The Forgotten Field - Chapter 43

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 43
Talia stared at the dark silhouette revealed beneath the fading sunlight, her eyes wide with panic.
The massive body wrapped in scales coiled tightly like a volcano on the verge of erupting lava, then shot upward. The enormous reptilian head perched atop it gleamed with crimson eyes as it looked down upon them.
Talia’s legs gave way and she collapsed to the ground. As the creature exhaled scorching breath and spread its wings—shrouded in a dark membrane—the entire world seemed to vanish into consuming darkness.
Barcas drew his sword and shouted in a sharp voice.
“Prepare the subjugation equipment at once!”
Before his command had even finished, Knights burst forth from among the panicked, scattering crowd.
They surrounded the monster and drove iron stakes into the ground, then connected thick iron chains to their ends. Moments later, dozens of steel harpoons flew like arrows toward the creature’s massive body.
Talia covered her ears. A thunderous roar erupted from the monster’s maw as it raised its head high.
Each time the heavy body bound by dozens of chains thrashed violently, the earth trembled, and several stakes that couldn’t withstand the force were ripped free and launched into the air.
“Everyone, fall back!”
As someone’s cry rang out sharply, the creature broke free from its restraints and lashed out with one wing in a powerful sweep.
Talia screamed. Two tents were torn away by the monster’s wing, and half a dozen servants who hadn’t prepared in time were sent flying like scraps of paper.
One of their bodies, twisted at an unnatural angle, tumbled to a stop near her. It felt like a nightmare.
“Bring more equipment!”
Barcas’s rough voice barely kept her fading consciousness tethered. Talia forced strength into her trembling legs and managed to stand. She watched with a vacant expression as Barcas charged forward like a flash of light toward the rampaging creature.
He was rushing toward the monster’s enormous jaws—a creature whose body alone appeared to exceed thirty cubits, roughly nine meters.
“Barcas!”
His name tore from her lips as a scream just as the creature’s wing lashed toward him like a whip.
Talia watched the scene unfold, her eyes wide with terror.
The massive black wing, large enough to blot out the sky, engulfed Barcas in an instant. Her world turned pitch black. But in the next moment, the pale blade in Barcas’s hand tore through the thick membrane like paper.
In a flash, Barcas severed the monster’s wing horizontally, and his blade continued through the thick muscle bundles connected to its body.
The monster, having lost one wing in the blink of an eye, lost its balance and staggered greatly.
Seizing the moment, Barcas drew a chain sickle from his waist and hurled the hooked blade into the creature’s grotesque maw, bristling with needle-like teeth. Then, sliding smoothly to the side, he connected the chain to a stake fixed in the ground and yanked it with brutal force.
The monster, its lower jaw caught on the chain sickle, collapsed helplessly like a fish hooked on a line. Talia’s mouth fell open in astonishment at the incredible strength emanating from that slender, graceful frame.
Barcas gripped the iron chain with both hands and shouted loudly to his subordinates.
“Finish it now!”
Immediately, dozens of harpoons were driven into the creature’s body.
The beast covered in black scales thrashed its house-sized body desperately in resistance, but it was helpless against the relentless barrage of attacks.
In moments, the monster, now resembling a porcupine, extended its tongue and collapsed limply to the ground. Only then could Talia release the breath she had been holding.
“Are you unharmed?”
A Guard Knight came rushing over from somewhere, looking down at her with worried eyes. He must have hurried to the battlefield while searching for her, for he too held a sword in one hand.
The man quickly sheathed his blade and extended his hand to help her up.
Talia brushed his hand away roughly and approached Barcas, who was recovering equipment from the creature’s body.
Barcas, winding the loosened iron chain around one hand, glanced at her with only his eyes, scanning her from head to toe. Even in that moment, no anger flickered in his dry gaze—the look of someone inspecting the condition of an entrusted object. Without thinking, Talia asked in an anxious voice.
“Are you… are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere?”
As she examined him carefully with trembling eyes, she noticed dark bloodstains smudging his neck.
Talia reached out and touched his neck. Fortunately, it didn’t appear to be Barcas’s blood. She exhaled in relief, but suddenly her scalp tingled.
When Talia looked up, she found Barcas gazing down at her with slightly widened eyes, and she quickly lowered her arm.
His silence made cold sweat bead across her skin. Was it absurd that this woman—who spent all her time hitting his face or throwing things at him—was now feigning concern? Flustered, Talia mumbled something like an excuse.
“I’ve… known this person for nearly a decade. If something happens to them right before my eyes, my sleep turns restless. I don’t want to have nightmares because of you.”
“Then you need not worry, Your Majesty. I shall ensure I never appear in your dreams.”
Her characteristically sharp retort brought an unexpected wave of relief.
Talia’s shoulders, which had been unnaturally rigid, sagged as the tension drained from her frame.
Just as Barcas opened his mouth to respond, a distant scream pierced the air. Talia’s head snapped toward the sound, and she drew a sharp breath. The sky itself seemed consumed by a writhing mass of dark creatures.
The Guard Knight muttered in stunned disbelief.
“Why would a wyvern swarm appear at this time…?”
“Stop asking questions and get the suppression equipment! Your Majesty, this way!”
Barcas’s composure snapped back into place as he barked orders, seizing Talia’s wrist and striding purposefully across the campsite.
Talia stayed close to his back, her legs pumping frantically beneath her. The stench of blood and smoke hung thick in the air.
Chaos. The chaos she had waited for so long had finally arrived.
Yet she felt no triumph—only a paralyzing dread that flooded through her veins.
“Grand Duke Sierkan! We’ve erected a defensive barrier over there!”
As monsters tore through carriages and tents indiscriminately, someone’s voice cut through the pandemonium.
Barcas immediately changed course.
“Do not leave this place under any circumstances.”
Leading the dazed Talia to the center of the campsite, Barcas spoke with unwavering authority.
Talia turned to survey her surroundings. Dozens of supply wagons formed a protective wall, behind which a cluster of people huddled in refuge.
“The carriages are equipped with defensive enchantments. You’ll be safe here.”
“What about you? What are you doing?”
Barcas dismissed her question with barely a glance and pivoted sharply.
Talia grabbed his arm urgently.
“Have you lost your mind? Where are you going?”
“The defensive magic won’t hold for long. We must eliminate the creatures before it fails.”
Barcas wrenched his arm free from her grip and bolted toward the chaos.
Talia watched his retreating figure with wide, helpless eyes before instinct overtook reason and she rushed after him.
“No! Don’t go! Barcas! Barcas!”

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