Chapter Eleven: The Path of Flight

Kana and the refugee group were heading southwest.

The only kingdom bordering the Kingdom of Safro was the Kingdom of Fahn.

Between the two nations stretched a long mountain range, but on either side were narrow paths connecting them.

These were the only two routes leading out of Safro.

The southwestern path was free of forests, mountains, or rivers and allowed for smooth passage.

The southeastern route, however, was troublesome, blocked by numerous rivers and inhabited by wild beasts and low-intelligence tribes.

Thus, Safro traditionally used the southwestern passage, maintaining a lukewarm relationship with the only neighboring Kingdom of Fahn, mostly limited to trade.

After traveling for a day, their refugee group had grown larger.

With nearly all cities fallen and the port seized early on, their options were few.

A great number of civilians were fleeing toward the Kingdom of Fahn.

The sun had dipped below the horizon.

The sky grew increasingly overcast.

“Quickly, we need to find a secluded spot,” Nickum urged anxiously.

They had been escaping the city for several days; surviving this far was already fortunate.

They had also gained some experience.

For instance, the bloodline creatures gained strength at night, even surpassing their daytime power.

All bloodline beings possessed night vision, making them vastly superior to ordinary humans.

“Follow me, I know a good place,” Kana said, glancing around before heading in a direction.

Nickum quickly turned and said, “What are you waiting for? Keep up!”

The refugees immediately followed.

After about half an hour, they approached a small forested hill.

Kana led them to a spacious cave entrance recessed into the hillside, hidden by surrounding trees — a very concealed spot.

“This is a good place. We’ll rest here tonight,” Nickum said, surveying the area with satisfaction.

“Kana, you really know what you’re doing,” someone joked.

“I’ve just been here before,” Kana replied modestly.

The refugees began setting up a makeshift camp, very simple, just lighting a few fires.

Kana and Aliris wandered through the woods.

With purpose, they searched and found what Kana sought, quickly kneeling and digging it out.

“Garlic grass, haha,” Kana said happily.

Aliris looked and asked, “Your Highness, why are you digging up garlic grass?”

The name came from a game they had played, not because the plant looked like or contained garlic.

The juice extracted from this grass acted like a toxin to the bloodline creatures.

In the game, bloodline creatures feared silver weapons, so the grass earned the nickname "garlic grass."

“This grass works wonders against those monsters; it’s like poison to them.”

“Really?” Aliris believed him and began pulling up the grass alongside him.

There wasn’t much here, and they soon cleared it out, returning to camp with their haul.

Nickum eyed the bunch of grass curiously. “What are you digging that for?”

“We found those monsters seem to hate this grass. It appears to poison them.”

Hearing this, Nickum and the local guards turned their heads sharply.

The monsters’ regenerative abilities had always been a headache.

“You’re not lying, are you?” Nickum asked, surprised.

Kana nodded. “Why would I lie? I even tried coating my sword with it. When I struck those beasts, they screamed in pain.”

Such a thing was hard to doubt; after all, they shared a common enemy.

“So those monsters can feel pain.”

Nickum was instantly convinced. “Alright, let’s dig some up to keep on hand.” He looked at his men. “What are you waiting for? Take some people and start digging!”

Soon, a few guards and refugees were digging garlic grass in the forest, quickly gathering a large amount.

Women used simple tools to squeeze out the juice, offering a couple of small bottles to Kana as thanks.

Night fell, and the night watch was organized.

Kana and Aliris, naturally exempt, sat wrapped in blankets by the fire and fell asleep.

Before resting, Kana warned others that the enemy giant bats located prey by the sound of ear ringing, advising caution.

...

The next day, the refugee group packed up early and pressed on.

Approaching a village, Nickum sent two soldiers and two mercenaries to scout.

“Boss, the village is empty. There’s a lot of bloodstains and some gnawed bones—human bones, I think,” one soldier reported with disgust.

Clearly, the village had suffered badly.

“Did you see any monsters?”

“No. The tracks are a few days old.”

“That’s good. Let’s speed up and pass through quickly,” Nickum said, relieved.

Kana and Aliris walked near the village outskirts.

Aliris frowned at the dark soil beneath her feet. “Kana, why is the soil near the village blackened?”

Kana glanced and casually explained, “Blood pollution. Those bloodline creatures did it, corrupting the land to make it more suitable for dark beings. Even plants and animals are affected and mutate.”

When the game launched, the entire kingdom’s land had been transformed into such corrupted, dark territory.

A gathering of shadowy magic made the land perpetually sunless.

Cloud cover always kept the earth in darkness, barely recovering even in the late stages of the game.

This was only a harbinger.

“Enough thinking. Let’s keep moving.”

Not long after, they encountered another refugee group, far worse off—most injured and exhausted.

They had clearly faced enemies before, though it was unclear whether they escaped or defeated them.

Regardless, the two groups merged.

Looking over the swelling crowd, Kana couldn’t help but remark, “If this keeps up, by the time we reach the count’s domain, this group might have five or six hundred people.”

A few kilometers away.

A group moved slowly forward, dragging bound civilians behind.

A cart piled with human corpses and remains rattled along.

“Sniff sniff,” a stitched werewolf poked his head into the air.

“What do you smell?” asked a bloodline soldier captain nearby.

“Bloodline. Boiling. The scent.”

The werewolf’s voice was hoarse and broken.

“Escaped test subjects? Or…I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.