Chapter 158

Chapter 158 – Chapter 30: Exacerbation

The barbarians beyond the Western Limit Line had a distinctly different appearance from the barbarians beyond the Eastern Limit Line .

Their average height was over two meters, and they had blue skin . Their long coarse tails were reminiscent of a lizard’s, giving them a strong and flexible third hand or foot . That wasn’t all . There were usually one or two horns on their heads, with red or black eyes from which the whites parts were absent .

Among the tribes living in the Curtis region, the main ones were orcs which could be found anywhere in the Demon World . The next most common were lizardmen and harpies . There were also a handful of lamia .

Among the species in Curtis, none had an appearance similar to the western barbarians . Due to this, the western barbarians would stand out if they were in Curtis .

This was what made them different from the eastern barbarians . The western barbarians couldn’t infiltrate Curtis like the eastern barbarians had done in Takar and Evian . Moreover, Curtis wasn’t a lawless zone like Evian, nor was it a city like Takar where many species came and went . It was almost impossible for the western barbarians to penetrate deep into Curtis and attack the transportation formations all at the same time .

If so, who had done this? Who had destroyed the transportation formations? There wasn’t much information transmitted through communicators installed in the Gullam villages .

‘The transportation formation has been attacked . Other places seem to be under attack at the same time as well . The transportation formation has been destroyed . ’

Those words were shrieked, but there was no further information .

Felicia took deep breaths . The transportation formations generally had weak defenses . Attacking the transportation formations was an act of treason against the Demon King’s Palace, so it was rare for anyone to try it . They were also mainly located inland, so they weren’t exposed to the enemies .

It was very shallow thinking, but she hadn’t been aware of the vulnerabilities until the transportation formation had been attacked .

Felicia thought deeply . As Carlos shouted, the entire transportation formation network in Curtis had been destroyed . Carlos had received the communication about the attack an hour ago . There was no additional communication, so it was reasonable to presume they had been destroyed .

Curtis had five transportation formations, so it would take a lot of organization to attack the five transportation formations at the same time without much of a time difference . Despite the weak defenses, it was a facility of the Demon King’s Palace and wasn’t a place which could be overthrown with impatience . Significant organizational skills and strength were required to suppress the entire transportation formation without anyone suspecting .

As she visualized all the conditions, an answer arose naturally . However, it was an answer she didn’t want to admit .

Felicia looked at In-gong . It was evident In-gong was thinking the same thing . Carack asked Carlos more questions .

Had he contacted Anastasia? There was no word from the front lines .

They shouldn’t expect any instructions from Anastasia, so they had to go and check out the situation .

Carlos stammered out, “There were no instructions from Anastasia . The only communication from the nearest military facility was a command to wait . ”

Carack asked who managed the facility .

Felia, In-gong, Felicia and Carack swallowed their saliva as they waited for Carlos’ reply .

Carlos’ answer was short and terrible,

“T-the Paran tribe . ”

One of Curtis’ three giant clans . They were a powerful force called the barrier of the Western Limit Line .

Carack looked at In-gong . Although it was just a hypothesis, In-gong, Carack and Felicia all thought the same thing .

The Paran clan had betrayed them .

&

The life of information was speed .

By delaying the transmission of information, the eyes and ears of people could be covered .

The news that the transportation formations had been destroyed didn’t reach Anastasia . There was a long distance between the fortress where she was and the transportation formations—a distance which couldn’t be seen with the naked eye . If the news wasn’t transmitted, there would be no way for Anastasia to know about the fall of the transportation formations .

It was the chief of the Paran clan, Berkintox, who had blocked the information . Once all five of Curtis’ transportation formations were destroyed by the Hwarin, he stood on a fortress overlooking the Western Limit Line .

The plan was proceeding smoothly . The transportation formations were destroyed, and the news hadn’t spread . He couldn’t completely block the delivery of the information to some areas in the rear, but that wasn’t a big problem . The important thing was that the main base wasn’t aware of the destruction .

The destruction of the transportation formations meant that intervention from the Demon King’s Palace was blocked . By the time the reinforcements entered Curtis, the situation would already be over . Even if they sent a large army, the result would still be the same .

After receiving the reports from his loyal men, Berkintox proceeded to the next step .

It was an easy task to occupy the fortresses connected to the limit line . The nightmares Anastasia had dispatched to the fortresses didn’t doubt the Paran clan due to their exchanges over the past month . The history of the Paran tribe, who had devoted their loyalty to the Demon King’s Palace over the past hundreds of years without any treason, was also helpful .

The incubi were all killed while the succubi were left as gifts for those who would soon be arriving .

The reports continued—all three fortresses in the vicinity of the limit line were in the hands of the Paran clan .

Berkintox ordered them to open their gates . The fortress gates, which had been closed firmly for many years, opened up and accepted the barbarians beyond the Western Limit Line .

The barbarians walked into Curtis and were delighted to receive the succubi, the gift from Berkintox . They accepted the alliance with the Paran tribe, who had killed them for many years, without hesitation . The reason for this was simple—the being behind both of them was the same one .

After crossing the limit line, the barbarians moved quickly . Exactly half of them moved to occupy the fortresses near the limit line, while the other half dug deeper into Curtis . They headed to the central fortress where Anastasia was staying .

&

It had been approximately one hour since the start of the attack on the transportation formations .

Around the time In-gong and Felicia suspected the Paran clan’s betrayal, numerous deaths occurred on the front lines where the information had been blocked off .

The troops who were guarding the fortresses faithfully, greeted their deaths without knowing about the Paran tribe’s betrayal . The orcs, who raised their spears and swords on the walls, had to watch helplessly as the gates opened .

Berkintox thought it would take two hours . Indeed, it went according to his thoughts . Anastasia only realized what was happening after an hour had passed and the surrounding fortresses had fallen .

Anastasia wasn’t incompetent, however, Berkintox had effectively masked her eyes and ears .

The barbarians surrounded the central fortress . Sadly for Berkintox and the barbarians, the gates didn’t open easily this time . It was because Anastasia had hastened to act after realizing what had happened .

Indeed, she led one of the three major factions in the Demon King’s Palace for a reason . After noticing the Paran clan’s betrayal, she took control of the central fortress instantly . However, by that time, it was too late . Once two hours had passed like Berkintox had anticipated, Anastasia was isolated in the middle of the barbarians .

Berkintox acknowledged Anastasia’s capabilities, but he was also well aware of her limits . It was why he didn’t rush to the central fortress and cut off her neck .

It was up to the barbarians to make the central fortress fall . Some of the barbarians and orcs, who had betrayed the Demon King’s Palace, spoke about Anastasia’s slyness, but their words were insignificant to Berkintox .

He led the Paran warriors past the central fortress to secure the rear bases which might be confused by the sudden command to wait .

It had been two to three hours since the transportation formations had been destroyed . General Sorak, an orc, reported urgent news to Berkintox .

“Victor is outside the fortress!”

3rd Prince Victor Nekrion…

He was the older brother of 4th Princess Anastasia Nekrion and a powerful magician . Victor had led a group of troops to inspect the facilities and villages to the south of the central fortress . It was a fact Berkintox didn’t know because Victor had moved secretly .

The generally bold Sorak was restless . Victor was a child of the demon king, and he wasn’t an easy opponent . It was clear he would gather the troops in the south to rescue Anastasia . So, right now, he should be returning to the central fortress to help support it .

However, Berkintox didn’t think so . Having seen Anastasia and Victor over the past month, he found a serious error in them Sorak didn’t know about .

“It is more important to keep moving forward and take control of the rear bases . The barbarians will take care of Princess Anastasia as planned . ”

Hearing this, Sorak yelled and questioned Berkintox . Securing Anastasia was important, and it wasn’t because she was a powerful magician .

Securing Anastasia was a means to overwhelm those who didn’t agree with them or who had yet to grasp the full scope of the situation . It was also aimed at getting rid of those who were loyal to the Demon King’s Palace .

However, Berkintox was just leaving her alone . What if Victor really went to rescue Anastasia?

“He won’t go . ”

Berkintox declared, while Sorak wondered what he was talking about .

Berkintox recalled his memories of Anastasia and Victor instead of explaining, and he couldn’t help laughing bitterly .

&

Victor Nekrion stared into the darkness . His aide, the succubus, Perope, listed the information discovered so far .

All the transportation formations had been destroyed . The fortresses at the Western Limit Line had opened their gates, and the barbarians had taken over all the fortresses in the area . The process had been so easy that there had to be traitors .

The number of barbarians surrounding the central fortress couldn’t be grasped, and there were no troops nearby to support the central fortress . It had been besieged, and the number of barbarians kept growing . It was estimated that monsters beyond the limit line had also crossed over .

Time continued to flow, and with every minute and second that passed, the situation became worse .

Should he go and save Anastasia with his current forces? If there were strikes from the inside and outside, he could get her out somehow .

Victor made calculations in his head, then he came to a conclusion .

“Don’t go . ”

The chance of saving Anastasia was too low, and it would become worse if Victor tried to save her .

“Anastasia would have the same idea . ”

Victor turned around with no signs of regret . Perope, a long time aide of Victor, looked in the direction of the central fortress where Anastasia was but didn’t try to persuade Victor otherwise .

This was a rational judgment, not one due to sentiment or emotion . Like Victor said, Anastasia would be thinking the same thing .

Victor moved to the south instead of the north, where the central fortress was located . He planned to secure the southern troops which had yet to fall into the hands of the traitors .

&

It was late at night . While everyone else was sleeping, it was the time when the minds of the nightmares were the clearest .

Anastasia accepted the situation which was changing rapidly . She pushed down her anger at the treachery and made efforts to grasp the situation . It wasn’t good . This was a desperate situation . The time to hurry and retreat had already passed . The central fortress was completely surrounded, and the attack would start soon .

Anastasia took a deep breath . Her aide, the succubus, Chandra, begged her despite knowing it wouldn’t work .

‘Run away alone . ’ If she were alone, she would be able to escape somehow as the siege wasn’t complete yet .

However, Anastasia wouldn’t listen . She wasn’t someone who could throw away her people and run away alone . It wasn’t because of affection . She didn’t love the people below her . However, it was her duty and responsibility as someone in a higher position .

The nightmares were on the fortress walls, preparing to stop the attack . The soldiers encouraged each other by saying Prince Victor would come with reinforcements . The words were good, but Anastasia gave a heartbreaking smile .

“Orabeoni won’t come . ”

He wouldn’t come . Victor would probably move to secure the troops in the south . If so, Anastasia’s role was to buy as much time as possible for him .

Chandra didn’t deny Anastasia’s words . However, what if the situation was reversed? Would Anastasia throw Victor away?

It was a meaningless speculation . Anastasia laughed bitterly .

“I’m glad that I sent Felicia to the rear . ”

They might have crossed words at Baikal orabeoni’s tea party, but Felicia was Anastasia’s favourite sister . She had placed Felicia at the very rear, so Felicia wouldn’t be swept up in this .

‘Will she try to come rescue me?’

It was a scenario which was possible if it were Felicia . She was a person who behaved emotionally, rather than with her head .

Anastasia recalled Silvan . He would act stupidly if Felicia were in her situation right now . Even if he were alone, Silvan would probably rush to the central fortress to save her .

It was stupid . Even so, he was a good fool . Somehow, Anastasia didn’t hate it .

Anastasia changed her bitter expression back to a cold and elegant smile . She then shook her head and stared at the barbarians beyond the fortress . There were too many of them . The roar of the monsters, heard from afar, tightened a grip around her heart .

However, Anastasia wasn’t afraid . If she showed fear, everyone in the fort would fall into greater anxiety and terror .

Dawn would arrive soon .

The battle of the central fortress began .