Kana's refugee caravan was heading southwest.
The only kingdom bordering the Kingdom of Safro was the Kingdom of Faen.
A long mountain range separated the two countries, but there were relatively narrow roads connecting each side of the mountains.
These were the only two outward passages from the Kingdom of Safro.
The passage southwest had no forests, mountains, or rivers to block the way, allowing for smooth passage.
However, the road southeast was problematic, not only being blocked by numerous rivers but also inhabited by many beasts and some low-intelligence races.
Thus, the Kingdom of Safro had always used the southwest route, maintaining a lukewarm relationship with its only territorial neighbor, the Kingdom of Faen.
Generally, there were only commercial exchanges.
After a day of marching, their refugee caravan gathered more people.
There was no choice; almost all the cities had fallen.
With the port taken over at first opportunity and no sea routes, they had few directions to choose from.
It's said that a large number of civilians were fleeing towards the Kingdom of Faen.
The sun had set over the hill.
The sky was becoming increasingly somber.
"Hurry, we need to find a more concealed spot," Nickum said anxiously.
It wasn't just a day or two since they'd escaped from the city, and making it this far was fortunate.
They naturally had some experience too.
For example, the Blood Race grew stronger at night, even more so than during the day.
All members of the Blood Race possessed night vision, which gave them a significant advantage over ordinary humans.
"Follow me, I know a good place," Kana said, glancing around and heading in one direction.
Nickum quickly turned his head, saying, "What are you doing standing around? Hurry up and follow."
The members of the refugee caravan immediately followed.
After another half-hour's walk, they could see a small forest in the distance, with a hillside within.
Kana led them to a wide cave opening recessed on the side, and with the surrounding trees as cover, it counted as quite concealed.
"This is a good spot. Let's rest here tonight," Nickum said, very satisfied with the surroundings.
"Brother Kana, you're really experienced, hahaha."
"Not really, I've just been here before."
The refugees with them started setting up a temporary camp around the area.
It was very rudimentary, with just a few fires lit here and there.
Kana and Alyris wandered around the small grove.
Purposefully wandering, they found what they were looking for and Kana quickly knelt down to dig it out.
"Garlic grass, hahaha," Kana said happily.
Alyris looked and asked, "Your Highness, why are you digging out sharp-edged grass?"
Garlic grass was a name given by players in the game, not something resembling or containing garlic.
It's just that the juice extracted from the grass acted as a toxin to the Blood Race.
In the game, the Blood Race was also quite afraid of Silver Weapons, so they nicknamed it garlic grass.
"This grass has a peculiar effect on those monsters; it's like a toxin to them."
"Really?" Alyris asked without suspicion, kneeling down to help pull out the grass.
There wasn't much of it, and after a while, they finished collecting and returned to camp.
Seeing them bring back a bunch of sharp grass, Nickum was puzzled, "Why did you dig that up?"
"We found earlier that those monsters seem to hate this grass, it seems to poison them."
Hearing this, Nickum and the nearby guards simultaneously turned their heads.
The monsters' regenerative abilities had always been a headache for them.
"You're not lying, are you?" Nickum was a bit surprised.
Kana nodded, "Why would I lie? I've even tried coating it on my sword. When struck on those monsters, they even cry out in pain."
This was indeed nothing to lie about, as they all now shared a common enemy.
"So these monsters do feel pain."
Immediately convinced, Nickum said, "Alright, we'll dig some up too." Turning back to his comrades, "What are you waiting for? Take a few people and dig some up!"
Soon, some guards led refugees through the forest to dig up the sharp grass, swiftly gathering a bunch of it.
Then, the women casually used whatever tools they had to simply extract some juice.
They handed two small bottles of juice to Kana and Alyris as a gesture of gratitude.
As nightfall came, they organized lookouts.
Kana and Alyris naturally didn't need to keep watch and fell asleep wrapped in blankets given to them by others as they sat by the fire.
Before sleeping, Kana told others about the method of ear ringing being the enemy's detection method using giant bats, advising them to be cautious.
...
Early the next day, the refugee caravan quickly packed up and continued their journey.
Approaching a village, Nickum sent two soldiers with two mercenaries ahead to scout.
"Boss, the village is empty, and there's a lot of blood and some gnawed bones left behind. They seem to be human bones," one returning soldier reported with a disgusted expression.
Evidently, the situation in the village wasn't good.
"Did you see any of those monsters?"
"No, the traces are from a few days ago."
"Good, let's hurry through here," Nickum relaxed.
Kana and Alyris passed through the area outside the village.
Alyris looked at the soil under her feet, furrowed her brow, and asked, "Den, Kana, why does the soil around the village look kind of dark?"
Kana glanced and casually said, "That's blood pollution. Those Blood Race members did it, polluting the land to make the whole area more suitable for dark creatures.
Even some plants and animals get affected and undergo mutations."
When the game started, the entire nation's land became such a dark polluted area.
The accumulated dark Magic Power made the land a place where sunlight couldn't penetrate.
Gathered clouds kept the earth perpetually shadowed, and even by the game's late stages, recovery was minimal.
This situation was just a harbinger.
"Alright, stop overthinking, let's speed up."
Not long after, they encountered another refugee team, much more miserable, with most being injured and faces filled with exhaustion.
Clearly, they had previously encountered enemies, though it's unknown if they had escaped or defeated them.
In any case, the two refugee teams merged into one.
Looking at the refugee caravan, Kana couldn't help but grumble, "If we keep picking up people along the way, we'll probably have a group of five or six hundred by the time we reach the Count's territory."
A few kilometers away.
A team was slowly moving, dragging some bound civilians behind.
A wagon full of human corpses and remains was at the rear.
"Sniff sniff."
A Sewn-up Werewolf poked its head up, sniffing the air.
"What are you smelling?" asked a nearby Blood Race Captain.
"Bloodline, boiling, scent," said the Sewn-up Werewolf, speaking in broken, low, and raspy tones.
"An escaped experiment? Or a royal member left outside?"
The Blood Race Captain pondered and then made a decision.
"Point a direction, and then you take these people back first. I'll take a few people to check it out."
The Werewolf pointed its claw in the direction of Kana and the others.
"Alright," the Captain gathered a few blood servants and some ghouls, plus one giant bat, and quickly ran towards Kana and the others.