Time for Revenge

Why did it choose me as its sacrifice? Why not someone else? Aurelian could not help but wonder.

Could it truly be related to my bloodline? What exactly was that boiling sensation in my veins just moments ago signifying?

Enemies, sworn rivals, countless generations of entanglement like a cycle of reincarnation, all thoroughly carved into the very blood.

"Perhaps it has to do with the war between the Star Empire and the barbarians."

Aurelian thought to himself, but a deafening roar that pierced his eardrums pulled him back to reality.

In the distance, the granulation tissue had stopped growing; a creature at least three meters tall, covered in countless ugly, pulsating tumor-like tentacles, looked utterly revolting.

The barbarian phalanx had long since collapsed, as the tentacled, tumor-ridden monster was using its two twisted, giant hands to continuously snatch at the surrounding barbarians.

The warhorses had been terrified long ago, throwing all the barbarians to the ground; the men scrambled to their feet and fled outward.

The terrifying monster pursued the barbarians, gradually moving further away, while wails of pain and despair echoed through this forest of shifting light and shadow.

The fanaticism on Dark's face had long since vanished, because Kuro's mutation was completely different from anything he had imagined. What on earth was that giant, tumor-covered monster?!

He fell from his warhorse in a very disheveled state.

There was no helping it; he hadn't been far from Kuro to begin with, so he naturally bore the brunt of the fallout.

His subordinate barbarians were fleeing in all directions, while he himself hid behind a large tree.

"It's over, it's all over..."

The barbarians Dark had brought were his trusted confidants, the very capital he relied on to compete with his brothers within the tribe.

He could not imagine how he would be treated upon returning to the tribe if he lost his ability to contend for power.

In these cruel Frostlands, there was no one to rely on but oneself, not even one's own flesh and blood.

Master and his adjutant Darwin were retreating rapidly with the remaining knights.

The monster in the distance did not seem interested in them.

"Where is Jeanne?"

Aurelian was growing anxious; the magic surging from the monster in the distance exceeded his imagination, and it was still growing stronger. This could not help but make him worry for Jeanne, who was at the center of the chaos.

Having already suffered heavy losses in the Spruce Forest, he could not afford to lose Jeanne as well.

Suddenly, a white shadow appeared. Aurelian froze; it was Jeanne, though her face was smeared with mud, making her look quite disheveled.

But Aurelian breathed a sigh of relief, his mood calming down—as long as Jeanne was safe, it was fine.

"The situation has changed. What should we do now?" Jeanne asked.

Aurelian touched the egg tucked against his chest, confirmed it was safe, and then said, "If possible, take the people and leave first."

"Understood, that is possible. However, my mission is not yet complete. I wish to try one more time to kill that sinful man."

After hearing Jeanne's words, Aurelian looked toward the direction of the monster.

After careful consideration, he said in a deep voice, "Very well, but go and return quickly."

He also harbored deep hatred for that barbarian leader. If he could, he would rather personally execute the man to avenge his fallen knights.

Jeanne nodded, turned, and vanished into the shadows of the woods.

"My Lord!"

Master approached with the ten remaining knights.

"Master, I am glad to see you returned alive, and all of you as well!"

Aurelian looked at Darwin and the others behind Master; these knights all looked battered, their war robes stained red with blood.

"It is our honor to fight for you, My Lord!"

They roared with the heavy voices of knights, demonstrating the resolve of the kingdom's warriors!

Aurelian's expression softened slightly. At the end of the day, he was merely an ordinary person who had transmigrated here, and he owed them an explanation.

Clenching his fists, his hatred for the barbarians intensified. Everything was because of them!

This blood feud must be washed away with blood!

A surging killing intent welled up in Aurelian's heart. Originally, he had only intended to execute the mastermind, but now he changed his mind about leaving. He would make all the alien races here pay for the knights who had died!

He drew Innocent Starlight and pointed the sword at the scattering barbarians. The azure blade vibrated, the engraved runes flickered, and a brilliant purple radiance shone forth.

"My knights, the time for vengeance has arrived. Follow me, and bury every one of those enemies!"

Though the young duke's voice was still youthful, it already contained a hint of the majesty possessed only by great nobles.

This command to charge once again inspired all the surviving knights. They gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes burning with fighting spirit.

There was no other reason than the fact that their master would personally lead them back into the fray!

Even if they died, they would have no regrets, especially since they could personally slay their enemies—they had been feeling incredibly stifled just moments ago.

On the other side, the giant monster was still rampaging, destroying everything in its path.

But it seemed as if a certain will had suddenly descended, replacing the disordered chaos in its mind.

"Star-forging, blood sacrifice, consume."

A trembling, hoarse, and piercing shriek erupted from its torn neck, and eyes showing only whites turned toward the direction where Aurelian stood.

The massive, bloated body began to pivot, lumbering toward that very spot.

Aurelian did not ride his warhorse; instead, he stood on the ground and charged into the fleeing crowd of barbarians alongside the knights behind him.

Perhaps influenced by some unknown presence, their faces were masks of terror, their weapons long since discarded and lost somewhere in the chaos.

In the eyes of the charging knights, they were nothing more than lambs waiting for the slaughter!

These elite knights were well-versed in the art of efficient killing.

Seeing these barbarians in their ram-horned masks, the knights could not help but recall the scenes from moments ago, watching their brothers fall one by one before them.

Hatred completely eclipsed what little reason remained; their minds held only one thought.

To slaughter every last one of the fleeing barbarians before them!

Aurelian remained expressionless, as if he had reached some momentous decision within his heart.

Then, with a roar, he raised Innocent Starlight high and brought it down in a crushing strike.

The immense pressure left the fleeing barbarians unable to move.

Although his internal mana was nearly exhausted, the Lower Rank mana was still sufficient for Aurelian to engage these towering barbarians in hand-to-hand combat.

The azure Innocent Starlight in his hand cleaved through a fleeing barbarian, spraying blood across his blue-and-white armor.

Aurelian's hands trembled slightly, his eyes wide, filled with the palpitations that follow one's first kill.

Whether in his past life or this one, this was the first time he had ever taken a human life.

He, who had always been an ordinary person, had actually killed someone.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he lifted his head to look at the other barbarians.

He walked toward them, his face devoid of emotion.

When it comes to killing, there is no "first time," only countless times; he had to adapt to the rules of this world.

On the other side, Master, the captain of the knights, had transformed into a terrifying killing machine.

With every mechanical swing of his sword, another barbarian fell into a pool of blood.

He wore no expression; his heart must have surely gone numb as well.

Having become a knight of a different Lower Rank, he was a wolf among sheep, meeting no equal.

These barbarians were at most at the Body Integration level and possessed no Source Gathering whatsoever; how could they possibly halt Master's advance?

Compared to Master, knights like Darwin and Russell, who were at the Body Integration level, found the struggle much more arduous.

This was because the majority of the barbarians they faced were of the same level.

It was unbelievable that a single barbarian tribe could possess so many warriors with Body Integration level mana.