The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic-Chapter 145:Time For Main Event

"Damn!"

"Quickly send the signal.The situation is changing first" the older man ordered, voice low but steady. "Tell them the Red Knights aren’t what we thought. They’re more than ready."

The younger figure nodded. He pulled out a small crystal embedded with glowing runes. Whispering into it, he sent the signal. As the crystal dimmed, he tucked it away and moved quickly, vanishing into the white storm.

.....

At the battlefield’s frontlines...

The icy wind howled, its sound rising like a warning bell across the snowy expanse. Snow blew harder now, slicing sideways like knives of frost. Still, the Red Knights stood their ground.

Albert gripped his sword tighter, his armor dented and scratched, stained with grime and dried blood. He shouted commands without rest, voice never faltering, even when the storm muffled everything.

Next to him, Heru moved through the chaos like a machine, his sword flashing with precision, his men following him without question leading the team of Baret, Garet and Chris who gave their best.

Despite the cold, he didn’t flinch, his face unreadable under his battle-worn helm.

Not far from them, Vic and Kassel held the center flank. Vic’s armor was scorched, steam rising as monster blood mixed with melting snow.

Kassel moved beside him, his sword dancing through the enemy ranks with ruthless efficiency. His hair, tied back tight, was already frosted over. Hia breath came out in hard puffs, but his eyes were focused, calm.

Heru covered the rear, silent and deadly. He fought with a curved blade in each hand, stepping with grace and speed. When the monsters got close, they never left. A horned beast lunged at him, and Heru spun low, cutting across its legs before driving a blade into its neck.

The creatures came in waves. Some were short and hunched, others tall and twisted, horns spiraling out of malformed skulls. Their screeches echoed through the cold. But the Knights didn’t waver. Fire spells burst here and there, bright against the grey. Magic sigils on shields glowed faint blue, resisting claw and fang.

Vic slammed his sword into a monster’s jaw, knocking it down before turning back toward Albert.

"Hey!" he yelled, breath fogging. "I spotted a few of these bastards running off. Towards the ridge!"

Albert turned for a moment, wiping his blade on the snowy ground. He looked toward where Vic pointed. A few shadowy figures darted in the distance. They thought they were hidden,but not enough to escape trained eyes.

Albert’s face tightened.

"They didn’t expect us to take out the first waves like this," he muttered.

Vic nodded. "Yeah. Makes sense. These monsters aren’t easy to herd. Someone’s need to command them, close enough to hold them together."

Albert narrowed his eyes. "And we’ve always been on defense. Until Kael arrived."

"What now?" Vic asked, stepping closer. "Should we chase them and see if they yield something valuable."

Albert didn’t answer right away. A roar erupted nearby. A troll burst through the snow and charged. Without blinking, Albert stepped forward, swinging his sword in a clean arc. The troll’s head flew off in a spray of green blood. Albert stepped back, wiped the blade, and looked at Vic.

"No. Let them go," he said calmly. "Kael’s behind us. I’m sure he’ll take care of them."

Vic grinned, though he was panting now. "Yeah, I’ve seen what he can do."

The battle raged on, but the momentum was shifting. For the first time, the monsters seemed unsure.

......

Meanwhile, deep inside the mines...

The cloaked figure moved swiftly through the narrow tunnels of the abandoned mine. His boots crunched softly on the gravel, torchlight casting flickering shadows on the stone walls. He reached a chamber lit with dull red crystals, where an old hunched man waited.

The man sat cross-legged on a stone slab, a staff leaning against the wall nearby. His beard was long and grey, curling like smoke. His eyes, half-closed, blinked open as the younger one entered.

"They were ready," the cloaked figure said quietly. "They seemed to have laid traps in advance.The information of our attack seemed to have been leaked. The Red Knights cut through the first wave like it was nothing."

The old man raised an eyebrow, then rubbed his beard slowly. "Huh... that’s a bit of a surprise."

"They weren’t supposed to be that prepared," the younger one added, lowering his hood. "What should we do now?"

The old man leaned forward, face shadowed. His fingers tapped against his knee, deep in thought. For a long moment, he said nothing.

Finally, he stood. He grabbed the staff beside him and rested both hands on its top. His eyes gleamed with something unspoken. Not fear—something darker.

"We move the plan forward," he said, voice calm but cold. "Today is already a good day to finish things."

The younger figure blinked. "Bishop, are you serious?

The old man gave a crooked smile. "I’ve waited long enough. We will strike now."

His voice echoed through the chamber.

"Call Everyone.. Have him gather the others near the Spines. Prepare the runes and the rituals. Everything. We move immediately."

The younger man bowed. "Yes, sir. I’ll see it done."

As he turned and disappeared into the tunnels again, the old man looked toward the far wall. Carved into the stone was a strange mark—ancient and glowing faintly.

He touched it lightly, and the glow pulsed.

"You have been dead too long.It’s time you are useful," he whispered to himself, a twisted smile pulling at his lips. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

...

Hidden behind a cluster of frozen rocks, Kael crouched low, his breath steady despite the cold.

Beside him, Lyria adjusted the cloak around her shoulders, eyes locked on the figure below—another cloaked man moving swiftly through the snow, toward the mountain.

Handel leaned closer, whispering, "Who’s that? Another one of theirs?"

Before either of them could answer, a faint hum began to pulse from within their coats. Each of them reached into a pouch, pulling out a small crystal—the same type as the one used to send the signal earlier. It was glowing, brighter by the second.

Kael’s face tensed. "It’s reacting..."

Handel’s eyes widened. "What’s that?"

Kael shot him a sharp glance. "Don’t ask aloud and create trouble."

Lyria’s fingers tightened around as she saw the crystals Kael took put was glowing.

Kael scanned the area one last time before rising to his feet.

"Let’s just follow them quickly," he said, already moving.