Throughout the western region, small skirmishes and large-scale fighting were occurring. The other towns were trying their best to hold down the beast horde as much as they could, but because of the sheer beast numbers, these towns found themselves in a very difficult situation.
Despite their best efforts, most of these towns were helpless against the horde, and their walls got breached! Hundreds of civilians and several brave Awakened perished. So of these towns even sent for aid; however, it was then they discovered their magical communication crystals were totally useless.
Whatever caused the beast attack had also tampered with their communication lines. Left with no choice, ssages were sent on horses or other mounts.
But... what was the guarantee that they'd even reach the capital safely when the entire region was practically overrun by furious beasts?
In desperation, so towns turned to rcenaries and rogue Awakened for help, offering what little resources they had left in exchange for temporary protection. anwhile, others looked toward the rich households for support, but most received no answer.
These people were rchants who had amassed a significant amount of fortune through trading, but even they were too preoccupied safeguarding their own territories or hoarding their forces for an inevitable assault on their strongholds.
But when the second wave attacked, all hell completely broke loose! Entire towns fell in re hours, their citizens either slaughtered or fleeing into the wilderness. Refugees began pouring into the safer towns, overwhelming local resources, and in turn, even those towns fell!
The western region was mostly referred to as a backwater region. Even the Awakened here were all below several levels—most of them couldn't even hold a candle against the beast tide.
The royal capital was still eerily silent on the matter. Most people speculated that the royal capital was gathering the royal army to reclaim the western region, while others believed the king had abandoned the west due to conflicts with the lords of the region.
But for those who were struggling, hope was growing thinner and thinner.
At this mont, outside a barony, an intense fight was unfolding!
BOOOOM!
"My mana will run out at this rate," an exhausted Helen muttered as she flicked a bead of sweat from her forehead. The blonde girl was battered, and her face was covered in blood. In front of her was a runic, bloody pattern.
The patterns were very similar to the ones Nox had used against Hendrix. Hovering through the air was a storm of bloody weapons; however, in contrast to Nox, the storm was noticeably smaller and spiraled out in all directions.
As a result, several Awakened had distanced themselves from her. Though her blood storms killed several creatures, it ca at the cost of striking down a few Awakened as well.
However, the Awakened didn't complain because the reason they had survived this long was because of her.
With trembling arms and gritted teeth, Helen thought: "How... just how did Nox do it?"
Because of the effectiveness of his attack in wiping out several Awakened at once, Helen had tried to replicate that pattern... but who would've thought it was so ntally and physically draining?
"B-but he was calm... there wasn't even a touch of fatigue on his face."
Nox's black eyes, which felt like an ocean of darkness, resurfaced in her head. His calm, deliberate, collected movents flashed through her mind.
"H-he made it look so easy; does this an he had better mastery than or what?"
Helen was honestly confused.
"Helen, focus!"
While she was in her thoughts, a voice snapped her out of her dazed state.
Apart from this barony, one other town that was doing fairly well was the Landon Barony. The rest of the western region was in complete dismay!
Currently, in the Armstrong Duchy, in the Duke's residence...
In the courtyard, the two Armstrong siblings had gathered and were having a serious discussion. At that mont, steps echoed in the air, and the third sister and fourth brother, who had been absent, walked into the courtyard.
"Did you find anything?" the first brother asked imdiately.
"Nothing." The two shook their heads, and then the fourth brother said in a grim voice, "The treasury is empty, and so valuable artifacts are also gone."
"Damn it! Father is gone as well," the first brother cursed, running his fingers through his white hair. After leaving the fighting arena, they had quickly rushed over to their residence because it was the safest place.
However, not only were there no guards present, but the fuel was gone, and the entire mansion seed to have been ransacked.
"That brat is also nowhere to be found," the third sister frowned.
"Makes you wonder if those two escaped together."
"Escape? Why would they escape?" the first brother asked, confused. Why would their father abandon the Duchy—the Duchy he had painstakingly built to beco the powerhouse of the west?
"On our way here, I kind of overheard the netizens talking about Father betting his title on Fifth Brother's fight with Nox," the fourth brother revealed grimly.
"W-what!" The eyes of the others widened in shock at the revelation.
"I was shocked too," the fourth brother displayed a bitter smile as he added, "My guess is that Father and Fifth Brother have escaped with all the treasures and powerful items."
At the sa ti, in the wilds, two horses were galloping through the wasteland at an alarming speed. Mounted on the horses were two masked figures—one of them had a large physique, and the other seed to be in his teens but was packed with muscles in all the right places. Strands of white hair cascaded down their back.
"Where are we going?" the larger figure asked, their voice low and deep but laced with respect.
The teenage figure was silent for a while, then said emotionlessly, "Sowhere far from this backwater region... We're going to the capital."
"The capital?" the other figure asked, slightly surprised.
"I have made the necessary arrangents," the teenager affird. Then their eyes burned intensely within the mask. "There, we'll build ourselves once more and then... reclaim everything we have lost."
"But h-how are we going to do that?" the larger figure asked.
"That shouldn't be a problem." The other figure smiled. "Because my master awaits our arrival."
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