Chapter 8
Chapter 8
An Artful Timing
The clatter of wheels echoed.
The light of the holy maiden illuminated the darkness as the convoy moved forward.
Even after resting, they had walked for several more hours.
Everyone looked visibly exhausted.
There had already been several battles along the way.
Endless shadow-things known as “ground shadows” and lost wanderers that walked out of the darkness kept appearing.
They had somehow managed to fight them off, but in this condition there was no guarantee they could handle anything worse.
“We’re getting close.”
The wagons rumbled over uneven stone ground.
Around them lay the remains of enemies slain by Cassius.
Limbs were torn apart, faces crushed beyond recognition, scattered across the path like a welcoming display for their march.
Walking through the bloodstained path, fragments of memories seemed to drift up from the ground, faint and slow.
In those memories, Cassius looked like he was smiling.
He stood in the darkness that blocked all sight, swinging his sword aimlessly, as if laughing at something only he could hear.
What had Cassius wanted?
What had the whispers of that darkness told him?
As Luvel walked while thinking such thoughts, he felt as though something might suddenly leap out from the pitch-black depths ahead.
Something like the so-called Night Lantern, glowing with an unnaturally bright gaze.
That vague fear made his steps heavier.
Still, it was fine.
Once they reached the temporary stronghold and the engineers set up their positions, all they had to do was endure.
After that, they would simply return the way they came. Without cargo, it would be much easier.
They arrived.
This was the very place where Cassius had fought.
All that remained was to unload and hold the line…
Clatter—rumble—
Something was wrong.
Why weren’t they stopping?
This was supposed to be the temporary stronghold.
How far were they going?
Then—
The horn sounded.
“We have reached the temporary stronghold!!! We will push through immediately!! We are close to establishing the Fourth Frontline Base!!!!”
The engineer commander’s voice echoed across the formation.
“From here on, we will close the distance between the two front units!! Move toward the center formation!!!”
Luvel hesitated, but followed the order and moved toward the center with Adela.
“Wasn’t this supposed to be the destination?”
“Hmm… wasn’t it? Reclaiming the temporary base, then building the Fourth Frontline Base. That was the mission, right?”
Adela tilted her head in confusion.
“What are you two whispering about—Second-rank knight.”
Gideon and Siena also moved toward the center. Siena looked even worse than before—on the verge of collapse.
“Sir Gideon, wasn’t our goal the temporary base? How far are we going?”
“Tch… so you misunderstood something important.”
Gideon let out a low laugh.
“Our objective had two parts. First, reclaim the temporary base. Second, construct the Fourth Frontline Base.”
“Yes, I understand that. We were going to build it where the temporary base stood, right?”
“Wrong. Let me ask you this. Why do you think the temporary base was left at the edge of the eastern outskirts of the holy city?”
Gideon asked with a mocking tone.
Luvel paused.
Now that he thought about it, it was strange.
If it was for exploration, there was no need to place it so close to the city.
If it was for expansion, they would have built a proper fortress, not left a temporary outpost abandoned.
“I’m… not sure. Why?”
“Because the Fourth Frontline Base was never built.”
“Never… built?”
“Yes. The city has attempted to construct it several times. Every attempt failed.”
Gideon gestured sharply across his neck.
“They all ended the same way.”
Luvel swallowed.
“Because they were lost in the darkness?”
“Exactly. Just like Cassius. They became lost wanderers. And then they repeated meaningless actions forever.”
“So the place we’re heading… has one of those wanderers?”
“Yes. And not just any wanderer. A special one.”
Cassius… another soul consumed by darkness.
A lost existence repeating something without meaning.
“Then why hasn’t the city dealt with it?”
Adela suddenly joined the conversation.
“Mind your manners, holy maiden.”
Gideon clicked his tongue.
“First, it’s strong. Strong enough that sending proper forces would require major manpower.”
“And the city doesn’t have time to spare for the eastern outskirts.”
“Second, wanderers repeat what they did in life. That’s why they often attack us. They simply continue what they used to do.”
“And this one stays in place?”
“Yes. The wanderer at the Fourth Base site never leaves. As if it’s guarding something.”
“So you’ve left it alone because of that.”
“Correct.”
Gideon smirked.
“In short, we’re going to kill the wanderer that refuses to leave that place and take the site for ourselves.”
The horn sounded again.
“We are entering the Fourth Frontline Base site!!!”
The convoy moved into the ruins.
Broken walls stretched into the darkness, faint holy lights flickering like dying fireflies.
Then—
“Stop!!! Halt the advance!!!”
The engineers began unloading supplies.
One of them walked forward, raising a lantern, stepping into the ruins.
Inside, overgrown vines and collapsed stones covered everything.
As he moved debris aside—
A strange sound echoed.
Not wheels.
Not footsteps.
Something beneath the ground.
Then—
The earth moved.
A root burst through the soil, impaling the engineer before anyone could react.
Silence.
Then screams.
More roots erupted, piercing through bodies without mercy.
Blood scattered across the holy light, glittering unnaturally in the dark.
“Fall back!!! Everyone, fall back!!!”
Luvel stepped in front of Adela, gripping his shield tightly.
His breathing grew shallow.
Not again.
Not like before.
But he forced himself forward.
He couldn’t afford hesitation.
Because if he failed, Adela would be the one to suffer.
From the broken wagon, Lethe watched carefully through a monocular.
Then she stood abruptly.
“I-I declare it!!!”
Her voice trembled violently.
“The Fourth Frontline Construction Unit identifies an EXCEPTIONAL ENTITY!!!”
A classified threat.
Something beyond normal wanderers.
“This entity is confirmed to be a former knight of the First Construction Unit!!!”
She raised her voice.
“Designation confirmed—”
“Rooted Radices!!!”
“Combat engagement confirmed!!!”
Gideon moved instantly.
Without hesitation, he charged into the center of the ruin.
Roots exploded from the ground.
He cut through them, ignored wounds, and kept advancing.
“Siena!!! Burn more fuel!!!”
Siena coughed blood.
Her body was already collapsing.
Yet the light grew brighter.
Brighter than it should have been.
As if she herself was being burned.
Then—
Her light flickered.
And went out.
Darkness swallowed half the battlefield instantly.
“Siena!!!”
Adela screamed.
But there was no response.
The formation was breaking.
And then—
Gideon smiled.
That insane grin.
“Perfect timing—!!!”
He laughed like a man who had been waiting for this exact moment.
“Siena!!! Now we begin!!! Second-rank knight—get ready!!!”
Crackling sounds of burning wood echoed once again.
And something in the dark began to move.