Northern was not sure what the meaning of what he saw. But he was sure what his clones eyes feasted on.
The crystals were being poured into some kind of cocoon and in those cocoon were monsters that bore a striking resemblance to the general he knew all too well.
It was more than bearing a striking resemblance. It was as if they were all the same.
Before the clone could get out of the way, a guard attacked him, he survived a few strikes but even with his level of skill was not able to land a blow.
But Northern was excused it, since he was focused on another thing, he paid no attention to the link, the clone could not equip a weapon without him commanding it.
So the clone had indeed engaged another hellion rank with its bare hands.
Northern marched wordlessly. The war he had been itching to have was finally here. But he wasn’t feeling so elated about it.
Night Terrors?
More than one Night Terror?
He was having so much trouble with one already, and then hundreds of them, who knows maybe thousands? It was dark underground, the little he could see was permitted by the crimson glow of the red crystal.
‘But if the red crystals were being used as some sort of material…’
Northern squinted his eyes.
“Oh mann… crap!”
He startled the monster next to him, apologized with a gesture not really caring if it understood or not.
What was on his mind bore far more importance. If what he was thinking was indeed what was happening down there… then he was doomed.
Dead.
No hope of closing down the rift.
Northern shook his head.
‘No, it can’t be. That can’t be the case…? Na, even hell fire isn’t that wicked’
He dismissed the idea and focused on the war in front of them, as they all marched forward.
He looked around, since the last war, he had not set his eyes on Night Terror, even now, the terrific hellion was not following them.
Its absence made Northern’s worried.
What caught his eyes made him dread with even more worry… he almost stopped his tracks—but the monster’s indifferently walked forward.
Stretched before them was a narrow mountain pass, a treacherous path winding its way through the rugged terrain.
Towering cliffs loomed on either side, creating a sense of isolation and danger.
The air was still and dark… darker than usual.
A winding road cut through the pass, its worn surface bearing the marks of countless battles that had transpired in this unforgiving landscape.
As the monsters made their way along the road, their presence added a foreboding touch to the scene.
Some walked with determination, their claws kicking up clouds of dust with each step. Others lifelessly, as if dreading the horror that was about to befall them again. Many indifferently, unbothered by what the future held for them.
With a paled face, Northern wondered.
‘What the hell is wrong with these bastards?! What the crap are these terrain?!!’
No one seemed to care except him and that… was very scary… and… lonely…
Northern had no choice but to silently follow, still he couldn’t help but wander… how large were rifts for it to hold such wide and endless expanse of land.
After a few hours of walking, the mountain path was behind them, disappearing into the distance.
Tall trees now lined the path, their branches reaching out as if to enclose the march forward.
It was as if the path had led them to a place untouched by the passage of time, where nature reigned supreme.
The tall trees stood like ancient sentinels, their branches intertwining overhead to form a canopy that filtered the illumination of the grey sky into scattered rays.
Shadows danced upon the road, casting an enigmatic cloak over the surroundings.
The silence was broken only by the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant murmur of a hidden stream.
Suddenly, they came to a stop.
Northern breathe.
‘It’s starting…’
His heart pounded with anticipation as he gripped the hilt of his sword and got ready.
He was expecting the same sequence of things to play out, maybe Night Terror would arrive in time to declare the match open.
He waited, knowing fully well that the enemy was labeled afar in front of them.
Suddenly the ground began to shake, Northern’s hearts quaking with it.
It was dark so it was a bit difficult to see.
A loud primal roar suddenly shrouded the entire dark forest, instilling fear in the heart of its foes.
Northern could see waves fear as it contorted the faces of his allies.
The most bothersome thing was, all of them kept looking at him
—including his guardian angel.
Northern turned his head left and right, it was the same thing with them all.
He frowned.
‘No… no way… it can’t be?’
With Night Terror’s absence, there was only one person here that was worthy of leading them into battle.
Northern didn’t think of it because he was sure Night Terror was definitely going to come. Or he was just preoccupied so much.
What he saw at the underground had thrown him off his rhythm so much that it was hard to focus on anything.
Still the eyes that stayed glued to him beckoned on him for something.
Even if he didn’t want to do anything, he had to… being in a position that he was looked up to… Northern was compelled.
Even though they were monsters… it didn’t change the fact that he had a responsibility.
‘Is this because I fought alongside their general or did I really rank up?’
Northern gripping his sword slowly marched to the front, then to the center of the battle.
He looked back for a second.
“No meat shields today?”
That was reasonable, since the path to this war front was unlike any other, in its distance and passage.
He turned his gaze to the front, fixating its on the figures he could see shrouding themselves in the shadow of the forest.
“Crap. This battle is going to be a tough one.” He muttered.
Northern stood silently for a few moments.
“Uhm… so I guess I just have to shout.”
He cleared his throat and with a deep breathe let out a hoarse scream that pierced through the forest.
It was weak compared to their enemy’s but it was enough to raise the mighty roars of his allies.
The battle of the Dark Forest began…