Even before they reached the central administrative structure, the pressure in the air definitely reminded Jax and Lyla where they were.

Explosions echoed in the distance, controlled, but violent. Shockwaves rolled across the reinforced grounds as squads clashed in live combat drills.

Steel met steel. Magic tore through the air. Roars, commands, and the rhythmic cadence of disciplined movement blended into a single, overwhelming symphony of war.

Lyla’s eyes moved constantly, taking everything in.

"...This is on an entirely different level," she muttered.

Jax smirked slightly as he walked beside her.

"Yeah. Orianna doesn’t do things halfway."

They passed a group of soldiers mid-training, two horned demons clashing with massive greatswords while a third launched precise bursts of magic from the rear. The coordination was tight and efficient.

It wasn’t perfect, as Jax could see multiple holes in their coordination, but it was far beyond what the Demon Kingdom had been capable of before.

Lyla noted it immediately, "...Their formations are structured and their mana usage is quite controlled, it’s very impressive,"

Jax nodded and ahead of them, the main Military Administrative Building rose into view.

It was massive, constructed from dark, reinforced stone, layered with defensive enchantments that pulsed faintly across its surface. Unlike the organic beauty of the Dark Elf District or the chaotic grandeur of the central capital, this place was built for one purpose,

War.

Guards stationed at the entrance immediately stiffened the moment they saw him. Then, they dropped to one knee.

"Your Majesty!"

Jax didn’t stop.

"Relax."

The doors opened before he even reached them. Inside, the atmosphere sharpened further.

Strategy tables lined the central hall. Maps, both physical and magical, hovered in the air, constantly updating with shifting information. Officers moved quickly, exchanging reports, issuing commands, adjusting formations.

And yet, the moment Jax and Lyla stepped inside, everything paused.

Not completely.

Jax walked straight through it all, Lyla at his side, until they reached the upper levels of the structure.

Orianna’s office, or more accurately, her war room.

Jax didn’t knock, as he didn’t need to. He simply pushed the doors open. Inside, a meeting was already in progress.

A large circular table dominated the room, its surface covered in a massive, glowing map of the surrounding territories.

Markers pulsed across it, red, gold, black, each representing different factions, threats, or resources.

Standing around the table were several figures, powerful ones. A tall woman with blood-red hair and sharp crimson eyes, clearly a high-ranking Vampire.

A heavily built dragonkin male, his scaled arms crossed as faint heat radiated from his body. Several Standard Demon generals, each exuding their own unique presence.

And at the head of the table was Orianna. Her presence alone dominated the room.

Six foot six of pure, overwhelming power. Her rainbow-colored hair shimmered faintly under the ambient light, and her eyes, those prismatic, ever-shifting eyes, were locked onto the map with intense focus.

"...then we reinforce the eastern perimeter and, "

She stopped mid-sentence as she heard the door open, her head turning slightly and her gaze landed on Jax and Lyla.

The entire room followed and immediately became silent for a moment before every single person in the room dropped to one knee.

"My King."

The voices came in unison without hesitation or delay.

Jax stepped forward casually, hands in his pockets.

"At ease."

They rose immediately.Orianna didn’t bow as deeply as the others, but she did lower her head slightly as a sign of respect.

"...You’re back," she said.

Jax smirked.

"Miss me?"

A faint smirk tugged at her lips.

"...The training grounds have been quieter without your presence in the capital,"

Lyla raised an eyebrow slightly at that.

Jax chuckled.

"Yeah, I’ll fix that later."

Orianna’s gaze flicked briefly to Lyla.

"...Dark Elf Queen."

Lyla gave a composed nod.

"Dragon Queen."

The air between them held weight, a mutual recognition of each-other’s power and responsibilities.

Jax waved a hand slightly.

"Wrap it up."

That was all he said. Orianna didn’t question it or hesitate.

"The meeting is concluded," she stated firmly.

The generals immediately gathered their materials, bowing once more to Jax before exiting the room one by one. The Vampire woman lingered for half a second longer, her crimson eyes studying Jax with clear interest, before she, too, turned and left.

The doors closed and only three of them remained.

Orianna leaned slightly against the table, crossing her arms.

"...So," she said, "How much stronger did you get this time? Your aura gives me an even weirder feeling now, I can’t see through you at all,"

Jax smirked.

"Enough."

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"...I can tell."

There was a brief pause.

Then Jax stepped forward, his gaze shifting to the massive map on the table.

"So," he said.

"How’s the military coming along?"

Orianna’s expression shifted immediately.

"Rapid improvement," she said without hesitation.

She tapped the map lightly.

Several sections lit up.

"Unit cohesion has alot, everyone feels more comfortable working together. Also, the individual power of soldiers has improved alot, they’re all more capable of fighting by themselves and as a team against stronger opponents,"

Lyla’s eyes flickered with interest, "...That fast?"

Orianna glanced at her, "I don’t train weaklings."

Jax chuckled, "Yeah, I can see that."

Orianna continued.

"Dragon units are leading heavy assault divisions. Vampires and Demi-Humans are handling reconnaissance and precision strikes. Dark Elves work as the office agents, while all the others are the backbone of the Military, adaptable,"

She paused slightly.

"...They’re not elite yet."

Her eyes locked onto Jax, "But they’re no longer disorganized."

Jax nodded slowly.

"Good."

There was a brief silence. Then, his expression shifted.

"Then it’s time."

Orianna’s eyes sharpened instantly.

"...Time for what?"

Jax looked directly at her.

"To start using them."

The air in the room changed.

Lyla’s gaze flicked between the two of them.

Orianna straightened slightly.

"...Explain."

Jax stepped closer to the map, his finger hovering over several marked regions.

"These areas," he said.

"Monster-infested zones. Resource-rich territories. Unclaimed land."

Several red markers pulsed ominously.

"We’ve been sitting on this information."

His eyes gleamed faintly.

"Now we act on it."

Orianna’s lips curved slightly.

"...You want deployment."

"Partial," Jax corrected.

"Not full-scale war."

He tapped one of the markers.

"Scouting missions first. Information gathering. Mapping. Threat assessment."

Another tap.

"Then controlled combat deployments."

His gaze hardened slightly.

"Clear out the dangerous zones. Secure resources. Expand territory."

The room fell silent.

Lyla crossed her arms, clearly intrigued.

"...You’re accelerating things."

Jax smirked.

"Of course I am."

Orianna stared at the map for a moment then smiled, "Then I’ll deploy them as soon as possible,"