The blood dripping down the walls and ceiling formed a pool of blood underneath.
✦ ✦ ✦
To add to the gruesomeness, an unidentifiable light was reflecting off the puddle.
✦ ✦ ✦
Is this a new area?
✦ ✦ ✦
The thought crossed their minds for a moment but quickly subsided.
✦ ✦ ✦
Upon looking closely, horrifying traces revealed that this space had been created intentionally by someone.
✦ ✦ ✦
Flesh hung in tatters on the walls, and arms regenerated from the edges.
✦ ✦ ✦
The blood pooled on the floor like a swamp.
✦ ✦ ✦
The signs of destruction were unmistakable.
✦ ✦ ✦
“...It’s Gorgan’s work.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Marie’s brow furrowed at Friede’s words.
✦ ✦ ✦
Seeing it now, it made sense.
✦ ✦ ✦
“There are claw marks.”
✦ ✦ ✦
The red gashes on the ceiling resembled the marks of a beast’s claws.
✦ ✦ ✦
But that wasn’t all.
✦ ✦ ✦
“It’s not regenerating, either. It definitely looks like that puppy’s doing.”
✦ ✦ ✦
The next question that arose was ‘why?’
✦ ✦ ✦
It was a question that had to be asked.
✦ ✦ ✦
“If it can only be seen here... then it means that Gorgan shrank his size down again.”
✦ ✦ ✦
The hollow was a perfect hemisphere.
✦ ✦ ✦
If Gorgan had kept moving at his full size, the passage should have stayed this wide all the way, but the path in the distance narrowed again.
✦ ✦ ✦
Friede speculated in response to Marie’s question.
✦ ✦ ✦
“It could be one of two things. Either he used up too much energy and needed to conserve it, or there was another reason he had to shrink.”
✦ ✦ ✦
“It’s basically the same thing, isn’t it? Still, an Ancient Species wouldn’t be so easily worn out.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Friede nodded and muttered.
✦ ✦ ✦
“A reason to shrink down his size...”
✦ ✦ ✦
After pondering deeply, Friede finally let out a sigh.
✦ ✦ ✦
“...I have no idea. The only thing that comes to mind is that he might have discovered the advance party, but Gorgan probably wouldn’t care about that.”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Right, he’s not the type to stop just to spare a few more humans.”
✦ ✦ ✦
It became an unresolved issue.
✦ ✦ ✦
After spending some time examining the hollow for clues, the two concluded that there was nothing more to gain from this place and exhaled deeply.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Shall we keep going? There’s only one path ahead, and it might lead to Gorgan or something else.”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Yes, let’s go.”
✦ ✦ ✦
The two resumed walking, leaving the empty cavity behind.
✦ ✦ ✦
Drip.
✦ ✦ ✦
Drip.
✦ ✦ ✦
Only the sound of blood dripping onto the puddles eerily echoed in the space they had left.
✦ ✦ ✦
Slash—!
✦ ✦ ✦
Once again, a red arm was cut off.
✦ ✦ ✦
Hegrion took a deep breath and shook off the blood on his claymore.
✦ ✦ ✦
“It seems we are indeed going in circles.”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Yes. No matter how big the fortress is, running around like this should eventually lead us somewhere.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Hegrion’s face scrunched up.
✦ ✦ ✦
“It’s strange. Last time, breaking through the wall led us somewhere.”
✦ ✦ ✦
“It seems we have to accept that your previous escape was part of their plan.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Clench—
✦ ✦ ✦
Hegrion gritted his teeth.
✦ ✦ ✦
His pale blue aura turned colder, reflecting his emotions.
✦ ✦ ✦
His impatience flared up once again.
✦ ✦ ✦
Thanks to Theresa’s power, his stamina was still fine. However, it also had its limits.
✦ ✦ ✦
At this rate, they might collapse before they could find Albrecht.
✦ ✦ ✦
They needed a breakthrough.
✦ ✦ ✦
As they both had the same thought…
✦ ✦ ✦
— Aaahhh!!!
✦ ✦ ✦
A scream echoed from somewhere.
✦ ✦ ✦
Their heads snapped towards the source of the sound.
✦ ✦ ✦
“—It’s from behind the wall.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Hegrion’s eyes lit up.
✦ ✦ ✦
He immediately recognized who the voice belonged to.
✦ ✦ ✦
“It’s the Second Prince. It’s the Second Prince’s voice!”
✦ ✦ ✦
Hegrion’s aura expanded dramatically. It engulfed him and started to burn the walls. Then, he raised his claymore without saying another word.
✦ ✦ ✦
Theresa tried to say something, but it was too late.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Wai...!”
✦ ✦ ✦
Swish!
✦ ✦ ✦
The sword cut through the wall, and nauseating blood spattered all over.
✦ ✦ ✦
A distressed look appeared on Theresa’s face.
✦ ✦ ✦
‘His voice was strange...!’
✦ ✦ ✦
The voice sounded strange.
✦ ✦ ✦
Even she, who didn’t know Albrecht well, could tell that something was wrong.
✦ ✦ ✦
Theresa looked at the torn wall.
✦ ✦ ✦
Just when she felt an ominous sensation and started to use her divinity…
✦ ✦ ✦
Claaaang!
✦ ✦ ✦
Someone burst out from the wall and attacked Hegrion.
✦ ✦ ✦
Screech!
✦ ✦ ✦
Fortunately, Hegrion reacted in time, and his claymore clashed with a red-hot blade.
✦ ✦ ✦
Hegrion held his breath and looked at the man wielding the sword.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Second Prince...!”
✦ ✦ ✦
It was Albrecht.
✦ ✦ ✦
He was attacking him, and he was covered in blood from head to toe.
✦ ✦ ✦
What in the world was going on?
✦ ✦ ✦
As Hegrion’s strength momentarily faltered amidst the shock, Theresa shouted.
✦ ✦ ✦
“It’s an illusion spell! He’s under a spell!”
✦ ✦ ✦
Hegrion’s body flinched.
✦ ✦ ✦
His sword twisted.
✦ ✦ ✦
It was a moment of distraction, and his opponent was formidable.
✦ ✦ ✦
Slide—
✦ ✦ ✦
The red-hot sword slithered up his claymore like a crawling snake.
✦ ✦ ✦
It aimed for Hegrion’s chest.
✦ ✦ ✦
Hegrion’s eyes widened and he tried to dodge quickly, but...
✦ ✦ ✦
Squelch—!
✦ ✦ ✦
What followed was the sound of the blade piercing his flesh.