The group continued ahead, they met few resistances with some groups having two-three Awakened warriors but all were dealt quickly and efficiently.
With Zane providing variety of the diluted potions and Cecilia who seems more 'murderous' than usual, everything went smoothly.'
...
"It seems you are more 'enthusiastic' than unusual," Zane commented.
Cecilia looking at her sword, "I have this feeling that my heart longs to draw blood. It is hard to explain, but the more I swing the sword, the more I feel that it is not enough. I can feel that I am about to grasp this mysterious feeling."
Zane immediately looked at her skills.
Cecilia:
Swordsmanship: Level 1 (94/100 to Level 2)
"You are about to break through your swordsmanship."
Closing her eyes, she imagined all the techniques she had used from the past, "I see, that might be the case."
She mumbled, 'just a bit more.'
Then, Zane checked his progress on his own swordsmanship.
Swordsmanship: Level 1 (0/100)
'I didn't improve at all? I have been using the sword for a long time already!'
'I guess it would make sense since the skills were from the system. Sadly, it seems that I can't bring it up to level 2 even with the a skill point.'
Zane also looked at his primary stats, he saw that his attributes were still increasing due to Zen's Slaughter mantra.
Feeling others putting some distance with both him and Cecilia, 'It seems that Cecilia and I started to show some degree of slaughter aura because of the death and destruction around us. Those low level are probably shuddering just standing close to us.'
...
Meanwhile...
A situation was happening in a rubbled castle inside the northern part of Capricia City.
About 200 high-level Blood Warriors consisting of levels 8-9 were facing an old man who was sitting in a chair. The Blood Warriors' faces were all intense and had a look of horror.
He spoke, "Gerax, Gerax, Gerax, your little rebellion is over. Most of your warriors are dead. There is no point in fighting. Lay down your arms. As a high noble lineage, I promise you that you will be spared but only receive a bit of torture."
"How about my companions?" Gerax spoke grimly looking at hundreds of burned corpses.
"Sadly... ALL OF THEM WILL BE PURGED! Hahaha" the monster laughed.
Gerax gripped his sword, not knowing what to do. 'Why the heck is he back?! He is not even supposed to be here! The information confirmed that he left!'
"Gerax! Snap out of it! You got to go back! You need to tell everybody that it is suicide!"
"That is right Gerax, we have no hope of fighting an Ascendant!"
"The information said that he left the city, why the heck is he here?"
Gerax grit his teeth, "It doesn't the moment we started the rebellion our life is on the life with our without this monster in front of us"
"NO! Go back, we will give you some time to retreat!"
...
Zane's group arrived about 2 miles away from Northern border. Even from far away, one can see the massive gates. It was about twenty times the size of the Buland Darwaza, the so called High Gates from earth. Its high walls were also very black and thick.
"So what do we do now? Should we head straight" Goz asked the group.
"It seems that the Runes are still up and running. It will be impossible for us to leave," Barret commented.
"Let's just go and wait there. Once the Runes are down, we will be the first to leave!," Old Gramps chimed in.
Looking far ahead, Zane instantly rejected the notion, "No. It is highly likely that there are some traps and an army waiting for the ambush. We will rest and recuperate. We had been in constant battle, and many were still wounded. Our weapons and armors need to be replaced as well."
He continued, "Besides, we still have time to wait for the North Central group and the Northeast group. They should arrive soon. So find the rations and rest up, after that prepare for battle."
....
When Zane and Cecilia were alone, "Zane, I can feel something is wrong with the situation."
"Really? How come?"
'It is hard to explain, but something is bothering me. It is like my fifth sense is telling me to be wary of something.'
Zane pondered for a moment and looked at Cecilia.
'Identify'
Cecilia:
Level: 13
Strength: 48
Agility: 39
Perception: 38
Constitution: 42
Mana Capacity: 16
Gene Skill: Divine Resonance Sword (Locked),
Passive Skill: (Blessings of the Fairy Sword God), Swordsmanship Level 1 (98/100 to level 2)
Active Skill: None
Talent: Divine
'It seems Cecilia's stats really grew from all the fighting.'
'Furthermore, I have a feeling that Cecilia's 'intuition' came from the World Consciousness protecting her.'
So he looked at her, "Cecilia, prepare for a life and death situation, just in case."
When Cecilia heard Zane's words, she was suddenly taken aback. She then sat down and closed her eyes.
...
After a while, the Northeast group also arrived in the Northern walls. Less than half of the group survived, and many were wounded and exhausted. Out of the 900 warriors they had, 300-400 remained alongside the 5 Awakened Warriors.
Previously, their situation was as dire as the Northwestern area facing multiple attacks. However, to preserved their main Awakened Warriors, they threw many warriors to fight first until exhaustion.
Once there was an opening, the Awakened Warriors will sneak attack and deal massive blow to the enemy.
Their strategy was crude, but it did preserved all of their Awakened Warriors.
When they saw the walls, the group burned with excitement ready to leave the damned city.
Seeing that there were only a few defenders, the group rallied without any hesitation. However, soon they realized that earth they were stepping on started to get softer and softer to the point that running became harder.
The Blood Warriors were not a fool, they knew something was at hand. However, seeing that the defenders were still but a small garrison and, they doubled their efforts to reach the destination.
However, soon the walls started to get busy. Guards started pouring out armed with long bows. Soon, hundreds of arrows were in the sky.
'OH SHIT!' one of the Awakened screamed.
The Blood Warriors traversing the muddy land cursed when they saw arrow of cloud in the sky.
Blood replaced the muddy water.
...