Multiple footsteps echoed in the fog-filled forest as the Liesco knights followed after Samael.

The sun was nearing its peak as they closed the distance little by little. This did not go unnoticed by the knights.

They knew it. Samael was injured. He was weak right now.

They don't know what caused him to be like this, but it is the truth.

Slowly, the squad exited the average regions, entering the hostile zones with fear dwelling in their hearts.

Their hands nestled in their blades, ready to draw whenever. But Samael's condition made it all the worse for them.

If the only person capable of taking down a dozen wolves with ease was this injured, then what's stopping those abominations from tearing them apart?

But Samael's mind was somewhere else. A question lingered in his mind. Why did Yuin go this deep?

Yuin was a new scout. He was by no means permitted to delve this deep. Not to mention, Samael did not receive any letters regarding this venture. Yuin simply decided to take it into his own hands.

What did Yuin see for him to risk everything? Was he still there? Or worse...?

Samael lightly shook his head.

The headquarters already sent an experienced tracker to find him; Samael just has to follow the tracker's steps.

But he would be lying if he said he did not feel worried. If an experienced tracker suddenly went MIA, then there is something wrong.

No matter how much he denies it, there really is something amiss. He could only hope it's not what he thinks it is.

Samael halted his steps as he spoke. "Take a break first."

Afterwards, he approached a tree nearby, caressing its bark, marred with dried-up paint.

This paint... Samael muttered.

It was body paint. The one he gave the scouts as part of their gear.

Yuin passed by here, Samael thought as he speared a glance ahead.

So he did delve deeper. He concluded.

Just why would you do this? He couldn't help but wonder.

Just what compelled you to do this? Samael thought as he crouched down. His fingers hovered inches above the dirt.

It is faint, but there are marks here. Footsteps, Samael thought. Judging how faint it was, it had probably been weeks since it was carved in the dirt. Luckily, rain was not a thing in this forest.

"Let's move," Samael said.

The Liesco knights rose to their feet, dusting themselves, before following Samael.

On a side note, while Samael did reveal his existence, he did not for Vapad.

He had a suspicion that whoever was the mole made sure to use Vapad as a scapegoat. And it nearly worked.

They would surely get rid of the priest, seeing he was last seen with Samael, and possibly put the charges on him.

As the atmosphere turned warmer by the second, Samael's group had begun to leave the hostile regions.

Tension was at an all-time high considering what happened before. Who was to say it wouldn't happen again?

On the other hand, Samael noticed the tracks were more visible. But it was not heading in the direction of the large fortresses.

"You guys retrieve the information first. I will deal with something," Samael said.

The knights paled after hearing his words.

"What do you mean? Would it not be safer to stick together?" Portugal reasoned.

"No, just keep low. The potions you took are enough to hide your presence," Samael said.

Hesitant, the liesco knights nodded before leaving with haste. Their blades now fully drawn.

With that, Samael trailed the marks on the ground. It led north-west.

As he continued on his path, he soon found odd structures scattered at random spots. Not only that, but bones. Human bones.

Are these siege weapons? He wondered as he examined a wooden structure ravaged to the ground.

It had what seemed to be mounted bows with unused spare arrows that were half his size.

Am I nearing a base? Samael wondered.

Without wasting more time, he swiftly went back on track. Which led him to a fortress. Or at least whatever's left of it.

It was more like ruins now. Just standing pillars surrounded by hammered stone walls with fallen ballistas on the ground.

Not to mention all the weapons lying around. Some are probably buried under the earth by now.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

What is this place? Why did Yuin go here? He thought as he took out the older maps of Georgo Road.

"If I am here, then I should be..." Samael muttered as his finger traced his steps.

"Here!" He said as he looked at the name of the fortress.

The old main headquarters of Georgo Road? Samael thought.

Samael's confusion worsened. Just why did Yuin go here? What was he looking for in an abandoned fortress?

It was up to him to find out.

Samael tucked away the map as he proceeded forward. Passing through the cobbled stone path leading to the base. It was drenched in dried blood, along with the dozens of empty armors scattered about.

It seems they made their final stand here, Samael concluded.

As he crossed the giant gate, he saw more carnage inside. Some of the dead warriors were impaled in metal, with parts of their armor scorched black.

This decay... Samael thought.

He only saw something like this when he fought the giant wolf. But even so, it was not this strong. Not strong enough to melt mithril.

Samael went closer as he took the badge from the corpse.

So he was the first general of the Georgo Road, Samael thought.

Tucking the sigil away, he followed as Yuin went. Passing by a shattered corridor leading to a room.

At first glance, it was simply the room of the fallen commander, but Samael saw more.

Yuin, he's gotten smarter, Samael thought as he approached a miniature by the desk, flicking it as a mechanical sound reverberated in the room.

How did he know it was a secret door? In a room ravaged by wolves, how could a single miniature stand undamaged and unmoved? The dust it accumulated was far too much compared to the rest, meaning it had been in that position for far longer.

Slowly, the wooden tiles made way, revealing stairs leading down into the darkness. But it was no problem for him.

Samael followed the footprints on the dust, which led him to a library hidden beneath.

What is this place? Samael wondered.

Following Yuin's footsteps, Samael found himself before records of past student exchanges.

There were stacks of documents that littered the ground, sprayed at random as though they were thrown.

Crouching down, Samael picked them one by one, removing the dust from their surfaces as he read the titles.

Student records Samael read. It was a rather old document, dating around 10 years ago.

Why delve this deep? He wondered.

Samael opened the document, reading it thoroughly. Slowly, his brows furrowed.

The documents were as follows:.

Records of students in the year [redacted]

Exchange students from the Ministry of Light.

-Portugal Cain.

-Miya Gudskon.

-Seth Blight...

....

Samael's grasp tightened as confusion clouded his mind.

What is this?! He thought.

As he read deeper, the more his confusion grew. It detailed their exchange, the year, the date, and even their affinities.

They came from the church...? Samael couldn't help but ask himself.

Why were they not in the records? Samael wondered.

The information given to him was clean. The knights appeared as normal warriors for the empire. But this document? It changes everything!

Sniff...

Samael's nose twitched as a familiar scent reached his nostrils. That pungent stench of iron and rot.

Samael speared a glance ahead, in the shadows, where a nearly decomposed body leaned on a wall, a pool of dried blood under it.

Samael slowly rose up, inching towards the corpse as he saw those familiar daggers laying on its side.

As he stood before the dead remains, Samael could only stare blankly for some time.

He did not know what to make of the situation.

Yuin was dead.

Clenching his jaw, Samael searched the man's body when his hand felt something cold touch his skin.

Untangling the dusty clothes, he revealed a small metal pipe stained with Yuin's blood.

This... Samael's brows furrowed.

Isn't this—

WARNING!!! WARNING!!!

Samael's eyes flew wide open as his Void compass bellowed in his head, warning him of an impending danger.

Samael swiftly whipped out Crimson Raven as he casted.

"Void Aegis."

Void matter burst from his hands, solidifying and forming a pitch-black shield.

On cue, a tremendous force struck the shield square, knocking Samael back and causing a series of explosions.

As the dust settled, Samael's grunts echoed as he struggled to rise up, his hand visibly shaking from the impact of the attack.

Narrowing his gaze, Samael saw multiple silhouettes and a towering wolf form in the setting smoke.

"You...!" Samael uttered in disbelief, his eyes wide open as he watched the silhouettes approach him.

"Yes, it was me all along, Samael." A man adorned in silver armor spoke.

"Portugal..." Samael muttered, his tone grim and heavy.

"You see, we would have let things slide if you just accepted that the information was gone. But you're really persistent," Portugal said as he leisurely made his way to Samael.

As he stood before him, Portugal snatched the piece of metal pipe in his hand, raising it as he examined it.

"If you never found this, things would have never ended this way," Portugal said.

"Fuck you!" Samael roared when a force struck him in the jaw, forcing his face to recoil as a searing pain touched his lip.

"You see, this is why I was always careful around you. You just never give up! You just never know when you've been defeated!" Portugal said as he rose up, dusting himself as he spoke to the other Liesco knights.

As Portugal stood behind his men, Seth approached Samael, a smile plastered on his face as he hopped about.

"Hey there, you brat," Seth spoke as the surface of his blade hovered centimeters from Samael's face.

"You know, you were this close," he said as he pinched his fingers. "This close, and yet you failed," he resumed.

"Hey, wanna hear something?" Seth asked in mockery.

"Why do you think we survived this long with barely any scratch on a battlefield where men of higher caliber die on a daily basis?" he asked.

"Seth! Enough with the babbling and do what we came here for!" Portugal commanded in a cold tone.

"Why do you think we knew how to navigate back and forth in this damned forest with barely any visibility?" Seth continued as he slowly dragged his blade to the side. But Samael's thick skin protected him with ease.

Seeing this, Seth gritted his teeth as he applied tremendous force, leaving a gash in Samael's face.

In its midst, Samael remained focused on Seth's face, his gaze steel cold as he watched the man.

"You see, you focused too much on the priest. You stupi—"

SPAT!

Seth recoiled back as he aggressively wiped the blood off his face.

"You motherfucker!" He roared in pure rage as he shot a glare at Samael.

However, he was frozen in place, as he saw no fear in Samael's face.

"Yes, it was foolish of me to let my emotions take control of me." Samael spoke, luring everyone's attention.

"But you know what else is foolish?" he asked as he raised his head, a plethora of panels morphing in his face.

Command received.

Commencing Ascension Trial!

Before everyone's eyes, a black gash in space formed, dragging Samael into it.

"No!" Portugal roared as he dashed forward.

"Fuck!" Seth screamed as he scrambled to reach Samael.

Before the dark engulfed Samael, he raised his middle finger and spoke.

"You all talk too much."