldn't be compared to getting some magic artifact or elixir.
On Monkey's side, Anna Yang—as usual—didn't attend. Belle sat beside Monkey, eyes fixed on his cup, refilling it the moment it ran low.
As for Monkey, he simply watched their antics in silence.
As night fell, Blossom Mountain lit bonfires for the grandest victory feast in its history.
The logistics crew worked furiously, hauling out wine and food. Every demon, even those at the lowest ranks, got to share in the glory of the moment.
The drunk demons began to stir—each in their own way, of course.
Louis Quickpaw insisted that a cultured demon ought to lead a proper drinking game at a time like this. Unfortunately, no one agreed, and before he could explain the rules, he was left out in the cold.
The eagle demon decided to show off his "ten-li archery" skills and challenged Shortbeak, who also claimed to be Blossom Mountain's top marksman. The two stood on the summit, shooting arrows endlessly—who knows if they ever hit anything.
After drinking too much, Rhino sat alone in a corner, sobbing his heart out—probably missing his wife. Monkey watched, feeling a pang of sorrow, but couldn't think of any words to comfort him.
Shadow, emboldened by wine, ran off to confess to Isabel Su. When he returned, his face looked sour—clearly, he'd been rejected.
As for Nigel Wyrm, tonight's star, he spent the whole time glued to Princess Marina Azurewave, endlessly flirting and bickering. In some ways, he really wasn't cut out to be the sober head of command.
On Monkey's side, Anna Yang—as usual—didn't attend. Belle sat beside Monkey, eyes fixed on his cup, refilling it the moment it ran low.
As for Monkey, he simply watched their antics in silence.
By midnight, the wild banquet finally began to wind down. After Nigel Wyrm escorted Princess Marina Azurewave home, Monkey had someone fetch him back.
By midnight, the wild banquet finally began to wind down. After Nigel Wyrm escorted Princess Marina Azurewave home, Monkey had someone fetch him back.
"Hey, I just reunited with my sweetheart—on a night like this, you really have the nerve to interrupt? Are you even human?" He glared at Monkey, clearly annoyed.
"I'm a monkey, not a human—isn't that obvious?" Monkey shrugged. "Here's the latest: tomorrow afternoon or early the next morning, the Heavenly Fleet will send ships to pick up General Nate. That's the news."
"If it weren't urgent, why call you back? Wouldn't it be better to stay out there and kill more Heavenly soldiers?" Shortbeak chimed in from the side.
Monkey nodded. "But we still haven't finalized our plan."
"Honestly, I think it's better not to attack," Shortbeak said, arms folded, voice lazy. "Why fetch him now and not earlier or later? It's clearly a trap. We know it's a trap, and we still jump in? Revenge is necessary, but not like this."
"Just letting that guy go home—you think the others will accept it?" Nigel Wyrm glanced at Rhino, who was being helped away by a few demon soldiers, and sighed, "If it were up to me, I'd rather die with honor than live in humiliation. Trap or not, we have to act—the only question is how."
Monkey couldn't help but laugh. That wasn't the Nigel Wyrm he was used to—had a month of raiding really changed him?
Just letting that guy go home—you think the others will accept it?" Nigel Wyrm glanced at Rhino, who was being helped away by a few demon soldiers, and sighed, "If it were up to me, I'd rather die with honor than live in humiliation. Trap or not, we have to act—the only question is how."
"A surprise attack on Cloudrealm Sky Harbor?" Nigel Wyrm chuckled. "Clearly you've never tangled with the Heavenly Fleet. That harbor's like an iron fortress. Even if there weren't half a harbor full of Spirit-Transformation generals, we'd still get nowhere. Attacking Cloudrealm Sky Harbor is pure fantasy."
After a long silence, Monkey finally spoke: "Standing by and letting him go home? Absolutely not. We owe an answer to the dead and the living. All Spirit-Transformation and above, assemble! When the time comes, Nigel Wyrm and I will strike first—if it's possible, everyone charges in. If not, at least Nigel and I are fast enough to escape."