The Devouring Knight-Chapter 369 - 368: Return to the Fortress

Both Lumberling and Liraeth suddenly paused. A strange, heavy feeling washed over them, pulling their gazes toward the distant Stonepalm Duchy.

Lumberling noticed Liraeth staring in the same direction. Her brows were slightly furrowed.

"Did you feel that?" he asked quietly.

Liraeth nodded. "Something… collapsed. The Duchy might be in trouble."

Lumberling let out a slow breath. "We already warned him. If something happened, we'll go check later. For now, let's head inside."

With that, he and his lovers entered through the fortress gate.

Inside, a large group was already waiting. Baron Roland, Jen, Sylra, Skitz, and all of Lumberling's captains stood lined up. Even the old faces he hadn't seen for a while were there, humans and monsters standing side by side. Aunt Celine, her daughter Evelyn, and the warriors he had guided on the Einherjar path were also gathered, every one of them looking serious.

Seeing them all in one place made Lumberling stop in surprise.

"What's going on? Why are all of you gathered here?"

Skitz, sitting comfortably under Shade, let out a small chuckle. "You're going to be very busy, my Lord. A lot of problems just showed up."

…..

One by one, they began explaining everything that had happened in his absence.

Celine stepped forward first. "Something strange is going on in the forest. Monster attacks suddenly increased. It wasn't normal at all. That's when we sent a message to you."

Skitz continued. "Since you still weren't back, we went to check it ourselves. The situation was bad, high-level monsters were attacking nonstop, we didn't want to take any chances. So we evacuated everyone here. Only Grokk and a few warriors stayed behind to guard the village."

After her, the warriors who had taken the Einherjar path stepped forward. They knelt with respect before speaking.

"We felt the need to return to your side, my Lord," Rud said, one of the first elite soldiers Lumberling had sent out. "Something is stirring. The Vikings… the monsters… everything is becoming chaotic."

They reported the growing number of Viking sightings, and how many monsters were acting strangely, violent, restless, drawn to the chaos like something was pushing them.

Vaenyra's subordinates followed after. "Attacks from Hroldir's warriors begun all over the empire," one elf reported.

Baron Roland stepped up after them. "Cities everywhere are asking for help. But thanks to the dozens of elves with Magic Circle Four and above staying here, this territory is safer than most."

Finally, Skitz gave the last report. He crossed his arms and clicked his tongue.

"And then there's the cursed lizardmen we fought," he said. "That whole mess wasn't normal either. It feels like everything is happening at once."

He looked up at Lumberling and recalled the events that occurred in their mission.

"So you're saying that strange creature inside the coffin was the reason the monsters went wild?" Lumberling asked quietly.

"That's right," Skitz replied. "We saw everything clearly. We didn't even get the chance to test its real strength… it died before it could fully wake up."

"It's not like we'd have been a match for it either," Krivex added, shaking his head.

Lumberling fell silent.

Sharp fangs… something that controls monsters like puppets… and it burned under sunlight.

Isn't that basically a vampire?

He wasn't completely sure yet, but the signs were pointing in that direction.

"What's wrong with your empire?" Aurelya asked with a raised brow. "Why are strange things showing up one after another?"

"That's what I'd like to know too," Lumberling said with a small, helpless smile.

Aren then stepped forward. "My Lord, we captured the lizardmen, and we kept the ashes of that strange creature. Would you like to see them?"

"I'll check it later," Lumberling said. "But before that, we still have a lot to do."

….

With all the leaders finally back, they began organizing the tasks and cleaning up the mess left behind to restore order.

First, Liraeth designated a specific area for the monsters and humans from the goblin village. She made sure they were placed a little apart from the others, just in case any trouble arose.

Next, Lumberling and the three elves gathered their subordinates and assigned roles. Small teams were sent out to guard the borders, scout nearby towns, and watch over the villages close to their territory.

After that, Liraeth, Lumberling, and Vaenyra selected a few promising individuals from their groups and guided them to start cultivating. They distributed the cultivation manuals through trusted subordinates, ensuring that the right people received the right teachings.

By the time everything was settled, the sun had begun to dip low, and the camp finally felt calm again. With the tasks complete, Lumberling at last had a moment to himself.

He and his lovers made their way straight to the prison to see the captured lizardmen.

….

They walked down the dim hallway of the underground prison. The deeper they went, the colder and heavier the air felt. At the end of the passage, they finally saw the captured lizardmen.

The creatures were chained to the wall, drooling like idiots. Their eyes were blank and unfocused, as if their minds had been scraped clean, leaving nothing but empty shells.

The elves' faces tightened the moment they got close.

A thick, rotten smell spread from the lizardmen, mixing with a strange aura that made the skin crawl.

Aurelya quickly covered her nose. "The smell… it's awful. And their mana…"

"It's corrupted," Thessalia said, finishing for her. She stepped closer to take a better look, her brows furrowing. Vaenyra joined her, studying the bodies carefully.

Lumberling looked at them, confused. "Corrupted mana?"

Thessalia nodded. "A cursed kind of mana. Usually the work of deranged mages… or the undead."

Vaenyra's expression darkened. "The spell controlling these monsters is strong. Only someone at Magic Circle 7 or above could cast it."

Aren, who had followed them inside, frowned. "So a mage did all this?"

"That strange creature didn't look like a mage," Skitz said quietly.

"There's no mistaking it, it's a spell," Thessalia replied. "But why would someone use such a high-level spell on weak monsters?"

Lumberling straightened his back. "No point guessing. I'll just absorb their essence, and we'll see for ourselves."

"Wait, Lumberling!" Aurelya reached out, but it was already too late. His spear pierced the first lizardman.

(You have devoured Lizardman High Priest's essence. 1700 essence absorbed. Absorbing a portion of the Lizardman High Priest's memories and experiences.)

Lumberling closed his eyes as the essence rushed into him. A flood of memories followed right after.

Fragments of the lizardman's life flashed in his mind. He saw the forest they lived in, wild and chaotic, a place where strength decided everything. He saw their tribe, rough but living their own kind of order.

Then the memories jumped forward.

A strange illness hit their tribe. At first it was small, then it spread fast. The monsters became crazier, more violent, as if something twisted their already fierce nature.

Then came the dreams.

A voice whispered each night. Soft at first… then clearer, calling him again and again. It promised strength. It dragged him closer each time he slept.

One night, the High Priest followed it.

The memory pulled him into a dark cave. He walked deeper and deeper, almost like he wasn't in control. The deeper he went, the darker it became.

Then, deep inside that darkness, two red eyes opened.

The moment they did, everything was swallowed by darkness.

The memory ended.

Lumberling opened his eyes and exhaled slowly. His chest rose and fell once as he replayed the images in his mind.

'Those eyes… That presence… Vampires.'