Chapter 44,second part, Battle in the Mountains

Chapter 44: 44,second part, Battle in the Mountains

44

Battle in the Mountains

"They don’t seem to be merely undead."

A thunderous sound interrupted her words.

Kael was struck. The Revenant was forced several meters backward as an enormous man appeared among the combatants.

His body was covered in dark fur, his arms were thick as tree trunks, and a massive blade rested in his hands.

The spiritual pressure emanating from him was clearly superior to that of the others. He was at the 7th level of the Profound Elemental Realm.

The Beastman spat on the ground.

"It’s over. For you, I’m here to take your head."

Kael slowly raised his head.

The Beastman charged forward, and his blade descended. Kael blocked it with his arm. The impact created a crack in the ground beneath his feet.

Kael was pushed backward but did not fall, while the Beastman bared his teeth.

"You’re tougher than you look, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll cut you apart anyway."

Kael clenched his fist.

"And you talk too much."

With that, he rapidly charged forward, and the two collided violently, fist against blade.

The sound of the impact echoed through the mountains. The Beastman attacked again at the same time Kael dodged.

The blade cut into his shoulder, causing black blood as dark as dirty earth to spill down. Only part of his dead flesh had been torn open.

Taking advantage of the opening, Kael grabbed the sword.

The Beastman tried to pull it away but failed. Kael tightened his fingers, causing the blade to crack.

"This is impossible!"

A punch struck the Beastman’s face before he could finish speaking. Blood exploded from his mouth, making the man stagger.

Kael gave him no time to recover, delivering several consecutive punches that slowly destroyed the man.

Every impact forced the Beastman’s body backward, destroying rocks and leaving deep marks on the ground, yet the enemy remained conscious.

He spat out blood.

"I... still..."

Morcant appeared beside Kael, his enormous, sharp claws piercing through the Beastman’s defense.

"This one talks too much, and his voice is unpleasant."

The man’s eyes widened in terror as the opening in Morcant’s chest opened once again. Spiritual tentacles wrapped around the Beastman.

He began screaming in absolute terror, as if he were witnessing his greatest nightmare.

Kael held his head while Morcant pulled out his soul. The scream only ended when the body fell to one side and the head to the other, his soul being taken away.

For several seconds, no one moved as they watched their leader being killed in such a brutal and cruel manner. One of the Lizardmen let his weapon fall.

"The chief is dead..."

Another looked around. There were corpses everywhere—monsters, wounded and dead Lizardmen.

Beastmen were retreating.

The five skeletons, destroyed for the third time, were beginning to rise once again. Valeria walked among the remaining enemies like a shadow.

Nefrava controlled the sand around the rear guard, while Eryon remained motionless, his staff surrounded by dark energy.

Kael and Morcant stood before the group, and the invaders’ courage disappeared.

"Retreat!"

"No!"

"Do you want to stay and die? I’m not getting paid for this!"

"But they’ll pursue us!"

"Then run faster!"

Some fled immediately, while others remained paralyzed. One of the Lizardmen tried to raise his spear, but his hands were trembling so badly that he nearly dropped it.

Kael looked at the survivors. He could pursue them and kill them, but Yun Che raised his hand.

"Enough. That’s enough."

Kael stopped immediately.

The other undead also ceased their movements. Because of this, the survivors looked toward Yun Che, none of them understanding.

Yun Che observed the battlefield. There was no need to turn this into a complete massacre. These were the Medusas’ enemies, not his.

And if things did not go as he was imagining, he would join the Beastmen and Lizardmen in taking the Medusas’ mausoleum. Killing too many of them now would not be good for him later.

They had already demonstrated enough strength.

"Let them escape."

A Beastman looked at him with hatred before looking at the corpses around him. Although hatred was boiling in his chest, fear accompanied it, so he did not dare attack.

He simply ran away with his tail between his legs, and the others followed him, equally frightened.

Within a few minutes, the mountains became silent once again. The wind passed between the rocks, while the smell of blood remained in the air.

Seraphina slowly stepped out from Nefrava’s protection. Her eyes swept across the devastated battlefield, taking in a stone split in half.

Bodies were scattered across the ground. Then she looked toward the brutal undead with overwhelming strength and speed—Kael.

The Revenant was covered in dust and enemy blood, yet he remained completely motionless.

Lyria approached the princess.

"We’re alive. They just saved our lives once again."

Seraphina took several seconds to answer.

"Yes."

This time, she looked at Yun Che. There was not only fear in her eyes, but also recognition.

"You could have let them take us again."

Yun Che turned his face toward her.

"I made a deal with you, remember?"

Seraphina fell silent. It was only a deal. She finally realized that Yun Che did not need her to trust him. He only needed her to fulfill her part.

Seraphina took a deep breath.

"We’re close to our territory."

Yun Che looked toward the mountains.

"Is your territory just ahead?"

"Yes."

She pointed toward a mountain range partially hidden by the mist.

"Beyond these mountains, our territory officially begins."

Yun Che remained silent, his gaze sweeping across the slopes devastated by the battle.

That attack had not been random. The enemies were patrolling this region, which meant the conflict was larger than he had imagined.

And somewhere beyond those mountains was the thing that had truly caught his interest—the mausoleum of the Great Alchemist.

Kael approached.

"My master."

Yun Che looked at him.

"What is it, Kael?"

"The enemy will escape and tell the others about our presence in the Medusa Clan."

Yun Che remained motionless. It was exactly what he had expected.

"Then we’ll have to reach the Medusa territory before they return."

Seraphina heard those words and realized that the journey was not over yet. This battle had probably only been the beginning.

She looked at the mountains before turning toward the mysterious masked man and then toward the five undead.

Her people were still waiting for her.

But now, beside her, walked a man who could be both the salvation of the princess of the tribe and her downfall.

Yun Che began walking, and beside him, five Knights followed. Ahead, hidden beyond the mountains, lay the territory of the Medusas.