It was a bloodbath.

Godlings were slaughtering many in the bigger scale, but the ones losing morale were surprisingly them.

As a higher class of being—beings that are born in the higher plane, it was normal for them to decimate mere mortals that inhabited this fragile realm. Slaughtering them wholesale is the same thing as getting rid of a nest of insects.

Doesn’t even worth thinking about.

But it’s the complete opposite for the mortals.

Every time their strikes landed on the Godling and dealt damage, even a little, it was a morale boost unlike anything they had ever felt in their lives. Hurting beings higher than them was never on their bucket list.

It never crossed their minds since that’s simply impossible.

Right now, however, their claws were able to reach those beings.

And it was exhilarating.

Dwarves sacrificed their lives to bolster their spell’s payload and anchored a Godling in place. Elves sacrificed the weaker ones to create one arrow—that could pierce the Godlings’ flesh. Humans charged their energies and detonated their bodies. And other weaker ones used their bodies as a meat shield—or meat chains to shackle the Godlings.

Rex had paid the price to pursue peace.

His comrades from the human territory, Lauren and Daniel, who knew the truth, shared his story, and it spread. Founding the Clarentium Empire—and taking kingdoms into the shelter of his strong back was only possible through blood and tears.

Every waking second that he has was dedicated to protecting those under him.

He suffered the bloody path of power to protect their families. Their people. Their race.

And as his subjects, how could they only reap the benefit without making the same sacrifice?

In the whole world, everyone knew Rex cherished those around him—the Silverstar Pack.

Even if that’s the last thing they are going to do with their lives, they won’t hesitate.

Besides, death by the hands of a higher being is more than honorable.

“You’ve conditioned them well,” Princess Selene watched the ongoing fight—and nodded at the sheer determination from Evelyn’s army. It took more than a dozen at the lowest and hundreds at the highest to take down a Godling, and yet that doesn’t scare any of them. “I dare say… You’ve conditioned them better than I did.”

Evelyn was also pleased by what she was seeing.

It was bloody, but she could tell these people were doing this willingly.

She didn’t need to force them to sacrifice their lives to win.

Of course, she had been making sure that they were well-taken care of mentally and physically. Her plan along the way involves giving them a morale boost with her comforting aura, and also making sure that she is not throwing them to the slaughter.

And as a result, their determination when cornered like this showed up like a blazing fire.

Additionally, their feeling of debt towards Rex also pushed them to do this.

She can see it clearly.

“They’re not fighting only for Rex or me,” Evelyn shook her head. “They’re fighting for their own. If the empire falls, the world will revert to its old order. And with it, the cycle of hatred would also rotate again, claiming them and everyone they love.”

Because of the empire’s existence, war has toned down a lot on the continent.

Compared to a year ago, it’s a lot better now.

But changing the heart isn’t that easy. Time is needed to fully oppress the cycle of hatred. Right now, the peace was nothing more than surface-level. Most superpowers are wary of weakening their forces and gave the empire the opportunity to claim them or their enemies.

Rex and his empire were already strong enough as it is.

No need to be reckless and make him and the empire stronger.

Evelyn watched the battlefield shifting to their advantage. Her people cheered as Godlings began to fall one by one—slowly at first, then in greater numbers as momentum took hold. It was all thanks to the disparity between the two sides’ morale.

Excitement burned brighter in every mortal heart.

On the other hand, the Godlings are starting to hesitate and show signs of concern.

Doubt was starting to hold them as mortals weren’t supposed to fight back. And even if they do, they shouldn’t have the power to resist. But seeing their kin fall shattered that indomitable façade in their minds.

It was because of the world’s awakening.

Most of them had gotten stronger, giving them enough raw strength to face Godlings.

Despite what she thought earlier, Evelyn allowed herself to hope—against all odds, against the might of higher beings that had come down to specifically kill them and drown this world in blood, they could endure these beings until Rex returned.

Boom—!

Evelyn’s eyes reflected the might energy discharge from Gistella ahead.

Her black heart had been devouring the fallen Godlings, siphoning their divinity into her claws. And when it was full, and she struck for the first time, the energy erupted. A blast forged from their own kind, and two more Godlings fell dead in an instant.

Pulverized until not a bone remained.

And even more daringly, Evelyn started to really hope that perhaps they could even win.

…

“I think we’re close,” Prof. K gazed ahead into the overgrowth—and nodded decisively. “I can already smell bad things ahead. Should we pick up our pace?”

Flunra also looked ahead.

For days straight, the group had been following their instincts and the captured Angels’ directions. Not much happened along the way aside from hiding an entire day to avoid the Blood Moon, which was good. And because of that, they made significant progress.

Quite lucky considering how difficult navigation had become after the Second Breath.

Everything changed.

Old landscapes from the ancient era began resurfacing again, blending in with the new era.

Such a mixture made everything puzzling.

Landmarks that Flunra remembered from the distant past only gave a vague sense of where they were. It was almost impossible to really pinpoint where they were. But now, they were following the scent of something terrible.

Something suspiciously similar to the scent coming from a Chaos Phantom.

“No,” Flunra shook his head. “Focus on safety.”

Prof. K nodded in understanding.

Right now, they are isolated and alone, so it’s best for them to stay cautious.

After all, though nothing bad happened along the way, the land itself nearly claimed them more than once. Treacherous terrain, hidden ravines, paths that disappear without warning, and other dangerous terrain that simply would kill anyone who isn’t ready.

And always, there are also the separate matters of Order Beasts.

Some fought for territory within earshot.

Each clash sent a tremor across the ground, easily reminding them how easily the group could get caught between.

Even the weakest Order Beast would have a chance to obliterate them, so they have to be careful.

But along the way, Flunra stops.

Prof. K looked at him in confusion, “What? I didn’t sense anything.”

“Precisely,” Flunra muttered silently.

Ever since being suddenly called by Evelyn and being brought into the Spirit Realm to help Rex, for a moment, he had been trying to contact Evelyn and ask her what she was doing. But he got no answer from her.

It was the same thing when he tried sensing his connection with Adhara and Gistella.

However, he knew that his attempt reached them.

Just that they aren’t willing to answer him.

Now, he sensed a change. The connection was gone. He tried to reach the others again, but still only got the grace of silence from the other side. And that troubled him more than it should, because this should not be the case.

Even the connection to Rex was still faintly there, and he was in another realm.

For him not to be able to contact Adhara, Evelyn, and Gistella is nothing but a red flag.

Something must be wrong, and he feels nauseous at the thought.

“Prof. K, lead them the rest of the way, and complete our task.” Flunra turned away, eyes staring in the direction where he sensed Evelyn and the others were last. “I have to go somewhere. I’ll find you later— so keep going.”

Not even waiting for a reply, Flunra dashed away.

He told them to make a steady and careful pace earlier, but now, he was galloping like a madman.

Borrowing an old monster’s power, he tore through the void at impossible speed. Everything that got in his way was split before him—trees flattened and air shattered. He ran through mutated animals and avoided Order Beasts as he raced toward the others.

’The Blood Moon already passed,’ He thought inside. ’What can even put them in danger? I might be overthinking, but it’s best to check.

Swoosh—!

…

Countless miles away, a pair was also rushing with extreme speed.

Kyran was now carrying Naela in his arms through the Dark Elf’s lustrous and deep dark forest.

She didn’t look good, and she looked pissed, too.

Upon learning what happened to her, Kyran couldn’t help but rush back to see her.

And when he saw Naela’s condition, and how a rib was stolen from her and marked permanently so it could never heal—made him lose it. Almost half of the Dark Elves’ military was sent to suppress him underground as the Blood Moon made him go berserk.

He also ignored the summoning from Evelyn, wanting nothing more than to be by Naela’s side.

Additionally, he also sniffed out the scent of the Angel who did this.

No matter how clean the Angel’s execution was, it doesn’t matter for Kyran. His senses are already past the limit of reason and have entered the supernatural realm. He could sniff things that others could not, and he got the scent he needed.

Of course, all he wanted was to track this Angel down and decorate Naela’s doorstep with the Angel’s intestines, skin, and head. To show what would happen to anyone who tried getting their hands on her, but he restrained himself and waited for Naela to wake up.

Qonvale helped her wake up.

And when Naela learned what Kyran did, ignoring Evelyn’s call, she didn’t feel touched.

She wasn’t happy that Kyran was finally opening up to him.

She was angry.

It was the first time Kyran saw her angry, and he was taken aback.

’I don’t want to be the reason you’re not fulfilling your part as Rex’s left hand. I’d rather die.’

Naela’s words kept echoing inside Kyran’s mind as he ran.

He tried arguing that he had made a promise to Rex that he’d keep her sound and safe, just as well as Rex kept the other safe. If Rex were here, he’d want Kyran to watch over Naela, or at least that’s what he used as an argument.

But she wasn’t interested in his excuses.

How could he keep her safe when he can’t even fulfill his own duties? That’s what she countered.

And because of that, he was running back to where the others should be.

Naela told him to bring her along if he was really worried that the Angel would attack her again.

She was still weak and disoriented, but her willpower is stronger than ever.

No matter what, she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

And perhaps, that’s for the best, ’I can’t contact Evelyn… Maybe something did happen.’

Kyran clenched his jaw as things were never kind to him. For some reason, he felt like there was a force out there that was out to get him. That ought to make every decision he made wrong, and it was starting to make him frustrated.

“If something happened to them and you’re not there,” Naela looked at the side of his face sternly. “You will be burying my body, too.”

“Alright, I understand,” Kyran snapped. There are still traces of the Blood Moon in him that make it hard for him to control his emotions. “No need to emphasize things that you already made clear. I will not let anything happen to them.”

“You better not,” Naela averted her gaze, still angry.