Fighting to the Death is Easy, But Lending a Path is Hard (5)
The border guard commander was taken aback by Kriel's bold declaration that he would hunt down and slaughter the wyverns.
If these had been ordinary wyverns, he might have accepted Kriel's claim. Humanity in Tirnanog had long studied the ecology of monsters. Wyverns were no exception. Depending on subspecies like northern or southern varieties, they knew limits on flight distance and speed after a single feeding, and more. By backtracking from attack sites and frequency, they could narrow down nest candidates.
But these wyverns were different. They were unmistakably tainted by the abyss. Analysis based on normal ecology was useless against abyss-spawn. Abyss enhancement couldn't be quantified. Even demonkin could defy basics like "humans die if head and body separate."
There were mountains around the gateway city, so a wyvern nest nearby was likely. But that was just a hypothesis; a nasty demonkin might have marched from afar with them. The commander summed it up.
"Sir Kriel. But we have no way to track them, do we?"
Kriel nodded. Normally, yes. But with a Dark Knight's power, that changed.
...Can't say that straight out.
As pre-arranged, Kriel drew his horn dagger. The commander flinched at the sudden draw, but relaxed when Kriel set it on the table. Then Orishin rose from it.
"Greetings! A mighty and strong morning to you! If you ask my name, I am Orishin, the unicorn spirit!"
The auspicious silver glow around the unicorn was a sight to behold. No head below the neck was no big flaw for a spirit. The guards marveled at it.
Kriel gave the wide-eyed guards a fitting explanation.
"This is a weapon forged personally by the saintess of the Eve Kaha Church, imbued with a spirit and special powers."
That was the intro on Orishin.
"Finding abyss kin hiding in shadows would normally be tough, but with my relic's power, I can drag them into the sunlight. Trust me and give me one day."
Note: He didn't specify the relic was Orishin. Vague wording, but no lies.
Honor stays intact.
Abyss schemes are fraud; mine are clever improvisation. Kriel admired his wit, awaiting the commander's reply.
"A sword made with a saintess's spirit blessing! Surely a grand holy relic."
Kriel's face twisted inside his helm. Morgina was a saintess, Orishin a spirit—true. But calling them ordinary? Not even with a blade to his throat.
Luckily, the helm hid it. A faint brow furrow was all. The commander took it for a holy knight's focus on duty.
"We thank your dedication, sir. The border guard will follow your orders fully. Just command us."
A doubt bloomed in Kriel's mind. Other nation's army—okay to just take command like this?
No formal handover, just abyss-tracking authority. Fine.
Politics weren't key; innocent victims of the abyss were. Kriel shelved thought via knightly excuse. He avoided complex thinking for mental health.
He had command, but no plans to move troops en masse. "Dark Knight" aside, Kriel lacked command experience. Western Front orders were mostly "go smash that." No group tactics expertise.
His orders were simple: Bolster gateway city defenses to shoot down any fleeing wyverns. Then Kriel entered the encircling mountains alone.
"I know."
Of course not. Kriel gripped the horn dagger right-handed, stowing all armor in his mantle's shadow. His pale hair gleamed in sunlight.
Briefly. He invoked Dark Knight power. Thick shadows coalesced into black mist. Tuon and his gear shrouded in darkness.
Without hesitation, he slashed his forearm. Blood dripped vividly. Splat.
Tuon panicked; Orishin nodded. Aha.
"Good memory. Yes."
Similar to dragging out Bicorn-ified Orishin via contract. Cruder now. No sacrifice victim.
Unavoidable. Back then, bait farmer family knew no magic or abyss; no suspicion.
Guards knew basics. Kriel doing abyss ritual with live sacrifice? They'd draw steel yelling "Imposter holy knight! Justice's blade!"
Couldn't fake it before them. Especially as Eve Kaha's Champion.
So, simple deal: Promise future souls/pain; pay now with his blood as deposit. Pay now, settle later.
Fallen spirit Orishin was smart, profit-driven—ignored shoddy deals.
But target: Wyvern mutants, mere Monsters, no demonkin intellect. Dark Knight blood was gold to them. Alluring, even under other abyss sway.
"Even if demonkin-tier, with Tuon's demon rank, lured wyverns will come."
"Plead the fifth."
Deceiving abyss is knightly honor. Kriel was flexible on abyss matters.
Victim of Kriel's scam-contract (unfulfilled), Orishin seemed wistful.
Tuon approved.
Kriel let sword chatter flow, awaiting monsters. Drip. Drip. Blood pooled, no longer soaking in.
Wingbeats from above. Whoosh, branches shook. Narrow clearing for landing, but monster strength snapped trees, wyvern before Kriel.
It tried looking up. Scent familiar.
But sun-devouring darkness, pale-haired man. Blood's authority undeniable for a mere monster.
Wyvern bowed slowly. Eyes pleaded: May I partake of that blood?
Sun at back, Kriel nodded arrogantly. Invader conquering rivals.
Abyss obeys might. Sensing stronger demonkin—maybe demon—this wyvern craved first loyalty, devouring old master's flesh.
As it crawled head-low...
Tuon drawn lightning-fast. Arm's reach: Straight to heart from back.
Perfect gap in scales, threading flesh unhindered by bone. One strike to heart.
Wyvern died unknowing.
Tuon drank deep, blood vanishing into dark blade. Wyvern paled instantly.
Orishin tilted head.