Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 467: Joining the fight

Chapter 467: Joining the fight

"Report," Lionel ordered as his gaze scanned his camp, noting the peripheral damage.

A quarter showed signs of combat with a building destroyed and more than half of the men moving around walking with a sense of dread.

Lionel recognized it as the innate fear of the Abyss that dwelt in all denizens of Eventide.

It also didn’t help that these men had to watch their comrades turn into grotesqueries, forcing their hands to end their lives.

The Homunculi beside him didn’t immediately respond, instead going through her notes before she spoke up. "4 dead. All turned into abyssal trees. 5 injured in the confusion that followed and roughly 5 percent of our equipment was damaged due to one of the transformed beings serving as a caretaker in the weapons room."

The statistics weren’t bad but the implications of having his men turn into abyssal horrors was a major cause for concern.

"Any ideas as to why these men transformed?"

"Not yet. We are trying our best but we haven’t figured anything out yet." the homunculi confessed, eliciting a frustrated sigh from Lionel.

"We are trying our hardest to get to the bottom of this as soon as we can, Master."

"I understand," Lionel replied as he ran his hand through his long white hair. "It’s rather unfortunate that we have succeeded in surviving so far. Not one victory and the way it’s looking, we won’t be experiencing any victories for the time being. Is this how we are supposed to defend against what is to come?"

"I agree the situation is bad but I believe we have a chance to turn things around."

Lionel let out yet another sigh. "Yes, I want to believe so too but it’s becoming difficult, Mirabel."

"Would you like to take some time to relieve yourself?"

"Hah, that won’t be necessary. These men need a general and I am their leader. For now, reach out to Veronica in BlackWatch and ask if there have been any similar reports from the others."

"Understood."

With that, the homunculi or rather... Mirabel turned and left, leaving Lionel to his thoughts.

***

Natasha wasn’t one to feel regret, especially not with everything she had done after being forced to leave her home to prove herself.

Everything she’d ever done, she’d done as a result of what she felt in her heart and she wasn’t one to doubt her heart.

However, she still felt complicated thinking about the incident with Victoria and the others.

She recognized Nadia amongst their group but the others were as unfamiliar as could get.

In any case, the aura they carried reminded her strongly of Alex which made her understand that they were most likely his subordinates.

Judging from Nadia’s displayed strength, Natasha reckoned her to be at least at her second Lock.

With that understanding, she couldn’t help but feel a bit jealous to see the same arrogant woman who had once been the center of attention for all eligible bachelors in BoneHaven turn into such a capable individual in such an incredible team.

Thinking back to her last interaction with Alex, Natasha couldn’t help but wonder if she would have experienced such growth had she accepted his offer of subordination back then.

At that time, she’d rejected it partly because she felt she wasn’t ready to carry out whatever grand mission Alex had planned and also because she felt she had a responsibility to BoneHaven.

Alas, the incident with the Whisperers occurred and because of that, till this day, BoneHaven had still not experienced any headway in its reconstruction efforts which was why she was forced to take up a task as a Wandering Enforcer, an agent of the D.O.D not tied to a city or town and instead charged to wander the Empire, seeking out potential trouble in those places untouched by human civilization.

Now, with everything that had happened, despite reaching the second Advancement of the Warrior Wheel, Natasha still found herself grossly inadequate.

The Month of Astra and the war with the Night Kindred once again placed her in a situation in which all her growth was equivalent to dust.

At that moment, the image of Victoria stopping Lucia’s attack flashed in her mind and she groaned in frustration.

Would she ever be able to prove her father wrong at this rate?... She let out a sigh as she massaged her temples.

Just then, one of her subordinates, a young Enforcer that went by the name Harry knocked on the door to her room before coming in.

She glanced back and inquired. "What is it, Harry?"

"Apologies Captain, but we just received word."

"What word?"

"It’s an Incursion, Captain. From what I could gather, the continent might be facing an unprecedented attack, one even greater than the one that caused the disaster of the Southern Ruins."

Natasha nearly fell off her chair.

***

Alex awakened having finished dealing with Adam in Eden, slowly opening his eyes to find a familiar face peering over his own.

"Hi." Arwen greeted with a brilliant smile.

"Arwen, get back here, that’s not ladylike at all." Nadia scolded softly as she moved to pull Arwen away.

Alex chuckled as he watched the two ladies squabble.

Shifting his gaze, he found the other members of Constellations walking into his room.

Even without saying a word, he could notice a subtle change in their demeanor.

A normal person wouldn’t be able to detect it but one that had fought most of his life would be able to do so.

"I’m guessing the sojourn outside helped quite a bit," Alex remarked as he sat upright.

"Master." Victoria bowed before she added. "Indeed, it was truly eye-opening. I cannot wait to regale you with all the details. However, there is a pressing matter I must bring to your attention."

Noting the seriousness in her tone, Alex inquired. "What is it?"

"The Night Kindred have taken an opposing stance against you. They wish to usurp your power and claim it as their own."

"All of them?" Alex raised a brow.

Victoria shook her head. "But the attack we suffered was at the hands of newly awakened Silver Knights who wished to take you back to Gregory, one of the seven surviving Monarchs in the current age.

"From what I understood, his reason for wanting to meet you wasn’t borne out of a desire to swear fealty."

Alex let out a sigh, Victoria’s words reminding him of his encounter with Damian at Krobridge.

There had always been the probability of problems cropping up during his subordinates’ sojourn to gain experience but to think they would be actively hunted.

He doubted if they would be able to survive another encounter should they be faced with a Silver Knight battalion, especially since the only reason they survived this time was because of his Blessings.

"We opted to return to get your opinion on the matter as I doubt this attack would be the last one." Victoria calmly added.

Alex was about to respond only to pause as a certain thought came to mind.

Hadn’t he been looking for a way to complete the Trials to regain his lost progress?

Perhaps, this was the chance he needed to do so.

Hence, with a renewed perspective, Alex remarked. "You all will return to the battlefield but this time... I shall come along."