“You’re saying all the messages we sent out were intercepted? So the Kingdom still doesn’t know where we are?”
Inside the tent, Skarn furrowed his brows tightly as he asked.
Vera stood stiffly, nervous, and replied, “Yes, Captain, but my comrades are already on their way. It’s just… we don’t know how long it will take.”
“Just call me Uncle Skarn.”
“No! I will definitely join Bloodbreak in the future! Calling you that now or later makes no difference!”
Vera said seriously and confidently.
Skarn simply smiled, saying nothing more.
He had seen too many young people like her, most of whom were now lying dead outside.
He continued, “I’m more curious about how you managed to get here. Even the Kingdom’s troops find it difficult to enter. You even brought Bai along. When I saw her, I thought I was hallucinating.”
“W-we just kept dodging and running all the way here,” Vera shrugged casually.
Skarn was momentarily stunned, then burst out laughing, the tension in his brows easing slightly.
“Should I say you’re lucky, or just brave, to actually find this place?”
Vera shyly scratched her head, thinking it was praise, but then suddenly remembered something.
She immediately put on a serious expression and said, “Right, there’s one more thing I have to say.”
“What is it?”
“On the way here with Bai, we encountered a very unusual Vampire Beast.
It was enormous—much bigger than the usual ones.
Most Vampire Beasts aren’t even half its size.
Luckily, we hid in time, or we’d have been done for.”
Skarn’s recently relaxed expression tensed again.
“You’re sure? A creature several times bigger than a Vampire Beast…”
“Yes, yes.”
Vera nodded emphatically, like a chick pecking at grain.
Just one Vampire Beast required at least six knights to handle.
A creature several times its size… if they ran into that, it would be disastrous.
He was certain now—there had to be a Vampire nearby, orchestrating all this behind the scenes, trying to use this opportunity to completely eliminate the Broken Blood Knight Order, a persistent thorn in their side.
He would never allow that to happen.
At that moment, the tent flap was lifted, and Aurelia walked in, her face weary, clearly exhausted from the recent battle.
“Where’s Little Bai?”
“Bai has already fallen asleep. She’s drained all her magic power and has no energy left,” Aurelia replied.
“Captain, what do we do next? Wait for rescue?”
Skarn was silent for a moment before saying, “All our transmissions have been intercepted. Waiting for rescue now is just waiting to die. We have to take action ourselves.”
“Intercepted?”
Aurelia’s pupils trembled.
So, their desperate struggle these past few days had been in vain.
But how could those bastards have intercepted their messages so actively?
Shock was gradually replaced by anger.
Clearly, someone was sabotaging them from behind the scenes.
Skarn spread out a map and scanned it carefully, his eyes narrowing as if searching for something.
When his gaze landed on a dead zone, he pointed and said, “Aurelia, tell the knights: starting tomorrow, we stop holding this position and move north.”
“North? Why not just go straight back to the Kingdom?”
Vera asked, confused.
“On the way back, there will be even more Vampire Beasts. That creature lurking in the shadows will definitely try to block the route back completely. We advance north. If my calculations are correct, our elven allies should arrive near here by noon tomorrow.”
Skarn pointed to a corner of the map and continued, “This is the only high ground in the middle of the Forest. Once we get there, we can send a signal that will definitely be seen. After we link up with them, the Vampire Beasts won’t be a threat anymore. Only then do we have a chance… Our fighters are already few in number.”
Aurelia hesitated for a long moment.
She knew this was a gamble with their lives.
If they failed, it would mean death.
But they had no other choice.
She straightened up and said, “Understood, Captain! I’ll relay the orders right away.” Then she hurried out of the tent.
“Captain, Captain! What about me? I want to help too!”
Vera pointed at herself excitedly.
Skarn smiled faintly.
“You just make sure our Little Hero stays safe. If this mission fails… run like hell with her and don’t look back.”
***
Somewhere in the Forest, a figure strolled leisurely, seeming utterly unconcerned by the danger around her.
Behind her, several Vampire Beasts followed.
Strangely, these crazed beasts didn’t attack her.
Instead, they lowered their heads and followed her respectfully, almost like humans.
“Hm?”
The figure suddenly stopped, as if noticing something.
She raised a slender, pale finger to lift a branch coated with fresh blood.
She leaned in, sniffing lightly, her seductive voice whispering, “Such a peculiar scent.”
Unabashed, she stuck out her tongue and licked the blood off the branch.
Then her crimson pupils widened sharply, a ravenous, manic smile curling on her lips.
Her voice brimmed with pleasure and excitement.
“Delicious little morsel, you sure made me work for you. Hehehe.”
***
At dawn, the sky faintly brightened.
A new day had arrived, but the warriors felt no joy.
It only meant their hope for rescue had once again been dashed.
Bai opened her eyes and looked outside the tent.
The surviving twenty or so knights wore exhausted expressions.
They had been on edge for days and nights without sleep, knowing that the slightest lapse would invite an attack from the Vampire Beasts.
It was a brutal test of their willpower.
“The second day… one more day left,” Bai murmured, looking at the red flower in her hand.
One more day. If she hadn’t returned by then, Yalbera would surely punish her.
“What are you looking at, little one?”
Aurelia lifted the tent flap and walked in, carrying a bowl of porridge.
She smiled gently and sat beside Bai.
Bai quietly put away the flower.
“Feeling better? You and that elf named Vera really scared me when you showed up yesterday,” Aurelia said with a smile, setting the porridge in front of Bai.
“We need to head north soon. Eat quickly.”
Bai shook her head. She had come to help them, not to be a burden who needed extra care.
“Is Aurelia Sister mad at Bai?”
“Why do you ask?”
Aurelia looked puzzled.
“Bai came here on her own to help the Broken Blood knights, but didn’t expect to become the one being cared for. Bai doesn’t want that.”
She nervously fiddled with her hands, speaking softly.
Aurelia’s gaze trembled slightly.
She smiled warmly at Bai again and gently touched her gray hair.
“If it weren’t for you, I really would have died back then. And the knights you saved are all grateful you arrived in time… You’re truly our Little Hero. So, be happy. Bai, you’ve already helped us so much.”