I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 79

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#79. Fire Bull Formation (2)

A single shadow stretched over the steep Castle Walls of Tochika Fortress.

Shedyoldis.

She, wearing a Black-Purple Robe, leaped down from the Castle Walls.

…Thud!

Looking around Within the Castle, she couldn’t help but be shocked.

“Good heavens. How could this be.”

The interior of Tochika Fortress was completely devastated.

Not a single person could be seen anywhere, and only burnt remnants filled the place.

The Warehouse that had once been piled high with Military Rations was completely burned, leaving only the framework.

The reservoir where clear Water had once flowed gently was contaminated by something and had turned dark green.

Shedyoldis scooped up some of the dark green Water with her hand and tried drinking it.

“Gack! Puhak!”

She, who could swallow even considerable Deadly Poison with a smile, spat out blood.

Whether seen with the eyes, smelled with the nose, or tasted with the tongue, this was not Water that humans could drink.

Shedyoldis followed the Water Stream up toward the Water Source.

The Water that sprang forth from the Bedrock was also green.

When Shedyoldis dug through the soil with her hands.

“…They buried something foul.”

From Beneath the Soil stained green, a single Crimson Eyeball emerged.

Shedyoldis immediately recognized the identity of that eyeball.

“A member of the ancient spider God Kunni Babun’s clan? To think there were still surviving specimens.”

Of course, that creature would no longer exist in this world.

That’s why its eyeball had been gouged out and buried here.

“…Featherback. Is this that bastard’s doing.”

It was obvious.

Who else would hunt down a clan of giant spiders that had existed since the Mythical Age, gouge out their living eyeballs, and bury them here to make the water unusable.

Shedyoldis clicked her tongue.

“This way, even if the Purosange Family reclaims Tochika, it’s meaningless. It would take an enormous amount of time to purify the water and restock military rations.”

If Mörsolt surrounded them while Purosange was normalizing Tochika Fortress, it would be over.

They would be trapped inside, forced into siege defense, slowly dying of thirst.

“Did they take all the Territory Residents inside to Mörsolt? But then they’d lose public support, wouldn’t they? I learned that humans definitely value public sentiment, so what is this…”

Featherback’s actions felt bizarre beyond boldness.

Shedyoldis broke out in cold sweat at that wildly rampaging spirit.

“No, is this really human thinking? It seems closer to our side instead.”

Featherback was a human who fought the Demon King until the very moment of humanity’s extinction.

Therefore, the ethics, morals, justice, values, and common sense that circulated among humans had long since been burned away ages ago.

But Shedyoldis, who had no way of knowing this fact, was convinced in a completely different direction.

“Featherback. That bastard isn’t human. He’s on our side. I’m certain. Otherwise, there’s no way he’d commit such insane acts. I don’t know why a fellow demon would be hostile toward me, but….”

After pondering something for a long while, Shedyoldis finally reached a conclusion.

“If he’s picking a fight, I can’t avoid it. There’s no way I’d lose to some brat who couldn’t even get his name on the genealogy.”

She headed toward the building in the most secluded area within Tochika Fortress.

A spire rising tall in an isolated location.

This tower had no particular damage except for the walls being scorched by fire.

The door was broken, but since there was nothing inside, the Intruders seemed to have left quickly.

Shedyoldis entered the inside of the Spire.

The footprints stamped in the dust ended here.

So it was certain that no one had entered further inside.

Swoosh―

Shedyoldis lifted the Carpet on the Floor inside.

Then a Stone Door was revealed.

Tap tap!

When Shedyoldis tapped the Stone with her fingertips infused with Mana.

Creeeeak―

The Stone Door opened, revealing Underground stairs leading downward.

Click― Click― Click―

Shedyoldis headed Underground carrying a single Torch.

Reddish Moss-covered Stone Walls, Stalactites hanging down like Teeth, completely dried dirt Floor.

There, a single Pond rippling with blood sat all alone.

Shedyoldis stood before the spring of blood and removed her clothes.

Flutter―

Her garments settled on the dirt Floor, revealing Shedyoldis’s naked body.

Her body displayed a considerably grotesque appearance.

Transparent skin so clear that the Entrails inside could be seen through it, with black blood vessels protruding above, each pulsing to different rhythms.

Her arms and legs, as well as her shoulders and waist, were covered with stitched seam marks, making her look like a clumsily mended stuffed doll.

Shedyoldis clicked her tongue.

“The shell has completely rotted away. Well, I suppose it’s natural since this body has long exceeded its lifespan? I should start hunting for another human soon.”

She mutters while looking at her own face reflected on the surface of the Blood Pool.

“It’s not easy to find a face that suits my taste like this. Ah, come to think of it, the appearance of that Trading Company general manager in Mörsolt Territory was quite nice. Was her name Rorschach? Both her face and figure were quite beautiful. Should I catch that woman next time and switch bodies?”

Just then.

Bubble bubble bubble bubble bubble…

The Blood Pool where Shedyoldis had been looking at her reflection began to boil.

Shedyoldis’s expression changed drastically in an instant.

“Huh!?”

She quickly stepped back and knelt down.

The reason was simple.

Something so terrifying that even she would fear was lurking within that Blood Pool, and its temperament was far from generous.

Soon.

Swoosh—!

A massive Tentacle burst out from within the Blood Pool.

An octopus leg covered densely with disgusting-looking suckers.

In the center of each sucker, countless mouths, noses, and eyeballs could be seen attached.

The Tentacle gradually approached Shedyoldis.

The mouths smacked their lips, the noses twitched and sniffed, and the eyeballs looked around in all directions.

Shedyoldis’s entire face was covered in cold sweat.

She lay flat on her stomach and muttered a Prayer.

“Looking up at the Sky, in that high place, the stars of deep night are finding their positions, after eons of time have passed and now at last, the walls of the deep Prison crumble, walking through the ancient Gallery, passing the old Stairs, the ancient primordial masters awaken, Humanity will finally realize, whose servants they are, who the rightful masters of this world are, the stars burn and boil over, the metals Underground melt and overflow, as the end times descend, They will rise from Underground, and descend from the heavens, They will return…”

Then finally, the Tentacle seemed to recognize Shedyoldis’s presence.

Sssssslither―

The tip of the tentacle touched Shedyoldis’s face.

The mouth extended its tongue and licked Shedyoldis’s sweat.

The nose smelled Shedyoldis’s hair.

The eyes gazed deeply into Shedyoldis’s eyes.

Eventually, the mouth attached to the tentacle spoke.

[How did it go?]

“We are controlling Purosange to attack Mörsolt. So far, everything is proceeding smoothly.”

Shedyoldis answered immediately.

Then the tentacle coiled around Shedyoldis’s body once.

[Lies.]

“I-It’s true! Really…!”

She didn’t even have time to make excuses.

Crrrrrrrrrack!

Shedyoldis, wrapped in the tentacle, screamed.

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

All the bones in her body broke and her entrails burst out.

The mouth on the tentacle grinned wickedly.

[Report properly again.]

“Mö-Mörsolt’s counterattack is not ordinary! We lost Tochika Fortress and Purosange’s forces have been greatly weakened! B-b-but that doesn’t affect the overall situation! We can soon annihilate the Mörsolt Forces! Please! I’ll definitely succeed, so please…!”

Only then did the tentacle finally loosen.

Shedyoldis lay face down on the floor, completely battered and trembling like a worm.

Soon, the tentacle sways back and forth in midair.

[Open the door as soon as possible. Clear a path for me to cross over to that side.]

“I will do so.”

[The prophecy must be fulfilled, and there must be no interference whatsoever with the grand plan.]

“Do, don’t worry. All bloodlines of Demon Slaying will be severed.”

Shedyoldis pressed her forehead to the dirt floor repeatedly.

Soon, the tentacle retreated back into the blood pond.

Bubble bubble bubble bubble bubble…

Silence returned to the underground cave once more.

Shedyoldis raised her head, dripping with dark red cold sweat.

“This won’t do. If things continue like this, I’ll be eliminated. It’s time to use my trump card.”

She leaned her back against the wall as she stood up and caught her breath.

“Just wait and see, Featherback.”

Her two eyes gleamed red.

* * *

Meanwhile, secret movements were taking place at Vibuak Fortress.

Rangers in gray light armor and black cloaks were gathering toward the center of the fortress.

Their commander was Thoroughbred.

‘Shedyoldis… She told me to do nothing and just stay put, but that’s impossible.’

He is the Family Head of the Purosange Family.

If he remains idle after being humiliated by a mere fifteen-year-old boy, the Family Head’s authority will fall to the ground.

Especially with deserters appearing one after another these days, if he doesn’t take some action, the situation will become even more uncontrollable.

‘I’ll personally capture and kill that bastard Featherback. If I cut off his head and hang it high on a pole, my authority will be restored as well.’

Thoroughbred brought out every single Ranger he could mobilize.

With this force, he planned to comb through the inside of Vibuak Castle all night like hunting lice to capture and kill Featherback.

Thoroughbred asked the Rangers.

“Is everyone gathered?”

“Yes. Everyone is assembled. That bastard Featherback is now nothing more than a rat trapped in a jar.”

The Purosange Rangers were seething with rage.

Originally, guerrilla warfare and deception tactics were their specialty.

But they had been toyed with in reverse in the field they were best at.

The anger and frustration from being helplessly ravaged until now, and their wounded pride, were boiling over.

“Today, that bastard Featherback will cry instead of the dawn rooster.”

“I’ll capture that bastard and twist his neck before dawn breaks.”

“I’m going to die today, and I’ll definitely take that bastard Featherback, that son of a bitch, as my companion to death.”

The Rangers made firm resolutions while gripping their bows, arrows, and daggers.

Tonight, they would definitely separate Featherback’s head from his body.

Thoroughbred looked at such Rangers as if finding them reliable.

…That was exactly when it happened.

Thud thud thud thud thud—

The ground began to vibrate faintly.

“?”

One Ranger with particularly sharp senses turned his head.

He pointed his finger toward the horizon beyond, soaked in darkness.

“Huh? Over there!”

A faint dawn breaks beyond the houses soaked in night darkness.

But since it was the middle of the night, the sun couldn’t possibly be rising.

Crackle crackle crackle crackle crackle…

It was firelight.

Fire presumably set by those hateful Mörsolt Forces.

Thoroughbred shouted.

“If we go that way, that bastard Featherback will be there!”

He cheered inwardly.

They probably didn’t expect that he, the Family Head, would bring out all of Purosange’s Rangers.

So if they drove their forces that way, they could catch Featherback committing arson and fleeing.

“Let’s go! Go and catch him and kill him!”

At their master’s command, the hunting dogs rushed forward in a pack.

Thoroughbred took the lead and launched himself forward.

Behind him, hundreds of Rangers followed swiftly.

…Kill Mörsolt.

…Kill Featherback.

…Take revenge.

Thoroughbred and the Rangers thought they would soon achieve their goal.

Thud thud thud thud thud―

At least until they encountered the enormous Cattle Herd charging toward them with flames at their backs.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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