Chapter 377
The supply troops of Luswena cautiously escorted the wagons, moving slowly along the uneven road. The back of the wagons was packed with crates, jostling constantly over the rough terrain of the Dead Lands.
A mounted officer rode alongside, eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly.
“Move slowly, but don’t stop!”
“Yes, sir!”
The muddy earth and scattered stones made progress difficult. One of the subordinates approached the officer with a suggestion.
“This path doesn’t seem right. Since these are supplies, shouldn’t we prioritize speed? We’re taking the longest detour through the Dead Lands.”
The route was inefficient, and more importantly, it was exhausting the soldiers. It seemed better to turn the horses’ heads now and head closer to Klipford.
“General, just a little further ahead is a fork leading to a northern path. To prevent further strain on the men and wear on the wagons, why not change course? The rear is falling behind, widening the gap and slowing us down.”
“No. We must circle as far from Klipford as possible. Her Highness Eriphoni said that Bariel intends to cut off trade with Luswena.”
Though the Foreign Ministry had sent a formal protest, no reply had come—and even if it did, it was unlikely to be reasonable.
“Bariel has caught wind of our supplies. Speed is important, but accuracy in delivery is paramount. Since pursuit is possible, we must take the roughest paths to stay hidden.”
Among the cargo were dragon scales and several materials essential for forging black armor.
The only relief was that, since they were sneaking through covertly, the load was light. Though a dozen large wagons moved in a line, considering this was a transaction between kingdoms, it was modest.
‘Her Highness clearly expects we might be discovered.’
The enemy had mages—those who swam through the sky like fish in water, easily spotting them. So Eriphoni had designed the supply route partly as a genuine path, partly as bait.
The general kept his men alert, urging them onward, while groans of fatigue echoed here and there.
“Squeak.”
“Whinny!”
“Damn horse, what’s wrong with you now?”
One soldier, frustrated by a stubborn horse refusing to move forward, yanked the reins.
But suddenly, it wasn’t just that horse—every beast in the column faltered, confused and unsettled.
As the procession slowed, the general turned sharply with a stern look.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. The animals won’t move.”
“All of them?”
“Yes, sir.”
Stepping down to the ground to investigate, the general felt a faint tremor beneath his feet. It was so subtle that only a keen sense could detect it—a minor earthquake.
“An earthquake.”
“An earthquake? We didn’t feel anything.”
“Let’s take a short break then. Ten minutes rest!”
“Ten minutes rest!”
At the order, the supply troops sighed wearily and collapsed onto the ground. They too felt the trembling.
“Ah, it’s real. The ground’s shaking.”
“Did an earthquake just happen nearby?”
“Not sure. Doesn’t seem like it.”
They twisted their stiff limbs and gazed up at the clear sky. None had expected war in their lifetime—even if it was between foreign lands like Burgos and Klipford.
From Luswena’s perspective, joining the conflict seemed only a matter of time. What would happen after completing this supply mission? Would they have to cross the Dead Lands again?
“I hope next time we can go through Klipford.”
“Wait, the rumbling’s getting louder.”
One soldier flattened himself against the ground, eyes wide. He was known for odd remarks, so his comrades rolled their eyes, expecting another strange comment.
But he muttered quietly:
“That’s the sound of hooves.”
Suddenly, a flash of light streaked across the sky.
Everyone jumped up in alarm, drawing their weapons. The beam of light stopped right above them—in the very spot where they stood.
“W-what is that…?”
It shimmered and rippled like a path walked by the gods themselves—so beautiful it was almost hypnotic.
While the soldiers stood dazed, the general snapped to attention, shouting sharply:
“Regroup! Move out quickly! Mages! Bariel’s mages!”
Only mages could create such phenomena. They had pinpointed the supply column’s location and were signaling someone.
At the general’s command, the men scrambled to their horses, placing the supply wagons at the front to set off first.
“Ride! Don’t stop! If you reach a fork, split up! Regroup at the supply point!”
“Yes, General!”
“Infantry, follow me!”
The glowing path in the sky stretched toward them. Suddenly, riders burst from the forest, leaping forward to block their way.
Clad in ornate, sturdy armor marked with blue insignia—clearly soldiers of Bariel.
As they appeared, Burgos soldiers charged, swinging swords to buy time for the supply wagons to escape.
“Bariel troops? What are you doing this far out?”
“The Crown Prince of the Great Empire Bariel sent us. There are those who seek to disrupt the order of Gaia Continent. You are Luswena’s supply troops?”
“Yes. We belong to Luswena!”
The general raised his hand, shouting. A yellow emblem was tied to his armor.
“We are not bandits, nor do we intend to bring chaos to Gaia. This aggressive confrontation is an insult and an attack on Luswena, and our king will take it most seriously!”
He demanded to know why they were being blocked without cause.
But the Bariel commander said nothing, quietly ordering a subordinate:
“Pursue the wagons. They won’t be fast. If they resist, kill them all. But we want to confirm Luswena and Burgos supply points, so shadow one wagon. Deal with them before they cross the border.”
“Yes, sir.”
As the Bariel soldiers gave chase, the Luswena general stepped forward, swinging his sword.
“Do you know who I am—!”
Swoosh!
Crack!
But then, from the forest, one last figure leapt forward. Tweller struck the general’s neck with an axe in a single blow, severing it halfway without the man even realizing.
Swish.
Blood spurted like a fountain as Tweller withdrew his axe. The startled horse bolted alone, and the soldiers were frozen in shock.
Their commander, armored head to toe, had been struck through a tiny opening in an instant—by that old man?
“Who are you?”
“G-guh…”
“I am Maxim Tweller, Minister of Imperial Defense. I’ll ask again—who are you?”
The general trembled, clutching his neck, looking up at Tweller. The bright light behind him cast his face in shadow.
Without a hint of mercy, Tweller gripped his axe handle again.
“Can’t answer? I’ll hear your name in the afterlife. By then, I’ll have stepped down from this post and will greet you properly.”
Swoosh!
Like chopping wood, Tweller brought the axe down hard. The general’s head fell with a thud. Tweller placed his foot on the severed head and stared at the trembling soldiers.
“If anyone wishes to surrender, I will accept it.”
“Eek!”
“A moment’s choice decides fate.”
“Ahhh!”
One of the general’s men charged, sword raised.
But Tweller’s subordinate blocked and countered, and after several exchanges, blood appeared on the blade—the Luswena soldier’s heart pierced.
That was the signal. The soldiers surged forward, some fleeing, others attacking, cries and groans filling the air.
“Spare me! Spare me!”
“Those who surrender will be spared! They are men who have lost their pride as soldiers! Kill all who resist! They will one day become Luswena’s strength and threaten Bariel! They have no right to live!”
Tweller wiped his bloodied axe clean and shouted.
The beam of light grew wider. Soon, a mage descended from the sky, surveying the chaos with pursed lips.
“Mage, may I come down? What if the wagons escape?”
“One wagon has overturned and stopped. The rest are heading west. Clear this area quickly and join the vanguard.”
The mages had been waiting for Bariel reinforcements, so those charging boldly were easy to identify. The mage ignored the rolling head of the fallen general.
“Shall we call those searching the other route here? It would be best to combine forces.”
Ian had no choice but to inquire about the minister’s intentions, since he was acting under orders from the Imperial Defense Minister. Tweller pondered quietly for a moment, then shook his head.
“I noticed earlier that there weren’t many carriages. They might be splitting up and moving separately. Let’s keep searching from our positions, but please inform your side that we’ve cut off their supply lines.”
“Yes, Minister. And please, feel free to speak informally.”
Though a mage, Tweller held the rank of minister. His unexpectedly formal demeanor made the mage feel somewhat uneasy. But the old man chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.
“Well, you see, in enemy territory, I prefer to keep everyone but my comrades at arm’s length.”
Despite being on the same side, he wasn’t part of the Imperial Defense Department, so he wouldn’t let down his guard.
What a strange old man, the mage thought, shrugging his shoulders as he took to the sky once more.
“Keep following the light. I’ll update the others on the situation. What about cleaning up here?”
“This is dead land. What harm could a few scattered corpses do? We’ll check if they’re carrying anything of value, then pursue immediately.”
“Understood.”
The mage vanished, and Tweller quickly surveyed the blood-soaked ground. The surrendered soldiers were trembling, their faces pressed into the dirt. He nodded to his men to handle the cleanup, then mounted his horse again.
“Everyone else, follow me! We’ll track the carriages. That light in the sky marks our path. No getting lost, no delays. Let’s move!”
“Yes, Minister!”
Clack-clack!
They turned their horses toward the light the mage had indicated, crouching low to pick up speed.
Though half their forces were tied up with cleanup, Tweller didn’t mind. The mage was with them, and reinforcements were nearby if needed.
More than anything, his instincts blazed with excitement—the heightened senses that always came with the thrill of victory. The old man laughed heartily, and those who followed him smiled at the sound.
In the distance, the overturned carriage the mage had mentioned came into view.
“Good news!”
A soldier came running, breathless.
Ian and Prince Noah both turned their heads simultaneously. As Akorella opened her mouth to warn him to be careful, Beric stopped her by slipping a grape into her mouth.
“What is it?”
“Bariel’s reinforcements have crossed the Cliford border. Their momentum was like a storm—our soldiers were all amazed. We should be hearing back soon about the supply line front as well. Sir Ian, the palace asked me to be sure to pass along their thanks.”
The soldier bowed deeply, and Ian simply turned his head with a faint smile. It wasn’t out of kindness, but gratitude.
“Tell the palace this was a rightful decision made by His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, for the future of Bariel, Cliford, and Gaia as a whole. By the way, if Bariel and Luswena clash, then the real fight begins.”
“The real fight? Ian, what do you mean?”
Beric asked, and Ian raised an eyebrow as if the answer were obvious.
“From Luswena’s perspective, this is basically an unprovoked attack. They’ll claim it was a preemptive strike to justify their cause. The full-scale conflict among the four nations is about to start. From now on, there won’t even be time to eat, Beric.”
Beric froze, startled by Ian’s words.
Then, frantically busy hands began moving. Akorella tried to grab some food, but Beric snatched it away, stuffing his cheeks and chewing voraciously.