VOLUME 15: CHAPTER 18

VOLUME 15: CHAPTER 18

[United Grakas Alliance]

Due to the tremendous damage inflicted by the demons when the portal opened in the United Grakas Alliance, their nation still hadn’t fully recovered. The destruction of Rocky Fort and the deaths of thousands of warriors in Talverton Stronghold had taken a heavy toll on the Alliance.

The beastmen were still in the process of rebuilding the damaged areas of Talverton, and it would probably take a couple more years for the fortress to regain its former glory.

Unfortunately, their current situation didn’t permit the beastmen to carry out their tasks peacefully.

“They’re coming!”

“Wasteland monsters!”

“Get ready! Brace yourselves!”

“Do not let them move past this area!”

Although the portal to the Demon Realm had already closed, a new problem had arisen.

The Wasteland monsters, which normally lurked beyond the Iron Mountains, had started encroaching upon beastman territory. The flattening of the Iron Mountains, combined with the loss of Rocky Fort, granted them unimpeded access to Talverton Stronghold.

Rebuilding Talverton was already grueling enough, but now, they had to do it while fending off hordes and waves of monsters from the Wasteland.

“Damn it! Defending against these monsters would have been easier if Talverton were intact!”

“Stop complaining and fight!”

“Everyone, push them back!”

“For the Three Gods!”

“For the Alliance!”

Hundreds of Wasteland monsters charged and wreaked havoc in the region between Talverton and the Iron Mountains. Thousands of beastmen formed defensive lines and stood their ground, spilling blood as they desperately stoppered the enemies’ advance.

It was one ordeal after another.

If only these Wasteland monsters would stop encroaching on their borders, they could finally have a breather.

Gaorux, the White Lion and current Beast King, led the vanguard. He fearlessly charged into the horde, tearing his opponents to pieces with his bare hands.

“Is that all?!” roared the Beast King. “I’ll be your opponent! Come at me, Wasteland mutts!”

“Follow the Beast King!”

“They dare enter our lands?!”

“Kill them! Slaughter all the monsters!”

For nearly a year now, monsters from the Wasteland had been crossing over the Iron Mountains and attacking Talverton Stronghold.

The frequency of attacks had been increasing with each passing month.

What used to be bimonthly waves turned into weekly horde attacks. And now, the Wasteland monsters had even started attacking the stronghold every three days. There were even instances when monsters would appear the very next day.

The beastmen warriors stationed here were fearless, but they were mortals, too. Even they had started growing weary and exhausted after fending off wave after wave of enemies.

How many warriors had they lost by now?

Their losses were so severe that they’d been forced to relocate forces from various cities just to continue defending this territory.

“Is that the last one?” muttered one of the beastmen.

“It should be,” replied another.

Finally, after fighting for nearly an entire day, the beastmen warriors killed the last monster.

They had successfully prevented the horde from reaching the craftsmen repairing the stronghold and the non-combatants living in the temporary camps.

The Beast King was covered in his enemies’ blood. He stood amid numerous corpses, scanning the aftermath of the battle. With every breath, steam poured from his mouth.

“As expected,” said the Beast King. “The Wasteland monsters are endless.”

He’d been to the Wasteland several times before and had even slain one of its rulers.

Back then, despite traveling for months, he never saw the end of the Wasteland.

Its unfathomably massive size aside, that place teemed with powerful beasts and monsters.

Even the Beast King found it difficult to go past the mountainous region where the Black Salamander lived.

If his estimates were correct, the Wasteland was probably several times larger than the United Grakas Alliance.

There could easily be more than a million monsters living in that region, and some were strong enough to pose a threat to the White Lion.

From that vantage point, their nation was already lucky that the hordes crossing the Iron Mountains so far numbered only in the hundreds—and none were on the level of the Black Salamander.

The Beast King couldn’t imagine what would happen if tens of thousands of monsters suddenly poured out of the Wasteland and attacked beastmen territory.

“Vaungur,” said the Beast King.

His right-hand man replied, “Your Majesty.”

“How many warriors did we lose this time?”

“We lost thirty-two warriors, My King. The Cunning Wolf is included in the list. He died after being poisoned by a monster.”

The Beast King bitterly gnashed his teeth when he heard this.

They’d lost so many warriors again today.

Although his men were growing stronger from the experience they’d been accumulating, how much longer could they endure the constant onslaught of Wasteland monsters?

“The Cunning Wolf died, huh…,” said the Beast King. “He’d been serving me for so long. So this is how he meets his end.”

Even the most powerful warrior could meet a tragic fate if they were unlucky in battle. This incident was a perfect example.

“Handle the reparations for their families. Take special care of the Cunning Wolf. Make sure his corpse reaches his tribe as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” said Vaungur.

Noticing that his right-hand man had something on his mind, the Beast King urged him to speak.

“What is it?”

Vaungur said cautiously, “Regarding the Coalition…”

The Beast King already knew what Vaungur was going to say, even without hearing the rest. They’d had this same conversation several times before.

“…Wouldn’t it be better to ask the Coalition for help?” continued Vaungur. “If they send reinforcements, it’ll be easier for us to repair Talverton. And once the stronghold is completed, it’ll be easier to repel the Wasteland monsters.”

The Beast King shook his head.

“I’m sure the Coalition—no, King Lark—would help.”

“Then—!”

“—But this is a problem involving the Wasteland monsters. The Coalition was created to deal with the demons. We can’t possibly impose upon them to deal with our internal problems.”

“But My King, the contract states that Coalition members can ask for help regarding such matters.”

The Beast King fell silent.

Honestly, he was tempted to ask for help.

Maybe if Lark cast the same spell he used to flatten the Iron Mountains, he could slaughter the monsters lurking near their territory.

But alas, his pride as the strongest beastman wouldn’t permit him to call for external help for matters unrelated to the demon race.

He looked up to King Lark, that was true, but he had no intention of groveling or licking his feet.

If possible, the Beast King wished to become his comrade or a friend of equal standing.

“I understand why you’re suggesting this, Vaungur,” said the Beast King. “But we can’t ask the humans for help in every little thing. This is a problem we must resolve on our own.”

Vaungur lowered his head.

The Beast King was really stubborn.

“Leave. I wish to be alone for a while.”

“Yes, Beast King.”

After Vaungur left, the Beast King silently stood there for an hour, inhaling the stench of blood, flesh, and decay.

He gazed at the corpses of his warriors strewn across the battlefield. He engraved their mangled figures in his mind, immortalizing them in his memories.

Even if others forgot, he would always remember these warriors’ sacrifices.

Remembering what their last moments looked like was a burden he planned to carry for the rest of his life.

“Should I do it?” he muttered.

He wondered if he should go to the Wasteland and rampage, diverting the attention of the monsters to himself. If he did that, maybe the pressure on Talverton would ease considerably.

Unlike the other warriors, the Beast King’s body was inherently powerful.

He wouldn’t die from sneak attacks, and even poison would hardly affect him.

As long as he was careful, he could survive a long time in the Wasteland.

He’d done it before, and there was no reason he couldn’t do it again now.

“No… there’s no assurance the monsters won’t attack this place once I’m gone.”

In the end, the Beast King decided against it.

Unlike demons, the Wasteland monsters didn’t move based on intellect but pure instinct.

Now that the Iron Mountains had been flattened and Rocky Fort destroyed, the Wasteland monsters would probably keep pouring into this territory even if the Beast King rampaged elsewhere.

There were simply too many monsters for a single beastman to draw all their attention.

In the worst-case scenario, a massive horde could attack Talverton Stronghold while the Beast King wasn’t there to defend the front lines.

“Haaah…”

The Beast King looked up and sighed.

“…I want to rest. I’m tired.”

After standing in that position for a long time, he finally returned to Talverton.

***

Unlike before, Lark no longer conserved mana as he flew toward the United Grakas Alliance.

He flew at near top speed, his body whizzing past mountains and clouds.

After successfully reconstructing his left arm, his mana pool had grown significantly. Now, even without the Sword of Morpheus, he could cast a pinnacle-grade spell on his own without worrying about the backlash.

Furthermore, he could now instantly cast several select spells using the engraved formations on his modified arm as the medium.

Without a doubt, his combat strength had grown significantly compared to before.

Lark first visited Magna City, where the coliseum was located.

After learning that the Beast King was currently occupied with defending Talverton Stronghold, he immediately headed there.

He learned that after subjugating all of the remaining demons in the Iron Mountains, the beastmen faced another crisis in the form of the Wasteland monsters.

As for why the beastmen didn’t request reinforcements from the Coalition, Lark could infer the reason.

Lark flew for several hours. Eventually, he arrived at Talverton Stronghold.

“They’re rebuilding everything.”

Lark noticed that they’d overhauled the previous design, which utilized wooden walls interconnected with stone towers.

Although it would take far longer, the beastmen had decided to build everything using stone this time. It was probably a decision made after the Beast King witnessed the fortress engulfed in flames before.

Lark flew down and landed at the entrance of one of the stone towers.

“…!”

“You are—!”

The beastmen guarding the entrance trembled upon seeing Lark’s characteristic silver hair.

They immediately realized the visitor’s identity. Although Lark was a human, the beastmen saluted him respectfully.

“King Lark!”

“What brings His Majesty here?”

Lark noticed that the guards were injured. One was missing an eye, and another was missing two fingers on his left hand.

If even the guards were in this state, Lark could easily see how dire the situation was here.

“I heard the Beast King is staying here,” said Lark. “I want to meet him.”

The beastmen looked at each other.

They hadn’t been informed of this visit beforehand.

Since everyone was busy rebuilding the stronghold and fighting off the Wasteland monsters, they didn’t have the time or manpower to give Lark a proper welcome.

As though he could read their minds, Lark reassured them, “This isn’t an official visit. So be at ease.”

The beastmen finally relaxed. One of them said, “His Majesty, the Beast King, is indeed here. But he’s not in this tower. If you’ll allow me, I can escort you to where he’s currently residing.”

Lark nodded. “That would be appreciated.”

“This way, human king.”

Following the beastman’s lead, Lark arrived at the camp near the fifth stone tower.

Numerous beastmen were busily moving about, carrying tools and materials, transporting them from one place to another. Those who noticed Lark halted in their tracks, silently gawking at him from a distance.

Although he was a human, the King of Lukas was renowned in the United Grakas Alliance—especially in Talverton Stronghold, the place where Lark had fended off the demon army’s invasion.

“The Beast King should be inside,” said the guide. He turned to one of the guards. “King Lark wishes to see His Majesty.”

“I see. Please wait here.”

One of the beastmen guarding the tent went inside for a moment. Soon, he returned and relayed that Lark had been given permission to enter.

“The Beast King is waiting for you inside.”

Lark thanked the guide for bringing him.

Upon entering the tent, Lark was greeted by a massive white lion in the middle of his bath.

Steam filled half the room, and the scent of medicinal herbs wafted through the air.

The Beast King was fully naked, revealing his muscular body and the numerous tattoos on his skin. The water in the basin he was sitting in had turned black from grime and blood.

“It’s been a while.”

The Beast King greeted Lark casually. He didn’t seem to mind that Lark could see everything.

“Indeed, Your Majesty,” said Lark.

“Just call me Gaorux,” said the Beast King. “For some reason, being called by my title feels distant.”

“Then, you can just call me Lark.”

The Beast King grinned. “Fair enough. So, why the sudden visit, Lark?”

The Beast King rose from his bath and wiped his body with a towel. He donned his chausses, overlaid them with chainmail, and combed his disheveled mane back with his fingers.

The Beast King looked in the direction of the tent’s entrance, then turned to Lark. “Did Vaungur send you a message asking for help?”

Hearing those words, Lark confirmed his assumptions—that the Beast King was stubbornly refraining from asking the Coalition for reinforcements.

His right-hand man must have been pestering him to ask for help for quite some time, but the Beast King had shot down the idea each time.

“No,” said Lark. “I only learned of the situation in Talverton after visiting Magna City. When I heard you were here, I came immediately.”

The Beast King stroked his mane. “Then why? Is it about those two?”

He was referring to Hatch and Van Bucky.

“I’ve heard what they did in your kingdom,” said the Beast King. “They killed a City Lord who’d been enslaving and eating our fellow beastmen. Honestly, I don’t see anything wrong with what they did.”

Although the Beast King still sounded calm, there was a hint of bloodlust in his voice when he uttered the last few words.

“King Lark, I will not interfere with the laws of your nation, but do not expect me to help you capture those two,” said the Beast King.

With this, the Beast King’s stance was clear.

He would rather make an enemy out of Lark Marcus than forsake those two beastmen.

Of course, Lark hadn’t come here for that. And he also believed that the murder of the Lord of Lion City was justified.

“That’s not the reason I came here,” said Lark. “And I have no plans to punish those two for killing Valcres. That scumbag deserved it.”’

The Beast King’s eyes widened slightly.

“But I heard you sent out an order to capture them?”

“Gaorux, although I’m only a regent, I’m still a king. I need to keep up appearances now and then. If I don’t issue a bounty on the beastmen who murdered a city lord, what would my subjects say? Especially the nobles. They would leap at the opportunity to use the incident against me.”

Although Lark’s political foundations remained steadfast and strong, it didn’t hurt to be prudent in matters like these.

He wasn’t so naïve as to believe that his current allies would remain loyal to him forever.

The Beast King laughed. “You’ve become quite sly since the last time we met, Lark!”

“I’ve always been this way, though,” shrugged Lark.

The two grinned at each other.

“Gaorux, I came here to discuss the conditions set by the Dukedom of Mauko.”

The Beast King sat on his chair and gestured for Lark to sit across from him. “The Dukedom? Why is that despicable name entering our conversation now?”

Lark sat down. “I asked them to join the Coalition, and I received a response just recently. They will agree to join us as long as the United Grakas Alliance concedes the plains between your territories.”

Veins formed on the Beast King’s forehead. He scoffed.

“Concede Ashenveld to them? Hah! We’ve been leaving them alone since they never went past that region, but to think they’ve become this bold! Were we too lenient?”

The Dukedom called the disputed territory the Mauko Plains, while the beastmen called it Ashenveld.

The Beast King’s eyes glimmered dangerously. “Where did they get the courage to make such outrageous demands? Even on my own, I could probably crush their leader’s head if I stormed their capital!”

Lark had already expected this answer and reaction. Still, he came here to confirm the Beast King’s response.

“I understand,” said Lark. “Then I will personally tell them that Ashenveld won’t be part of our negotiations.”

Lark purposely called it Ashenveld instead of Mauko Plains this time.

The Beast King’s anger subsided somewhat upon hearing Lark’s words.
He sighed and rubbed his brow. “I apologize, Lark. Haah… Listen. I want to help you convince those fools to join the Coalition—I really do. But I can’t concede that territory. That land isn’t suitable for crops, I know, but that’s no reason to let those bastards take it.”

The Beast King had already given away the Aden Region to the Kingdom of Lukas.

If he also conceded those plains to the Dukedom of Mauko, he wouldn’t be able to face his ancestors in the afterlife.

“You don’t need to apologize, Gaorux,” said Lark. “I came here expecting that answer anyway.”

“Is that so?” said the Beast King. “Enough of that topic. It’s ruining my mood.”

Lark nodded and shifted the conversation. “How’s the overall situation here?”

“Thanks to the grains you’ve been sending us each year, the food problem in our nation has been somewhat resolved. Some of my subjects are still starving, but the majority are in a better situation than before.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” said Lark. “The Kingdom of Lukas is also grateful that the United Grakas Alliance has been trading their precious metal ores with us.”

The Beast King smiled wryly. “The Three Gods are cruel. We’ve managed to resolve the food problem and the demon invasion, but now we’re facing another tribulation.”

Lark knew what the Beast King was pertaining to.

“The Wasteland monsters…,” muttered Lark. “They’ve started crossing over the Iron Mountains.”

“What’s with that tone? Are you feeling responsible now?” said the Beast King. “Lark, you did what you had to do back then. You flattened the Iron Mountains out of sheer necessity. Had you not done it, the demons would have probably destroyed a large portion of the Alliance by now.”

Maybe the Beast King wouldn’t even be standing here now.

He knew better than anyone how significant Lark’s role was in saving the nation.

If anyone dared to blame King Lark for their current predicament, the Beast King wouldn’t hesitate to rip them to shreds.

“I know,” said Lark. “But I still can’t help but feel responsible.”

An awkward silence fell.

Thinking of a solution to their current situation, the Beast King decided maybe it was time to stop being stubborn.

“This must be a sign from the Three Gods,” said the Beast King. “For you to suddenly visit us during such a crucial time. Maybe it’s their way of telling me to ask for help.”

“Gaorux?”

The Beast King closed his eyes. After thinking deeply, he opened them, stood up, and bowed his upper body.

The Beast King decided to forget about his pride for now.

“Please help us,” said the Beast King. “We’ve been losing too many warriors recently. Please help us repel the Wasteland monsters and give us enough time to rebuild Talverton Stronghold.”