Chapter 362
Prince Noah urged his horse forward fiercely, cutting through the Burgos camp like a whirlwind.
Swords and spears jutted out here and there, but with Mei and his loyal guards shielding him, he deftly parried every strike. In a flash, he charged in, then retreated just as swiftly, moving with remarkable agility.
Though his followers were few, they were comrades who had stood by him their entire lives. Without a word, they understood his intentions, protecting each other’s backs as if they were their own, drawing no line between “you” and “me” when it came to their lives.
“Mei! Fall back!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Back into the forest!”
“Block their path! Target the horses’ legs!”
“Bring ropes! Tie them along the camp! Don’t let them escape!”
Swish!
Clang! Clang!
Noah’s small, elite squad had a simple, unwavering goal: disrupt the rear of the enemy camp. Smash tents, trample soldiers, and draw their attention backward, creating an opening for the Cliffford forces at the front.
“Retreat!”
Noah’s intimate knowledge of the terrain was a huge advantage. They’d slip into the forest, and while the enemy scrambled, they’d strike again from another side.
At Noah’s command, his tightly packed troops turned their horses and prepared to flee. Their opponents were a ragtag bunch; they were confident they could slip away without trouble. Gripping the reins tightly, they urged their horses forward.
Screeeech.
Thud.
Until they suddenly came face to face with a strange, monstrous creature blocking their path.
The stench of rotting flesh and decay filled the air, making it hard to breathe. The Burgos soldiers, who had been charging fiercely, faltered and stepped back.
“Wow, Your Highness… what is that thing?”
“…Looks like a monster.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s… unnatural.”
The path opened up. The monster’s appearance caused the soldiers to part left and right, creating a gap. If they dashed through now, they could escape into the forest—but the hulking beast standing stubbornly in their way made movement difficult.
It had the head of a lizard and a body resembling a bear, covered in grotesque, thorny spikes that looked like they’d rot anything they touched.
“Prince, what do we do? Should we break through?”
“……”
“Your Highness!”
Mei urged him. Noah stood still, watching the enemy. The creature seemed slow despite its size. Maybe if they charged straight through, they could slip past without issue.
But Noah shook his head, sensing the tension around him. Even the Burgos soldiers weren’t approaching the monster. That meant even Noah’s forces couldn’t overcome it.
“We’ll break through the camp and circle around the other side.”
“That’s impossible. There are too many of them.”
“Prince, let me try crossing the monster first. Follow me.”
“No! Wait!”
“If we stay here, we’ll all die!”
“Order! Hold your position!”
“Sorry, Your Highness!”
One of the soldiers spurred his horse toward the monster.
The creature’s rotten eyes darted around, but it stood still, seemingly dull-witted. Sweat dripped from the soldier’s hands gripping the reins, but he was too tense to notice. As he drew closer, the monster remained motionless. Maybe he could get past it…
Snap!
Screech!
“Ahhh!”
In an instant, the monster’s jaws snapped open vertically. A massive tongue shot out, snatching the soldier by the nape of his neck.
The horse reared and screamed, bolting past the monster into the forest. The soldier flailed in midair, swinging his sword with his free hand at the tongue. The sticky liquid only made his movements sluggish, thickening with every strike.
“Ugh—!”
Noah raised his sword and charged the monster. He aimed to sever the tongue in one clean cut, but the blade only sank halfway before stopping.
The monster dangled Noah’s sword from its tongue, tightening its grip on the soldier’s neck as it swayed side to side. Noah could only watch helplessly as the soldier’s trembling fingers twitched.
“Prince! There’s a sword here!”
“One more strike should do it!”
“We’re with you! Hold on just a little longer!”
Other comrades threw their swords to Noah and charged together. The tongue was half severed; a few more strikes and it should come free.
But the monster slowly lifted its head and flexed its tongue with eerie grace. It was as large as a carriage. Raising its head, it flicked its tongue upward—too high to reach.
Trapped, unable to advance or retreat, Noah bit his lip as he met the gazes of his soldiers.
“They’re not attacking us. The Burgos general must have realized who I am. They’ve probably been ordered to capture me alive.”
If he were to be taken prisoner, he’d rather die for Cliffford. Gripping his sword tighter, Noah charged the monster again, while Mei muttered quietly.
“A corpse-like monster… Burgos…”
Necromancy!
Burgos, bordering the northern Gaia continent, was known for its many sorcerers. This must be the result of necromancy. If so, there must be someone controlling it—and if they took out that person, the monster would fall.
Mei quickly scanned their surroundings. Burgos soldiers watched them with swords and spears raised, slowly tightening the encirclement. Amid the trained movements, Mei searched for anyone who stood out.
There was no way the controller would be openly wielding a weapon like a regular soldier, yet they were opposing Prince Noah and commanding the monster. They must be standing still somewhere…
“There!”
Mei spotted a figure in black among the Burgos soldiers, standing still with hands clasped.
Without hesitation, Mei drew her bow and pulled the string.
Fwee!
The man flinched, stepping back as if realizing he’d been targeted. At the same moment, the monster’s movements faltered slightly. Noah glanced back to see Mei still aiming her arrow.
“Mei!”
“There’s the necromancer! I’ll keep targeting him—Prince, get past the monster and move forward!”
“Why are you acting on your own? You’re coming with me!”
“I can’t help it! I’m a citizen of Cliffford—!”
Fwee! Ping!
A Burgos officer, realizing the necromancer’s position was compromised, signaled his soldiers. It would be easier and cleaner to kill everyone except Prince Noah.
The soldiers, who had been holding their weapons in check, began advancing step by step.
“Noah, you’re the prince of this land! You are Cliffford!”
Mei fired arrow after arrow without pause—quick and precise. The necromancer’s figure gradually disappeared amid the oncoming soldiers.
“Noah, hurry! Return to the palace!”
“Mei!”
“Damn it, listen to me! At least now!”
A loyal subordinate, a childhood friend, one of the few who shared the curse of the beastkin.
Noah watched the sweat trickle down Mei’s chin as he slowly stepped back. His comrades, acknowledging the difficulty of fighting the monster, shouted in unison.
“Your Highness! Let’s go!”
The comrade caught by the monster’s tongue was already limp. Further resistance was pointless. The soldiers urged the prince onward, and Noah clenched his teeth, twisting his body.
The monster lunged to attack, but its accuracy faltered, and its movements were clumsy. The necromancer’s attention had wavered.
“Ah.”
Mei, reaching for an arrow, froze. Her quiver was empty. Seeing Noah pass beside the monster, she didn’t hesitate—she drew her sword and charged into the enemy ranks.
Wheeeeee!
Boom! Bang!
“Block her! Raise your shields!”
“Kill her! She must die!”
“Target the horses first!”
The soldiers unleashed a barrage of attacks on the horses’ necks and legs. The startled horses reared wildly, knocking down soldiers trying to seize them.
Mei fought back fiercely, biting down hard as she tried to break through the crowd toward the necromancer. But it was no use. She parried blow after blow, feeling her strength wane, sensing this might be her end.
“Hurry and chase after Prince Noah! The mages are coming!”
“Two mages spotted ahead!”
“No hostile action yet!”
As the officer and soldiers guarding the necromancer shouted orders, the man dropped his clasped hands, frowning as he questioned the officer.
“…Mages?”
“Keep going! Prince Noah is escaping!”
“Mages here? I thought Cliffford had none. Explain this.”
“Is that important now!? Move the monster, damn it!”
The officer barked, but the young man firmly lowered his hand, signaling he wouldn’t cooperate without an explanation.
“You’re from a border tribe, yet you disobey orders? How much funding did Burgos send to Astana, and this is how you repay us? If you don’t want me to hold you accountable, then—”
“Astana joined this war knowing it was against Burgos! But why are there mages here? Don’t I deserve an explanation?”
“That can wait! Hurry! Damn it, you—!”
Screeech!
The officer, seething with anger, slapped the commander sorcerer across the face, and the young man collapsed forward, limp. From his disheveled nape, a flash of red gemstone peeked out, revealing the dense scars hidden beneath his hair. There was a large wound on his neck, the needle marks still clearly visible.
The youth glared at the officer, clutching his cheek.
“I am the heir of Astana. How dare you—”
“Don’t you know military law takes precedence during wartime? Prince Noah, the enemy commander, is fleeing, and you’re not cooperating? Damn it. Enough of this. Guards!”
The officer barked orders irritably, trying to defuse the situation. Just as the commander sorcerer staggered to his feet—
Boom! Crash!
Explosions thundered from the front lines, shaking the earth and sending soldiers who had been standing still sprawling backward.
Everyone turned toward the smoke, wondering what had happened.
“Huh.”
Two mages hovering high above to survey the battlefield froze. Had their eyes deceived them in the dimming light? It looked like Beric had just been swallowed by a monster.
They exchanged glances, then silently debated what to do. They knew almost nothing about these synthetic monsters. Without Ian’s orders or a plan, was it wise to act rashly? Besides, if Beric was already dead, there was no point in trying to kill the creature.
The Cliffford and Burgos forces were about to clash and become entangled, making it hard to predict the best course of action.
“Should we try to save Beric?”
“Hmm. I don’t know.”
Of course, they should save him. But for some reason, they hesitated.
“What if attacking the monster just makes things worse for Beric?”
“Still, he doesn’t seem like someone who’d just die easily…”
“Well, we have to do something. Otherwise, Beric’s going to throw a fit later, blaming us for not saving him.”
True enough. The two mages began drawing magic circles, preparing to unleash their offensive spells.
Suddenly—
A bulge appeared on Bergman’s left side. Then the right. Then the left again. It was clear Beric was causing chaos from inside.
“Looks like it’s tough to tear him apart from the outside. Maybe we should help from the inside…”
“Huh?”
Bergman’s belly swelled rapidly, ballooning as if about to burst. Then, with a loud pop, it exploded.
Boom!
“Ah, damn it! Ughhh!”
Beric’s face peeked out from the hole in the creature’s belly, followed by a torrent of curses and violent retching.
Despite the gaping wound, the synthetic monster kept moving without issue. Tief’s tongue slithered toward Beric’s neck, trying to snatch him.
“Beric! The tongue’s coming again!”
“That smell’s fucking disgusting, you crazy bastards! This thing—ugh, puke, damn it, I’m gonna fucking kill—ugh!”
He looked terrible. The mages frowned, puzzled, as Tief’s tongue darted again toward the torn belly.
Then Beric lifted something.
“Wait, why the hell is there a human head inside here? I kissed this guy, damn it—ugh!”
It was a severed human head. The mages immediately recognized it as the core and shouted.
“Beric! Blow it up!”
“Fuck, you do it!”
“Are you crazy? Hurry up!”
Beric crawled out of the belly, wiping his mouth, then drew a dagger and plunged it into the head.
Crack!
Tief’s tongue, which had reached Beric’s neck, went limp, and the massive synthetic monster collapsed sideways. The soldiers staggered back, disbelief written all over their faces.
Beric kept retching violently, shouting,
“You bastards! You’re all dead—ugh!”