The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 160: Night full monsters

Chapter 160: Night full monsters

’Twenty Demon crystals and ten Fiend crystals. Not bad for a first day.’

Hex stood in the middle of a semi-collapsed building and counted the crystals harvested throughout the day. The sky was turning dark and it was advised to leave the ruin during the night. The Heartless were most active during the dark hours.

’It’s the first day and many won’t leave. Only those who are weaker or wiser will rest in the camp outside. But people who are confident in their abilities or are dumb will stick around to increase their harvest.’

Hex nibbled on a slice of bread and drank water from a small bottle he carried on his belt. The crystals shone dimly in his palm. He admired the jet-colored, pebble-like pieces in his hand. Only one had a few glistening ember-like shards in it. This was the crystal he harvested from the Heartless spitting out fireballs.

’There aren’t many creatures with such jet-black crystals. It makes it harder for people to cheat. After all, these creatures are rare. According to the people at the camp, this is probably the only place in the world with so many Heartless. Thanks to my mother.’

Although Hex killed without mercy, he knew all these creatures had once been humans. They suffered such a fate because of one of his mothers, the Witch. In a way, Hex saw this competition as a way to free these souls from their cursed fates.

As the sun set on the horizon, Hex closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall. He was hidden from sight and relied on his senses to know when someone or something approached him.

’Once night arrives the real battle will start.’

...

"How are things going so far, Dollface?"

The Commander watched the ruin below, standing atop the remnant piece of the gate. It was taller than it was wide, surpassing two hundred meters in the sky. But even at this height, he couldn’t see the entire ruin. After all, it wasn’t by chance that Notresol was known as the biggest city in the North. Only a few knew that it once had been the capital.

"Kids nowadays are indeed stronger than in our time. They cleared the outer district within the first day. There are very few casualties."

The old man with the gems for eyes reported standing beside the Commander. He was as old as the Commander, though looked older. His real name wasn’t used for so long it would be a surprise if even he remembered it. The Hawks called him Old Gargoyle.

Only when they were alone did the Commander call him Dollface, a nickname their old batch given him when he lost his eyes and got the fabricated gems as eyes. According to the person who started to call him, only dolls walked with jewels on their face all day long. Old Gargoyle beat the shit out of him and the rest of their batch, aside from the Commander of course. Even then no one, not even their officer dared to fight him. They all were dead. Only the Commander and he remained.

"The real challenge starts soon, though," the Commander said, eyeing the last rays of the setting sun disappear under the horizon.

"Hehe. Yeah," Old Gargoyle grinned. "Maybe the competition will be decided by the morning because only a few survive."

"If that thing appears, perhaps there won’t be any participants left."

"I hope it does." Old Gargoyle had a nasty smile as he looked at the darkness engulfing the ruin. As soon as he said it, he jumped down, swooping like a hawk to the ground. A human-looking Heartless stood in the darkness, ready to attack a group of people intending to leave to ruin.

"I got three Demon crystals."

"I got five."

"I have one Fiend crystal, hahaha."

The group chatted and laughed, oblivious to the danger they were in. They believed they were safe this close to the entrance.

The Heartless readied itself to attack. But it suddenly sensed the minute movement of the air above its head. It corked its head up.

Splat!

It was too late. Its body splattered all over the wall, leaving a sticky black liquid. The corrosive nature of the liquid caused it to burn through the stone ground and wooden walls. But not even a drop landed on Old Gargoyle. In the middle of the puddle of blood and flesh, glistened a dark crystal, bigger than the ones most people had seen.

Old Gargoyle waved his hand, causing the crystal to fly and land in his palm. The liquid sticking to it evaporated before it touched his skin.

"I am in luck. I can buy a few jugs of wine from those bastard merchants." Old Gargoyle chuckled.

He joined the people leaving the ruin, receiving a few curious glances from them. They remained blissfully ignorant that their lives could have ended.

Old Gargoyle didn’t pay them any attention. He whistled cheerfully, playing with the crystal in his hand.

"Isn’t that one bigger than yours?" One of the people asked the one with a Fiend crystal.

"Y-Yeah," he stammered, pulling his crystal out of the pouch.

"D-Disaster grade?" Another asked fearfully. They gulped and hurried out of the ruin. The dark place behind them suddenly seemed like a monster, waiting to swallow them as a whole.

...

Hex opened his eyes but he could have kept them shut. It wouldn’t matter. The night was so dark he couldn’t see his hands. But he woke up because of the sudden influx of energy fluctuations around him.

Compared to the day when the energy seemed like a few fireflies, the night seemed filled with infinite spots of energy.

For a while everything an eerie silence hung in the air. But suddenly, hell seemed to have broken lose.

Explosions, cries, shouts, and ear-deafening shrieks erupted everywhere. Hex picked up his sword and stood behind the broken wall of the building.

’Demon.’

’Demon.’

Instead of walking blindly into the night, he waited. There were so many of the creatures crawling around that he didn’t need to actively search for them. He sensed two energy fluctuations walk past his hiding place but he didn’t attack. He waited for Fiends.

It took some time but he finally sensed them.

’Now.’

From the gaps, his swords flashed, beheading the creatures. It would take time but he remained patient.

’This brings memories back. I feel like Crevice Hunter again.’

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