Chapter 259 : The Truth Within Reach

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Truth Within Reach

"As expected, all the clues are now connected."

The true form of those monsters was, in fact, ogres, created by the 'Adolf' mentioned by Morzada. Adolf was the mastermind behind everything, and now it was time to consider how to deal with them.

But how should she take action? If she launched an open attack now, it would undoubtedly provoke Maregof and his allies to unite against her, so...

"Report, Your Majesty. Raven has brought back intelligence—there have been sightings of those monsters in the southwestern part of the jungle."

"Do you have the exact location and details?"

"Yes. The location is two kilometers north of the Makaria beastman tribe, and the number is... 150!"

"!!!"

Serea was shocked. One hundred fifty of these monsters could probably match the full power of her Skeleton Warrior unit and blood slave unit. What was the purpose of such a powerful group appearing there?

While she was still puzzled, Vina came walking in.

"New information—those monsters have launched a surprise attack on the Makaria beastman tribe."

"What!"

Logically, wasn't the Makaria beastman tribe an ally of Maregof? Why would he attack his own allied tribe?

A torrent of doubts surged in her mind, and Serea was sure there was something fishy going on.

"How many units do we have available to act right now?"

"The Skeleton Warrior unit and the wolf rider unit are on standby at any time."

"Form a team of 50 from the two units. Head to the southwest jungle to scout out the situation, but do your utmost to avoid any direct confrontation with the enemy."

"Understood."

Serea acted swiftly, while, on the other side, the Makaria tribe was already engulfed in flames of war.

...

"Ahhhh!"

The beastmen fell to the ground one after another, wailing in misery, and with each fallen corpse, a mass of unknown energy would flood into the gemstone embedded in the monster's chest.

"Awoo!"

The tribe's walls were breached, and the monsters charged into the camp. With absolute superiority in attributes and level, the Makaria beastmen were routed with no hope of resistance.

"Who are you? Why are you doing this?!"

The tribe's chief watched helplessly as his tribespeople met a miserable end, his eyes bloodshot with tangled blood veins. The monsters ignored his question; claws and tentacles pierced through beastman after beastman, slaughtering them without mercy.

"You demons! I'll fight you with everything I have!"

Watching his tribespeople die tragic deaths, a beastman launched into Rage and charged at the monsters. After cutting down two of them, his own chest was pierced through by a tentacle.

"Brother!"

Stro roared in grief and anger, but before he could charge out, several beastmen held him back.

"Clan Chief, go now. The warriors can't hold them for long!"

"Are you telling me to abandon my people and run?"

"The enemy is too strong. Staying here means certain death."

"..."

"Go, now!"

They shoved Stro out forcefully, then the guards noticed several monsters charging, so they met them head-on to buy time.

"Clan Chief, come with us!"

A few beastmen forcefully dragged Stro out of the camp, but just as they rushed out, they saw that monsters had already set up an ambush ahead.

"For Makaria!"

Several guards activated Rage and fought desperately. Taking the opportunity, stro led more than twenty beastmen and darted frantically into the woods, while the hundreds left in the camp remained as a delaying force.

But as the fighting inside the camp ended, more monsters gave chase.

Battles and escapes played out repeatedly in the woods. From over twenty, the beastman guards dwindled to single digits. By the time the eastern sky began to lighten, stro was nearly within reach of the nearby "Eriwin dwarf tribe"—but then...

"Awoo!"

Ten monsters leapt out and blocked their path. Looking back, several dark shapes pursued from behind.

A dead end!

"Damn it!"

Stro yelled in fury, unable to figure out what he had done to deserve such an end.

Was it Serea?

With such evil power, as Maregof's enemy, Serea was the first suspect to come to Stro's mind.

"Lord Maregof will avenge me!"

There was no way to flee. Roaring with all his might, stro triggered Rage, ready for a desperate last stand. The remaining beastmen did the same. But at that moment...

"Charge!"

Aruka, taking the lead, burst out from the woods. The monsters turned toward the sound, only to meet the gleam of cold steel.

Slash!

A blade swept horizontally across the monster's chest, shattering the mysterious gemstone and the Erosion Demon together. One monster fell and lost all ability to fight.

Primal Awakening!

With Primal Awakening triggered, Aruka's speed soared, evading and striking in a blur faster than the naked eye could follow.

Two monsters, down!

"That guy..."

Stro was a little dazed. Why would he show up in a place like this?

That familiar figure and that punch flashed through Stro's mind. But when he saw that this person had actually come to help him, he felt a mix of complicated emotions. And Aruka's presence confirmed one thing: Serea was not the enemy.

Wolf riders coordinated with Skeleton Cavalry to attack, the two sides maneuvering back and forth. Little Black led the charge with Aruka through enemy lines, while Little White provided cover from a distance. Together with the beastmen in Rage, the battle was over in minutes. Seeing things turn against them, a few monsters tried to run but were quickly cut down by the wolf riders.

Once all the pursuing monsters were eliminated, Little Black stooped to pick up the gemstones from their chests.

"Why are you here?"

Stro asked.

"By order of Queen Serea, we're here to investigate possible threats."

"..."

Stro looked at Aruka. The shame from that day was still vivid in his memory, but after a moment of silence...

"Thank you."

"No need for that. It's dangerous here—let's move and talk later."

Stro agreed, but after only a few steps, his legs gave out and he fainted. The other beastmen looked extremely weak as well; the aftereffects of Rage and their wounds had brought them to the brink. It was a miracle they'd survived this long.

"Clan Chief, are you alright?"

Aruka ordered the werewolves to load the beastmen onto direwolves, and they all headed to the Darkmoon clan's camp.

...

Back at the camp, Serea sat upright in her wooden chair. With Beverly's defection, Adolf's plot, the monsters' sudden attack on the Makaria tribe—so many incidents kept her up all night.

"Have we found the monsters' whereabouts?"

"We have. They all went into an underground cavern in the heart of the Corrupted Jungle."

"Good. Have Raven keep them under surveillance."

After issuing her instructions, Serea rubbed her eyes wearily.

"Report, queen Serea! Aruka and Captain Little Black have returned."

"Bring them to me."

A few minutes later, Aruka and Little Black entered the treehouse.

"What's the situation?"

"The Makaria tribe was destroyed. Out of four hundred beastmen in the camp, only a hundred escaped; the rest were all slaughtered."

Massacre! Why? What could Maregof possibly gain from this?

"Any other findings?"

"Yes. I found these strange gemstones—Your Majesty, please take a look."

Little Black handed over a pale purple gemstone. Serea immediately used Appraise on it.

Curse Gemstone (Tier 3): A gemstone transformed from a mana crystal with special enchantments. It can absorb life force and souls, commonly used in Sacrifice rituals.

"Sacrifice..."

A sense of dread welled up in Serea's heart. It was clear Maregof intended to use these curse gemstones to absorb the life force and souls of the Makaria beastmen—for what purpose, though?

She was separated from the truth by just a thin veil. Serea pondered for a long while, but the answer still remained elusive.

Seeing Serea's troubled and confused expression, Lola, standing nearby, offered her advice.

"Queen, you haven't slept all night. Why not get some rest?"

"No, not yet. I must see this Stro first."

"But Your Majesty, your health—"

"I'm going now."

She strode out of the treehouse and headed straight for the infirmary. The others could only follow helplessly. Before they even reached the door, the sound of arguing came from inside.

"You're badly hurt, you must accept treatment."

"No, I must find Lord Maregof!"

"Wait!"

The elf couldn't stop Stro. Just as Serea was about to step inside, a beastman, staggering and stumbling, pushed the door open.

"It's you!"

Seeing Serea, stro was taken aback.

"Come back inside. I have some questions for you."

"There's no time. My tribespeople are still being hunted—I must beg Lord Maregof for help!"

"Your camp has been destroyed, the remaining tribespeople have been slaughtered, and the survivors have already gathered at the Eriwin dwarf tribe. What can you do by leaving now?"

Hearing this, stro lost control.

"No... Impossible! You're lying, it can't be true!"

"Hold him down."

Little Black and Aruka worked together to pin the injured Stro back onto the bed. After several minutes of enraged shouting, he gradually calmed down and his spirit faded.

"My... tribespeople... why... who did this..."

"It was Maregof."

Serea said calmly. Hearing this, stro's eyes widened.

"Impossible!"

"He colluded with outsiders to create those monsters. For some kind of Sacrifice ritual, he slaughtered your tribespeople. That's what my intel has shown."

"You're lying!"

Stro refused to believe it. Their revered Lord Maregof could never...

But Serea continued, "You know about the destruction of the Jawfang tribe, don't you? Their Clan Chief is in my camp right now. The monsters that attacked them are the same ones that attacked you. You can ask him for proof, and I have no reason to lie to someone so pitiful and 'homeless.'"

Every word Serea spoke hit home. Stro collapsed powerlessly onto the bed.

"But now, I'd ask one thing of you."

"..."

"The seriousness of this matter is beyond what either of us can bear. I want to summon a meeting of all the jungle tribes to discuss it. I'll need you to bear witness. That's all I have to say. Whether you stay here to recuperate or go to Eriwin to find your remaining tribespeople, I won't stop you."

With that, Serea turned and left.

The others followed, leaving Stro alone. Serea's words echoed endlessly in his mind.

"Queen, you're really planning to convene a jungle council?"

"Yes. As long as the other tribes see Maregof's true face, his alliance will fall apart."

"But with the evidence we have—"

"That's not a problem. I have my plans."

So, Serea made up her mind to act against Maregof, and the first step was the upcoming jungle council.

She summoned Lodran and discussed everything with him. Understanding the gravity of the situation, lodran immediately agreed to speak to his father, the "Eriwin dwarf tribe chief," and through him, gathering the other major tribes was not an issue.

After finishing all preparations, all that was left was to wait.

Still, knowing the enemy was plotting and yet being unable to act was truly the most frustrating feeling. But there was no choice—even here, in the jungle...

...

Morning came. After taking care of everything, Serea lay down on her big bed. Sleepiness crept up, but she just couldn't relax.

"Queen, can't you sleep?"

Lola stood at the bedside. With Celia and the rest out on missions and the other handmaidens also resting, only she remained.

"I'm just overthinking. Lying here for a while will be fine. Lola, you haven't slept all night either—go and get some rest."

"I'm fine. If you really can't sleep, I do know a way to help you."

"Oh?"

"Please wait here a moment, queen."

Lola left and soon returned with a wooden basin of steaming Spring of Life water. While Serea looked on in confusion, Lola soaked a piece of elven cloth and laid it gently on her forehead.

The soothing feeling from the touch of her fingertips against Serea's skin began to relax her mind.

"If it feels good, just close your eyes and enjoy, queen."

Following Lola's instructions, Serea slowly closed her eyes. Lola kept changing the cooling cloth, and her gentle fingers kept moving, massaging soothingly.

Gradually, Serea's breathing steadied as she drifted toward rest. As she gazed at the peaceful sleeping girl, Lola was entranced.

This mere sixteen-year-old girl had changed the Darkmoon clan's fate of destruction and led her people to where they were now. Lola had seen all her tireless efforts and sleepless nights.

Yet, leaving aside the title of 'Queen', she was just a sixteen-year-old girl. Watching Serea shoulder so much for the camp—things she should never have had to bear—Lola couldn't help feeling heartache for her.

"Queen Serea..."

Her hand stopped for a moment. Gazing at Serea's peaceful sleeping face, Lola took the girl's hand in hers.

A feeling of security washed over her; Lola instinctively laid her head gently on the girl's chest.

"This is the Queen's warmth. If I selfishly cling to her for just a little while, it should be okay, right? Just for a moment..."

Comforting herself this way, Lola leaned against Serea, listening to the heartbeat exclusive to this girl.

Thump... thump... thump...

Gradually, Lola, too, relaxed...

(To be continued...)