Chapter 44

  Under the waxing blood moon, in the northern part of the Hell Star’s domain, in a far end of the forest in the dead of night, a small flame was burning from the crystal wood tree leafs, its light illuminating the otherwise dark forest. Around it sat about eight families of demons, their faces carrying tense expressions, the children all afraid.

  The oldest demon sat before the fire.

  “As long as we can hide tonight, we can survive,” he said.

  Another elderly female replied, “Yeah, the elder is right. We just need to stay silent and lay low.”

  At that moment, the silence of the forest was interrupted by the sound of crushing leaves.

  “SSSHH… SSSHH……”

  The sound gradually grew louder, surrounding the small group.

  A child in the group asked, “What is that sound?”

  It caught the attention of all the elders. Whispers of doubt and fear began.

  The sound got closer.

  “Everyone get closer. Men, take up your weapons. Women and children, get behind the men,” commanded the elder.

  Then the bush behind him shook. A shadow came out of it.

  “Elder, behind you!” shouted a demon.

  The elder turned around.

  “Stop,” a female voice sounded.

  “Look, it’s the Hell Knights,” the voice continued.

  The men slowly turned the flame towards the shadow, revealing a beautiful girl with silver hair clad in traditional Hell Knight armor.

  The elder recognized that face.

  “It’s the princess.”

  He fell to his knees.

  Riley rushed and supported him.

  “You are safe,” reassured Riley.

  The villagers’ hearts finally eased. Cheers started coming from the back.

  “The princess is here!”

  “We are going to live!”

  Then the knights followed behind her. The people took all the essentials with them, the knights guiding them towards the castle.

  In the castle of the Hell Star, in the front yard, the mages and knights all gathered.

  “Status report,” asked Leo.

  A knight stepped forward and replied, “Prince, all the people who came here have been evacuated to the castle underground base. We have provided them with food and water. They are all calm for now.”

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  “How long will the supply last?” asked Leo.

  “The supplies can last up to seven days.”

  “What about our manpower?” asked Leo.

  “Out of the 6,221 demons, we have about 200 able-bodied demons who have volunteered to fight. We have emptied the arsenals and armed them to the teeth.”

  “Better than the previous twenty-four. What about enemy movement?”

  “Prince, the enemies have started marching out of the grave. According to the surveillance posts we left on the way, about 1,000 undead are coming, led by our former captain Reed. They are about two hours away from our destination.”

  “How long from the northern part of the domain?” Leo asked.

  “It will take about two and a half hours. If rushed, they can make it in two hours—assuming they have already found the remnants and started their journey.”

  Worry filled Leo’s eyes for a moment, but he gritted his teeth.

  “What about our defenses?”

  “My lord, we have all the arsenals ready—the magic cannons. The defense field, if activated, can buy us some time.”

  “Get the people in position. Get ready to arm the shield at a moment’s notice,” said Leo, leaving the place and heading back inside.

  After a while, in the Hell Star’s room, Grey slowly opened his eyes. Goodwin was by his side.

  “Goodwin… what happened?” he asked.

  Goodwin explained the situation.

  “Let me join them,” Grey said, trying to get up from his bed.

  The doors creaked open.

  “Sir, please don’t move,” said Leo as he entered the room. “Let me help.”

  He went near, checked his pulse, and examined him.

  “You need rest. Here, have this mana potion. It will help you regain stamina, but your mana pathways are heavily damaged. I doubt you can ever wield mana again,” Leo explained with a sad face.

  As he finished speaking, the huge hands of the Hell Star landed on Leo’s shoulders.

  “Prince, don’t worry about me. I started the ritual knowing full well I could die. At least I lived—that’s good enough. For now, we need to find a way to defeat that fool of a son.”

  Even though his body was broken, his eyes showed a blazing spirit.

  “Yes, sir. Sorry for worrying you,” Leo said, turning his head back to the war.

  “Melody, any idea how we can stop him?” asked Leo.

  Melody replied, “My guess is that when the Totem of Life was destroyed, only its physical body died. It’s like a parasitic soul latched onto the Blood Tear. The blood mage knew this and weaponized it. Maybe if we can destroy the soul of the parasite, we can end this undead crisis.”

  “A way to destroy its soul…” Leo pondered.

  At that moment, at the edge of the room, the chimney that had stood there for decades started echoing a weird sound.

  Leo drew his sword. Footsteps echoed louder.

  Melody drew her wand.

  “Stay back, Goodwin,” said the Hell Star.

  Voices became clearer.

  “Damn child, we’ve been walking for over an hour—first through a cave, now you drag me through this old dungeon. There’s the light. Finally, the exit.”

  The chimney moved. Smoke rose in the air.

  Two figures emerged.

  Leo leapt forward with his sword. A pair of hands came from the smoke and grabbed the blade with no effort.

  “Such impatience is not befitting of a king,” a sweet, familiar voice sounded.

  Leo’s eyes softened. He sheathed his sword.

  “Sister Lara… you’re fine,” Leo sighed in relief.

  The smoke cleared. Her full figure was revealed, the staff on her back.

  The Hell Star’s eyes constricted.

  Out of the smoke came another small figure.

  Grey’s hands, steady even after his body broke, began to shake. His throat dried, eyes tearing.

  “Gilbert…”

  He tried to stand, but his legs failed him. He fell forward.

  The child rushed in a blink, catching him and helping him up.

  “Gilbert… it really is you. What happened to you?” he asked.

  Leo asked cautiously, “Sir, is that—”

  He was interrupted.

  “Yeah,” Grey said. “It’s my son.”

  Leo’s face filled with shock.

  “Why is he with your friend? Why is he like this?”

  Leo replied, “We met him during our journey. He’s the reason we came here in the first place.”

  Grey sobbed.

  “Even after losing yourself, you still do more for this kingdom than your father ever could, my son.”

  “There’s no time,” Lara said, handing Leo the journal. “You should read this.”

  Leo stared at it.

  Journal of Gilbert Bloodstorm.

  Footsteps rushed toward the room.

  “Prince! The undead army is almost here—something is happening. Please come take a look!”

  They rushed to the watchtower.

  Through the telescope, Leo saw commotion in the undead army.

  At that moment, families from the forest arrived at the castle.

  “The princess and the knights are fighting the undead—please help them!” cried an elder.

  Leo’s mana surged.

  “Knights, arm the shield! Ready to deploy! I’ll be back with Riley, Ryan, and the knights. Sister Lara, take command here—I’m going.”