Kate returned to her seat, pondering about something. The events that had unfolded, especially the last, remained stuck in her mind like a tick. A pang of regret stirred within her, though she quickly shook her head.
No, it was necessary. It was only to remind him of his place and his strength; otherwise, he would soon be consumed by death. He should have been the one grateful to her, for letting him know sooner.
Still, she was unsettled. Kate was surprised that he hadn't collapsed under her strike, for she had imbued it with ten percent of her strength as a Silver Realm stage-3 prodigy. That alone should have been enough to break him.
She soon dismissed the thought and turned her focus to eliminating the contract's shackle. By now, she was eighty percent convinced that there truly was something hidden, and that the duo had not fabricated things.
Kate suddenly drew forth a grey stone from her sleeve. It was a rare and precious treasure, used only to destroy contract bindings.
Although limited in number, it was worth the sacrifice; the information she had gained would yield rewards many times greater once she explored the realm.
She crushed the stone which then released a grey energy. It instantly seeped into her nose and eyes, flowing into her spiritual space to destroy the shackle. She made no attempt to hinder the energy; instead, she allowed it to flow freely through her, as though she had done this many times before.
Nonetheless, the moment it entered, blood-red veins erupted from nowhere, bursting forth to counter. With a single pulse of their sinister energy, the grey energy was repelled without much effort as the blood veins started to consume it whole.
Puff!
Kate's eyes instantly flashed with hatred as she coughed up blood of a strange hue. A chilling aura suddenly spread out as a thought surfaced in her mind.
It's either that boy tampered with the contract… or the contract itself is unusual.
However, she believed it was the former as she had sensed it clearly—the blood-red veins were the same as the aura she had felt from that kid earlier. He surely knew something, and his ploy had nearly driven her into a grievous state.
Fury ignited within her as she felt like turning the whole place into an ice palace. Suddenly, she sprang to her feet, intending to go on pursuit at once.
That idiot… he still dared to play foul. However, before she could move, a figure appeared, stepping into her path.
Kate lifted her eyes, and a deep frown carved across her face as she gritted her teeth fiercely. She knew instantly—she was going nowhere.
___
Blood and Ballock rode on the horses they had discovered upon starting their journey, only to realize later that it was Kate who had left them behind.
"Didn't know she could be this reasonable after all she's done." Ballock muttered indignantly, his tone edged with disbelief.
Blood could only smile in response. He had already cast aside the memory of her strike, since he didn't take it to heart.
In this world, strength spoke louder than words, and it was the same wherever one went. Blood had long understood that strength was absolute—so absolute that even devils would bow before it.
That was why cultivators pursued powerful cultivation relentlessly, striving to climb higher upon the endless chain of realms. Blood had heard of cities, towns, and villages that were laid to ruin, some were swallowed whole by the Settlers military group.
When sects or great organizations exerted their influence upon weaker territories, intervention from the Settlers came rarely, if at all.
Blood also knew that once he revealed his true prowess, it would only be a matter of time before he claimed what he desired. He had yet to fully grasp the mysteries of the Blood Book, and his accumulated exps were few.
The mounts they had been gifted were Silver Realm Roaring Snow Horses. They were beasts of remarkable speed capable of covering three hundred and fifty miles per hour without rest.
Evening had fallen fast, and they were now only two days away from Bland Town.
Blood was astonished that Kate Bargle—his reluctant ally and determined follower—could so casually bestow a Silver Realm mount. His respect and caution toward supreme cultivators rekindled once more.
He knew well how rare such beasts were, and how much effort was required to nurture them into peak condition. Even his father possessed only two Silver Realm horses: one was granted when he joined the city's force, and the other was a gift from his mother's clan, who were famed for their mastery in horse breeding.
As if sharing the same thought, Ballock turned to him while galloping and said, "It would've been a less boring journey if Titas had come with us."
Blood shook his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. Yet he couldn't deny the truth in Ballock's words. "Yes… but I'm glad she's safe. She doesn't need to endure what we've gone through." His gaze softened, flustered by the sudden emptiness.
Titas had been given to him when he was five, and ever since, they had forged a bond deeper than any rider and mount. They had become companions—friends bound by trust.
Ballock mused quietly, "I think we should take a rest and get ourselves refreshed. Even if we reach the battlefield now, we can't join in our current state." His voice was calm, but his eyes had already noticed the slowing pace of their mounts.
"We can continue tomorrow before dawn." he added, pulling the reins of his horse and bringing it to a halt.
Blood nodded lightly, and together they cleared a safe spot among the tall trees. A tent was quickly raised, and defensive formations along with alarming formations were set around the perimeter.
"I'll go get us something." Ballock said, before rushing into the sea of trees.
Blood's gaze followed him briefly, but he remained silent. His eyes drifted downward, fixed on the earth as if searching for something hidden beneath. His thoughts soon wandered to his family—especially his little sister, who would no doubt have turned his room upside down in search of clues to his whereabouts.
A livid smile crept across his face, and he laughed softly to himself. There would be much to tell when he finally returned home.
Not long after, Ballock emerged from the forest carrying two large Toothed Rabbits. Blood immediately set to work, skillfully paring the rabbits while Ballock kindled a fire.
Soon, the savory scent of roasting meat filled the air, making them both impatient. Ballock hurriedly sliced off a piece and handed it to the restless Blood, who accepted eagerly. He sniffed it once before biting into it whole.
"It smells nice." he complimented, speaking between breaths as he savored the taste. "You should have some—it's really good."
"Of course it tastes nice. It's a Bronze Realm beast, after all," Ballock retorted with a smirk. He quickly cut a larger piece for himself and turned away to enjoy his catch, earning a glare from his companion.
And so, the night thickened around them, the howls and chirps of wild beasts echoing through the forest. Eventually, both drifted into sleep, the gathered fire burning low.
___
Within a vast canvas tent divided into compartments of varying size, twelve figures sat around a barren table devoid of food or drink.
At either end of the table sat the commanders of the operation, both clad in gray robes. One of them had deep red eyes that glowed faintly, pulsing with intensity by each passing second.
Kamil, Commander of the Seventh Division, narrowed his eyes and spoke with conviction. "Although the other group that joined the battle was large, it was reported that most were of lower cultivation realms. The number of higher realm cultivators among them is very few. With the capability of our forces, we can definitely win this by adjusting our plan."
His words carried across the room, and the worries etched upon the captains' faces gradually began to ease.