TUK 30

Chapter 30

The red sky dyed by the setting sun looked as though the heavens had vomited blood.

With that sky behind them, thousands of soldiers trudged across the dusty wasteland, their boots stirring up clouds of dirt.

Normally, they would have marched later in the day, but to cross the forest that looked as though it had been spat out by a frozen mountain, they had to rest earlier than planned.

“Why waste our strength over a few monsters? Once we’re past that forest, there’s a marshland — we can rest comfortably there!”

“Keep moving! Once we’re through those woods, we’ll be in Azrion’s territory! Your spoils of war are waiting there — think only of victory!”

“Anyone who wants to lie with ghouls, stay here. I’ll permit that much!”

The commanders leading the army encouraged their weary men in their own ways.

Their words were half meant to silence any complaints. Not that the soldiers could complain even if they wanted to — not when the one riding at the center of the formation, where everyone could see, was Marquis Bueno Arzen himself.

He was surrounded by guards and aides — his very presence was enough to make everyone mind their tongues.

Especially since his adjutant, Brutu, was riding close by his side.

His skin was dark, his expression unreadable, his tall, solid frame encased in pitch-black armor that seemed to swallow the light. At night, he would probably blend into the shadows completely — though somehow, disgruntled soldiers always managed to sense his presence.

The moment anyone so much as frowned or let a hint of fatigue show, those reddish-brown eyes would turn toward them — glinting with murderous intent. That was enough to silence even the most dissatisfied.

Brutu knew this well. Which was why his attention was less on the trudging soldiers and more on the unseen — the things that might be lurking ahead.

And his unease finally broke the surface.

“I wonder if the Holy Blood of Molgrak is functioning properly.”

That so-called sacred relic — which he had handed to Emilio, claiming it was divine — was what troubled him most. The Shadow Unit had taken it with them into the Frozen Mountains, and Brutu hadn’t been able to shake off his concern since.

Molgrak, the Gatekeeper of the Northern Demonlands.

The bloodstain that clung to the sword fragment after his arm had been severed — even after sealing it in holy water, the thing had corrupted priests and nearly turned the entire church into a den of monsters.

And now, that cursed relic was in the hands of the Shadows. No wonder Brutu was uneasy.

“What makes you say that?” Arzen asked.

He often questioned Brutu when the latter made such remarks — sometimes they exposed holes in his own strategies.

Brutu understood that, and so he spoke honestly.

“I cannot rule out the possibility of betrayal from the Shadows. Should that happen, my lord, I fear you may face great danger when we pass through the forest.”

Arzen smiled faintly — a confident, knowing smile.

“Betrayal, you say? Do you think that’s even possible?”

Brutu tried to read the meaning behind that smug expression.

‘So, they can’t betray him? Because of the Holy Blood’s power?’

He recalled his past experiments — when they had used vagrants to test Molgrak’s blood.

The first to draw its demonic energy would become enslaved to it. Those nearby would suffer its influence, their minds decaying until they too became corrupted — bound, eventually, in a master–servant relationship with the one who held the relic.

So, rebellion was nearly impossible.

Even if someone tried to steal the blood, the moment they touched it without being its chosen wielder, they would die instantly — cursed to death as a sacrifice for the relic’s next master.

Anyone who witnessed that would never dare touch it again.

So yes — betrayal was unlikely.

‘But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible…’

After a pause, Brutu spoke again.

“If that man, Emilio, falls to the relic’s power and develops ambitions of his own—”

“Brutu,” Arzen interrupted, curling his lips in amusement. “You worry too much.”

His tone sliced through Brutu’s anxiety as if cutting it down.

“Even if the Shadows do betray me, they’ll only be dooming themselves. The moment treachery takes root in their hearts, the flame of the covenant will ignite — burning their tongues and throats until they die in agony. Unless they wish to see their families executed, betrayal won’t even cross their minds.”

Brutu finally understood.

Arzen had accounted for everything — he had handed over the relic knowing that even if betrayal came, it could not harm him.

It made sense — though the unease in Brutu’s chest did not fully fade.

And that unease grew stronger as they entered the forest.

‘What is it… what’s making me so uneasy?’

He couldn’t find the answer. Then, suddenly, a chilling thought struck him.

‘What if the Holy Blood of Molgrak is captured by the enemy?’

According to their intel, no knights guarded this route — but the Shadows had reported encountering five strong individuals in Azrion, each said to be on par with the knight Gerrard.

They weren’t knights, but powerful nonetheless.

Still, could even five of them break through a horde of monsters as dense as a living wall?

Even if they did, anyone who grabbed the relic without the rite would die instantly. Who would dare use it after witnessing that?

‘Yes… Marquis Arzen is right. It’s needless worry. Even in the worst case, I’m here — defeat is not an option.’

As darkness deepened, Brutu pressed on through the forest, its shadows thickening like ink.

Step, step—

Thousands of soldiers marched, trying to muffle their footsteps. Only a handful carried torches — a few dozen among three hundred at the vanguard.

The rest followed those faint lights like beacons. They had to minimize the glow, in case Azrion scouts were nearby.

Grrrrr…

Drawn by the light, ghouls awoke and crept toward the soldiers — sluggish at first, then quickening, eager for fresh flesh.

Slash! Crack!

The soldiers beheaded them easily — once the head was cut, the ghoul became a corpse again.

They all knew that much, and knew the creatures weren’t a true threat. Still, endless fighting wore on even the strongest men.

“Damn, there’s so many of them! Feels like every ghoul in this forest’s coming for us.”

“Ugh… we should rotate the front line soon.”

“Wait… doesn’t it feel colder? Creepy even?”

“Yeah… and what’s that ahead? Fog?”

The soldiers of the Roden Empire sensed something strange — which meant it was already too late.

Rumble…!

The ground shook violently. One soldier with sharp night vision looked up — and saw black clouds rolling toward them like a living tide.

“M–Monsters! The monsters are coming!!”

The cry reached Brutu. His worst fear had just come true — his expression hardened.

Arzen, too, felt it — the trembling earth, the chill wind, the oppressive force sweeping through the dark.

‘Impossible! Betrayal can’t happen!’

The Shadows couldn’t have summoned the monsters — their tongues would have been burned from their mouths.

Then it had to be Azrion’s doing.

“Find it!! Retrieve the Holy Blood!!”

“At once, my lord!”

Brutu leapt from his horse at Arzen’s command — his body surrounded in blue aura as he dashed forward.

‘So it wasn’t a lie after all.’

Rian walked through the forest path, where night had fallen faster than outside.

Far ahead, faint torches flickered — the enemy’s army.

He’d heard that the Empire’s main force was descending this way, but from the lights, their numbers didn’t seem too large. Perhaps it was a trick.

‘Whatever the case, my priority is to unleash the monsters and pit them against the Imperial troops.’

Click—

He twisted the golden clasp on the artifact in his hand.

He’d been practicing its use — adjusting the range of its protective field. Each turn sent a sickly energy crawling over his skin, which still made him uneasy.

But now, he could manipulate it without flinching.

Rumble…

The monsters retreated slightly as the artifact’s field expanded. The ghouls, no longer restrained, turned toward the Imperial army instead.

He heard the faint sounds of ghouls being cut down. No screams — meaning the soldiers could handle them easily enough.

Click—

Rian twisted the clasp again, drawing closer. Soon, frost wolves burst from the frontlines, charging the Empire’s soldiers.

Behind them came the lycanthropes and trolls, pounding the ground as they followed the wolves into battle.

Thud, thud, thud—!

Rian sprinted with the monsters, knowing from experience that they fought most fiercely when enemies entered the artifact’s range.

But he couldn’t get any closer.

Then—

He caught sight of someone — a warrior, cloaked in blue aura — charging straight toward the monsters.

Rian ducked behind a tree, hiding his presence.

‘A knight? But why here? The canyon front should still be holding.’

He hadn’t considered that possibility — not when two of the Pentagram Knights were guarding that area.

If the canyon had fallen, the Imperial commander wouldn’t have brought his main force through this forest instead.

So why was a knight here?

Rustle—

Rian crouched deeper in the brush, watching carefully.

“Argh! Help me!”

“Don’t let them through! Protect the Marquis!!”

“Hold the line!!”

The faint light of the torches suddenly flared, illuminating thousands of soldiers — and the dark silhouettes of monsters ripping and crushing them.

And among them, the knight with the blue aura cut through wolves, trolls, and lycans alike — parting the black tide as he advanced toward something unseen.

‘Just one knight.’

Lucky, perhaps.

If he’d brought a full squad, the monsters might’ve been wiped out already.

But his movements — they weren’t random. He was searching for something.

Rian’s heart sank.

“He knows about the artifact.”

The knight was approaching — the artifact’s protection field reacting faintly.

But Rian didn’t deactivate it.

He’d brought the monsters here to destroy both the Imperial army and themselves — to reduce both sides’ numbers.

‘Just a little longer.’

He waited silently in the underbrush.

If the knight could sense the artifact, hiding would be useless anyway.

But from how he was moving — searching aimlessly, getting further away — it seemed he couldn’t directly see the artifact’s energy, unlike Rian.

‘Good. Fighting him would only mean death. Better to stay hidden — I can’t afford to lose this.’

But then—

Swish—!

Someone darted toward him at incredible speed.