Nobles and Knights from the Empire

Night belonged to those who never slept. The remnants of the Undead Army advanced under cover of darkness. The undulating ridges in the valley looked like a crouching beast, while the silent Black Forest, dim meadows, and gravel-strewn riverbank rushed backward on either side of the undead's pale vision. Blood Staff and the high-ranking Liches under her command were protected at the very center of the Skeleton Cavalry. She raised her bare skull and looked toward the southern side of the valley. The faint light reflected from the murmuring river outlined the narrow shape of the mountain pass in that direction. Beyond it lay the exit leading to the Silman Valley.

At the mouth of the valley stood a silent camp. Like all undead military camps, it consisted of barricades made from countless bone thorns and a sparse few large black tents. However, the camp was completely empty. Nothing inside showed any sign of activity. The Undead Army halted at Blood Staff's command. A group of Liches had originally been stationed here, with several hundred Skeleton Warriors under them, but the undead seemed to have turned into air and vanished without a trace.

Blood Staff sent out several scouts. They soon returned with news matching what she had seen: the camp was empty, and there were no signs of battle.

Blood Staff was no fool. She immediately understood that enemies had appeared behind her.

"It found us." Blund exhaled a plume of white air in the cold night. There was little light in the rainy darkness, and the blade in his hand was black and dull, reflecting nothing.

"It realized we were here, not found us," Aleya corrected him.

"More or less the same."

"No, there's a big difference. Tactically speaking, noticing our presence means it has confirmed our location,