Abyssal Awakening

The rest of the journey took them three hours and thankfully, the strange monsters didn't continue their ambush.

But even if that was the case, none of the Warriors could relax their nerves. The feeling of knowing you're walking towards hell. To face death head on and understand the futility of your actions.

Many of them began to doubt and wonder if they should just desert. But with the captains looking over them all, it was an impossible act.

If both paths lead to death, should they just take the honourable route? Or should they spit in the face of their tyrants and laugh at the fact they cannot use them as pawns?

Marching with the group, Alice could sense the discontent of the Warriors. She could tell they were now on a tightrope of choices.

To fall and give up or to keep struggling with no end in sight.

'It makes sense. Captain Olivr did just force everyone to keep going without a care for their damages. Not only that but he didn't care if any of the vanguard dies during the charge. If he blatantly shows that he doesn't care, who would follow.' Alyss scoffed.

It was a very predictable outcome.

'Mnm. But we can't desert either. Most of the captains are watching us like hawks. The moment we make a single move, we'll die.' Alice narrowed her gaze.

With this kind of 'ally' who needs enemies? They'll kill you faster than your enemy.

Crossing her legs, Alyss wondered for a moment before curling her lips up into a smile.

'Wanna kill them?'

Hearing this, Alice rolled her eyes.

'Pft just a joke~' Alyss raised her hands.

But Alice knew that part of it was serious. If some of the captains were to survive this ordeal and get back to the outpost, they'd only lead others to their graves.

Olivr's poor choices and dismission of risks were proof of that.

So if he were to die, it would be doing others a favour.

'Let's keep it low key for now. Can't go around killing people we don't like for no reason.' Alice shrugged.

Alyss couldn't understand her. If something's annoying just get rid of it.

Thinking up to this point, a bitter smile showed up on Alyss's face.

'I guess that's why we both thought I was the product at first huh?' Alyss thought to herself.

Between the two of them, she was the one who acted the most bloodthirsty. The one who was eager to kill and battle. The one that showed up to handle things with violence.

And the one who had her daggers against Alice since the start.

Even though she was supposedly the 'real' Alice, she acted more like Nyer's product than Alice did.

Alice was… More humane.

'Seems like we're here.' Alice smiled as the port finally came into view.

A thick layer of mist had rolled over the city, obscuring the complete view but within this mist, they could see several ships ready to depart at a moment's notice. Tall walls protected the borders but Alice could tell they weren't normal.

Each of the sections had a different rune carved into it, forming a ritual circle of sorts around the stronghold.

But most importantly, they could see countless civilians walking around the city. Trading, laughing, taking their kids around or walking with their partners.

It wasn't just a defensive stronghold taken by the Extalia kingdom, it was also a city.

With so many civilians within, taking it may prove harder than expected with the casualties.

"We'll attack at night." Olivr called out.

"???" Blinking her eyes, Alice glanced at him in disbelief. Rather than looking at the reaction of the Warriors, he straight up took the initiative to order an attack at night.

If battle truly breaks out, the collateral damage was going to go off the charts. Especially if the previous three beasts were to appear.

Glancing around her, Alice could see the doubt and confusion of the Warriors. The hesitation of attacking a civilian stronghold like this. But what could they do? Rebelling against orders now would simply be a suicide act.

Shaking her head with a light sigh, Alice helped set up the camp.

###

"Ohya… Seems like they're still planning on attacking…" A girl muttered softly with a pair of tired eyes.

Long light blonde hair that reached down to her waist with strands hanging over her shoulders. She wore a large, wide brimmed white hair adorned with a myriad of flowers of different colours. Her outfit consisted of a simple white dress, gloves and shoes.

"You should've destroyed more of their supplies on the first attack Elowen." Another girl spoke up with a laugh.

She has long dark hair that holds strands of red within. A pair of bright crimson eyes with a wide grin. Her fangs are a little longer than average.

She wore a black and red dress with an off shoulder jacket, a pair of tights and high boots. A black collar with a flower attached to the side and a flower hair clip gifted to her by Elowen.

However, the most distinctive feature of her was the elongated ears that drew eyes wherever she went.

"I had hoped that the first attack would've dissuaded them… Seems like they don't have a good commander." Elowen shook her head with a sigh.

"Who cares, they're on the ropes anyways. Let's just go and finish them off now. I don't even know why we're ordered to play around with them in the first place." The girl folded her arms in annoyance.

"Stop that. You know why we can't do it." A man frowned as he gave the girl a warning glare.

He has short white spiky hair that was swept back with a few strands dangling over his forehead. A pair of violet eyes and a muscular physique.

Instead of the fancy looking outfits of his peers, his attire was extremely simple.

A plain black tight-fitting shirt, a silver necklace and a pair of pants with boots.

Most would assume he was smoking a cigarette but it was just some candy.

"I can just say it's an accident. Can't help it if they're fragile since Elowen took out almost half of them in one go." The girl scoffed with a shrug.

Hearing this, the man frowned as he narrowed his eyes and glared at her.

Noticing this glare, veins bulged on the girl's neck as she glared back.

"You want to fight? Right here right now? Sure, I can go for a fight you dumb f*ck." She grinned, not taking a step back as scales began to form on the edge of her face.

With the girl about to make a move, the man wasn't going to sit there and take it. Crackles of lightning coiled around his arms as white scales began to form on his body.

Energy gathered towards the two as just before they were about to fight, Elowen sighed lightly before closing her eyes.

""!!!""

Both of them froze up in cold sweat as Elowen glared at the two. Her tired eyes were now replaced by draconic pupils with slits down the centre. Her aura shifted entirely and thick killing intent bore down on the two.

"Keira, Troy, stop f*cking around before I send you two six feet under myself. Just because you're successful products doesn't mean you can go around ruining plans and doing whatever the f*ck you want." Elowen warned as there was a low growl hidden in her voice.

Swallowing their saliva nervously, the two nodded their heads and sat back down.

Seeing that the two had finally calmed down, Elowen nodded her head and closed her eyes. Returning back to normal, her threatening aura disappeared as though it was never there.

"If they want to invade let them. It's of no concern to us since we've already fulfilled our tasks. The key is to now get the newly appointed Cardinal of the Moon to join us don't forget that.

"Just don't do anything stupid that gets in the way of this and you'll be alright. If they do attack, just watch and don't act unless orders come down from above." Elowen reminded as Keira nodded her head.

"And you Troy?"

Scratching his hair, Troy nodded his head as well.

"Good." Elowen smiled in satisfaction.

The goal of the Zenia family was to get the new Cardinal to view them in a favourable light. The youngest Cardinal to have ever been appointed. The strongest even. The next contender to be personally trained by an Apostle if he proves himself.

With all of this going for the young Cardinal, some are even theorising that the Church of the Moon was planning on raising him as the new Pope.

But that was just the view of the common folk.

To the Zenia who are in the know and are in an alliance with the Church of the Moon, they know that they're training the young Cardinal into a Lord.

So if they could interfere with that, he'll become another Lord under the Zenia's control without the Moon knowing.

Thinking of this, Elowen's smile curled up softly as she stood up and decided to roam the city for now.

The barbarians of the North won't attack in daylight, not with the threat of three mysterious beasts above their heads.

They'll wait until sunset to attack but that is also when the Cardinal was most active.

The three of them only need to ensure that certain criteria are met. After all, the world isn't quite ready for their appearance just yet.

Who could predict that the Zenias have managed to merge the blood of beasts with humans together to form a new race of beings?