Chapter 184: Destruction of the Fortress II

At this moment, Killian and the others were already in front of the door that led to the kitchen.

However, one of the burly men who disguised himself as a customer earlier leaped through the bar and launched his huge body towards them.

"You’re not going anywhe—"

Woosh— Shukkk!!!

Before the burly man finished his words, a knife flew through the air and pierced his temple.

This scene caused Killian to flinch.

"Faster!"

They looked in the direction of the voice and saw an old man standing at the kitchen doorway.

The three of them immediately continued running.

Thud—!!

The old man slammed the door closed and locked it as he pointed towards the door at the other side of the kitchen area.

"You can escape from there!"

Killian and Pandora immediately ran, while Aurelia asked with a hesitant voice, "How about you?"

"Oh, don’t worry about us. We’re just a bunch of retired soldiers with no family to return to. We’ll take care of this for you."

"Right, it’s children like you who are the future of the kingdom."

"Go on and help the commander!"

"Yeah, we got this."

...

The other old men who were wearing aprons all chimed in with a smile on their faces.

However, the determination and bravery in their eyes could not be hidden by their friendly demeanor.

At this moment, the old man who opened the door for them spoke, "Oh, right! The voice in our head earlier said that you little fellas must get to the Command Hall, so what are ya’ll still standing here for? Go on!"

"But...!"

Aurelia was not able to finish her words as she was dragged along by Pandora.

"We can’t let their sacrifices be for nothing. We’ll have a chance to help them the earlier we get to meet your uncle."

Killian also chimed in, "They’re distracting the demonic humans, so let’s hope that we won’t meet much on the way."

"Mhm!" Aurelia bit her lips, steeling herself, ’I can’t just let myself slow them down.’

The three of them then made their way through each of the streets in the direction of the Command Hall while fighting stray demonic humans that littered the way.

***

Meanwhile, at the Command Hall...

"What’s the meaning of this!?"

Splurtttt—

Larkson coughed up blood as he glared at the ten or so hooded figures before him.

"What do you mean?"

The hooded figure with the most stars shining on his chest replied.

Hearing his words, Larkson squinted his eyes, ’He’s at the Three Star Realm like me...’

Coupled with the others that ranged from the Early Stage to the Peak Stage of the Two Star Realm.

"I thought the ’Night of Redemption’ would only begin when I handed over my niece to you? That was the deal!" Larkson shouted as his eyes scanned over his enemies.

’13 Two Star Realms, six at the Early Stage, four at the Middle Stage, two at the Late Stage, and one at the Peak Stage... as well as a Three Star Realm Warrior at the Early Stage.’

His thoughts surged with various strategies as he clutched the wound on his stomach, making him grimace.

’I could have dealt with them if I weren’t poisoned...’

Larkson said inwardly as he felt a stinging pain and numbing sensation that slowly spread through the wounds.

Just a few minutes earlier, he had been planning to dispose of the corpses of the demonic humans he had killed after Regis had incapacitated them.

However, he was suddenly ambushed out of nowhere.

At this moment, the hooded figure answered his question, "Well, to be honest... did you really trust demonic humans like us? Besides, don’t you think we won’t notice that our members have decreased?"

"Is that so..." Larkso did not comment any further.

"Pffft!" The hooded figure laughed, "Are you really trying to buy time? I wouldn’t recommend it— the poison on that dart is a rather potent paralytic."

"Oh!"

As if an idea struck him, the hooded figure said, "We also sent our guards to the inn. Of course, we made sure to tell them that they were only doing it under your orders."

However, Larkson’s reaction was different from what the hooded figure had imagined.

"Is that so? Then I can be relieved."

"Hm? Where’s this unreasonable confidence coming from?"

"You see, that inn is no ordinary inn." Larkson stretched both of his arms before cracking his neck.

"It’s an inn of my most trusted soldiers who spent their entire lives on the battlefield."

"Hu... I can finally go all out, knowing that my niece is safe."

The hooded figure chuckled, "Your bluff is quite obvious."

"We’ll see about that..."

[Bull Charge]

Three six-pointed stars shone on Larkson’s chest as he instantly arrived in front of the hooded figure whom he had just conversed with.

Before the hooded figure could react, he was met with a punch to his solar plexus along with a chant.

[Crater Fist]

The momentum of his dash added more force behind his already heavy punch.

Seeing his opponent freeze as he was lifted slightly by the punch, Larkson immediately spun his body around and delivered a kick to the hooded figure’s temple.

[Crater Kick]

BOOM—!!!

A sonic boom sounded as the hooded figure’s body shot towards a few of his allies.

The other hooded figures were all shocked at the sudden change in events that happened in the span of a second.

However, Larkson did not wait for them to react as he dashed again.

"Urgh!"

"Ow!"

"Euhkk!"

...

Groans of pain echoed around the room as Larkson took the opportunity to beat the demonic humans up.

’I shouldn’t let them regroup.’

’Since I’m stronger than them individually, I must capitalize on that advantage.’

However, he knew that even his sole advantage would not last for long as the numbing sensation spread throughout his body.

"How surprising. To think that you still have that much strength in you..."

At this moment, the hooded figure with the most stars, whom he had kicked away earlier, stood up as he dusted his robe.

Larkson grinned as he turned his head, "I knew that wouldn’t kill you."

He brushed his hair strands that covered his face due to excessive movement earlier, the blood and sweat in his palms stained his gray hair as he combed it with his hand back to its slicked-back style.

"Of course! I’m a Three Star like you, added to the fact that I’ve been blessed with the great Devil of Darkness and Sin!"

The hooded figure shouted with a fanatic voice as he took the mace that was on his back.

He then looked at the commander before him, who was already starting to pant, "You think you’re the only one with an aura art?"

The hooded figure smirked as he used both of his hands to rotate the mace.

[Revolving Impact]

The rotatory force of the mace caused a surge of wind as it struck towards Larkson.

"Tch."

Feeling the weakness in his knees, the commander did not have any choice but to block with his arms.

CRACK—

The sound of something breaking could be heard within the room.

At this moment, some of the hooded figures that had only been knocked out earlier started to rise.

Seeing this, Larkson could not help but grit his teeth, "Shit..."

Earlier, his punches were infused with the intent to kill, but the spreading weakness caused by the poison affected his strength.

’Even while using my aura to suppress the poison, it’s still spreading rapidly.’

"Ha! You must be feeling the poison now, huh?" The hooded figure at the Three Star Realm said in a mocking voice as he saw the change in his expression.

Aside from him, Larkson could see another five hooded figures surrounding him.

Seeing them rush towards him with their weapons, he no longer hesitated as he raised his hands.

"As if that will do any thi—"

Then, under the gaze of all the hooded figures, Larkson smashed his fist into the floor.

[Crater Fist]

BOOM—- CRACK—- RUMBLE!!!!

The third floor, where the commander’s office was situated, collapsed in its entirety.

Larkson did not waste any time and tackled the hooded figure.

Thud—

Straddling the hooded figure’s chest, he raised his fists and relentlessly pummeled his face.

"Argh!"

The hooded figure tried fighting back, but was unable to as Larkson immediately broke both his arms with his bare hands.

"What are you even going to do without your leader, huh!?"

Larkson shouted as he punched.

However, the hooded figure chuckled, "What do you mean leader?"

"The one whom you sent to visit me..." Feeling something amiss, he unconsciously stopped punching.

The hooded figure said with a laugh, "That was only the right hand of our leader. Our leader is currently meeting someone important."

"What do you mea—"

As if answering what Larkson was about to ask, something happened.

GONG— GONG— GONG— GONG!!!

An alarm bell rang out, its echoes reverberating through every corner of the fortress.

The hooded figure let out a boisterous laugh, "HAHAHA!! Finally!! That esteemed one has arrived—"

"Shut the fuck up!" Larkson broke the hooded figure’s neck before he could finish.

"That bell... It’s the East Gate’s Bell!"

The Bakurad Fortress has bells in each of its four gates.

The South Gate facing the direction of the Delimoro City.

And the East, West, and North Gates, which the endless Duskmire Grove surrounded at the foot of the Drakaroth Heights.

The direction of the bells reveals where the monster hordes were coming from.

However, before Larkson could further react...

GONG— GONG— GONG— GONG!!!

GONG— GONG— GONG— GONG!!!

...Two bells rang out simultaneously, their resonant tones nearly making the fortress walls tremble.

His pupils constricted at what this signified.

All three gates of the Bakurad Fortress were currently under attack.