ALL NOVEL
Chapter 78 "I have been waiting for you!"
~ An hour before Leier relayed the news of the enemies' retreat to Henry. ~
Throughout the whole journey, Elton's eyes remained fixed on the path leading to the mountain's peak, while his soldiers followed his trails, leaving deep footprints on the endless snow. The tough seven-mile uphill march had taken its toll, reducing Luak's group to less than half of their original size as those who couldn't keep up were either dead or left unconscious somewhere along the way.
The First Stage Warriors were visibly exhausted as their faces turned blue from the struggle to breath in the thin surrounding air. The steep terrain and the fatigue forced them to constantly use their hands for support, and as a result, their unprotected fingers were gradually turning frostbite spreading through their hands. Even those in the Second Stage found it difficult to fill their lungs completely, relying on their limited Mana to maintain body temperature and activity.
Even though these soldiers were not ordinary humans and were accustomed to the harsh conditions of the North, they had never climbed this high before. In their everyday life, the mountains held no food or other materials worth of their time, a useless and forgotten place for Luak. Because of that, they held no climbing experience and had never faced a situation of lacking oxygen.
"Something is wrong…" - Those words echoed in Elton's mind as his confidence began turning into suspicion. His pace slowing down with each step. - "Why are there no animals in the forest? Wolves shouldn't be found this high up on the mountain."
The loud howls of wolves could still be heard, but the frequency was gradually decreasing as they got closer, within an hour he would probably be able to spot them. However, a sense of unease washed over him. Despite not hunting frequently, Elton was still a northerner that understood the basics characteristics of a few animals. Wolves typically preferred to inhabit the forest, and even if they ventured into the mountains, they would usually stay no more than two miles up. The void forest was also another point. Something felt amiss.
For the first time, Elton's green eyes shifted from the mountain path to his soldiers. There, he didn't saw troops, only a flock of exhausted individuals, whose bodies were too weary to even wield a sword, let alone hunt down a baby wolf. Furthermore, their clothes had been torn by sharp rocks hidden beneath the snow as they climbed through obstacles, leaving them extremely vulnerable to the cold. Some even had signs of hypothermia, being a miracle that they were still standing.
They were vulnerable, an easy target for lurking predators.
Despite understanding the situation, the pride deeply rooted within Elton's entrail compelled him to keep climbing, urging him to take those wolves heads and return to put that lowly woman in her place. However, another instinct rose in protest. It was the same instinct that had driven him to eliminate his own brothers, alerting him about potential future threats, like a biological mechanism that guaranteed his survival.
The pride managed to suppress this survival instinct ever since he laid his eyes on the howling mountain. Yet, as he drew closer to the sounds, the voice changed from a gentle whisper to desperate screams, warning him that he would meet certain death if he continued climbing upward. And, he had always listened to this instinct, and today would be no exception.
Elton's green eyes briefly glanced at the mountain, and with a feigned annoyance, he harshly cursed at the soldiers - "You are all a useless bunch! You can't even climb this small mountain! Because of you, I won't be able to gather enough food for the camp!" - His anger intensified as he pointed towards the haggard group following him - "When we return to camp, you'll all face punishment! Just you wait!" freewebnovel.cσ๓
Those words sounded like a comforting melody to the soldiers' ears, who had been afraid of leaving their bodies on this frozen mountain. However, beneath the surface, Elton's words were merely a weak facade, a way for him to escape from the danger detected by his subconscious. A truth that his pride and arrogance would never allow to be revealed.
The inhabitants of this part of the North were frequently called as barbaric by others, but they were simply ordinary individuals trying their best to survive the harsh winter. Due to the limited fertile lands, they had to hunt throughout the whole year, putting their lives at risk every day and getting used to the thought of death. However, despite having the courage to jump under a rain of arrows, they didn't want to die.
"Captain Elton, where are we headed?" - One of the Second Stage soldiers wearily asked, burning his mana to warm up his throat as he watched the fat figure descending the mountain.
Elton looked at him with annoyance and replied, "You fool! We're heading back to get you treated! If you don't hurry up, I will leave you guys here."
The soldiers exchanged relieved looks.
-x-
"What's happening?" - Elton confusedly inquired, his eyes looking down at the precipice that severed a part of the mountain's path, steam and snow were rising into the skies as if something heavy had plummeted down – "Where is that rock?"
They had relied on a narrow-frozen boulder to ascend to the high section of the mountain. Nearly three hundred meters lay between the precarious perch where Elton and his team stood and the bottom of the seemingly endless abyss. A free fall from such a height would be fatal, even for Elton, making it an impossible feat to survive.
"D-Demon! He is here!" - The words trembled from the lips of one of the First Stage soldiers, his finger pointing downward into the abyss. As the swirling steam and snow subsided, a chilling sight greeted them.
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A figure emerged from the depths, clad in tattered rags while holding a blazing sword that appeared to be recently forged in the heart of a blacksmith's furnace. The weapon's fiery aura danced in the cold air, casting an ominous glow, burning the surrounding thin oxygen.
The man's piercing grey eyes fixated on the startled soldiers, and a cold smile played upon his lip, a smile that seemed to regard them as mere prey, but also tinged with annoyance, akin to a beast whose dinner had been rudely interrupted.
The abyss echoed with the crackling of flames and the beating of their anxious hearts. Henry's voice echoed through the icy winds, sending shivers down their spines – "I have been waiting for you! Welcome!" - Henry then lightly pointed his sword at Elton, like a victorious winner.