Chapter 126: 126:Monster Tide

Kael woke up with a groan, his back screaming in protest. Sleeping on the hard floor had left him sore all over.

"Tskk...Tsk....Staying in a comfortable villa had made my body accommodate to luxury."

He sat up, rubbing his neck, and glanced around at the cracked walls and worn-out furniture. "Shit... Frost’s financial situation is worse than I thought," he muttered.

Just as he was about to stand, he froze. Lyria stood by the door, her crimson eyes unreadable. "What the hell are you doing here so early?" he asked, frowning.

"I brought a warm towel and some necessities," she said simply. Before he could refuse, she moved swiftly, pressing a hot towel against his face. The warmth was oddly soothing, making his tense muscles relax for a moment.

Kael’s brows furrowed. Lyria was always efficient at her job, but this was the first time she was being proactive. Usually, she waited for him to bark orders before moving. "What’s going on with you?" he asked, staring at her.

"Nothing," she shrugged, pulling out a clean set of clothes for him. But when she looked up, Kael’s sharp grey eyes were locked onto her, unblinking. She faltered for a second, then quickly turned her face away and mumbled something under her breath.

"Thanks!"

"What was that?" Kael asked, his face twisting in confusion.

"I said... thank you," Lyria repeated, louder this time.

Kael blinked, then took a step back like she had just grown a second head. "What the fuck?" His voice was filled with disbelief.

Lyria tilted her head. "You didn’t hear me?"

"Oh, I heard you just fine. I just don’t get why you’d say that."

Her crimson eyes wavered slightly. "For standing up for me," she whispered.

Kael scoffed, waving it off. "Don’t get the wrong idea. I was just having fun."

Lyria’s lips parted like she wanted to say something else, but at that moment, a loud trumpet blast echoed through the air. The entire place seemed to shake from the sound. Kael’s playful smirk vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp, focused look.

He grabbed his sword and gear, strapping them on in seconds. "Lyria, take care. I’ll see you around." Without waiting for a response, he strode out, his movements swift and precise.

Lyria stood there, staring at the empty doorway. Her fingers twitched slightly before she clenched them into fists. Despite the cold, a strange warmth settled in her chest. Her lips barely moved, but she whispered something to herself.

.......

"Maybe... it’s not so bad after all."

Albert clicked his tongue in frustration. "I told you we should’ve sent scouts ahead before something like this happened, but no one listened to me."

He turned as a group approached in perfect formation. His eyes landed on Kael, who looked annoyingly well-groomed, as if he had just stepped out of a spa instead of preparing for battle. "You took your sweet time getting ready, huh?" Albert scoffed.

Kael smirked. "Not my fault you weren’t born handsome," he sniggered, shutting Albert up.

Before Albert could retort, Vic stepped forward, pushing past everyone. "What the hell is going on?" His voice was sharp, but his expression changed when he saw the battlefield ahead. His eyes widened.

The horizon was crawling with horrors. Massive trolls with grotesque, wart-covered skin stomped forward, their heavy feet cracking the frozen ground. Hobgoblins screeched, their twisted faces contorted in rage, gripping rusted weapons covered in dried blood.

Towering ice golems marched beside them, their bodies shimmering under the pale light, sharp icicles protruding from their limbs like spears. The ground trembled as the monstrous army advanced, their cries echoing through the frozen wasteland.

Kael narrowed his eyes, scanning the creatures. Something was wrong. "Monsters of mixed races don’t work together like this. They should be tearing each other apart, not marching in unison. Unless..." His voice trailed off.

Albert was taken aback by Kael’s insight. "You’re right," he admitted. "There’s only one explanation,Ice Devil is controlling it."

Kael turned to him. "Where did this thing first show up? Did you see it yourself or just hear about it?"

Albert’s jaw clenched. "The monster..." he hesitated.

"Huh?" The knights—Gare, Baret, Kassel, Heru, and Handel—looked at him in confusion.

Albert took a breath. "The Orc groaned its own name before dying. After that, its name spread like wildfire."

Kael nodded. "I see." He moved on, his voice steady. "Are we holding the walls or taking the fight to them?"

Albert straightened. "We will—"

A deafening roar cut him off.

"MY LORD, LOOK OUT!"

Everyone turned just in time to see a massive troll hurling a boulder toward the walls. The air howled as the enormous chunk of snow and ice shot forward. Mid-air, the boulder shattered, revealing a towering iceman with jagged limbs reaching out like frozen blades.

"SOLDIERS, MOVE!" Albert roared, signaling the men on the walls. The trebuchets creaked as soldiers scrambled to load them. The harpoon gunners hesitated, their hands shaking as they aimed.

Before they could fire, a blinding arc of silver slashed through the air. The sound was like thunder cracking the sky. In an instant, the massive ice golem split apart, its body collapsing into a rain of frozen shards.

Silence.

All eyes turned to Kael, who stood at the edge of the wall, sword still humming from the strike.

Albert’s jaw dropped. "What the hell..."

Kassel exhaled sharply. "Did he just—"

Vic clenched his fists. "This guy..."

Kael casually swung his sword over his shoulder. "We’re going down, right?" His tone was almost bored.

Albert swallowed, then nodded. "Yes."

Kael grinned. "Good." He turned, raising his voice.

"Form squads of four and advance!" His tone was sharp, and commanding. "Fight as a team, not like dumb, narrow-minded bastards. Your life is valuable to you, not to us. If you wanna throw it away, it’s totally fine but just don’t drag the rest of us down. Do as I say, or get the fuck out of my way!"

The soldiers stiffened, then scrambled to follow orders. The battlefield belonged to Kael now.