Episode 306
“That’s quite a lot.”
As Zeke ventured into the canyon, leaving the autonomous zone behind, he couldn’t help but be taken aback by the sheer number of monsters gathered in packs. Even in the Giant Mountain Range, known as a monster haven, he had never seen such a diverse array of creatures congregating together.
What was even more peculiar was that monsters, typically natural enemies, were roaming together in harmony.
“Even if they’re under some kind of mind control, this is beyond strange.”
Zeke felt the need to investigate the canyon before heading to the isolated old fortress. As he stealthily moved deeper into the canyon, he observed the frenzied monsters wandering in small groups, aimlessly prowling the area.
A low growl rumbled through the air.
Up close, Zeke noticed something odd about the monsters. They weren’t ordinary.
“These guys… they’re not your typical monsters, are they?”
From a distance, he had only seen them as a mass, but now he could see their appearances were different from the usual. Orcs, typically with dark green skin, displayed a variety of colors here. Some had blue skin, and others even pink.
After some thought, Zeke decided to cautiously summon Richmond.
A low hum resonated as Richmond emerged from Zeke’s shadow.
“What can I do for you, Master?”
Zeke pointed towards the monsters in the canyon. “Richmond, take a look at those creatures.”
Richmond examined the monsters and gasped in surprise. “Master… those are…”
“Do you recognize them?”
Richmond nodded, eyes gleaming with curiosity. “These monsters… I’ve only seen them in records. They were summoned from the demon realm during the Demon King’s invasion in the era of the Hero King.”
“Summoned from the demon realm?”
Zeke couldn’t fathom why monsters that had perished over two thousand years ago were suddenly appearing in this canyon.
Richmond’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the pink-skinned orc. “Wow, that species is incredibly rare… Master, can I catch one?”
“If you do, you’ll have every other monster in the canyon on your tail.”
Richmond pouted at Zeke’s response, but Zeke ignored him, focusing on the ancient monsters that seemed to number in the hundreds.
“So, do you think the Empire has summoned these monsters from the demon realm again?”
Richmond hesitated before shaking his head. “Summoning monsters or demons from the demon realm requires the same amount of power. If it were possible, they would have summoned demons instead.”
“You’re saying it’s inefficient.”
“Exactly. Back then, it was more about summoning lower demons who brought their monsters along.”
“Then how did these creatures end up here?”
Richmond scratched his head. “The most likely scenario is… they were sealed away after crossing over back then and have now awakened.”
Zeke felt a sense of clarity from Richmond’s explanation.
“They did retrieve the orcs from the Forest of the Forgotten. There’s no reason they couldn’t do the same with monsters.”
It was possible that the Empire had retrieved ancient monsters from the Forest of the Forgotten, brainwashed them with stimulants, and stationed them throughout the ghetto region.
“The Forest of the Forgotten isn’t far from here. The Empire would definitely be capable of such a scheme.”
Zeke knew the Empire well enough to understand that unleashing a legion of ancient monsters to sow chaos in enemy territory was entirely within their capabilities.
One thing puzzled him, though: in his previous life, the Empire hadn’t used monsters to isolate their enemies.
“Did something change because I came back?”
Using high-risk monsters carried its own dangers. Perhaps, with many of their plans disrupted by Zeke, the Empire had resorted to this risky backup plan.
Zeke sent Richmond back and decided to further investigate the canyon. Contrary to his expectations, there was nothing but frenzied monsters inside.
“Are they planning to gradually pressure us by deploying monsters?”
The ghetto region bordered Delphoa, Alencia, and Baranaon. After subduing the Joins, if they moved these monsters to the next invasion point, it would give the Empire’s peacekeeping forces a pretext to enter those territories.
It was clear the Empire intended to swallow the entire central continent with such tactics.
“Those despicable bastards. Whoever came up with this plan is truly ruthless.”
Leaving the monster-filled canyon, Zeke turned his attention to the path leading to the old fortress. For now, he had no choice but to leave the monsters and head to the fortress. If he acted rashly and the Empire caught wind of his movements, Abel might not show himself.
Zeke set off towards the isolated old fortress.
Helen Draker etched another mark on the wall of the fortress. Today marked the 35th day since they had been trapped there.
“We’re running out of food.”
Helen’s expression was grim as she faced the reality of being stuck in the fortress for weeks. When she had entered the ghetto region with a letter from Kali, the Crouching Flame’s Song and Crossstel’s Big Joe had been wary.
After much persuasion, they agreed to meet at the old fortress within the ghetto region. Helen, accompanied by a few knights, the Joins led by the Crouching Flame’s Song, and Crossstel’s beastman gangsters brought by Big Joe, gathered at the fortress.
Just as the meeting was about to begin, high-risk monsters suddenly appeared. A horde of monsters, seemingly from nowhere, attacked the fortress.
Helen, the Joins, and Crossstel managed to fend off the initial assault, but the attacks didn’t stop. They struggled to hold the fortress against the relentless waves of monsters.
The fortress, meant for a meeting, had no food stores. They resorted to eating their horses and drinking filtered water from an old, contaminated well. They used every means possible to survive, but their strength and morale were waning.
The Joins and beastmen, who required more food than humans, found it especially hard to endure. They even resorted to catching rats and lizards within the fortress, but even that had its limits.
“We have to hold out until help arrives.”
The problem was the Empire’s forces stationed outside the ghetto region. Calling themselves peacekeepers, they used the presence of high-risk monsters as an excuse to block entry into the ghetto.
If Kali’s knights, Crossstel’s gangsters, or the Joins tried to force their way in, the Empire would seize the opportunity to justify entering the ghetto themselves.
Helen chewed on a piece of dried meat, savoring it as long as possible before swallowing. It barely eased her hunger, but she knew they couldn’t hold out like this forever.
Just then, a voice called out.
“Commander, something’s approaching from the front.”
Helen climbed to the top of the fortress wall. Through the mass of monsters gathered behind the fortress, something was charging towards them.
“What is that?”
To her surprise, a lone knight on horseback was cutting through the monsters with a massive sword, heading straight for the fortress.
With each swing of his sword, the monsters blocking his path were sliced apart. The knight, moving like a storm, soon reached the fortress gates.
He shouted up to them, “I bring a message from Kali Draker!”
Helen recognized the voice immediately.
“Zeke?”
Zeke had fought his way through the monsters to reach them. Helen hurried down from the wall to open the fortress gate.
The beastmen guarding the gate stood up, blocking her path.
“Hey, humans. You’d better stay put.”
The beastman gangsters, twice Helen’s size, blocked her way, but the knights of the Steel Order stepped forward.
“He’s a knight with a message from Kali Draker! Open the gate!”
The gangsters spat on the ground. “How do we know he’s not one of the Empire’s lackeys? And what if opening the gate lets the monsters in?”
Everyone was on edge, their nerves frayed from hunger.
Helen stepped forward, dismissing the knights. “The knight outside is my kin. I guarantee he’s not an enemy. Open the gate.”
The beastmen hesitated at the words of Helen Draker, known as the Steel Knight. They knew well enough not to underestimate her strength, despite her smaller stature.
Just then, a large tiger beastman, who had been lounging at the back, slowly stood up.
“Damn it, I’m starving enough to die, and now this nonsense, humans.”
The tiger beastman, larger than the others and dressed like a mercenary, cracked his neck and looked at Helen.
“Hey, human girl. If you don’t want to get hurt, step aside. I’m not in the best mood right now, and I’m starving.”
The tiger beastman, a formidable enforcer for the Crosstel gang, possessed strength and agility that could easily overpower most knights.
Helen faced the enforcer and spoke firmly.
“Open the door. Or else…”
“Or else what? What are you going to do about it?”
The tiger beastman bared his teeth, his eyes glinting with a predatory light.
Helen, unfazed, reached for the Dragon Buster strapped to her back. She had to open that door, knowing who was outside.
Seeing her grip the Dragon Buster, the other beastmen behind the enforcer hesitated.
“C-Captain, are we really going to fight? Big Joe told us never to fight among ourselves.”
The enforcer shot them a glare. “Big Joe, huh? Arrogant human girl, perfect timing. I’m hungry enough to take a bite out of your arm.”
As he extended his claws and advanced, Helen drew her Dragon Buster, ready to face him.
The beastman lunged first, his attack swift and powerful, leveraging his natural agility.
Crash!
Helen blocked the onslaught with her Dragon Buster, holding her ground.
Whoosh!
She swung the weapon at the tiger beastman, forcing him to retreat, baring his teeth in a menacing snarl.
“You dare… I’ll tear off more than just an arm—”
Thud!
Before he could finish, a sword descended from above, striking him mid-air and sending him flying.
Boom!
The enforcer tumbled like a puppet with its strings cut, crashing into the fortress wall.
Thud!
The knight who had dispatched the tiger beastman with a single blow rose to his feet. The other beastmen gaped in disbelief.
“Impossible… How did he leap over the wall…?”
Zeke, having removed his helmet, glared at the beastman embedded in the wall with fierce eyes.
“How dare you raise those filthy claws against my sister.”
He turned to the other beastmen, his gaze sharp and commanding.
“My name is Zeke Draker, master of the Black Sword Order and representative of Kali Draker.”
His eyes flashed with intensity.
“Go fetch the Song of the Crouching Flame and Big Joe.”