It was quite rare for Theron to be taken off guard. But while he was caught unawares, he wasn't actually surprised.
This wasn't his territory, but instead that of another. If the tunnels had been perfectly curated to forge a formation of sound waves that amplified and dulled echoes, there was no reason for them to not be able to do it in reverse.
Theron could easily imagine a scenario where they had known the moment he entered and had been tracking his movements all the way.
Of course, that was also the worst-case scenario, and while he had taken it into account, he didn't feel that it was likely.
This was much more in line with what he thought might happen. They could detect him, but there were limits, or else, in all likelihood, it wouldn't have taken them this long.
And oddly enough… there wasn't nearly enough hostility given the situation.
Theron simply turned his head back to find a young boy maybe just a couple of months younger than him, if he was younger by much at all.
He had eyes that glowed red in the slight darkness and hair that perfectly fused into that very same darkness.
Though they were around the same age, though Theron's shoulders were broader, the young boy's stature was taller by a good half a head. The black robes he wore and the shadows around them made it feel like he stretched out even further than that, giving him an even more looming and cool feel.
The young prince of the Sangun Clan, Akkun.
Theron gave the boy a glance and then looked around. He didn't detect anything, but he also wasn't entirely sure. The distortions in this place were quite great.
"You're quite arrogant," Akkun said with the same calm cadence. "You see a boy your age, and your immediate assumption is that he came with help? You think quite highly of yourself."
Theron ignored Akkun. His actions had nothing to do with arrogance; it was self-preservation. Why would he assume that this young man was just strutting around on his own?
Akkun didn't seem to mind, looking past Theron and toward the battle down below.
"I bet you're wondering why it is the Alpha is acting like that. I can tell you."
Theron's eyes narrowed.
"Oh, so you're that type," Akkun said faintly, tilting his head to the side as his gaze returned to Theron.
Theron wasn't sure what Akkun meant by "that type."
"Well, I'm a man of my word. It isn't as though whether you know or not will make much of a difference to the situation. I'm not entirely sure how you managed to make it here, but what I do know is that if you try to fight right now, you'll find your body not working the way you hoped it would.
"As for the Alpha, it's at a fork in the road of its cultivation journey. On one side, there's a sliver of hope to become a Runebound Mana Beast. On the other side, there's the door to Gold Mancy."
Theron's gaze flickered. Runebound? That was ridiculous. Lightning Blood Hounds weren't common by any means, as they were Mana Beasts at the end of the day, but they were still just Imbued Beasts.
Between Imbued, there was still Manaborn, and then Runebound Beasts beyond that.
Theron had never laid eyes on a Manaborn Beast, let alone a Runebound one.
Defeating Imbued Beasts at the same level was already a nightmare. The only reason Theron made it seem so simple to slaughter the hounds was because…
Well, he was far stronger than an Imbued Beast. After all, he had a Manaborn Resonance now.
"Don't believe me?" Akkun asked. "It's the reason they came here in the first place. There's a very interesting history to this land, you know. You ever wonder how a Fire Empire and Wood Empire ended up right next to one another?"
Akkun continued to observe Theron, but by now, Theron's expression had become a blank slate.
"Ah, you might not know. This Nightingale Empire is mostly a facade. Darkness? It could be said that the Nightingale Clan lives up to their affinity, slinking around in the shadows, backstabbing others in the night, and then rushing off like thieves.
"The root of it all is Spirit."
Seeing that Theron still didn't respond, Akkun just continued to speak as though he had all the time in the world.
"You ever wonder what's so special about this region here? Why your strongest army has to be positioned to the north and we just so happen to be in a transition point between the northern tip of your Empire and the center?"
Akkun suddenly smiled, but it seemed almost forced, almost as though it came from someone who wasn't used to it.
"It's quite an interesting tale, actually. Curious how it's your General Pennel who knows of what's happening in this situation, but your Emperor doesn't. Do you think the Pennel Clan is rebelling? How interesting."
Suddenly, Akkun went from divulging large amounts of information to teasing out his next words as though he wanted to see Theron squirm.
He didn't get his wish.
There was a deadpan expression on Theron's face as though he hadn't been listening at all. His eyes even dropped somewhat, exuding a near laziness to them that was actually underlying the amount of focus he was putting into his thoughts.
Or more accurately… his body.
Theron suddenly moved.
Akkun took a step back at the same time, his motions almost casual as a black spear with a crimson red blade appeared in his palm. He thrust it downward like a king pointing toward his army from on high, his Mana flourishing.
Theron's body seemed to hit a new gear.
Akkun's spear-wielding arm flew into the skies, his blood spurting and using his widened eyes as their canvas.
Theron was quite surprised as well. He had aimed for Akkun's neck before shifting to his arm last minute, assuming that an attack would come somewhere from the shadows.
Only for nothing to come.
Either whatever was in the darkness didn't act on purpose…
Or this prince really had been idiotic enough to come on his own.