Devil Slave (Satan system)-Chapter 1253: The Plane Has Secrets

The armored convoy rumbled to life, engines growling as Commander Kael and his squad prepared to leave the city and delve into the unknown plane. Each soldier was clad in protective suits, the dark polymer fabric reinforced with light plating that provided both defense and environmental isolation. Even though they had endured the hellish ecosystem of Imperilment, protocol dictated caution in every new world—alien germs or pathogens could cripple even the most seasoned warriors.

Kael stood at the lead vehicle, his imposing figure cloaked in the same protective gear, but his helmet was unclasped for the moment, allowing his grizzled face to reflect his focus.

"Listen up!" Kael barked, his voice gruff and commanding. "We don’t know what’s out there, so stick to formation, and keep your weapons ready but *holstered.* We’re here to scout, not start a war. I want no mistakes!"

A chorus of "Yes, sir!" echoed from his men as they mounted the vehicles, Kael climbing into the lead armored truck. The convoy rolled out from the city gates, its massive tires crushing the soil beneath them with mechanical authority.

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The plane was vast and hauntingly beautiful, with emerald grasslands stretching endlessly, dotted by ancient, gnarled trees whose leaves shimmered faintly as though kissed by otherworldly light. The air outside shimmered with peculiar motes of energy, giving the place an ethereal quality.

The convoy pushed forward cautiously until a sudden, thunderous *thud* shook the lead truck. The vehicle buckled slightly under the impact, and panicked murmurs erupted from the men.

"What the hell was that?!" one soldier shouted, gripping his rifle.

Kael didn’t flinch. His keen eyes glanced upwards, and with a faint sigh, he growled, "Stand down. It’s just her."

The men exchanged uncertain glances, but Kael’s composure seemed to reassure them. As the convoy advanced deeper into the plane, the looming presence atop the lead truck remained.

Finally, they arrived at what appeared to be a village nestled in a small valley. Simple structures made of wood and stone dotted the landscape, smoke curling lazily from a few chimneys. The people here—gaunt humanoids with ash-gray skin, glowing white eyes, and spindly limbs—paused their activities to watch the convoy with a mix of curiosity and fear.

Kael signaled the vehicles to halt and dismounted, raising a hand to his men to stay back. The villagers, who had been frozen in place, scrambled into motion, grabbing crude weapons—spears, axes, and makeshift bows. Their language was incomprehensible, a series of guttural clicks and growls punctuated by sharp hisses.

Kael approached cautiously, his hands raised to show he meant no harm. "We come in peace," he said firmly, though his voice carried an authority that demanded respect. "We’re not here to hurt you."

The villagers remained tense, their glowing eyes darting from Kael to the armored vehicles behind him. The tension was palpable, a taut string ready to snap.

Before Kael could try another approach, a blur of motion descended from above. With a heavy *thud,* Tomato landed directly in front of the villagers, her reptilian tail coiling behind her like a serpent ready to strike. Her towering frame radiated menace, her crimson skin glistening as she flexed her claws.

"What are you—" Kael began, but Tomato was already moving.

With a guttural roar that split the air, she lunged at the nearest villager, her clawed hand ripping through his torso like wet parchment. Blood sprayed in an arc, painting the dirt red as the rest of the villagers screamed. She moved with brutal efficiency, her fists and claws a whirlwind of destruction.

One villager, desperate to escape, raised his spear, but Tomato caught it mid-thrust, snapping it like a twig before grabbing the attacker’s head. With a sickening *crunch,* she crushed his skull in her hand, his lifeless body crumpling to the ground.

Another tried to flee, but her tail lashed out, coiling around his leg and yanking him back with bone-snapping force. She slammed him against the ground repeatedly until he was nothing more than a broken heap.

Kael could do nothing but stare, his jaw slack as the carnage unfolded. The remaining villagers tried to scatter, but Tomato chased them down, her laughter ringing through the air as though she were playing a game. When the last body fell, she stood amidst the massacre, drenched in blood, her chest heaving with exhilaration.

Kael approached her cautiously, his face a mixture of disbelief and anger. "Lord Tomato," he said, his voice measured but firm, "...but there was no need to kill them."

Tomato turned to him, her face splitting into a wide grin. "They smelled funny," she said, her voice light and playful, as if she hadn’t just slaughtered an entire village.

Kael stiffened at her words, a memory flickering to life in his mind. After all, only a few days ago, she had stated that a commander smelt funny and had killed him immediately, only for him to have become a demon.

Looking back at the bodies, he could not help but imagine the same scenario. After all, Tomato was not one that should be judged by normal standard. She was wild and untamed, but that was the exact reason she was unique.

"Get a team on those bodies now," Kael barked at his men. "I want full autopsies. If there’s anything unusual, I need to know immediately."

His soldiers scrambled to obey, but Kael’s gaze lingered on Tomato as she casually licked the blood from her claws, "hmmm... tasty." she remarked.

For the first time in his life since meeting her, he wasn’t sure whether she was actually aiding them—or their greatest liability. But then again, she did produce results.

Just then one of the men rushed over to him and whispered into his ear, "Commander Kael, the Villagers are all without a brain."

He paused as he turned to the soldier, "are you sure? Maybe their anatomy is just different. They are species like that you know. Its a big world out there."

The soldier shook his head, "I thought so at first, but then I checked the formation of their nervous system. They may not look like us, but its definitely similar. Regardless, their brains are all missing, and the evidence shows that it was once there..."