Chapter 67: Chapter 67

It was a bizarre scene. It looked as if a person had been completely sucked into the darkness.

The torch, dropped helplessly on the ground, illuminated the lower body of the beast. The beast was standing on two legs.

Rev, terrified, let out a strange moan and staggered backward.

To be precise, it was a wolf with an abnormally large head. But it wasn't just "big"—the only visible body parts were the giant head and the legs below the knees.

The misshapen beast revealed fangs as large as a human leg.

The two kin had stuck together the entire time.

As soon as Ran turned his head at Tascar's cry, he saw Ragna isolated and trembling with fear for some reason.

The beast had chosen its next prey.

The beast charged at Ragna, jaws wide open. Its tongue slithered out, like undulating liquid spilling outside.

The next instant, a silver thread of light flashed.

The beast let out a wild scream.

Ran, standing with his back to a collapsed Ragna, recovered Nachal, which he had raised diagonally.

As soon as the sound of the sword being sheathed was heard, the beast's severed tongue landed on the ground with a thud.

In that brief moment, it sensed the danger and jerked its head back.

Ran slightly turned his head and muttered softly. Ragna's eyes shot wide open.

What came from the imperial's lips was Northlandic.

"Everyone, lift your torches and light up Ran's field of vision!"

A centurion's post refers to a commander leading one hundred soldiers. It isn't granted for combat skills alone. Only those with extensive field experience qualify.

Thanks to Huven's composed response, the surroundings blazed bright.

The blood-frothing beast glared at Ran as if to kill him.

Ran recalled what Umi had said. The mountain beasts indeed differed greatly from the poorly-formed beasts outside.

None of the scouts, including Huven, could even follow the agile movements of the big-headed wolf beast with their eyes.

The wolf beast snapped at empty air. Its teeth collided with a metallic clatter, chilling as blades striking.

Ran, catching its flank, thrust Nachal straight forward.

Beasts, by their nature, defied understanding. Its nape was as tough as armor. An electrifying vibration ran from the tip of Nachal up to Ran's shoulder.

Ran didn't panic and aimed for another spot.

But it was no different. Its back, legs, even the crown of its head—all were covered in a hard carapace that deflected Nachal.

The beast bit down on Nachal. Its red, glowing eyes narrowed subtly, as if confident that it had finally caught him.

Ran yanked his shoulder backward with all his strength. Sparks flew as teeth and blade grated together.

It was a contest of brute strength between human and beast. It ended quickly—Ran pulled Nachal free.

Rev called out urgently. With a standoff underway, everyone was watching the situation closely.

The moment Ran released Nachal, the beast opened its jaws wide and lunged, much like a snake devouring prey many times its size.

In a blink, the tip of Nachal pierced up through the beast's palate.

It had definitely bled when its tongue was severed. He thought the only weak point was inside the mouth. Ran waited calmly until the moment his vision went completely dark.

Taking advantage of the beast's momentary rigidity, Ran relentlessly stabbed its insides.

"Be it human or beast, you've got to keep a close watch on your mouth."

Thus ended the beast hunt. The wolf beast with the freakishly large head crumbled into black ashes.

Ran examined Nachal from different angles, making a thoughtful sound.

Any other weapon might not have withstood the beast's teeth.

The blade's blue steel was unchanged. Blood dripped off before it could even stick. As if it had never tasted blood, Nachal revealed its elegant form in the shadows once more.

"Ran! Are you all right?"

Rev rushed over, face pale. Even seeing it, it was hard to believe—a fight that didn't feel real.

Ran flicked the blood off his blade, nodded roughly, and turned away.

He met Tascar's gaze.

The barbarian, who had been comforting his nephew, silently looked down.

Ran snorted and pretended not to notice.

Night had grown deep, making camp unavoidable. Huven directed everyone to set up on a nearby hill, in view of the cave entrance.

Huven gathered everyone around a central campfire.

"At dawn, we will clear out the bear beast's den."

It was a shocking declaration. Everyone had assumed they would return home at first light.

They all looked at each other in confusion.

Terrence stepped forward and asked,

"Captain, what's with this sudden order?"

"To protect the safe zone, we must be ready for anything."

"But the bear beast's lair is just one of our observation posts. You know that better than anyone, don't you?"

"Of course. Which is why we'll take this opportunity to uproot it."

"Not only is the bear beast's den not the source of the beasts near the safe zone, but even if it were, it would be far more efficient to shore up our defenses than to risk a purge. That's what we've always done up to now."

Watching the two men go head-to-head, Ran tilted his head curiously.

Huven's motives were obvious. As long as they had come this far, he wanted to clear the bear beast's cave—the passage to Northland. With casualties already mounting, he lacked justification or credibility to propose an expedition after returning to the safe zone. This scouting party was already the elite unit of the safe zone. There was little chance for better conditions.

But Terrence's opposition was hard to understand.

'Weren't those two on the same side?'

Ran scratched his chin with a finger. It was unexpected that Huven and Terrence were not sharing everything.

Nor did it seem like they were colluding in some elaborate act. Normally taciturn, terrence was genuinely agitated.

Meanwhile, Ran overheard Tascar and Ragna's conversation.

"We're going into the beast's den tomorrow? That's dangerous, uncle. I was almost killed a little while ago!"

"Actually, this is good for us. It's a path we'd have to take anyway. Clearing it out with their help in advance isn't a bad idea. Just stick close to me."

"But the phenomenon of distortion is severe. The deep layers could've changed, too."

It was nothing out of the ordinary for Tascar and Ragna to converse in Northlandic. There was no one else who understood the barbarian language, so no one cared.

Except for one—Ran alone pricked up his ears.

"No, the deeper sections remain unchanged. Even if distortion occurs on lands corrupted by beasts, their essence does not change. It only shifts position due to the influence of surrounding terrain."

Ran rolled his eyes thoughtfully.

The "deep layers" of the bear beast's den seemed to be the key to the route into Northland.

Then Huven's voice cut into his thoughts.

"Didn't you all see it clearly? The beast we encountered just now was definitely different from anything before. Terrence, didn't you say it yourself—that there is a close connection between phenomena of distortion and the movement of beast packs? You were right. An unprecedented distortion created a monstrous beast."

Huven stared into the darkness beyond the flickering campfire. His eyes were steady.

"We have survived in this vast demon realm until now because we sensed danger quickly and worked together wisely to face it. This time is no different. We must act before the beasts swarming inside pour out and destroy our home. Our families and future are in that safe zone."

Just then, a chilly wind blew. The light from the fire flickered resolutely.

Rev gulped. The unexpected speech had comrades nodding their heads in agreement.

He had watched Huven closely for a long time. Huven was a cool-headed, rational person—not one to make emotional appeals.

No one dared to voice an objection. As usual, a few of Huven's passionate followers stepped forward and fanned the fire.

Terrence spoke in a complicated tone.

"Entering the beast den with our current strength is reckless."

"Terrence, that's not true. Tarok's blessing is with us."

Huven pointed at Tascar with his finger.

"Northern warrior Tascar. By the name of your god, I swear—if you promise to fight with us faithfully, I will permit you arms."

"Mercenary Ran. If you lend us your strength once more, I promise to support your path with all I have."

Everyone turned to look at the two of them. Ran and Tascar's eyes met quietly.

Tascar first nodded firmly, drawing in his clenched chin.

Then Ran, too, lifted Nachal from his shoulder as if making a toast.

'This is better. It's better to check things now than bring Iel here without knowing.'

Ran stared intently at the beast cave's entrance. Ordinary demonic energy was seeping out. The peculiar demonic energy he had felt at first had disappeared without a trace since he'd approached the beast's den.

Strange demonic energy. A contradictory phrase. Only Ran could sense the demonic energy—a malevolent aura that he himself had named demonic energy. Since it did not exist in this world to begin with, it was, by nature, an unusual and abstract sensation.

A terrifying beast that would not perish until its creator died.

The peculiar demonic energy was similar to that.

The sky turned bluish. The dawn mist thickened.

Tascar swung the spear he'd received temporarily this way and that. It had been a while since he'd gripped a weapon. The thrill in his blood was like fire.

'The sensation of being alive.'

His body quickly flushed with heat. Although a spear was not his usual weapon, it didn't matter.

'A weapon is but a tool.'

The instincts of a warrior fully revived. Tascar regulated his breath.

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Ragna jumped up and down behind him, beaming.

Tascar bent his knees and wrapped an arm around Ragna's shoulders. His hot breath touched the boy.

"I'll say it again: never leave my side."

Even though no one could understand, tascar spoke softly as if sharing a secret.

Ragna shrank a little, feeling awkward.

Tascar glanced around and then spoke in an even lower voice.

"When the chance comes, I'll kill every single one of them."

"Shh. This is the only way for us to escape. You must never be taken hostage. If the chance comes, grab a weapon and fight. You're a warrior of Dakir, ragna."

"But Mom is still in the safe zone."

"Don't worry. Once we take out these guys, the rest are just puppets. We'll go back and get Sigurd out."

Tascar didn't bother to mention to Huven that he had pledged his loyalty by the name of Dakir.

Dakir was the god of warriors. The god of courage and valor—the creator deity of Northland.

He would want his offspring to use their wits and take ferocious revenge rather than submit to weak imperials.

All preparations were finished. He swore to himself that his face would soon be drenched in imperial blood.

The party set out toward the bear beast's den, with Tascar naturally taking the lead.

It wasn't long before they encountered a pack of bear beasts.

Dozens of pairs of blood-red eyes glinted from the darkness.

Tascar charged straight into the midst of the pack.