The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic-Chapter 104:The Precarious Situation

The flames flickered wildly as Kael’s screamed faded into the cold night air. The Red Knights swallowed their fear, but the weight of his mad grin still pressed down on them like an invisible force.

Baret was the first to regain his composure. His voice was hoarse but steady. "Reiner... tell us everything. We need to know what we’re up against."

Reiner inhaled deeply before speaking. "It started with the storms." His fingers dug into the dirt as if reliving the nightmare. "A blizzard, unnatural and relentless, covered the North. At first, we thought it was just an extreme winter, but then... we saw them."

Handel frowned. "Them?"

Reiner’s voice dropped lower. "The Ice Men. Towering figures made of frozen znow, their eyes glowing a deep, deathly blue. They weren’t just monsters. They were sentient." He exhaled sharply.

"They moved like soldiers. Their bodies, immune to blades, reformed when cut. They shattered only when exposed to fire—but in that storm, we had none."

Kael’s grin faded slightly. "And their leader?"

Reiner hesitated. Then, with an almost reverent fear, he spoke. "The Ice Devil."

A hush fell over the camp. Even the howling wind beyond their circle seemed to grow still, as if the name alone had frozen the air.

"A monster... no, a demon." Reiner’s knuckles turned white. "It controlled the blizzard, shaping it into its weapon. The beasts and monsters were merely its pawns. The northern raiders bowed to it. Even the Ice Men followed its will."

Gare clenched his jaw. "A being that commands nature itself... How do you fight something like that?"

Reiner shook his head. "We couldn’t. Not without support. And the support never came."

"Wait!"Kael shoved his men and asked.

"Have you seen it personally?"

"Huh!"Reiner and the guards made a surprised expression and scratched their heads as they spoke.. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

"NOO!"

"FUCK YOU!"Kael cursed, almost showing their middle finger.

"If you hadn’t seen it then what is this shitty story you are fabricating out of nowhere."

"The scouts said this,"Reiner said, swallowing his saliva.

Kael sighed and asked them to continue.

"Our ations dried up and the situation fell so our group was sent to Sparves City to ask for support and rations but.."

"He didn’t allow us to enter and said that there is no support from the center."Anger surged through Reiner.

His fists tightened, "No one. The Council of Lords ignored our distress calls, claiming they had their own ’problems’ to handle. The other Lords of the North said it couldn’t spare troops because of unrest. Even the Church remained silent, despite knowing we were fighting against an unnatural force."

Kael’s eyes glowed with something dark and dangerous. "So they left you to die."

Reiner nodded grimly.

"They don’t understand that the moment the fortress fell, the North would become a wasteland of ice and blood. Then, they would be forced to flee south."

The fire crackled again, a cruel contrast to the chilling truth that settled in their bones.

Kael exhaled, watching the smoke curl into the night. Then, his lips curled into a predatory smile.

"I see so everyone is taking of their asses."

A tense silence followed Kael’s words. The Red Knights wounded, exhausted, yet still warriors—felt a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold. His tone wasn’t just vengeful; it was final, as if he had already decided the fate of those who abandoned the North.

Vic exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Alright, then let’s start with the basics. We need a plan."

He turned to Reiner. "Tell us about the passes."

Reiner nodded, spreading a rough map onto the frozen ground. The firelight cast eerie shadows over the worn parchment.

"There are two main routes into the North. First, the Ironfang Pass—the safest, but heavily watched. It’s likely occupied by Ice Man and monsters who laid the a bus."

Handel clicked his tongue. "So we’d be walking into a death trap."

"Exactly." Reiner’s fingers traced further east. "Then there’s the Basilisk Trail—narrow, unstable, and prone to avalanches. It’s dangerous, but if we time it right, we might slip through unnoticed."

Gare snorted. "Might. Meaning we also might die under a mountain of snow."

Kael, still grinning, finally spoke.

"I see..."

Silence

Even the wind seemed to pause at those words.

Handel scoffed. "Well, that sounds terrible.We are stuck between the two."

Kael leaned forward, golden eyes glinting dangerously. "Then Iron fang is the way we go."

Vic sighed, half-expecting that response. "And why, exactly, would we march straight into hell?"

Kael took a slow drag from his cigar, exhaling smoke into the cold air and glanced at Vic.

"Do you want to take a road where you have chances to come out by fighting or take a route which might break any instant.

Reiner clenched his jaw. "If we do this, we’ll be walking straight into the Ice Devil’s lair."

Kael grinned wider. "Good. Then we have time to warm up"

The Red Knights stared at him, half in awe, half in terror.

Vic, finally breaking the silence, muttered under his breath, "...This guy’s a fucking lunatic."

The campfire crackled, its warmth unable to chase away the cold tension hanging in the air. Kael’s decision sent ripples through the group, and their reactions varied.

Vic scoffed, leaning back with his arms crossed. "You’re out of your damn mind, My Lord. You think we’re just gonna march in and take a friendly visit to the monster’s doorstep with such small troop?" His sharp blue eyes held defiance, but beneath that was unease.

Handel, always the calm one, ran a hand through his messy hair and exhaled. "Let’s not act like we have a choice." He turned to Reiner. "What’s the fortress’s current state?"

Reiner’s face darkened, his exhaustion weighing heavier now. "Not good." He knelt by the fire, tracing the map again. "When we left, the North Fortress was barely holding on.The lack of rations for the past few days had broken down the Knights’ will."

"How long has it been since you have run out of food," Gare asked.

"15.."

Kael’s fingers, which had been lazily tapping against his knee, stilled. His eyes sharpened.

"FIFTEEN!"

A strange flicker flashes in Kael’s eyes.

Even the strongest man needs food to survive and go on. Fighting on an empty stomach simply kills a person’s will."

Reiner nodded grimly. "That’s all that was left. The fortress was already surrounded. Commander sent a few 10 men squads to the surrounding Lords."

A heavy silence followed.

Reiner swallowed, his voice quieter now. "Out of the ten-man squads of ours that fled, that have gone to city Sparves, we weren’t allowed to enter rather we were attacked so we have to fled.Two of mine died on the way.The rest of us—eight in total—were making for Vastian Plains, hoping to regroup. That’s where we ran into you all."

Kael leaned back, taking a slow drag from his cigar. "So let me get this straight." His voice, though even, carried a chilling undertone. "The mighty the fortress is on the verge of falling, and the northern lords—who were supposed to provide support—sat on their asses and did nothing?"

Reiner’s expression twisted with anger and shame. "Yes, My Lord."

"Well, looks like the North is fucked."Kael exhaled, the smoke curling around his face.