Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: 79. Gu Poison (1)
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Dan Socheon slung the limp Yuri over his shoulder and stepped out of the office.
Cedric stood in the hallway, gazing out the window.
“Is it over?”
Dan Socheon nodded.
“You put up a barrier, so what did you two talk about?”
His voice seemed gentle at first listen, but Dan Socheon could sense the chill woven into it.
A man devoid of any warmth.
The scant goodwill he held was reserved for a select few. And most of that went to his brother, Yuri Brioll.
“Nothing much. The barrier was just to keep things quiet.”
“Couldn’t you have taken him down silently?”
“Your brother isn’t that fragile. If I’d gone all out, this building would be rubble.”
“Impressive.”
Cedric smiled.
“Keep him out for a while.”
“Got it.”
The two walked down the hallway side by side.
Even with Dan Socheon carrying Yuri, the attendants acted as if he were invisible, bowing only to Cedric.
Cedric spoke.
“Franchese’s grand ritual is ready. Now you can do what you’ve been waiting for.”
“One more time: stay out of it.”
“We’ll see.”
“Even if you butt in, wait until one of them drops.”
“Fine, fine.”
Cedric shrugged.
“This is why humans are so exhausting. That competitive instinct clinging on... maybe the whole world’s broken.”
Dan Socheon said nothing.
A genius for the ages who’d read the Dark Angel Command Registry without losing his mind—in fact, harnessing its power. Perhaps a demon.
Far from human.
That might be exactly why he could claim ownership of the Dark Angel Command Registry.
“Dan Socheon. You confident you’ll win?”
“No idea.”
“Our father’s no pushover. Genius in his own right, different from mine.”
Cedric clapped Dan Socheon on the shoulder.
“Kill him if you want, just don’t lose. Oh, and Yuri wants his friend spared, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Perfect. I’m curious...”
Cedric adjusted his glasses with a smile.
“What’ll become of that guy... and Yuri. Hey, Dan Socheon, wanna make a bet?”
“Pass.”
“Why?”
“We’d end up betting on the same side.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
The two exited the building and wandered the palace grounds.
“Dump my brother here.”
“You sure?”
“He rolls just fine anywhere.”
Cedric chuckled to himself, clearly amused.
“When he wakes up, everything’ll be different.”
Following those instructions, Dan Socheon roughly rolled Yuri Brioll’s body into a corner of the garden.
He lay there like he was sleeping. A servant would spot him soon enough.
Cedric said,
“This place is wrapped up now. Let’s head to Franchese.”
Someone asked.
[Do you want to live?]
Rolang shook his head.
An honest answer.
But that someone wouldn’t leave him be.
[No, you have to live.]
And Rolang’s world began to spin once more.
His mind, stained crimson, the desires churning in his gut—they rewound slowly. His spirit, plummeting toward death, clawed its way back up the cliff.
He’d become a zombie, but he hadn’t died.
So he lived again.
“Ah...”
Rolang blinked.
His mind snapped back suddenly. Yet he couldn’t recall what he’d been doing.
A vague shape filled his vision, but details wouldn’t register.
His brain functions rebooted gradually.
Only then did Rolang remember the overwhelming color before him was called red.
Red.
A vivid, terrifying hue.
Roses, tulips, peonies, amaryllis.
Apples, strawberries, cherries, tomatoes, pomegranates.
And blood.
Entrails steeped in blood. Human flesh caked in gore. Stark white bones jutting through. And dripping atop it all—more blood.
Rolang swallowed.
Iron tang assaulted him, laced with a vile fishy stench that pierced his sinuses.
His senses sharpened to precision.
He realized the thing in his grasp was alive.
More—he knew it was human.
But which one?
Rolang shut his eyes, then opened them.
He lifted his head, shifting his gaze upward.
A dangling head. From the hair color and features, the name assigned to her came to mind.
Stephanie.
Her single remaining eye—for one had been gouged—mirrored his blood-drenched form.
Rolang recalled the time he’d been something else. Better if he’d forgotten, but every moment lingered.
She’d been eaten alive, her guts ripped out by Rolang.
Screams sharp as knives, fading to whimpers. Like any soul, she’d cried for mom and dad.
Rolang clawed at his scalp. Chunks of Stephanie’s flesh still clung in his mouth. He spat futilely; they wedged between teeth.
He jammed fingers in, scraping wildly. No luck—he bore down hard.
A tooth popped free.
Three or four teeth tumbled onto her innards with a stringy bit of flesh.
Blood streamed from Rolang’s mouth as he laughed. Then retched. Undigested organs spewed forth. Stomach acid glowed red—he heaved again.
Amid the puke, an eyeball tethered by its nerve stared up at him.
Those sensations flooded back.
The hunger roiling inside fixated on Stephanie’s eyes—soft, delectable. A rare treat. He’d plucked one, rolled it on his tongue, gulped it down.
The spare? Dessert.
Rolang bashed his head against the wall.
Mutters of curses on loop. Spittle, vomit, forehead smash—repeat.
Beastly growls as self-mutilation raged.
He hurled his body full force. The outpost crumbled, debris swallowing him and Stephanie’s corpse.
But death eluded him.
Rolang crawled from the ruins. Sunlight beat down. Blood coating his hands—wasn’t his.
Fingers to face.
Congealed skin. He ripped it free. Fresh blood welled.
Rolang laughed.
Zombies shuffled nearby.
He remembered being one. Not dead things. Abominations, cursed with unspeakable urges, doomed to wander earth forever.
Rolang lunged berserk.
Zombies, inert till struck, fought back.
Fist pulverized a face. Arm reached—he tore it off, wrenched neck from torso.
A few down, then horde.
Body slams, limbs thrashing. Grabbed by multiples—he bit deep.
Tear and be torn, bite and be bitten—primal brawl.
Rolang bellowed blood spray.
Grueling melee dragged. Finally, Rolang staggered up, spent. Dismembered zombie corpses littered around.
“Whew...”
Clapping from behind.
Rolang whirled.
“Impressive.”
Eyes deceived—Cedric approached grinning. Black-clad man at his side.
“How’s survival feel?”
“You... you bastard...”
First human words since zombie haze lifted.
Voice transformed.
Once clear, now gravel-rough, hoarse. Damaged cords.
Coughing fit—Cedric shrugged.
“Brother of your lord. Manners.”
“Shut it!”
Rolang charged. Black-clad intercepted.
Blasted back, cratered ground.
“Guh...”
“Could erase you with Franchese now, but brother begged—so you live.”
“Bastard...”
Head planted in dirt, curses mumbled.
Foot crushed down.
“What’d you do... to Franchese...”
“Gu Poison.”
Cedric declared.
“Franchese is gu poison. Harvests human vitality into venom—for the toughest foe.”
“You fuck!”
“Rolang.”
Rolang looked up. Cedric squatted, peering down.
“Brother turned you human again at his request. Be thankful. Stay quiet.”
“Kill me!”
“Nah.”
Cedric grinned.
“Yuri said spare you.”
“Kill me!”
“Nope.”
Rolang roared anew—Cedric booted his face. Head buried, silenced long.
“Dan Socheon. Gag him. Bring.”
Dan Socheon crammed something in Rolang’s mouth, bound with cloth. No talking.
Muffled protests, more strikes—limp. Then Dan Socheon’s voice.
“Craving death? Won’t happen.”
Dragged off.
Cedric and Dan Socheon glided unnaturally. Each step shoved scenery rearward.
Soon, new site.
Franchese University.
Rolang watched, eyes veins bulging.
Curse urge—no voice.
Center: grotesque thing. Black clump, dark magic nucleus fused.
Adelbine’s dread vibe.
Then, impossible.
Zombies surged every direction.
Ants to pheromone—streaming Franchese University.
Every zombie in Franchese, inbound.
None sans cannibal marks.
Rolang gagged inwardly.
“Spectacular, huh?”
Cedric, arms folded, spectated.
“Franchese. Vast, fertile. But all humans pooled for dark rite—block that one guy? Human... really?”
Rolang blinked.
“Rolang. Witness your lands’ folk turn tools. Father. Mother he devoured. All merge—for me.”
Taunts ceased.
Rolang grasped.
“This... stops my father.”
Zombies marched into black core, absorbed. Mass swelled.
Adelbine monster redux—human-fed growth.
“Rolang, your job.”
Cedric hand on head.
“Watch Fiore Brioll’s fate. Detail to Yuri.”
Thrashing.
Cedric petted hair.
“Yuri—who doomed you this wretched life—perfect revenge. Right?”
While Imperial forces hunkered before the walls unmoving, Bezos flowed leisurely.
Brioll troops rested easy.
Then, palace courier reached Fiore’s hall.
News grave.
“Crown Prince missing. Third Prince down, comatose. And...”
Knightly sighs.
“Franchese garrison slaughtered entire. No eyes on inside. Dark clouds, fog blanket. Sentries enter—none return.”
“What...”
“Your Majesty.”
Frantic glances.
Fiore pondered calmly, eyes lowered.
“Cedric vanished?”
“Yes.”
Fiore’s gaze flicked to corner knight.
Jared clutched skull.
Yuri’s guard. Came himself when Yuri split, full debrief.
Brief reflection.
Fiore nodded.
“I’ll go to Franchese.”