Chapter 131

Chapter 131

[CHAPTER 5]

- Time until the start: 24 hours

***

Downtown Crossroad. The barracks.

The quarters of Dion Mercenary Group.

Weve seized an opportunity.

Dion stood before his party members with a smile.

For a long time, we never received proper respect. We always played the role of a meat shield.

The four party members nodded in agreement.

Before they came to the front lines here, these five had to suffer all sorts of hardships as mercenaries.

As newbies, they were thrown into all sorts of suicide missions because they were new.

Even after gaining experience and understanding how the mercenary life worked, they were left handling the dirty work because they lacked special skills or talents.

But Prince Ash recognized our worth.

Ash was different.

Not only did he willingly grant them an opportunity when they requested it, but he also didnt hesitate to invest in the Dion Mercenary Group after recognizing their potential.

They received high-quality armor and expensive silver swords, and were allowed to wear uniforms exclusively produced for the Southern Front soldiers.

The treatment they received here at this monstrous frontline was the best they ever had in their lives as short-lived mercenaries.

Dion was already filled with loyalty towards Ash.

Lets show him what were capable of in this defense battle."

Dion clenched his fist tightly.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This is our chance for advancement!

Advancement

Lets succeed beyond everyones expectations!

Success!

Advancement. Success.

The faces of the five brightened at the dreamlike words. Dion grinned.

Great! Now lets talk about our ambitions. What will you do if you make a lot of money?

If I succeed, Ill gather funds to decorate the shop. My dream is to do business on a large scale.

For me, its a marriage fund! My girl is waiting for me back in our hometown!

I want to send bundles of money to my parents. I never properly did anything for them

Ill enroll my little brother in a magic workshop. When he grows up, hell surely take care of me.

The party members each spat out a word and then looked at Dion together.

Dion pointed at himself with an awkward chuckle.

Ah, me? I am um. My dream seems petty compared to yours.

Dion scratched the back of his head.

The day I started my mercenary work, I went for a drink because I couldnt handle the reality sober but the prices were too high. There was this brand of whiskey that I couldnt afford because it was too expensive.

A bashful smile crept onto Dions lips.

I still cant afford to drink it because its too pricey. But if I succeed later Ill drink a bottle a week.

Upon hearing Dions ambition, the rest of the party members laughed out loud together.

Is that all, Dion! Your ambition is too small!

At least aim to drink a bottle a day!

You fools, then hed just be a drunkard!

Dion, who was teased like a chick, eventually burst into hearty laughter.

Lets commit ourselves fully this time and do it properly. We can do it.

Dion stretched his arm high up.

The Dion Mercenary Group, the beginning of a legend!

My shop too!

My wedding too!

Ill be filial to my parents!

Wait for me, little brother! My retirement funds!

The noisy Dion Mercenary Group of five, after shouting their dreams, began to laugh as they looked at each other.

***

In the lords mansion. The outbuilding.

The quarters of the Shadow Squad.

The three archers were hopping around on their beds.

Are we resting today? We dont have to go to the dungeon?!

Yep! His Highness said to take the day off completely!

Hehehe! So exciting. I really, really love doing nothing and just being in bed!

Considering to stop the archers, who were kicking up a dust cloud as they hopped around, Bodybag decided to just leave them alone.

They had been training whenever they had even a bit of spare time.

Having a full day to rest comfortably was really a first in a long while. It wasnt unreasonable for the trio of archers to be excited.

?

It was then that Bodybag, who noticed something unusual, raised her head.

Godhand was nowhere to be seen.

Where did he go?

Leaving the hopping archers in the room, Bodybag slipped out of the outbuilding.

Looking around, she saw Godhands back at the archery training ground behind the outbuilding.

As Bodybag was about to approach Godhand, her steps suddenly stopped.

...Dont worry. I will... protect you

Godhand was quietly mumbling something.

" Yes. If its something I can do"

Bodybag tilted her head.

Who was she talking to?

Godhand?

As Bodybag deliberately made her presence known, Godhand, startled, looked around with a bewildered expression.

Bodybag? Why arent you resting inside, what are you doing out here?

Im just getting some fresh air What about you, Godhand? Who were you talking to

However, the person Godhand was talking with had already disappeared.

They seemed to have quickly disappeared into the forest behind the archery range.

"Conversation? Cough! I was alone. I was merely talking to myself."

Godhands face showed clear signs of discomfort.

Bodybag found this side of Godhand unfamiliar, and could not figure out what was happening. What was going on?

You really want to become a wizard to the point of enduring such pain? Even dying before this old woman?

- That wouldnt be so bad.

The face of her granddaughter who had said so swirled in her head.

"...So, do you hate me?"

Jupiter gritted her teeth.

Yes, hate me. Despise me and curse me.

It doesnt matter how much you hate this old woman. Still, I...

Cough!

After spitting out blood, Jupiter roughly wiped her mouth. The single hazy eye began to shine with determination again.

"Its not yet. Just a little more."

Hold on a little more, this damned body!

***

Lords mansion.

The backyard garden. A small training ground.

Clank! Clank! Clash!

Lucas and Evangeline were in the middle of a duel, wielding wooden swords, spears, and shields.

Ever since they lost to Celendion, Lucas and Evangeline had been sparring every day.

Lucas tried to break Evangelines defense, while Evangeline blocked Lucas every attack.

At first, their win rate was similar, but at some point, Evangeline started winning continuously.

Evangeline had completely mastered using her instinct, perfectly blocking all of Lucass attacks.

It was no different even now, a day before the defense battle.

Clank! Clank! Clash!

It was time for dusk.

With her emerald eyes shining, Evangeline deflected all of Lucass sword strikes with her shield.

I can feel it. All the paths, I can feel them with my skin!

Now, following her instincts and moving her body, Evangeline was right at the edge of an epiphany.

Just one more step.

At that moment when she was about to fully reach some ultimate thing that the Cross family had been building for generations-

Boom!

Crash!

Evangeline was thrown backward.

At some point, Lucass wooden sword had touched her body, and the next moment, she was thrown outside the training ground with a tremendous shock.

"Huh?"

Lying on the ground, dazed, Evangeline murmured.

Then she lifted her eyes and saw the person who had sent that sword strike.

"Hah, hah!"

Lucas was panting heavily in the middle of the training ground.

Thin steam was rising from the muscular knights body.

The knights blue eyes... were burning like a beasts.

"...What was that just now?"

Evangeline looked down at her chest. The training armor she wore in case of accidents was deeply indented.

If she hadnt been wearing it, she might have died.

"I couldnt even dodge with my instinct. No, I couldnt even see it properly. What kind of attack did you launch?"

"...This?"

Grin.

Sweeping back his sweaty blonde hair, Lucas curved his lips.

His usual golden retriever-like smile was nowhere to be found. Instead, a violent expression like a wolf hung on the knights face.

"...Lets call it my desperation."

***

South from Crossroad. A plain.

The late night was approaching dawn.

Clink! Clink! Clink! Clink!

The 1,000 Blood Clan members led by Celendion arrived here.

The Alpha reported after checking out the distant Crossroad.

"I can see the city walls, Lord."

"..."

"This is a city of human scum. We should be within striking distance in a few hours."

"Hmm."

With a nonchalant expression, Celendion, who was sitting on the palanquin, glanced towards the north.

"Soon."

A slaughterhouse where both sides would kill and be killed.

At last, now, it was beginning.

Rising from the palanquin, Celendion slowly turned around.

"My dear kin."

The Vampire King smiled at his royal guards, their eyes flashing with a blood-red glow.

His fangs were pronounced, a smile befitting a vampire.

"Are you ready to cover the city with mountains of corpses and seas of blood?"

There was no need for a reply.

Covering the city with corpses and blood.

That was, after all, the very essence of their existence.

***

"They are coming."

Staring into the distant southern plains, I muttered.

Unable to sleep, I had been at the ramparts since dawn.

And now, I saw their arrival with my own eyes.

They were still incredibly far away, but they were steadily advancing.

[STAGE 5]

- Time until start: 3 hours

Hell.

Towards this monstrous front, a living, breathing hell... was approaching.

And now, it was right before our eyes.