《Dust Of History》


 Prologue Chapter 1: Pursuit

    The blade pressed against the neck, causing the body to tense up and convulse with a small volume that belied the amount of life it contained, as if every drop of life within was about to burst out. As the warm, pungent liquid gradually dripped into the mouth, the trembling subsided and eventually dissipated. Asa squeezed the mountain rat relentlessly, paying no attention to the contents of its stomach as they were squeezed out as well. Only when the last drop of bodily fluid slowly dripped down did Asa drop the mountain rat, which had been twisted and deformed by the squeezing, and stick out his tongue to lick the blood from his lips.


    "I don''t want to die," he thought.


    The bloody taste rose up from his stomach. His throat made an involuntary low growl, deep and ambiguous, distant and profound, not like it was coming from an organ, but from a fold in his soul.


    He remembered this sound from when he was three years old, hiding in a tree and watching a group of hunters in the village capture an injured wolf. The low growl emitted by the wolf shook him not with fear, but with a feeling of resonance from the deepest part of his soul. After that, he became obsessed with understanding the language of animals.


    Now he understood that the sound had originally been meaningless, but was a fierce cry for survival and a release of almost insane animalistic nature in the face of the threat of death, pouring out from the depths of his heart.


    Asa was acutely aware of the gap in ability between himself and the hunter. He vividly remembered how the heads of the two infantrymen from the third squad were smashed like watermelons upon their first encounter. Now, the only advantage he could rely on was his insight into the hunter''s intentions.


    The hunter was not chasing him with full force. This was not a pursuit in which the hunter wanted to catch up with him as quickly as possible and risk being injured in a desperate struggle with a wild beast in a life-and-death situation. This was a hunt in which the hunter continuously pursued the prey, causing it to gradually weaken in fear and exhaustion until the hunter had a 100% chance of success. Whether in terms of physical ability or survival skills in this swampy forest, Asa could not escape the hunter''s pursuit. Both the hunter and the prey were well aware of this fact.


    For the past three days, Asa had acted out the desperate flight that the hunter hoped to see. His physical strength had also rapidly declined as a result. Without the ability to start a fire, he had no access to sufficient food. Any meat he found in the lizard-infested swamp was deadly to human bodies due to the parasites it contained, so he could only search for some harmless insects to eat. Although animal blood was safe and could provide some minor nutrition, it was not enough to compensate for the large amount of sweat and physical exertion lost during exercise. The scarcity of salt and food had reached its limit, and the false reality he had created over the past three days needed to be ended with a flawless action that could not afford any mistakes.


    Very good luck quickly led to the discovery of three non-toxic worms on the surrounding grass and bushes. They were about the size of a finger and wriggling vigorously in his hand. As he held their heads with his fingers, he slowly squeezed out the green feces. He had to be careful not to apply too much pressure, so as not to rupture the worms and let any potentially toxic feces spill out. This was a highly skilled technique, and after several days of practice, Asa had become quite proficient.


    The tender worm meat quickly turned into a thick paste between his teeth, slippery and bitter, like the sticky air of the swamp clinging to his skin. Asa carefully ground the meat between his teeth and searched the paste with his tongue for any large chunks that might have been missed, ensuring that every bit of the worms could be broken down into the smallest possible units for easy digestion. Every drop of nutrition was precious and a source of hope for survival.


    He dug a hole in the ground about a foot deep with a knife and buried the body of the mountain rat. Every time he killed an animal over the past three days, he had exerted precious energy to bury the carcass.


    He carefully inspected himself with the knife placed on his back, flattening out every protrusion on each piece of clothing like a vigilant sentry. He stepped onto the narrow platform like he was treading on eggshells, recently burying the mountain rat and carefully squatting down. He crawled slowly like a giant deformed worm, moving towards a puddle of dirty water beside him.


    He focused all his attention on this ugly movement, controlling every muscle in his body to stick to the ground as much as possible without leaving any noticeable marks on the soft mud. Any loss of control or coordination in his movements would render his three-day plan completely useless.


    Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and slid into the chest-deep dirty water slowly, without causing any splashing. The weight of the knife kept him from floating as he moved the muddy bottom towards the direction of his memory. This pool of dirty water led to a temporary stream formed by the rainy season. He deliberately came here and chose this terrain to bury the body. Everything was planned.


    He felt a slight pain in a few places on his body as leeches attached to him. Asa ignored them, knowing they would eventually let go after sucking enough blood. He would deal with the risk of infection from the suction cups left on his skin later. Now, the most important thing was to swim out as far as possible before his next breath.


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    I reviewed every detail in my mind and felt an overwhelming joy about my upcoming survival. The only problem now was the body of the mountain rat, which needed to decay to a certain extent and emit a sufficient odor before the hunter arrived.


    All I needed now was some luck in the decay process.


    As Asa crawled on the sludge formed by decaying matter, like a carrion-eating lizard, he prayed fiercely.


    In the afternoon, the rarely seen sun in the Lizard Swamp peeked out.


    The sunlight was fragmented by tree branches and fell to the ground in patches. The damp ground turned the sun''s rays into a lingering screen between the tree branches and the ground. In this hot and humid screen, all swamp life grew and died quickly, even the flying mosquitoes seemed to be flourishing.


    The hunter silently watched a large group of carrion-eating lizards excitedly fighting over a mountain rat''s body. He hated the mucus odor on these ugly creatures, which was too strong for his sensitive sense of smell. A larger lizard successfully grabbed the body and ran away, while the others immediately followed and disappeared into the forest, leaving only a dug-up pit and traces on the ground.


    In terms of humans, this prey is quite agile and strong, making it a very good target. The hunter is very interested and confident in killing it in a head-on fight.


    However, having only a certain degree of confidence is not enough. This is not a battlefield, but a hunt where a certain degree of confidence needs to gradually evolve into enough certainty. Since yesterday, the tracks have gradually become weak and indistinct.


    Now the hunter feels confident enough.


    But this is also a strange prey. Although it is being pursued, its tracks do not show the disorder and panic that a hunted animal should have. Its weak footsteps reveal a strange determination that is not just about escaping, but also hides something else.


    The disguise and tracking over the past three days have been done quite well, but a stupid mistake was made - burying the animal''s body after drinking its blood. This has had the opposite effect as lizards will dig up and eat the decaying flesh, and the hunter can almost follow the stench of the large group of lizards to track it down.


    There seems to be a vague connection between incomprehensible mentality and foolish mistakes, which makes the hunter feel a bit strange. But it''s just limited to strange, and there''s nothing strange after catching up, killing, and cutting off the head. No animal can escape its tracking in this swamp forest. The hunter has absolute confidence in this.


    However, the hunter was immediately surprised to find that all the traces ended here and did not extend in any direction. Only the strong and pungent smell of swamp lizards was left in the air. The hunter carefully examined every strand of trace on the ground, despite the fact that the lizard''s crawling and fighting had made a mess of the surrounding area. But for the hunter''s keen observation and experience, the prey''s traces were still visible, and after a while, all the traces around were surveyed clearly.


    There were some ethereal but calm footsteps that did not step back on their own footprints and only circled a few times in the surrounding bushes, probably looking for food. The hunter could even judge that the first food he found was probably a bug found under two ferns. The front half of the two footprints there was slightly deeper, showing a forward shift in the center of gravity when bending down. But apart from that, nothing was found. The footprints only stopped at the pit where the body was originally buried.


    This completely exceeded the experience category accumulated by the hunter''s tribe for many years. With the decline of physical fitness for running and concealing, the hunter can only rely on his own mind to connect these things in the hope of obtaining something beyond experience. But the brain lacking logical thinking ability is unable to complete this task. When the hunter feels that he is gradually falling into a strange trap as expected by this fugitive, an uncontrollable anger occupies all his thoughts.


    A lizard crawled back, shaking its head and looking for some benefits around the pit. But it immediately became the target of the nearby angry one. The huge body was violently hit, flying high and falling into the sewage pool, causing a splash of muddy water and silt to splash around. Along with the mud and water falling on the shore, there were also several clumsy leeches wriggling and trying to return to the water after they were full. The hunter sensed it, picked one up, examined it carefully, and squeezed it open. He tasted the liquid that flowed out of it and a grim expression appeared on his face, which other races could not understand.


    With the most sensitive sense of smell on the ground, the hunter finally distinguished a scent he hoped to find from the slime on the lizard''s body and the smell of the soil. The scent extended to the sewage pool.


    He needed to tear out the still-beating heart while it was still alive, tear it apart with his teeth and swallow it along with the freshest blood, letting the cunning inside turn into his own strength.


    The head must not be damaged. Slowly dig out the brain from the eye sockets and eat it, stripping away the flesh and grinding the skull with the best craftsmen. This perfect trophy can be placed on the ancestral tomb as a sacrifice, a witness to the tribe''s proud hunting skills reaching another level.


    You are my good prey.


    A long-lost excitement filled the running hunter''s body. This was a feeling that had only surged through him when he chased the most beautiful female in the tribe during his maturation.

 Prologue Chapter 2: Chance Encounter

    Is it good luck or bad luck? Asa pondered as he drank his meat soup.


    The meat was good meat. The finest beef was dried and pounded into a dense meat floss, and only a small bag was needed to contain the meat from a single cow. When cooked in water, the meat returned to its delicious flavor. This was the dry food that noble warriors used on expeditions.


    The soup was good soup. Even the river water in the lizard swamp, purified by purification symbols, was as clear and sweet as the purest mountain spring. When cooked with the beef and salt, even the chefs in the city could not find any fault. It felt like the purification symbol was really worth a silver coin.


    Eating such good meat and drinking such good soup could even revive someone on their deathbed. Asa was well aware of his physical condition, and after a good night''s rest, he could easily bring down a cow with his bare hands.


    The bonfire was made of many large logs piled up neatly. The mix of dry and wet wood ensured that it would burn until the next day. The heat from the bonfire covered the body temperature, and even the double-footed flying dragon couldn''t detect it. There was no need to hide in cold tree holes or underground dens, and other beasts and poisonous insects dared not approach. Sleeping soundly next to such a bonfire would definitely fully restore one''s strength.


    Even if he could bring down five cows with his bare hands, Asa still didn''t have the confidence to fight a hunter head-on.


    No matter how much his strength recovered, it was not enough to outpace the hunter. The bonfire was warm, safe, and bright enough to allow any creature in the swamp to see clearly.


    "You''re really amazing. I''ve never seen anyone brave the lizard swamp with just one weapon," said the woman who claimed to be a pharmacist, looking admiringly at Asa.


    Asa didn''t think he was worthy of admiration. He hadn''t even noticed that the skin where the leech had fallen off was still bleeding, and a few drops of blood had almost attracted all the carnivorous fish in the swamp. So he had to push a dead tree that had been knocked down by a barbarian bull into the river and stand on it, drifting down the current to avoid the many mouths below waiting for him to get in the water. But when several large alligators joined the fray, he had to struggle to get ashore. It was already dusk, and he was getting ready to find a place to hide when he saw a fire. That''s when he met the woman, someone he never expected to encounter.


    The woman was about the same age as Asa, and though she was dressed like an adventurer and had a big pack on her back, she still had a dirty blanket wrapped around her. However, her fair and delicate skin showed that she was not a commoner. She carried high-efficiency dry rations with her, and the price of one purification symbol was enough for a family of commoners to live comfortably for a month. She was probably a noblewoman.


    "I thought it was quite remarkable that I could explore and collect herbs in the swamp alone. The terrain and climate here are unique, and many plants only grow inside it, so although my father never approved, I still sneaked in by myself." The woman spoke freely, like an innocent child, without any sense of wariness towards Asa.


    Perhaps it had been a long time since she had seen anyone like herself, especially in such a dangerous environment.


    The sword at her waist was an Anka sword, thin, long, hard and flexible, light and nimble, and mainly used for assassination. Asa recognized it, as it was always displayed prominently in his father''s shop for customers to admire and to check its price tag.


    The angle of the sword at her waist was good and precise, allowing her to draw it out at the fastest speed. The handle of the sword was tightly wrapped with fine hemp rope, a wrapping technique only used by experienced soldiers that prevented the handle from slipping even when soaked in blood. Although the color of the hemp rope was still its natural color, unaffected by blood, the countless grip marks left on it from tight grasping and swinging indicated that this sword was not just for show.


    But even with it, it might not be enough to deal with the pursuers. The most important thing in a life-and-death battle is not technique or skill, but spirit and will. Even if one has been trained since childhood and never heard the sound of an axe splitting into bones, never heard the cries of someone being cut in half but not dying immediately, and never felt the sharp pain of an enemy''s weapon tearing through their muscles and flesh, it is still just a half-hearted attempt. When faced with the threat of death and the immediate pain that can overwhelm one''s senses, fear can cause one to shrink and lose their fighting ability.


    It would be great to have a mage or a priest, even if only for the most basic blessings and a few simple fireballs.


    Asa felt herself getting a little lost in the sudden comfort of the meat soup and campfire. It was almost unbelievable luck to meet humans in this dense forest and swamp, and to drink meat soup and replenish energy around a campfire.


    Chewing on a piece of adventurer''s biscuit given to her and washing it down with meat soup, feeling the warmth of the lucky campfire, Asa sighed contentedly and helplessly.


    The pursuer should be spying on the firelight from a tree hole right now. Even when he was riding on a bipedal dragon howling and searching for food in the night sky, he still had to hide. But as soon as dawn broke in the east and the bipedal dragon returned to its nest, he would follow the signal of this lucky chance and rush here with amazing speed.


    No matter whether it''s good luck or bad luck, since it has already happened, we must and can only try our best to steer things in a hopeful direction.


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    "How far are we from the Dono River?" Asa asked.


    At the start of the Dono River, the water was so turbulent in the Lizard Swamp that not even fish could swim upstream. It was there that Asa was forced ashore and into the swamp. But after the river flowed past the Lizard Swamp, it became gentle, and with the current, one could reach the small town of Bracada in the west of the Empire in just one day.


    "I''m not exactly sure, but it''s probably a day or two away."


    If we run at full speed, we could get there in half a day. But without an exact distance, there''s no sure way of knowing. As for the pursuers, Asa was confident they could catch up within half a day. There was little chance of a direct escape.


    Asa pondered how to word his request to the woman, to tell her the truth and ask her to help him face the pursuers together. Although the chances of winning were slim, it was still better to wait for them than to try other methods.


    "May I ask if you can accompany me for a while?" The woman suddenly asked. "I''m planning to go deep into the swamp tomorrow to look for new herbs, and it''s my first time going that deep into the swamp."


    "Of course, I''ll pay you," she added, brushing away a few strands of black hair that had fallen on her thin lips, which curled slightly in a slight hint of discomfort. Her heels were rubbing gently against each other, which was quite noticeable for someone with large feet like hers, similar to Asa''s, who was wearing a pair of adventurer''s leather shoes like him.


    Asa suddenly felt a way to escape. It was a very efficient and opportune method that did not require any traps or illusions, nor did it consume physical energy or waste valuable time. He only needed to take advantage of this moment by the campfire to let the pursuer waste considerable time and effort.


    This made his heart beat suddenly and violently.


    "Is it okay?" The woman blinked, her eyes not very big but with long eyelashes and a slight downward slant at the corners, probably even with a vague smile even when angry.


    The campfire was bright, her eyes were dark, and the firelight was soft and warm, but Asa dared not look directly at her. He looked away, took a deep breath, and tried to make his tone sound natural. "I''m sorry, I can''t. I have something very important and urgent to do."


    "Oh, really?" The woman couldn''t hide the disappointment in her tone and expression.


    "There are several unique herbs that grow about half a day''s journey to the west from here in the swamp. They have unique medicinal properties," Asa said, his face twisted and his voice unclear. This was the first time he had told an extremely malicious lie to a very friendly person, and a woman at that.


    "Unique? What do you mean?" the woman asked.


    "Well, I saw a couple of brawny bulls or maybe it was just one, I''m not sure, fighting and one of them got seriously injured on the hind leg. It was lying on the ground, dying. Then it went and ate some of those herbs and put them on its wound, and after a while, it was all better," Asa said, desperately trying to recall a story about dogs fighting he had heard from an old adventurer when he was a child. His words were not very coherent, but he became more fluent as he went on.


    "Oh really? What kind of herbs were they?" the woman asked, her eyes widening. Asa felt like he was about to dodge a crossbow bolt, just like he had five days ago. The woman quickly took out a pen and paper from her backpack.


    "It''s just a pale yellow flower," Asa mixed up and blabbered about the characteristics of several wild herbs. The woman listened attentively and took notes.


    "If you are going deeper into the swamp, you must grind up and apply the water mint and insect-repelling chrysanthemum herbs to your clothes and skin. Even if you have insect-repellent oil, you must use these two herbs because there are some poisonous bugs that are only repelled by the smell of these two herbs," Asa said in a very solemn voice to the woman.


    "Just these two herbs? They are everywhere around the campfire," the woman casually found them.


    Of course, these two herbs do have insect-repellent effects, but they are not as effective as the adventurer''s guild''s specially made insect-repellent oil. Since entering the swamp, Asa has been applying them all the time. The first thing he does upon waking up at dawn in the tree hollow these past three days is to carefully remove any poisonous bugs, such as centipedes, from his armpits, crotch, and sometimes even his head.


    Of course, there are not many poisonous bugs in the deeper part of the swamp that only fear these two herbs.


    It seems that any skill is developed through practice. Even the most difficult and against human nature things can be learned and even immersed in with enough practice. With the previous opportunities for rehearsals, when Asa spoke the most vicious part of this extremely malicious lie, his sentence was already very smooth, and his voice was very steady, but he still dare not look at her bright eyes. He used the motion of picking up the firewood to cover up his gaze.


    "Thank you so much. If I can find these herbs again and understand their properties, it will be enough to embarrass those old guys in the guild," the woman was excited and felt that the two of them had some friendship, not just being casual. She spoke warmly with him, "I have known that the world is so big that there must be undiscovered drugs. But those old guys always rely on the books left by their predecessors."


    There''s nothing to feel guilty about. Even if he didn''t tell her and went alone to face death with his masculine pride, it wouldn''t result in anything good for her. Once the hunter spots any human trace in the swamp, they won''t spare anyone.


    Even if they fought together, they would most likely both end up dead, and she might even get in the way or not help at all. This plan only made his death more meaningful and gave him a better chance of survival. Asa searched for all the reasons in his mind to justify his deceitful trap.


    "Once my achievements are recognized, not only will the apothecary be interested in me, but the magic academy might also take notice. Maybe even the bishop himself will personally inquire about these new herbs," the woman said excitedly, blushing with excitement. Pointing to a nearby tree, she said, "This is one of my discoveries.


    There''s no mention of it in any book, but I learned from many retired adventurers that it''s common in the swamp. And I also discovered that its sap is highly stimulating and poisonous. If it gets in a person''s or animal''s eyes..."


    Your life is actually exchanged for countless other lives, so never give up every shred of hope for survival.


    The tree trunk is covered in many small roots that are straight and thin, much like the pen used by the old adventurer behind the village. This suddenly reminded Asa of a profound-sounding sentence he had said before, which undoubtedly elevated his previous conspiracy to a philosophical depth. Asa felt that he could now justify his actions. However, a sudden wave of disgust overwhelmed him, leaving him feeling extremely exhausted.

 Prologue Chapter 3: Betray

    A bipedal dragon soared past the treetops, and the gusts of air it stirred up could be felt even in the tree hollows. These massive flying creatures held absolute dominion over the swamp at night, adding any cold-blooded animal to their menu, including the brutish oxen that were almost their size.


    A scent wafted through the air that was similar to that of a lizard, causing the hunter to feel repulsed. He didn''t care if there was a connection between these two creatures, he just found it distasteful. If it weren''t for these creatures that appeared every night, he could easily break his prey''s resolve in one day and one night without rest. If it weren''t for the stench that almost numbed his sense of smell, he wouldn''t have fallen for the trap that had almost eluded him and delayed him here, watching the distant firelight in confusion.


    "Why build a campfire? Are you trying to eat and regain your strength? Do you think I don''t see through your trap? Or is this another trap?" The hunter fumed, feeling provoked.


    "Are you daring me?" he wondered. "Are you telling me to come and let you rip out my heart?"


    But the hunter quickly reminded himself not to lose his composure. Losing his cool would only lead him into a trap when facing such a cunning prey. Without a doubt, this was definitely a trap, or the follow-up to the trap from earlier in the day.


    The river is not far now. Tomorrow morning, the hunter will use all their strength to track and chase, and then end the hunt with a very satisfying method. The hunter let out an excited snort and gripped the powerful weapon in their hand. A thin layer of brain matter and blood, which had dried into a crust, was stuck to it, becoming a part of the weapon.


    "Don''t get too excited, stay calm, stay calm," the hunter reminded themselves. They had to carefully observe and consider all the traces they saw tomorrow, and not be deceived by any illusions. They must remember to be wary of and pay attention to any illusions.


    "Do you think I''m easy to fool? Are you still proud of the mind that will soon be twisted off and savored by me?"


    The hunter was pleased with their calm thoughts and let out another snort.


    The blade cut through the skin, sliced through the muscles, severed the windpipe, cut the arteries, and then emerged from the other side of the woman''s neck after cutting through the skin and muscles. The sensation was crystal clear, from the fingertips to the wrist, elbow, arm, and finally, it shook directly into the heart. The feeling was as vivid and profound as a magnificent poem. Then the bright red blood gushed out from the woman''s body, allowing the hunter, Asa, to eagerly suck it up.


    A few strands of black hair were tightly pressed against her thin lips, which pursed into a slightly tense curve. Her eyes, which hung low, were squinting through her long eyelashes, containing a hazy smile. Only when he approached did he realize that she was an extremely beautiful woman.


    Asa suddenly felt very scared. He was afraid of the gentleness contained in her squinting eyes and the stubbornness of her thin lips. The woman still had the same expression, but Asa was completely trapped in the fear created by this sudden gentleness and beauty.


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    Then he realized that he had not only cut the woman''s throat just now, but also his own. As he rubbed the wound on his neck, the clear and distinct sensation of cutting through it echoed in his chest. He wanted to use this feeling to fill the wound, but he couldn''t. Asa groaned in pain.


    Looking at the beautiful and gentle face of the woman and the bleak wound on her neck, feeling his own wound with his hand, the grief, sorrow, fear, and pain surrounded Asa tightly like the darkness around him. Asa suddenly woke up in shock.


    The fish belly white of early morning had already emerged in the east, and the calls of the bipedal dragons were gradually fading away. These creatures were hovering from the edge of the swamp and flying back to their nests deep in the swamp. The hunter''s position was closer to the depths of the swamp, so this could give Asa an advantage to leave early.


    But Asa didn''t show much interest in this precious time. Instead, he squatted beside the dying campfire and watched the woman crush water mint and insect-repellent chrysanthemums with a stone before applying them to her clothes and skin, his mind still ringing with the feeling left by the nightmare, like trying to flick off sticky snot that won''t go away, still feeling confused. Fortunately, he could also feel that his physical strength had almost fully recovered.


    The woman seemed to have slept well. After applying the mixture, she began to pack up her things quickly and chatted with him at the same time, "You had a terrible nightmare last night. You woke me up. I was going to wake you up."


    Asa stared at the woman, her calm and radiant face. Her beautiful, hazy eyes, straight nose, thin lips, and slender neck were barely visible under her clothes. Asa suddenly had the illusion that she was bleeding miserably, and he shuddered.


    The woman finished packing and said goodbye to him, "Goodbye. If you have the chance, you can come find me at the Duke of Mlak''s mansion in the capital city." She smiled softly, infecting the morning mist with tenderness. "My name is Eve."


    No chance. Either you die or I die. Asa didn''t dare face this smile, and he nodded his head to the ground in response.


    After watching the woman disappear into the misty morning fog, Asa ran in the direction of the river. He didn''t jump into the river to hide his scent, nor did he mind leaving footprints that even the worst-sighted mice could see in the soft mud. He ran at a pace that would allow him to use his energy most efficiently. He knew that any kind of disguise would be futile under the hunter''s gaze. Clearly visible traces would only confuse him.


    Of course, the hunter could still follow the real footprints, but after passing through the previous trap, he would be more cautious and less likely to do so. Asa suddenly found himself hoping to hear the footsteps of the hunter behind him.


    But confusion was useless. This was indeed the most efficient way, as once the hunter spent his energy and time chasing the woman, Asa''s chance of escape would increase significantly. Even if the hunter killed the woman and tracked Asa again, Asa''s advantage in stamina would increase his chances of victory. Asa shook his head and focused all his energy on running step by step.


    But after running for less than half an hour, he saw a river in front of him. He felt both amused and frustrated. Everyone, even the hunter, had made the wrong estimate. Perhaps due to the rainy season, the river water flowed directly through the swampy lowlands.


    At that moment, a faint scream came from deep in the swamp.


    After traveling such a long distance, the sound was already very weak, but it hit Asa''s heart like a huge hammer. The image of the woman''s throat with a desperate wound from last night''s dream immediately appeared before his eyes. He stood still, unable to move.

 Prologue Chapter 4: Hope springs eternal

    Another cry came through. Asa knew that the hunters were torturing a woman. It was a method that the species used when hunting humans.


    If he turned around and ran to save her, he would fall right into this foolish trap, and the result would be that both their heads would become a decoration for some orc tribe.


    The water of the Dono River flowed gently eastward, and the slight ripples seemed to be beckoning him.


    Come on, jump in, and you''ll be safe. Although you may feel sad and guilty, at least you''ll be alive. After a few years, maybe you''ll forget about this and use it as material for small talk with friends at the dinner table. And after several decades, you''ll definitely forget about it.


    Perhaps you can also use this sadness as motivation to become a general in a few years, leading an army to sweep away all the orcs from the continent, seeking revenge for this woman.


    The third scream came weakly, as if it were just a paranoid illusion.


    Asa cursed loudly with the most vicious curse he knew, then turned and ran towards the path while roaring as loudly as he could to tell the hunters that their foolish trap was working just as they had hoped.


    Less than ten minutes later, Asa was running frantically when he caught sight of the hunter and the woman he had caught in his grasp.


    Her jet-black hair, which fell messily from under her hood, obscured her pained expression. Her right hand was twisted in a gnarled shape, resembling a withered vine, with no intact inch of bone left. This wasn''t the result of a single injury; it was as if the bones had been broken repeatedly, over and over again, until there was nowhere else left to break.


    Asa breathed a small sigh of relief, knowing that aside from her hand, he couldn''t spot any fatal injuries on her. However, she was dangling in mid-air, like a helpless chick waiting to be slaughtered, weakly whimpering as the hunter held her with his clawed hand. Her voice was intermittent, as if she could be choked at any moment by the hunter''s talons.


    Following the gaze of the furry, massive claw, Asa saw the orc that had been pursuing him for the past three days. For the first time, in broad daylight and at such close range, he saw the creature in full.


    Towering a foot taller than him and half as wide, with a massive frame covered in brown fur, tall pointed ears, narrow yellow eyes, and a dog-like head, this was a werewolf. Its proportions were similar to those of a human, but the perfect curves of its muscles and bones revealed the strength and agility within its body that was beyond human reach.


    The werewolf wore a specially made leather armor and carried a meteor hammer that had smashed over a dozen of Asa''s colleagues'' heads. This weapon was clearly beyond the capabilities of humans and dwarves. This terrifying weapon and its wielder were enough to handle an entire team of soldiers alone.


    However, the werewolf did not appear as formidable and dangerous as one might expect. The fur on its left arm was clumped together with coagulated blood, and the wounds were still slowly bleeding. Although the Anka rapier could not be used for hacking and slashing, its unique blade could tear apart all the blood vessels and tissues around it once it was twisted after piercing the flesh. The slender blade was forged from the finest dwarven alloy and could even pierce through bones.


    On the back of his left paw, there was a charred black mass of visible muscle, and the fur around it had been burned off. This was the trace of a fireball spell. Looking at the slight singeing of the fur on his head, you could tell that this was originally a fireball aimed at his face that he had blocked with his hand without time to dodge. This fireball must have been timed very well.


    Asa felt great regret for not having a better chance of winning against the hunter with the woman. Now, he could only give it his all, and there was still hope. After all, the hunter''s left arm had already...


    The hunter made a grunting sound, opened his mouth to reveal sharp teeth, and moved his shoulder. Asa didn''t understand the meaning of this expression, but he could clearly see the muscle on the paw that grabbed the woman bulging.


    The prey had arrived, and the goal had been achieved. The bait was no longer useful.


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    "Stop!" Asa shouted hoarsely and ran towards the hunter.


    A crisp sound of bones breaking, and Asa couldn''t tell if it came from the woman''s neck or his own body. His legs, exhausted from running, had no strength left to dodge, and he almost watched as the hunter accurately kicked him in the chest, sending him flying like a scarecrow, crashing heavily into a tree. His knife also plunged into the tree.


    Asa curled up like a shrimp, blood and saliva spilling out of his mouth and nose. Several of his ribs were broken, fortunately none had pierced his organs. It felt like there were countless raging bulls inside his chest, ramming and charging, squeezing out all sensations except pain, even taking a breath was impossible.


    This was not the satisfying ending he had hoped for. As he looked at his prey, who had cost him so much effort in the last three days, being so weak and helpless, the hunter felt disappointed. He had anticipated a glorious battle to end it all.


    This morning, he found obvious footprints and scents near the campfire and was certain it was a trap. How could this cunning prey reveal its location so obviously to him? There must be a trick. So he chased after a set of footprints that appeared to be more realistic. But when he found himself wrong again and was tricked by the prey''s deception, he was completely surprised, embarrassed, and furious.


    Moreover, this human''s combat power was unexpectedly high. He almost got hit in the face by a fireball. Fortunately, the human was also fragile. After breaking his hand, the human immediately lost his fighting ability due to the intense pain.


    In the end, victory belonged to him. He had successfully lured the fleeing prey, and it would be easy to go over and twist its head off now.


    But there was no rush. It might be interesting to savor every detail of the process and see what the human would do when he knew his life was about to end. Would he play a trick? Struggle? Or curl up and cry? It would be best if he didn''t do anything too boring.


    Asa finally caught his breath, his chest was like a knife-riddled area, constantly twitching with each breath. He reluctantly lifted his head and looked at the knife stuck in the tree trunk, the white sap oozing out and covering the blade.


    He recognized the straight and slender roots of the tree that once reminded him of a shameless saying. Now, as he looked at the woman lying on the ground, no longer moaning, a sense of grief and anger supported him to stand up, pull out the knife from the tree trunk, and put all his strength into a forward charge.


    The hunter almost pitied the prey as it moved toward him like a turtle, slow and obvious in its movements. Is this your last struggle? He could even see every muscle twitching and the distortion of movement caused by pain, he could tell how much force and where the knife would fall.


    The hunter raised the handle of his meteor hammer without deviation and blocked the knife with a loud clang of metal. As expected, the knife and the hand were both bounced back, and his body was shaken back. His chest and abdomen were wide open, with only a paw straight into the bottom, he could tear out that hot, beating heart...


    The hunter didn''t anticipate a seemingly insignificant detail. The tree sap on the knife turned into countless droplets under intense shaking, splashing into the hunter''s eyes and wet nose.


    It wasn''t sap, but rather thousands of small knives that had been tempered to be venomous, covered in sharp barbs, and burnt to a glowing red. The hunter let out an excruciating scream that even he had never heard before.


    Pain replaced the entire world. His vision turned red, then completely black. His nose was gone, leaving only pain. He could only hear his own screams, even in his ears. Then, he felt a cold object enter his body from his abdomen, effortlessly pushing through his neatly arranged organs until it reached his chest.


    Fear that could even mask the pain rushed in, and the hunter instinctively grasped at something below his abdomen, using all his strength and fear. Then he heard another scream, just as agonizing as his own.


    Asa couldn''t hear the sound of his wrist bones shattering, only feeling countless bone fragments running rampant through his muscles and blood vessels, protruding from his skin. He had no strength left, but used the piercing pain to curl up his knee and fiercely slam it towards the knife handle. A burst of elastic rupture came from the knife handle.


    The hunter suddenly stopped screaming and covered his chest, pressing down so hard that even the sharp claws penetrated his fur and armor, as if trying to push the ruptured object back into place. But after a few staggering steps, he collapsed with a loud thud.


    Asa knelt on the ground, holding his left hand and moaning in pain, gasping for breath for a while before he could barely stand up.


    It was all over.


    No, it wasn''t. He couldn''t stay here for too long, as the hunter''s body would attract a bunch of lizards once it started to emit a smell. Asa was already weakened to the point where he could be eaten by those ugly scavengers. He hoped the woman''s luggage contained some useful medical treatment or high-end goods like that purified water talisman.


    Asa stumbled over to the woman. Looking at her pale face that had once been so beautiful and full of laughter, in half a day, she would be just like the werewolf''s corpse, food for those ugly creatures.


    "I''m sorry, it''s all my fault," Asa knelt in front of her in agony. Suddenly, he saw her lips move, thinking it was his own illusion, but then he immediately heard a groan, even more powerful than his own.

 Book 1 Chapter 5: Unjustified Disaster

    After Asa finished telling the story of how his entire unit was wiped out on the mountain, the knight heaved a long sigh and sank into deep thought with his head bowed.


    Asa sat on a velvet armchair, twirling the soft and smooth pile with his fingers. He had only seen this kind of thing before in a box used by the old scholar in the village to store holy books, with a thin layer of it. When he was three years old, he saw an older child squeeze it in his hand and then his hand was beaten so badly that he couldn''t hold a spoon for three days.


    Now, this noble, mysterious, and dangerous thing was actually sitting under his butt, making him feel a little strange and a little thrilled.


    Duke Mlak had gone to the imperial city for a military meeting, and a young knight who claimed to be the Duke''s assistant received him.


    The knight''s armor and sword were of the highest quality, and Asa had seen the emblem of the Holy Knights on his captain. The young, handsome, and imposing knight with his noble identity and seamless temperament seemed to be the protagonist in the stories he often heard from wandering minstrels when he was a child.


    It was strange and exciting that such a character was sitting at the same level as himself and still immersed in the story he had just reported, just like the chair, but magnified several times.


    "So you were the only one who broke through and fought with the pursuers in the Lizard Swamp?" The knight repeated Asa''s account, enunciating clearly, slowly, and systematically, as if afraid that someone might not hear him clearly or misunderstand his words.


    Asa nodded. "Yes, that''s right." The journey had made him very thirsty, so he picked up the pot on the table and poured himself a cup, which turned out to be milk tea.


    "Are you sure you were the only one who escaped?" The knight furrowed his brow, gazing at him with a deep, elegant look, and asked slowly, one word at a time, as if it were a very important question.


    Although he had already confirmed it long ago, Asa carefully recalled it and nodded. "Yes, only me." The milk tea tasted good, but the cup was too small, so Asa kept pouring and drinking. Actually, he wanted to drink straight from the pot, but the grandeur of the Duke''s mansion and the knight''s gaze made him feel embarrassed.


    The knight relaxed his brow a little, then furrowed it again, asking more seriously, "So, have you told anyone else about this?"


    "No." Asa was very certain. He had been on the go since they left the swamp. Even now, his left wrist was still wrapped in bandages.


    Thanks to the healing runes and potions in their luggage, they were able to make it out of the river and drift downstream to Brakada on a dead tree. As soon as the local officials learned that the injured person was the Duke Mlak''s daughter, they immediately summoned priests and doctors from a radius of fifty miles. The ribs in Asa''s chest had already been reconnected, and with the help of the healing spells, there was no major problem except for a certain degree of fragility. However, his left wrist was so badly broken that it took an entire day to dig out the bone fragments that were mixed in with the meat. Asa was knocked out three times in pain, and it was not until an astonishing amount of healing spells and medication were used that his wrist was roughly restored to its original state. The pain was gone, but there was still suspicion of disability. Now, Asa''s hope rests on the Duke Mlak''s wealth and power and the abilities of the priests in the capital.


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    "Why don''t you report this to your commanding officer?" The knight asked patiently, still carefully trying to understand every detail. His attentive look was like that of a child carefully staring at something with a hint of caution, as if afraid that the object in front of him would suddenly fly away.


    "Because I''m not sure who my unit belongs to. I just saw that they were recruiting temporary soldiers in Brakada and joined them." Asa had originally wanted to ask who he should collect his wages from for those ten days or so, but when he looked at the cup in his hand, which was made of silver, he felt embarrassed to ask. "I asked Miss Eve who I should report this to, and she said that the Duke Mlak is a minister of the imperial court. So, I thought it would be faster to report directly to him."


    "Oh, I see. That''s good." The knight''s eyebrows suddenly brightened, and he looked relieved and happy. His smile was as dazzling as his golden hair, and he seemed very infectious. Isn''t this the ideal man that most girls dream of?


    Suddenly, the knight seemed to remember to ask, "And Miss Eve, is she okay?"


    "The mayor of Brakada used a convoy to escort her. She should arrive in the capital in about twenty-something days." Eve cervical bone had cracked under the grip of the werewolf, and her condition had worsened due to the movement of her body during their escape from the swamp. The priests in Brakada did not dare to touch her, so they used healing spells to treat her injuries slightly and then fixed them with splints before slowly sending her back to the capital by carriage.


    "Okay." The knight nodded. "On behalf of the Duke Mlak, I thank you for saving Miss Eve bravely." Pausing for a moment, he looked directly at Asa and spoke slowly and clearly, "And it was a very correct decision for you to report this to the Duke''s mansion directly. I believe Duke Mlak will be very happy to hear about this." His blue eyes revealed a...


    Asa felt uneasy from the knight''s gaze and sensed a malicious joy in his expression that was not well-intentioned. Asa asked, "Who are you?"


    "I am the assistant to Duke Mlak, the captain of the Second Squad of the Sacred Knights of Baron Klaus Ernie." The knight''s gaze softened, and his voice became smooth and refined as he listed his noble titles. "I am also the fianc¨¦ of Miss Eve."


    "What?" Asa was surprised by the knight''s last identity.


    The knight stood up, his eyebrows raised, and his eyes flashed with a sharp glint like a blade. His face was devoid of any smile, and he looked so imposing that his expression had never been softened by a smile before. He shouted sternly, "Guards, seize her!"


    Over a dozen heavily armed guards appeared at the hall''s entrance like they had risen from the ground and rushed in, surrounding Asa.


    Asa had not yet recovered from her last surprise when she fell into an even greater one. She stood up and said, "Is there a mistake here?"


    The knight''s hand moved swiftly, and his sword cut precisely on the major artery in Asa''s neck, leaving her with no time to react. Asa immediately fell to the ground like a deflated balloon.


    "Take her to the dungeon and make sure to guard her well. She is an important spy," the knight''s voice was more intimidating than his gaze, and the guards quickly took Asa away. "Prepare my horse and my token. I have an urgent military report to deliver to the Duke at the palace."


    For the Duke, this was a dangerous stroke of good luck, but it was also his own doing. The knight picked up the cup on the table, wanting to take a sip of tea, but found out he had picked up the cup Asa had just used. He picked up the teapot but found out it was empty.


    With a clatter, the knight threw down the cup and pointed to the velvet chair where Asa had just sat. "Throw away the cup, the pot, and that chair," he ordered. As he stepped out of the door, he added, "Don''t let me see them when I come back."

 Book 1 Chapter 6 Escape From Prison

    Asa rubbed his neck and woke up to find himself lying on a pile of musty hay. A mouse quickly jumped from his foot and disappeared into a crack in the corner of the wall.


    Looking up, he saw that three sides of the walls were made of large blocks of blue stone with only a couple of small ventilation holes, slightly larger than a fist, allowing in some dim light. On the other side were wooden fences as thick as an arm, with several more outside. It was a cold and gloomy dungeon.


    Just a moment ago, he was in the magnificent Duke''s palace, but now he found himself in a prison cell. The stark contrast left Asa feeling confused and dizzy. He shook his head and tried to remember what happened, but it only made him more confused.


    Was it because the knight suspected something between him and his fianc¨¦? Or did he think Asa caused his fianc¨¦''s injury? Asa carefully filtered his own words in his mind, but there were no loopholes. He had already handled the story about the swamp on his way to the capital. Was it the knight''s own assumption? Then he would have to speak to the Duke himself.


    Suddenly, Asa heard strange noises from the adjacent cell, where a man and a woman were gasping and moaning.


    Before he could figure out what was happening, the door of the dungeon was kicked open with a loud bang. A skinny jailer rushed in and headed straight for the cell with the noises, shouting and kicking the wooden fence on top of it, "Get out!"


    After a few hard groans from inside, a slightly chubby jailer slowly walked out, pulling up his pants.


    The skinny jailer shouted, "What''s going on? Weren''t we supposed to switch shifts? You were supposed to come first!"


    The chubby jailer replied, still lingering on his words, "You''re late. It''s already past the shift change. I was getting anxious waiting for you."


    The skinny jailer was still yelling, "Damn it, I''ve never seen you work so hard during your free time. Even if I''m a few minutes late, you complain for hours. But now that you have to go back, you want to stay here and enjoy yourself. Why should I help you clean the pot?"


    The fat guy remained calm and unhurried, "Forget it, since it''s already done, there''s nothing we can do about it. Whether you do it or not, it''s up to you. If you don''t want to do it, just wait until she''s released."


    The skinny guy became more and more furious, "Damn it!"


    Asa approached the wooden fence and spoke to the two jailers outside, "I want to see Duke Mlak." He was thinking about how to explain the situation to the Duke.


    "See your mother''s xx!" The skinny guy suddenly turned around and kicked Asa''s chest without warning.


    The sound of bones breaking was exceptionally clear in the quiet dungeon. Asa''s still-fragile chest, with a few ribs already broken, was kicked again and collapsed. As he fell backwards, his head hit a protruding stone on the straw and he passed out.


    The two jailers heard the crisp sound and saw the prisoner fall to the ground without moving. The fat guy quickly opened the fence and came over to check Asa''s pulse. He exclaimed in horror, "Oh no, he''s not breathing! His ribs are broken and it seems like his heart has stopped."


    The skinny guy was also surprised by the power of his kick but pretended to be calm and shouted, "Don''t panic! What''s the big deal about a dead prisoner? I''ve told you before, I''m very skilled in martial arts. Ask anyone who served with me."


    The fat guy looked at the skinny guy in horror and said in a trembling voice, "This prisoner is a spy that the Duke''s Mansion just sent over. We were told to keep a close watch on him. He was caught by Baron Clowes himself and may be interrogated again."


    The skinny guy was still reveling in his heroic kick, but when he took a breath, he began to feel uneasy. After all, there had been a lot of trouble with pagans and spies recently, and killing a spy might lead to suspicion that they were spies themselves and were trying to cover it up. Moreover, the Baron was known for his severity. The skinny guy''s voice dropped a notch, "Let me think about it."


    Not long after the two jailers had just finished their arrangement, Knight Clowes arrived.


    "Escaped?" The knight''s face was even paler than the color of the blue stone on the wall.


    The two jailers, holding their heads and necks, replied with a life-threatening voice: "He said he was badly injured and asked us to find a doctor for him. He is an important prisoner you caught, and we were afraid he would die, so we went to see him. How could we know that he suddenly knocked us unconscious and ran away?" To prove their loyalty, they pointed to the other cells and said: "You can ask other prisoners, they all saw it with their own eyes." The entire dungeon echoed with half-dead proof.


    Claudius''s eyes burst out with almost murderous light, and he stared at the two jailers and said, "You must not move from here until I come back." He turned around and rushed out of the dungeon.


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    It wasn''t until the sound of his footsteps disappeared for a long time that the skinny guy breathed a sigh of relief and expressed dissatisfaction in a disdainful tone, "What''s the point of showing off? It''s just because he was born in the Elni family. If I were born in that family, I would have been a general at his age." Looking at the fat man still trembling with fear, the heroic spirit in the knight''s eyes just now was revived. He patted the fat man''s shoulder and said, "What do you think? You said you wanted to handle the body yourself. It would take time and it is easy to be discovered. Why not just give it to old man Sandru directly? He can solve our problem much faster. If you did it yourself, you wouldn''t have made it in time."


    The fat man was still trembling and his voice was not very clear, "His eyes were so scary."


    The skinny guy said with a lot of saliva, "I told you earlier that these young masters like to show off, just because they rely on their family''s power to scare people. If it were an ordinary person, I could have kicked him to death with one foot." The fat man echoed without thinking, still in a daze.¡¢


    Whether they were talking vigorously or listening intently, the two of them stood there without moving.


    It didn''t take too long, and even their legs weren''t sore yet, but Claudius had already arranged the search operation of the Royal Guard and returned to the prison.


    "Has anyone talked to the prisoner here?"


    "Not that we know of." The skinny guy couldn''t meet Claudius''s gaze and looked at the wall behind him. The fat man just stared at the ground and trembled.


    "Has anyone talked to the prisoner here?" Claudius repeated the question, as if asking himself. The two jailers didn''t dare to answer.


    "Okay." Claudius seemed to have figured something out and made up his mind, nodding slowly.


    "Everyone makes mistakes, and even if you do, try your best to make up for them. Regret and blame are useless. Don''t you agree?" Two prison guards who were riding on horseback now had less gloomy faces. They were no longer that terrifying pale color, and there was even a hint of warmth in their eyes. The words spoken by the knight seemed to be forgiving and comforting them. This made them feel relieved, and the skinny one hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, we will do our best to make up for it."


    "Good, that''s what you should say." Claus put his hands on the shoulders of the two prison guards, which made them feel completely honored. The fat one was no longer afraid and felt that this handsome and amiable young nobleman was even more worthy of respect than the statues in the church. The skinny one also admitted from the bottom of his heart that this rich kid was probably a little higher than himself.


    "Pong." A muffled sound echoed through the dungeon''s air.


    Two bodies, one fat and one thin, lay together on the ground as if they were close friends. Blood and brain matter mixed together, making it impossible to tell them apart. The people in the nearby cells could hear the screams.


    Knight Klaus looked sternly at the screaming people and scolded them in his slow and steady tone as if he were scolding a child, "What are you making noise for? They are just fulfilling their responsibilities. You also have responsibilities."


    Returning to the Duke''s mansion, Duke Murak remained calm even after hearing that the prisoner had escaped. He just calmly ordered to bring the prisoner''s personal belongings for him to see.


    Knight Klaus watched the Duke''s calm expression and felt genuine admiration. He was a person who never let anyone know what he was thinking. However, the eyes that were narrowed with a hint of a smile seemed to be able to see through the deepest secrets of anyone''s heart. Klaus wanted to learn this skill.


    Holding a knife in his hand, the Duke looked at it carefully, squinting his eyes even more. He ran his fingers along the blade, hesitated for a moment, and suddenly asked Klaus, "What kind of knife do you think this is?"


    Klaus looked carefully and answered, "It''s not a weapon produced by a regular weapons factory. It''s a soldier''s weapon forged by an ordinary private blacksmith." He looked more carefully and continued, "It''s a very good blacksmith."


    "That''s right. It''s made by a very good blacksmith. The inclination, length, and thickness of the blade are all well controlled. Can you tell what the relationship is between the blacksmith and the user of this knife?"


    Klaus looked carefully, but he couldn''t see it. He had to answer, "I don''t see it."


    "This knife is very practical, and every part that is useful is made appropriately, but there is no trace of decoration, not even the simplest decoration. In other words, this knife is not a commodity, and it''s not even a gift between friends. It seems to be made for personal use." The Duke asked, "How old do you think that soldier is?"


    "Probably around twenty."


    "If this knife was made by himself, he would have had to practice blacksmithing skills in his mother''s womb. The person who made this knife should be his elder, probably his father." The Duke''s conclusion made Klaus speechless. "The iron used in this knife is also of the best quality. How could a common blacksmith have so much good-quality ore, except if he lived near a mine that produced such ore?"


    "Unless his family lived near a mine that produced this type of ore." Klaus finished. "I will send someone to investigate in Karando."


    "No need. It hasn''t been an hour yet. He must still be in the city. Just search thoroughly," the Duke said as he put down the knife. "Where are the chairs and cups used by that soldier?"


    "I ordered them to be thrown away."


    "Thrown away?" The Duke''s eyes showed a rare expression of surprise. "Why?"


    "I feel that leaving things used by that kind of person in the mansion is a kind of sacrilege."


    The Duke stared at Klaus for a long time. Although he knew that the Duke had no intention of being angry or blaming him, Klaus still felt a little uneasy.


    "You''re still too young," the Duke concluded with a somewhat helpless tone. Then he gave an order: "Tell the commanders of the Royal Guards in the capital that this spy is extremely dangerous. If they find him, execute him on the spot and don''t talk to him."


    "Yes," Klaus obeyed and withdrew. He trusted the efficiency of the Royal Guards in the capital. Maybe that soldier was already dead by now.


    "Why is he still alive?"


    The first thing Asa heard when he woke up was a complaint. This kind of tone often appeared in the market. When an old lady bought unsatisfactory or inferior vegetables and meat, it would immediately appear.