The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic-Chapter 120:The North Is Still Intact

A cloaked figure moved swiftly through the dark forest, weaving through the trees like a shadow. It barely made a sound as it trekked forward, its presence blending into the night. Despite its speed, it moved with a purpose, as if drawn toward something unseen.

Edrik and his squad trailed behind, hidden in the darkness, their movements precise and silent. They were trained for this—specialized in stealth and tracking, capable of blending with the shadows.

Yet, something felt off. The usual threats of the forest, the monsters that lurked in the dark, didn’t attack them.

Instead, the creatures fled.

"Something weird is going on," Chandler muttered as he leaped from one tree to another, his movements controlled and deliberate. His sharp eyes scanned their surroundings, looking for any unseen danger.

"What do you mean, Sir?" Edrik asked, frowning at the older knight’s tone.

Chandler’s voice was low but firm. "The monsters might not attack us, but why? If they can sense the cloaked figure, then why not us?" His words sent a shiver down the squad’s spines.

Edrik thought for a moment before replying. "Maybe it’s because we’re cloaked like them. We use darkness to hide, just like that figure. Maybe the creatures don’t see us as prey."

The others nodded in agreement, but Chandler wasn’t convinced. His gut told him something was wrong. "Maybe we should fall back instead of walking straight into the unknown," he said cautiously.

"No," Edrik shot back, his voice firm with impatience. "We’ve been tracking this thing for days. We’re close—we’re almost at the core. Look around. The scenery is changing."

Chandler was about to argue when the air around them suddenly shifted. His breath hitched as he felt the weight of something unnatural pressing down on them.

The snowy landscape darkened, the crisp white ground turning ashen gray. The air thickened with floating black particles, swirling around them like dying embers. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

A deep chill crept into their bones.

Chandler’s eyes widened, his throat tightening as an overwhelming dread gripped him.

....

"What... is this?" he whispered, his voice barely audible over the eerie silence.

Reiner muttered in shock, his voice trembling. "It’s standing..." The despair that had weighed him down for days suddenly vanished. His eyes widened, disbelief turning into raw emotion.

"Oh my god!"

"It’s still standing!"

"Look at that scarred sign of the Veydrin flag!"

Before them stood the Black Iron Castle—a fortress unlike any other. In the pale, snowy landscape, it loomed as a massive, unshakable stronghold, its blackened walls standing in stark contrast to the white surroundings. But the walls weren’t black from stone.

They had turned that way from the dried blood of countless battles, staining them dark over the years. The fortress was a testament to war, a monument of survival and carnage.

"The Lion is still roaring... It’s still on high!"

"The walls haven’t been breached!"

Screams of relief and happiness filled the air. Some knights dropped to their knees, overwhelmed by the sight, while others cheered, voices raw with emotion.

Kael stood there, catching his breath, his gaze locked onto the aged castle walls. The yellowed stone, stained with old blood, gave it a sickly, spotted look—like some ugly, battle-worn beast. The air was thick with the stench of burned corpses, blood, and rotting flesh. It was enough to make anyone gag.

"Blergh!"

Chris clung to the scorched wall, vomiting violently. Kael patted his back, his expression unreadable. He turned to look at the fortress again, taking in every scar and wound the structure bore.

Despite his usual bravado, Chris was struggling to handle the overwhelming stench. He wasn’t the only one. Some of the younger, less experienced knights were just as shaken, their faces pale.

Baret and Gare didn’t look much better, their expressions twisted in discomfort. Vic scoffed at them, clearly unimpressed.

But Lyria? She looked completely unaffected, as if this hellish scene was nothing new to her.

"Is this... Black Fortress?" Chris asked weakly.

"Yes," Reiner answered, his voice shaking.

"You said it was fallen," Kael said coldly, his sharp gaze locking onto Reiner like a predator ready to pounce.

"I... I just thought so! It was overwhelming! We really thought we were finished!" Reiner stammered, his fear clear.

The walls bore deep scars from countless battles. The air itself carried the weight of war, thick with the scent of death. This wasn’t just a fortress—it was a battleground where the fighting never stopped.

The knights turned to Kael, only to see a wide grin spreading across his face. His eyes gleamed with something close to pleasure as he took a deep breath, inhaling the stench of blood and rot like it was fresh mountain air.

" I-I can’t—"

"Get a grip," Kael muttered.

He stood before the castle gate with Chris still trying to keep himself together. Above them, a head popped up over the walls. The man had short white hair and cold, calculating eyes.

"Who are you?"

"We are the troops that came to support," Kael replied, flashing the insignia.

The man’s eyes sharpened at the name. Recognition flashed across his face.

"Open the door," he ordered.

"Open the door!"

At his command, the massive gates of Black Fortress creaked and groaned before slowly opening.

As they stepped inside, the scent of burning corpses lessened, but the stench of fresh blood became even worse. The interior was no better—bodies, broken weapons, and traces of brutal fights littered the ground. This was no safe haven. It was a warzone that had barely held its ground.

The man from the walls now stood beside Kael. He wasn’t particularly tall, but his body was built for battle, a thick sword strapped to his waist. His presence alone carried authority.

"So you’re the famous Kael Veydrin. Never thought I’d have the opportunity to see you," he said.

"Why?" Vic asked, still trying to steady himself.

The man turned a sharp glare on him. "Because it didn’t look like you’d live long enough to visit here, knowing how useless you were."

Kael let out a low chuckle. "Kekeke... Fate sure plays and fucks around a lot, doesn’t it?"

The man’s expression flickered at Kael’s words, unreadable.

"You’re later than expected," he said, crossing his arms.

Kael shrugged. "Yeah, well, got attacked by a shitload of monsters. Had to stop at City Sparves for reinforcements. That place was in a pretty bad state."

"Bad state?" The man’s expression hardened.

Kael’s grin widened. "Yeah. It was almost completely fucked up."

"No wonder, there was no reinforcement or supplies."