"Treat the pure-bloods who are still capable of fighting and abandon those who cannot be saved. We have no need to drain our resources on bodies that are no longer useful," the deacon said.
He then looked at the kneeling company commander.
"As for you, you will write a complete report on Karius Dmitri, Frank, Caesar, and every human formation that appeared on the plain. I want their numbers, their weapons, how long they took to mobilize, and even how many times Karius adjusted his grip on his spear. Do you understand?"
"As you command, my lord!" the company commander answered quickly.
"And do not move the main army until the second signal arrives from the Cult."
The company commander’s gaze shifted toward the tens of thousands of warriors spread throughout the camp, as well as the siege towers, catapults, and colossal black rhinoceros-like beasts waiting among the trees.
This was not an army assembled to seize a small rocky plain.
The skirmish that had ended only moments ago had been nothing more than a knock upon the border’s door, meant to discover who stood guard behind it.
The company commander lowered his head once more.
"Your orders will be carried out without error, Revered Deacon."
The deacon turned away atop the black rhinoceros, his coat flowing behind him like liquid night.
"I hope so."
He then added in a voice that carried no discernible threat, yet made the blood in the veins of everyone who heard it run cold:
"Because the Cult will not grant any of you a second chance if you fail to find the one we seek."
...
In the capital, Ravian awakened to the sound of gentle knocking on his bedroom door.
His eyes opened before a third knock could sound, and he remained lying there for several seconds, staring at the high ceiling above him.
Morning light slipped through the curtains and cast golden lines across the floor, while his body remained motionless beneath the warm covers.
He did not feel the exhaustion he had expected.
The pain that had torn through his body and soul after his return from the Nightmare World had not disappeared completely, but it had receded until it became no more than a faint weight deep within him. His body, meanwhile, felt lighter and steadier than ever, as though sleep had finally given his new physique enough time to stabilize.
That was one of the benefits of his Basic Void-Grade Sovereign Pride Physique.
Another knock interrupted his moment of peace.
"Rayan?" Larette’s melodious voice came from behind the door. "Are you awake?"
Ravian turned his gaze toward the mattress beneath him and immediately remembered the bloodstained clothes he had hidden underneath it.
’Oh shit! I forgot about them!’ he thought, jolting upright.
He quickly collected himself, however, then pushed the covers aside and rose with deliberate calm. Once again, the bed did not make a single creak, and Ravian felt not the slightest pain when he planted his feet on the floor.
"I’m awake. You may come in."
The door slowly opened, and Larette entered carrying a breakfast basket covered with a white cloth. She closed the door behind herself, then stood there examining him from head to toe as though making certain that he had not suffered any harm while staying in her manor.
Yes, her manor—for Larette now regarded Ravian as a treasure that had to be protected at any cost during his stay, and preferably kept there for good if she could manage it.
"The maid told me you were asleep when she came to see you last night and that you didn’t eat dinner either." She approached him and placed the basket on the desk. "Are you truly all right? You’ve seemed strange ever since you returned to the manor."
"I’m feeling better now," Ravian replied with a quiet yawn.
She continued staring at him for several seconds before releasing a small sigh of surrender.
"I brought you breakfast myself because I didn’t want one of the servants to wake you if you were still asleep, but if you’re in any pain, I can summon our family physician immediately."
"That won’t be necessary." Ravian paused briefly before adding, "But I do need your help with something else."
Larette’s expression changed immediately, making it abundantly clear that she saw this as an opportunity.
"My help?" Larette asked, pointing at herself.
"Yes, and I need this to remain between us," Ravian said, placing particular emphasis on those final two words.
Larette could not hide the curiosity and delight that appeared in her eyes, though she made an amusing attempt to appear calmer than she truly was.
"What is it?" she asked.
Ravian walked over to the bed, lifted one side of the mattress, and pulled out the clothes he had hidden beneath it. The blood had already dried and had therefore not seeped into the bedding, but the fabric itself remained covered in enough dark red stains to raise questions he had no intention of answering.
Larette froze the moment she saw them.
"What is that?!" she exclaimed, nearly screaming.
She quickly covered her mouth with one hand before rushing toward him and examining him from every angle.
"Were you injured? Where is the wound? Why didn’t you call anyone?!"
Everything happened too quickly for Ravian to respond, but he soon noticed that her hands were touching him considerably more than necessary. He calmly stopped her by taking hold of her shoulders and snapping her out of her panic.
"Calm down," Ravian said, shaking her just gently enough to return her to her senses while taking care not to hurt her. "I’m no longer injured."
"How can you ask me to calm down when your clothes are covered in this much blood?!" Larette demanded, her eyes glistening with tears.
Her gaze darted between the clothes and his body as though she were searching for a wound he had hidden from her.
Then she appeared to remember something.
"The heart..." she said slowly. "Did you use the heart Schmichael brought you?"
Ravian remained silent for a moment before nodding.
’That actually isn’t a bad explanation.’
"That’s right. I can feed on things like that, and doing so grants me a certain kind of power," Ravian said.
Larette’s eyes widened.
"Really? Something like that exists? And did it work?" Larette fired off several questions in quick succession as her fear gradually gave way to delight at the thought of Ravian becoming stronger.
"Yes." Ravian nodded.
While Larette was still stunned by Ravian’s method of increasing his strength, she noticed a strangely shaped apparition flickering into existence above his head.
Her eyes widened even further, and she pointed above him in utter shock.
Ravian followed the direction of her hand and saw it as well.
It was that crown again—the same one that had continued appearing above his head the previous night. It seemed the Nightmare’s curse had affected him more severely than it should have, causing the crown to manifest beyond his control.
"You’ve reached the Ninth Rank?" Larette asked, a wide, beautiful smile spreading across her face as she looked into Ravian’s eyes.
’Ah... Fuck this shit,’ Ravian thought as he continued smiling at Larette, unable to think of anything to say.
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