After sending the report, both the knights and the soldiers' camp prepared to leave for their next mission, deciding to move the next morning.
As dawn broke, a young soldier named Kenny, in his early 20s, found himself taking care of his morning business behind the bushes.
Suddenly, an intense feeling of unease washed over him, causing him to abruptly halt and run back to the army camp.
Every fiber of his being screamed at him to escape, as if sensing an overwhelmingly powerful presence.
Breathless and trembling, Kenny reached the camp and immediately headed towards a large tent.
However, he was stopped by two guards standing outside, who asked him to state his business.
With fear etched on his face, Kenny pleaded, "I have very important information that the captain needs to hear about,Please it's urgent."
The guards exchanged a glance and nodded in understanding, allowing Kenny to enter the tent.
Inside, Captain Ron Venna, a man in his mid-30s with sharp features and blond hair, sat at a desk, engrossed in paperwork.
Without lifting his gaze from the documents, Ron asked, "What do you want?"
Kenny stammered nervously, "Sir, I have something very important to report,It's about the recent events in the village."
He proceeded to explain everything he had witnessed and concluded by suggesting a re-investigation of the entire village.
Ron, with a serious expression, barely took a moment to consider Kenny's words.
"So, if I understand correctly, you sensed someone's presence and believe we should re-investigate the village?" His tone was as cold as ice, causing shivers to run down Kenny's spine.
"Yes, sir," Kenny replied, his voice trembling with fear.
Unexpectedly, Ron burst into laughter, as if Kenny's words were nothing more than a joke.
"Hahaha! So, you're saying you sensed someone's presence in a village where the head knight commander confirmed there were no survivors? Is that it?" The laughter abruptly ceased, and Ron's demeanor returned to its icy coldness.
"Is this some kind of joke you're trying to pull? And even if it is, do you think it's funny?"
Standing up and closing the distance between them, Ron extended his hand towards Kenny.
Expecting a harsh slap, Kenny closed his eyes and braced himself.
To his surprise, Ron merely patted his shoulder and said, "Know your place, soldier."
Relieved, Kenny opened his eyes, grateful to have avoided the anticipated blow.
However, Ron's words left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"I'm sorry, sir. I will keep it in mind," Kenny replied, his voice filled with lingering discomfort.
Ron stared into Kenny's eyes, his tone calm but firm.
"Yes, you should keep it in mind. If you forget, you might lose your head in less than a second."
Cold sweat trickled down Kenny's brow as he absorbed the weight of Ron's words.
Unable to bear Ron's harsh presence any longer, he quickly left the tent after thanking him.
Alone in his tent once more, Ron returned to his paperwork, grateful that Kenny had chosen to report to him rather than going directly to the Knight Commander.
Letting out a small sigh, he leaned back in his chair. "If that monster had heard his words, it would have killed everyone here, citing that those who don't trust their superiors are the Empire's first enemies," he muttered to himself.
Sighing once more, Ron placed his right hand over his chest, feeling the rapid rhythm of his heart.
"Lub-dub... lub-dub..." His heart raced at the thought of that monstrous being.
Closing his eyes, he whispered, "I just saved myself from a great disaster."
Meanwhile, in a desolate area, a young boy with tattered clothes and bloodstains on his face wandered aimlessly.
He moved like a zombie, as if his body had lost its connection to his soul.
Reaching a stream, he knelt down, barefoot, and used the flowing water to cleanse himself.
As he stared into the water, he caught a glimpse of his reflection—a boy with golden hair and empty, emotionless blue eyes.
Realization washed over him, and he understood that he was now alone in the world.
His parents, friends, and everyone he had known in the village were gone, destroyed by those evil humans.
The overwhelming grief and helplessness threatened to engulf him, but no sound escaped his lips.
In his anger, he had bitten his own lips so fiercely that blood flowed freely, silencing his voice.
Hot tears streamed down his face, but he squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to let them fall.
He did not want tears; he wanted anger—a burning fuel to ignite his determination for revenge.
He wanted his resolve to become strong, to fulfill his oath of destroying those who had taken away his happiness and slaughtered countless innocent lives in his village.
Seating himself in a meditative pose, he sought to calm his turbulent emotions and contemplate his next move.
After an hour or two, he rose from his meditative state and focused his gaze on the dense, dark forest before him, even though it was still daytime.
During his meditation, many thoughts and ideas crossed his mind, but he pushed them to the back of his head.
For now, survival was his primary goal—surviving in a forest teeming with monsters ready to tear him apart.
It was a daunting task for a ten-year-old child, but he was determined to endure, even if his limbs were torn or his body cut to pieces.
He would survive to fulfill his oath, to seek revenge for the lives unjustly taken.
With unwavering resolve, he prepared to take his first step forward.
However, a sharp pain suddenly struck his head, causing him to collapse to the ground. In a half-conscious state, he heard a sound, followed by a voice.
[Ding!]
[Soul recovery successfully!]
[Ding!]
[Automatic soul merging initiated! Countdown starting: 1... 2... 3...]