By Zephyria 
“…….”
Ho-eun stared at the mass of spheres that had fallen into the pit. The thing the Devouring Ghouls had so desperately tried to hide, guard, and protect. Ho-eun hoped that this sphere was their weakness.
The Devouring Ghouls that had fallen into the pit were writhing like insects in a basket. Yet, even in such a state, the mass maintained its firm spherical shape. Having fallen defenseless, one would expect it to be dented or cracked, but it seemed to have become even harder.
If that were the case, it seemed he would have no choice but to manually tear away the creatures that made up the sphere, one by one.
“…….”
How on earth should I tear that apart…? Just as Ho-eun let out a sharp intake of breath.
Sshhh. Sshshshsh.
Something sharp sliced through the air. From Ho-eun’s vantage point halfway up the mountain, it looked as if hundreds of needles were flying. They were arrows.
Tae-muk had been hiding at the foot of the mountain with half of the Crimson Rain Brigade, and it seemed they had fired from there.
The arrows stretched out in long, gentle arcs. They possessed a length and thickness no different from spears, and combined with their flight speed and descending momentum, their power was immense.
The arrows crossed the river and pierced through the heads of the Devouring Ghouls on their land—thwack, crunch, crack.
Kieeeee….
The creatures let out various screams. Not a single arrow was wasted; every one of them struck a Devouring Ghoul.
The archery skills of the Crimson Rain Brigade were truly marvelous. Although many archers had died in the tragedy at the fir forest, most of the Crimson Rain Brigade soldiers were proficient with bows, even if they weren’t specialized archers. They were also skilled with spears and swords.
Byeonguk had once mentioned that Tae-muk had ordered them to train that way. Not to kill Devouring Ghouls, but to protect themselves. The result of that training was magnificent.
Due to the penetration of the arrows, about two hundred of the thousand-plus Devouring Ghouls that had crossed the river collapsed in a heap. The remaining ghouls looked around the sky in bewilderment.
In the meantime, another volley of arrows was launched. Those arrows also pierced the heads of the ghouls dead-on. Another two hundred died.
The Crimson Rain Brigade fired without pause. They had to kill as many as possible while the creatures were panicked. It was just as the third volley was launched into the sky.
Kiik….
Kek….
The scrambling Devouring Ghouls suddenly stopped moving as if struck by lightning. Then, as one, they slowly turned their heads to look toward the foot of the mountain—where the Crimson Rain Brigade was hiding. It seemed one of the ghouls had seen the arrows being launched and figured out the Brigade’s position.
That wasn’t all. They stared at the incoming arrows, and the moment they drew near, they twisted their bodies and lowered their heads. The arrows aimed for their heads unfortunately embedded themselves deep into their backs. Some even swatted the arrows away with their hands.
After the rain of arrows subsided, they flashed their red eyes toward the Crimson Rain Brigade.
Kieeeeeek!
Kaaaak!
Kak, kieeeeeek!
Opening their mouths wide, they began to charge toward the Crimson Rain Brigade.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
The ground shook as the Devouring Ghouls ran on all fours. They closed the distance to the Crimson Rain Brigade at an incredible speed. In response, the hundreds of soldiers lined up at the foot of the mountain revealed themselves on the plains.
“Charge—!”
“Kill them!”
“Aaaaah!”
“Iyaaaaa!”
Without hesitation or fear, they charged at the Devouring Ghouls.
As they rushed toward each other, the gap between the Crimson Rain Brigade and the ghouls closed rapidly. It was as if waves were crashing into each other from both sides.
“…….”
Ho-eun felt goosebumps rise from his spine to the nape of his neck. His body chilled, and his face trembled so violently it shook from side to side. It wasn’t fear, but excitement. The same thrill he had felt when he killed a Devouring Ghoul for the first time.
If he felt this excited just by watching, he couldn’t even begin to imagine how the soldiers charging directly at the ghouls felt.
Ho-eun watched the charging soldiers with his naked eye before lifting his telescope. He moved the telescope left, right, up, and down. He was looking for Tae-muk.
Finding him wasn’t difficult. Because he was always… at the front.
Even among Devouring Ghouls, the leaders rarely led the charge, but Tae-muk was always at the absolute vanguard. Today was no different.
Standing at the very front of the soldiers, he was running at high speed, making full use of his long legs. From above, he looked like a soaring eagle.
The Crimson Rain Brigade soldiers, led by Tae-muk, ran in a massive triangular formation with him as the apex. On the other hand, the ghouls rushed in a disorganized swarm, but the momentum created by their bulk and speed was formidable.
And finally.
Aaaaah!
Kieeeeeek!
The Devouring Ghouls and the Crimson Rain Brigade collided.
Under a sky tinged with twilight, the black-skinned ghouls and the black-uniformed Crimson Rain Brigade became a chaotic jumble. Soon, spurts of blood erupted here and there along with screams.
Ho-eun instinctively squeezed his eyes shut.
Kieeeeeek!
The Devouring Ghouls shrieked grotesquely as they lunged at Tae-muk. The ear-piercing cries made Tae-muk’s mood sour instantly.
Just before the battle began, he had been holding onto the sound of Ho-eun whining, “General…,” as he ran up to him. That memory had been completely wiped away.
“How annoying….”
Frowning fiercely, he swung his fist at a lunging ghoul.
With a thunderous boom, the ghoul’s crown was crushed, and it was sent flying. Other ghouls pinned beneath the flying body squawked and struggled. Other soldiers quickly rushed in and drove their spears deep into the crowns of the pinned creatures.
Tae-muk immediately pivoted his upper body toward another target, using the rotational force to deliver a punch. This time, his fist slammed into the side of a ghoul’s head.
Crash!
A sharper sound than before rang out, and the ghoul died as its Helmet Bone shattered, spraying brain matter from its eyes.
Tae-muk moved as swiftly as a predator. Although hundreds had been killed by arrows, too many remained. It wasn’t the first or second time he had faced Devouring Ghouls that outnumbered the Crimson Rain Brigade twofold or even fourfold, but he felt a bit tense this time. Or rather, perhaps he was worried.
And for good reason; the core of the Crimson Rain Brigade was depleted. Byeonguk had gone to Hanyang, Gil-sang had gone to another town, and Dong-ja was tied to Ho-eun’s side, so the remaining soldiers had to shoulder the burden of those three.
And Tae-muk had the obligation to shoulder as much of that burden as possible.
“…….”
Gritting his teeth, he dispatched the ghouls at high speed. He ripped out the arms of those reaching for him, crushed their teeth, and tore off their heads. Even while doing so, he kept glancing at his soldiers.
Fortunately, being seasoned in combat, they moved nimbly and skillfully sliced through the ghouls’ necks. They dodged when the ghouls’ teeth drew near and used the closing distance to slit their throats or crush their jaws. There were not only Double Horn Types but also Fan Types among them, but they were unable to exert their full momentum.
It was as he expected. It might be different if the terrain were unique, if there were an ambush, or if traps had been set. But a melee fight on an empty plain like this was decided purely by strength.
Tae-muk watched with considerable satisfaction as his soldiers slaughtered the ghouls. Yes. This was the Crimson Rain Brigade. The previous incident with the Fan Type was because they had been ambushed and we had been careless, not because we were weak.
We will win today’s battle. Because we were the ones who prepared the ambush, the preparations, and the traps.
Kaaaaaak!
Tae-muk grabbed the upper teeth of a ghoul lunging at him and shoved them straight upward, forcing the creature’s own teeth to pierce through its brain. The ghoul died without even being able to scream. Tossing the body aside, he shook the blood soaking his hand and looked across the river.
Beyond the still-rushing current, the creatures had run right up to the riverbank, shrieking and snarling in rage. A few had even recklessly jumped into the river, only to be swept away by the current.
They seemed utterly infuriated that their kind was being slaughtered by humans.
It was a threatening sight, but Tae-muk didn’t care. As long as they couldn’t cross the river, that threat would never reach here.
“…….”
While Tae-muk was looking across the river, a ghoul seized the opportunity to attack. Tae-muk shifted his body slightly and kicked the creature in the calf. As the ghoul lost its balance and fell forward, he ripped out its Helmet Bone. With a sickening crunch, brain matter splattered messily.
“Tsk….”
Clicking his tongue, Tae-muk wiped the blood from his face. Ho-eun hated it when he got blood on himself; thinking of this, he glanced toward the mountain. The mountain was already steeped in darkness, and nothing was visible. Still, he could feel that Ho-eun was watching him through the telescope.
I shouldn’t get hurt. If I do, that lovely face will be drenched in tears again. Time is already too precious when I’m just holding him and pampering him; I didn’t want to waste it soothing his crying. Of course, he looks pretty when he cries, so there is a certain pleasure in watching it, but…
With a smirk, Tae-muk smashed another ghoul’s head. Blood flowed out of the creature in a steady stream. Tae-muk stepped on it nonchalantly. The fishy scent of blood was disgustingly familiar.