Rising god
Chapter 72: First Revenge

Chapter 72: First Revenge

Less than five hours had passed since Ralph’s miraculous return to the Dawnless stronghold, yet the air was already thick with the scent of impending war.

The organization mobilized with ruthless efficiency, as a tide of vengeance surging forth.

Only the 6th and 5th-star members followed Baines into battle, their faces set with grim determination, while the third executive remained behind to oversee the lower ranks, his expression that of unease.

’Baines, what happened to you?" The once cheerful boy Ralph had known was gone, replaced by a figure of anger and vengeance.

Even as they marched, silence hung heavy between them, broken only by the crunch of boots on the rocky terrain.

For the two executives and Wick, Baines’s words were sparse, even countable on one hand. So it wasn’t strange that Baines wasn’t saying anything.

In Baines’ mind, a storm of analysis raged. He sifted through the information gleaned from the executives and Ralph, piecing together the puzzle of their enemy.

The Treyl family, a vassal of House Darkan, was a family known for its huge tax contributions rather than martial prowess.

Lacking the prestige of sun rankings, they had slipped under the empire’s radar. It was a perfect facade for their ambitions.

According to Ralph, their goal was audacious: to become the next dragons of the empire by infusing human bodies with draconic essence through forbidden experiments.

But such lofty plans held no sway over Baines’ thoughts.

His mind was a crucible of darker intentions: Kill. Burn. Tear. Destroy. Maim. Shatter.

These words pulsed through him, and he didn’t shy away from them; rather, he embraced them with every fiber of his being. His heart had been hardened by years of loss and betrayal.

An ironic thread wove through his fury. The Treyl estate lay perilously close to where he had uncovered his second treasure.

His brother had been a prisoner mere miles from him, and he had never known. The realization fueled his resolve as the group pressed onward, reaching their target three hours later.

A grand family gate loomed before them, its ornate carvings a stark contrast to the violence about to unfold.

"Wick, silence the surroundings, block any communications, and set up an illusion formation," Baines ordered, his voice cold and unyielding. "The rest of you, kill anyone on sight, but don’t get in my way."

His words carried a lethal edge, a warning that he would not hesitate to eliminate any who obstructed him.

Then, a glint of approval flickered in the eyes of his followers as he added, "Plunder anything useful. Gold, treasures, records, everything. This family is not seeing tomorrow."

"Yes!" they shouted in unison, their voices a chorus of bloodlust.

’According to Ralph, the Black Rose Covenant and the Treyl are cohabitating,’ Baines calculated. ’If Wick covers a thousand meters, it should suffice.’ The plan was set.

"Who goes there?" a guard bellowed, his voice trembling as silhouettes emerged from the darkness.

Before he could raise an alarm, Baines drew his bladeless sword.

"Torrential Slash," he intoned, the blade extending with a surge of energy, crashing into the gate with a resounding BOOM!

"Shit,"

"A-Attack..."

"Intruders "

The structure shattered, debris scattering as the two executives vaulted the walls, their swords flashing to dispatch the stunned guards with surgical precision.

With another swing of Torrential Slash, the remaining gates and adjacent walls crumbled, a clarion call for the Dawnless to charge.

Servants, workers, and visitors froze in terror as the invaders swept through, their lives snuffed out like candles in a storm.

"HOW DARE YOU?" Five soldiers rallied, forming a shaky defense line, but before the Dawnless could engage, a blur of motion silenced them.

Thud... Thud... Thud...

Clang... Clang...

Thud...

Slash...

Thud...

The five fell, their bodies crumpling with minimal resistance. Ralph materialized, his expression unapologetic despite the Dawnless’ lingering resentment for the men he had killed earlier.

The similarity between the brothers, cold, relentless, and unyielding, was undeniable, though Baines had not confirmed their bond aloud.

"Move," Ralph bellowed, vanishing into the fray.

BOOOM!

BOOOOOM!

Buildings collapsed under Baines’ wrath, his Ashenfall tearing through stone and wood.

Screams pierced the air as innocents were buried beneath the rubble, but Baines’ heart remained stone, deaf to their pleas.

...

In the heart of the Treyl estate, a luxurious throne room that surpassed even House Darkan’s rested, and Yill Treyl, a lanky man with slit-like eyes, lounged on his throne, his expression darkening as a servant stammered,

"W-We are under attack." Armored soldiers stormed in, their faces taut with urgency.

"Who the hell is attacking us?" Yill roared, his gaze promising death to the bearer of bad news.

His attention shifted as a group of black-robed figures entered, their presence chilling the room.

"Who are they?" Yill demanded, his voice rising.

The central figure, cloaked in shadow, offered a small, menacing smile. "You don’t need to worry about it."

"I said, who are they?" Yill pressed, his tone turning feral.

The cloaked man’s smile faltered. "Recently, someone broke off their slave seal, and it seems they’ve come for revenge."

"And they are?" Yill’s patience thinned.

"Dawnless," the man replied.

"Dawnless?" Yill’s tone of fear was immediately replaced with annoyance. He had braced for a Darkan reprisal after their last inspection, but this was merely a gang of gamblers and fighters.

"Oh," he sighed, reclining again. "So, why are you here?"

The cloaked man’s smile widened. "As you know, we haven’t had the chance to test our latest success."

"Oh!" Yill’s eyes gleamed with understanding, his smile mirroring the other’s as he nodded in approval.

As they departed, he barked orders to his soldiers: "Suppress the enemy and invaders!"

...

The Treyl estate was divided into three sections: the first was the outer part for servants, workers, and visitors of the family.

Baines had razed much of the outer section, collapsing buildings and burying all within. Joining the group, he advanced toward the inner parts when a voice cut through the chaos.

"You BASTARDS. YOU DARE CAUSE A TERRORIST ATTACK ON DARKAN LAND!" a young man screamed, waving his sword wildly.

Clang...

He staggered back, barely blocking Ralph’s strike.

"WHO ARE YOU BASTARDS?" he yelled in fright, stalling for the vassal family’s army to arrive.

’Who are these bastards?’ he thought grimly. Unfortunately for him, he had taken his last mission with Tasha to check this family.

After finding nothing, she left him behind in case he suspected anything and should report. It had been weeks since then.

Today, as usual, he hoped Tasha would recognize his efforts and call him back, only to face this onslaught.

Scanning the group, he sensed two 6th stars demolishing structures and over a hundred 5th stars advancing.

His gaze finally locked on a familiar figure emerging from the midst.

"Jin," he called out in shock

"J-Jin, w-why are you here? W-What are you doing here?" he stammered, feeling the oppressive aura of a 6th star from his former squadmate.

Baines advanced, his expression icy, and under the wide-eyed stares of all, he lifted his sword. And,

Slash...

Thud...

His head rolled across the ground.

He turned, his gaze frigid and frighteningly cold, "I said, don’t let anyone live."

The Dawnless gulped, the reality of his ruthlessness sinking in. He had killed a known ally without hesitation.

Ralph felt a twinge of unease at the cruelty, yet the tales of their family’s suffering steeled his resolve.

’The world will really bleed,’ he thought, shaking his head as they pressed into the inner parts of the family, leaving a few to eliminate stragglers and plunder valuables.