Chapter 122
My heart felt ready to burst with hatred and anger toward Berdin and Franz.
I wanted to stop their atrocities immediately, but I couldn’t move my body.
Berdin circled around the magic circle slowly with an elegant smile.
He was delighted like a child as he watched the red magic circle that was wriggling and moving slowly like a living creature.
It was truly a chilling sight.
“Shuvelia, I want only one thing. Complete liberation and freedom for shapeshifters. And to rule over humans.”
“What…?”
Berdin’s appearance gradually changed as he slowly walked around the magic circle.
His shadow, flickering on the large stone wall, gradually transformed into a four-legged beast.
Before I knew it, Berdin had transformed into a massive gray wolf.
“Berdin, you were a shapeshifter too?”
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
I had met Berdin several times before, but I couldn’t detect any shapeshifter scent or presence from him.
To be able to conceal it so perfectly.
The massive gray wolf flashed its platinum eyes at me, then returned to human form.
Berdin adjusted his black uniform collar with a leisurely attitude.
“Now you understand why I want liberation for shapeshifters, Shuvelia.”
He twisted his lips into a languid smile.
But I couldn’t believe his words at face value. Despite claiming goodwill and public good, his true intentions remained suspicious.
“…So that’s why you sought out shapeshifter slave traders, gathered shapeshifters, and established the shapeshifter shelter? Is that really for shapeshifter liberation? Not for your own benefit?”
Franz looked down at me with a pitying gaze.
“Calm down, Ruel. When our tribe entered the capital, it was the worst situation. Our kind had long since fallen to being human slaves. The elders and some returned to the north, and the remaining tribe members had to decide how to survive. That’s when Duke Berdin came to me.”
Franz turned his head to look at Berdin across from him.
“He was gathering shapeshifters to unite their power. He was secretly training shapeshifters to become elite soldiers. The Duke told us we could live not as slaves but as masters of this land. That we didn’t need to live shamefully in human society.”
Franz turned to me slowly with a smile.
“So the Ulpes tribe decided to join the Duke’s great cause.”
“Great cause? How?”
What nonsense are these people trying to spout?
I gritted my teeth and glared at Berdin and Franz.
The magic circle continued to writhe while making an unpleasant sound, drawing in the shapeshifters’ magic power.
Berdin lifted his head with a proud expression.
“We will eliminate all of Arden Kingdom’s royal family, and shapeshifters will take over the kingdom. We will make humans our slaves.”
“What…?!”
I was dumbfounded by these insane words.
Berdin gestured to the magician standing beside him.
A magician wearing a black robe with strange magic circles engraved on the back of his hand brought a large crystal ball.
When the magician chanted a spell, light emanated from the crystal ball, and a blurry image appeared.
It showed monsters rushing at the capital’s walls, with knights and soldiers fighting.
On top of the walls, Karden and the Northern Knights were also fighting.
“K-Karden! What’s happening outside? Why are there monsters here?”
“The dimensional barrier magic circle has summoned the monsters.”
“Ah…!”
Now I understood why this massive magic circle was greedily absorbing magic power.
“You deliberately caused shapeshifters’ magic to go berserk with Turba to use them as magic power sources? You call this a great cause? How dare you sacrifice your own kind!”
I exploded with rage and tried to lunge at the cursed Berdin. But tied to the chair, I couldn’t move an inch.
“It’s a sacrifice for the greater cause. If we don’t do even this, we will forever live as humans’ slaves and beasts, Shuvelia.”
“Unforgivable. This isn’t right!”
I tried to summon my power to break the shackles, but it was useless. I couldn’t even create the slightest snowstorm.
“Don’t resist, Shuvelia. Just stay still. Let the magic circle absorb your power.”
“Is that why you captured me?”
“Yes. Only your powerful strength can maintain the magic circle. We need your power until the monsters destroy the kingdom.”
“You want to turn this land into hell and build a paradise for shapeshifters on top of it? You’re insane!”
“This is nothing compared to what the Arden royal family did to our wolf tribe!”
Berdin shouted in a fit of rage, his face contorted.
Anger burned in Berdin’s eyes, consumed by madness.
“That traitor used our tribe’s power and loyalty to ascend the throne. But he banished our tribe! He tried to kill all the remaining wolf tribe members! The traitor King Arden must see his heir die before his eyes and his kingdom destroyed, turned into hell!”
Hell was unfolding in Berdin’s bloodshot eyes.
A hell filled with blood and ashes, flames and death.
I had no idea there was such deep resentment and anger between the wolf tribe and the Arden royal family. But revenge shouldn’t be taken this way.
I gritted my teeth and focused my mind. I couldn’t let the magic circle drain my power like this.
At that moment, Berdin gave orders to the black magicians.
“Activate the dimensional barrier magic circle.”
“As you command.”
The black magicians stood at the four cardinal directions of the magic circle and began chanting spells in unison.
The dimensional barrier magic circle began to writhe and slowly rotate.
Like a massive living creature, emitting eerie and grotesque cries.
“No! Stop right now!”
As I struggled, Franz caressed my cheek.
“Ruel, please endure it a little longer. It will be over soon. We just need to absorb your power.”
“Franz! Please stop, help me. This is madness!”
Franz shook his head slightly.
“This is a way to save you, too. If you offer your power to the magic circle, you can live as an ordinary Ulpes fox.”
“Franz!”
No matter how much I pleaded and shouted, Franz no longer heard me.
Suddenly, my vision darkened and my head spun.
Against my will, power was draining from my toes and flowing into the magic circle.
“No, stop!”
***
Boom! Boom!
The sturdy gates of Arden Kingdom began to shake.
The monsters were banding together to strike the gates.
Arrows poured like rain from the walls, but the monsters charged straight ahead.
“Stop those monsters! Defend with your lives to keep them from climbing the walls!”
The commander shouted, encouraging the soldiers.
The soldiers threw stones and oil pouches set on fire toward the monsters.
The burning oil pouches exploded upon hitting the monsters’ bodies.
Kaaak!
Fierce flames and acrid smoke billowed everywhere.
Hundreds of knights stood before the solid iron gates, holding swords and spears, preparing for the final battle.
Karden stood armed at the front. Behind him were Owen and the Northern Castle Knights.
Their expressions shone with firm resolve to defend the kingdom with their lives.
Just as Karden raised his sword to give the order to advance, Ron came running breathlessly.
Yudis and the merchant guild soldiers also came to escort Ron.
“Your Grace! I found it! I found the location of the magic circle!”
“Really, Ron?”
Karden lowered his sword and urgently questioned Ron. Ron nodded and pulled out a map from his chest.
“Here, strong magical energy is flowing from this sealed temple. The dimensional barrier magic circle must be underground here.”
“So if we destroy that magic circle, no more monsters will appear?”
“The monsters might all disappear at once. Since they’re moving with the magic power flowing through the magic circle. If we eliminate the magic circle, we can win this battle in one stroke.”
Ron shouted with excitement. Hope lit up the faces of soldiers and knights who heard the news.
Karden nodded with a somewhat relieved expression.
“Then we must dispatch knights there immediately.”
Ron looked around cautiously, then lowered his voice.
“And, Your Grace, I can sense Shuvelia’s presence there too.”
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.