They now recognized that Azadin was an opponent they could never ignore, a formidable warrior.
"I thought it was lost when we became monsters."
"But it seems we still have some pride left."
They began to drink the blood of the execution ground.
"Don't call it cowardice."
"We will do everything within our means, herald Azadin!"
Their wounds began to heal, and their mouths started to protrude.
—Sshhk.
—Ssshhhk!
Like venomous snakes, they flicked their tongues, and the former heralds started gliding smoothly over the water's surface. Before they knew it, their legs had fused into a single tail, which undulated over the water like a sea snake swimming effortlessly.
"Prepare yourself!"
"Yes, that's how it should be! Come at me with everything you've got!"
Azadin spread his left hand over the water's surface, then clenched it into a fist and sent it toward the snakes.
—'Beauty of Nature, Thunder Striking the Tranquil Water, Kazas Haeseo!'
A pillar of water shot up, and a shockwave raced across the surface toward the former heralds who were gliding toward him.
The thunderclap of Kazas Haeseo was a technique that subjugated opponents with a penetrating battle force. Azadin altered its medium by transmitting it through the water's surface, converting it into a shockwave.
Within the physically visible shockwave, the incomplete magic prowess of Beauty of Nature within Azadin's body turned into hidden force, engulfing the former heralds.
"Gah!"
"Kieeek?!"
As the former heralds flailed with grotesque screams, suddenly, a blade pierced through Harad's chest.
Azadin had hidden within the rising water pillars and struck in an instant, driving his sword straight through the former herald's back and out his chest.
—Crack, crunch.
The sword began to rise. Lifting the embedded blade, he severed the spine and ribcage, slicing through Harad as if filleting a fish along its backbone.
Harad, in shock, reached out to grab the sword, but his fingers were chopped off in chunks.
"Such, such incredible… power!"
As a herald, Harad himself possessed strength far beyond that of ordinary humans, but Azadin's power exceeded even that.
"Damn it!"
Kebna circled Azadin, looking for an opening to strike and assist Harad. But Azadin simply used Harad as a shield, spinning him around while continuously raising the sword, slicing him apart while he was still alive.
Eventually, as the blade cut through his shoulder and severed his lung…
"Urgh!"
Even the regenerative power gained from drinking blood could not withstand the damage. Harad coughed up blood and collapsed.
"You damn, damn monster, what the hell are you?"
"Beauty of Nature, Kazas Haeseo."
"T-That's…?"
"Do you have any last words for your kin? I can deliver them."
Azadin stepped on the fallen former herald Harad, pressing him into the bloodied water, then turned his gaze toward the last remaining one, Kebna.
"…Ha. What words could I have, looking like this? Damn it. What happened to the fool our clan once mocked as the greatest idiot?"
Despite his words, admiration was clear in Kebna's eyes.
Was it because Azadin was strong?
That was true, but it wasn't just that.
Even though they had fallen into demons, corrupted beyond redemption, Azadin still spoke of honor and pride as a herald. Deep down, Kebna found himself moved.
The thirst for blood, the pulsating of their wretched, black magic still clouded his mind, but despite it all, Azadin had rekindled their pride as heralds.
'I never once felt such pride when I was a herald myself.'
Kebna glared at Azadin.
'A boy matures into a man before you even realize it. This one, he is remarkable. Is it because of Elder Kazas' training? Or… is it that those born under the Curse of Service always become the greatest of heralds?'
At that moment, Azadin posed a question.
"Behind the count, is it Nagashura?"
Nagashura. It was the empire of the Nagas that once ruled humanity before the arrival of the Clan of the Eight Divine Kings.
The transformation of the former heralds into something resembling Nagas strongly suggested that it was indeed the Nagas of Nagashura who had bewitched the count, but Azadin asked anyway to confirm.
"You'll have to find out for yourself."
With those words, Kebna cast a spell.
—Shallow and Sparrow!
Transparent magic projectiles formed beside him. At the same time, he charged forward in the form of a corrupted Naga, spewing venom from his mouth.
But Azadin struck the water with his sword, sending up a spray of mist. The water barrier intercepted the venom and deflected the enchanted bullets of Shallow and Sparrow.
"No way!"
Azadin advanced, swinging his sword.
—Crack!
Kebna raised his sword to block, but Azadin's blade sliced through it effortlessly, then carved a cross across his heart and skull.
"Guh… Hah, magnificent."
Kebna collapsed into the bloodied water. His wounds tried to regenerate, but the blood loss exceeded the rate of healing.
In the end, his own regenerative power only prolonged his suffering, forcing him to die in agony.
"If you had fought using the skills of a herald rather than relying on your monstrous abilities, it would have been far more troublesome."
"As a herald, rather than a monster? Haha, I see. I failed to consider that."
"Do you truly have nothing left to say?"
"The count… is trying to create an undead army. A significant number has already been stored below…, and the copy of the Book of the Divine King will be offered as a sacrifice to the Naga Queen, Devislin, without even being deciphered."
"Has it already been offered?"
"Not yet…, it hasn't been offered yet. The count has five pages… Khh! Azadin, you are an outstanding herald, but our clan is not a cause worthy of your devotion. There is darkness within the clan."
"What kind?"
"That… we only know that it concerns Chief Hatir…, we don't know the details. Beware of the chief."
"I understand."
Azadin raised his sword to pierce the heads of the fallen former heralds.
"Thank you, Azadin."
With those words of gratitude, Azadin freed the former heralds from their suffering. Their bodies, which had transformed into Nagas, were now reverting to their human forms.
"Damn it. Now, where is the count… Hm?"
The blood level in the execution pit was lowering. The blood was draining through the bottom of the pit.
***
Beneath the execution pit where the blood flowed, a deep underground passage had been excavated. Judging by its depth, it seemed to be connected to the well beneath Baroness Nord's mansion, the same underground tunnel where Mezeri's apostles had infiltrated. It was likely the space beyond the iron gate that had blocked Azadin's entry.
'Well, I suppose they've already realized I'm here….'
Azadin silently and cautiously crawled into the hole where the blood was draining.
A massive underground hall had been formed. Within the vast chamber stood a heretical idol exuding an indescribably profane aura. Surrounding it were more than a hundred embalmed undead, mummy soldiers, undead centurions to lead them, two Nagas to command them, and Count Kazel himself.
Azadin groaned at the sight. The numbers were far greater than expected. Moreover, they were well-armed and ready for deployment at any moment.
The embalmed corpses, the mummies, lay alongside gleaming savage blades, and the centurions who would command them were clad in armor, carrying shields.
An army of the undying, which neither ate nor drank, was preparing to march upon a world suffering from drought.
Moreover, outside the village, powerless refugees had gathered—perfect bodies to feed and bolster this undead horde.
'So that's why they let the refugees in without resistance. They were planning to slaughter them and turn them into undead soldiers… The embalming must be how they're creating the mummies. This is dangerous.'
Mummies, enhanced through embalming and necromantic rituals, were far more powerful than ordinary zombies. If an undead army were to invade the parched lands of Korasar now, it would pose an enormous threat.
War cannot be waged without water. A city besieged by the undead army would quickly run out of supplies and wither away from thirst.
However, the core cities of the Clan of the Eight Divine Kings were protected by the light of king's virtue. Could the undead even function under its radiance?
'I need to find out.'
The enemy was many, and Azadin was alone. Moreover, he had only a few arrows left. The treasured sword he had carefully chosen was still holding up, but he could feel its condition gradually deteriorating.
'Well, I did cut through an opponent's sword. Even if I struck their weak points with my strong ones, it's only natural that the blade is dulling.'
Outnumbered, under-equipped—yet, Azadin pressed forward into the depths to gather more information.
***
"I would have liked to make more thorough preparations. But the world never unfolds as planned."
Like a lord standing before his army on the eve of battle, Count Kazel addressed the undead legion before him. Though they remained motionless for now, once they were awakened, their power would be formidable.
The count gazed up at the ceiling—or rather, toward the passage leading to the execution pit above.
"The other two heralds should not have been easy opponents, yet you managed to deal with them. Are you truly 108th Herald?"
Azadin had been moving through the shadows, but it seemed his approach had already been detected. There was no point in hiding anymore.
"Yes, I am the 108th Herald."
Azadin landed atop the idol. The Naga women hissed in outrage at the sight of him desecrating their sacred effigy, but Azadin had already been branded a blasphemer by other humans. There was no reason to flinch now at the reproach of beings who weren't even human.
"Are the other heralds blind? You, 108th? Those two above were fairly strong, but compared to you, were they nothing but trash?"
"Rank doesn't necessarily equate to strength. A high rank is good, but having a low rank doesn't mean much… And they were stronger when they were still heralds."
Azadin glared at the count. Though his eyes were hidden behind his mask, the count could feel the piercing intensity of his gaze.
"Hmph… Are you angry because I insulted the herald clan? You're becoming more and more interesting. Why don't you consider changing your master? I won't even ask you to become a Naga. I could use a human servant. Whatever you desire, I will give it to you."
"I want the copy of the Book of the Divine King."
"Ah, now that… would be a bit troublesome."
"Then the negotiation is over."
"Over? That means you will die. After we carve you apart with this army, we will march outside and slaughter the refugees gathered there. While our craftsmen select the best corpses to be mummified, we will continue forward, destroying everything in our path until we rule all of Korasar."
The count smirked as he spoke.
"Do you truly believe an undead army can conquer the world? Under the light of the king's virtue, the undead won't be able to function."
Azadin pressed the issue, demanding an answer.