Kael, Freya, and Linda listened to Verion's words in silence. At first they did not understand, but when he explained further, Kael rubbed his forehead and let out a long sigh.
"So you are saying that after you appeared in their camp and spoke with them, they immediately imprisoned your men while keeping you aside. Is that right?" Kael asked slowly.
"Yes!" Verion nodded quickly, his voice shaky. "They told me I need to prove myself if I want to get them released and join them."
"In the end they just don't believe me."
Freya's brows furrowed as she spoke. "Might be because he is human."
Kael, however, thought of something else. His gaze grew distant as his mind pieced together the situation.
There could be something, or someone, watching over the whole trial.
Maybe the ranks were being decided through points or other measures. If the camp you were sent to didn't even believe in you, then how could you be fit to be an Emperor? That would be a very poor start, one that would surely drag the ranking down.
After hearing Verion's explanation, Kael also felt that while it might be possible to change allies, there would likely be a penalty for it. What kind of deduction or reduction it might bring, he didn't know. The end tally of this trial was beyond his understanding.
"When we first entered the camp,I remember the troops calling us people from history.So aren't they made that way to recognise us immediately?"Kael question made Freya and Sol to think further which causes Verion eyes to shook a bit.
Sol then rubbed his head,"Kyaa…I don't know for sure."
He could feel something was wrong but he wasn't in position.
He turned his eyes toward Sol. "What is your decision?"
"What? Me?" Sol's voice cracked. His face stiffened in surprise.
"Yes, you," Kael said firmly. "I don't want to take part in this."
Before Sol could answer, Verion spoke again, his voice desperate. "I will be quite valuable. My people would add to your strength. I swear I will not betray you."
Kael's eyes lingered on him for a moment. His expression was complicated. In his heart he muttered, Why did you even come here if you were going to grovel ? He wanted to ask if this man had been forced into this situation, but he held the words back.
"Unbind his legs," Kael said after a pause. "Keep his hands tied."
He rose to his feet and looked down at Verion. "You know about this place, right?"
"Yes. I have been patrolling it," Verion answered quickly.
"Good. First, take me to where they store the food. Then take me to the place where your men are imprisoned. We will decide what to do after we see it for ourselves."
Kael's plan was simple. Observe first, act later. But when they reached the edge of the camp, his heart sank.
"Now what is this," Kael muttered under his breath, hiding behind a tent. His eyes were fixed on a wooden building standing ahead.
"You are saying your men are on the left side and the food is on the right?" Kael asked in a low tone.
"Yes," Verion affirmed with a pale expression, but his voice was steady.
Kael's expression darkened. His stomach turned cold. Don't tell me they kept them there because they plan to eat his men.
A sickening thought pressed on him, and bad memories from his past rushed forward. His chest tightened, and a wave of nausea struck him. He shook his head, forcing the images away, though the heaviness lingered.
'I have softened,'he thought bitterly. His hand rubbed his temple as he steadied himself.
He looked forward again and counted. "Five demon guards," he said flatly. His eyes narrowed. "Should we kill, or should we sneak?"
After a brief pause, Kael spoke quietly.
"Let's sneak in first."
His voice was calm but firm. The others looked at him with unease.
"Killing them would clear the space, but it might draw more eyes," Kael added. "I will sneak in and take a look first." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⟡𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕥⟡𝕟𝕖𝕥
He turned his gaze toward Verion and the rest. His tone carried no warmth.
"You can't stay here for long. Go and hide there."
Sol gave a short nod, his eyes lingering on Kael. "Be careful."
"You too," Kael replied, his expression heavy.
He shifted his eyes back to the five demons standing at the front. They were supposed to be guarding, but instead, their heads drooped.
Their breaths came heavy and uneven. They looked more like beasts dozing after a hunt than soldiers on watch.
Kael's steps grew light. His presence thinned until the air itself seemed to forget he was there. He tiptoed across the ground, and his body flickering softly, like a shadow moved by the breeze.
One of the demons stirred. A loud snore broke in its throat, followed by a sudden jerk of its head. Its eyes opened wide as it felt something.
A brush of wind passed by its cheek. It turned sharply, the sound of its bones cracking in the motion. But there was nothing.
"Kaaa... haa," it yawned, rubbing its eyes with a clawed hand. Its shoulders sagged, and it slumped again into sleep.
Meanwhile, Kael was already gone. He had leapt silently across the open ground and landed atop a small wooden structure. His eyes scanned the door below. Entering through it was too easy, too exposed. He shook his head.
His dagger gleamed in his hand. Crimson aura spread along the blade, whispering in the air, wrapping the steel in a deadly glow. He stabbed the dagger into the thatched roof. The wood and straw burned and split under the aura. Slowly, carefully, he carved out a hole, just large enough for his body.
The edges of the hole smoldered faintly as he peered down. Darkness filled the space below. He drew a deep breath, then dropped through.
Kael landed softly. His boots pressed against the dusty floor. His eyes adjusted in the dim light. The air smelled foul, thick with the stench of damp and decay. His gaze fell on what lay before him, and his breath caught.
"Haa..." A low sound of disgust left his throat.