Chapter 24: Beneath the Crimson Veil

The march toward the western strongholds resumed at dawn, the air thick with tension. Zhen Yang led his forces in silence, his crimson robe flowing behind him like a banner of impending doom. Kaia walked a few steps behind, her thoughts a storm of conflicting emotions.

The Abyssal Sovereign had proven himself an indomitable force, but at what cost?

The whispers of rebellion had been silenced, yet the fear in the eyes of his own soldiers was undeniable. Even Kaia, who had vowed loyalty to Zhen Yang, felt the growing chasm between them.

The tranquility of their journey shattered when they reached a narrow ravine. A sudden barrage of arrows rained down from the cliffs above, striking several soldiers before they could react.

"AMBUSH!" a soldier yelled, his voice echoing through the canyon.

Zhen Yang's crimson eyes narrowed. With a flick of his wrist, a wave of dark energy erupted from his body, forming a protective barrier that incinerated the arrows mid-flight.

From the cliffs above, a group of shadowy figures emerged—mercenaries, their faces painted with war markings.

Kaia unsheathed her sword, her stance tense. "My lord, they've surrounded us."

Zhen Yang smirked. "Good. Let them come."

The mercenaries descended like a tidal wave, their battle cries piercing the air. The clash of steel echoed through the ravine as Zhen Yang's forces engaged the attackers.

Zhen Yang moved through the battlefield like a phantom. With each step, his enemies fell—burned, torn apart, or left writhing in agony. His movements were a deadly dance, fluid and precise.

One mercenary, a towering brute wielding a massive warhammer, charged at him with a roar. Zhen Yang sidestepped the attack effortlessly, his hand slicing through the air. A tendril of dark energy lashed out, wrapping around the mercenary's throat.

The brute struggled, his face turning purple as the tendril tightened. Zhen Yang's eyes gleamed with cruel delight.

"Tell me," he said, his voice a deadly whisper. "Who sent you?"

The mercenary gurgled, unable to speak.

With a sharp twist of his hand, Zhen Yang severed the tendril, letting the lifeless body collapse to the ground. "No answer, then."

Kaia fought fiercely alongside the soldiers, her blade a blur of silver. She parried an attacker's strike, countering with a precise thrust that ended the fight. Yet, her focus wavered as she caught sight of Zhen Yang.

He stood amidst the carnage, a figure of unrelenting power and brutality. One of the mercenaries knelt before him, his arm severed, begging for mercy.

"My lord, please!" the man cried, tears streaming down his face.

Zhen Yang regarded him with cold detachment. "Mercy? You attack me in my domain and beg for mercy?"

Before the man could respond, Zhen Yang reached out, his hand glowing with dark energy. The mercenary screamed as his body twisted unnaturally, his flesh disintegrating into ash.

Kaia's grip on her sword tightened. She turned away, focusing on the battle before her.

When the dust settled, the mercenaries lay dead, their bodies scattered across the ravine. Zhen Yang's forces had suffered losses, but their victory was decisive.

Zhen Yang stood at the center of the carnage, his crimson robe unmarred despite the battle. Kaia approached him cautiously, her steps hesitant.

"My lord," she said, her voice steady despite the unease in her chest. "The enemy is defeated. What are your orders?"

Zhen Yang glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Burn the bodies. Leave nothing for the vultures."

Kaia hesitated. "And the prisoners, my lord?"

Zhen Yang's eyes gleamed with a dark light. "Prisoners? There are none."

Kaia's breath caught, but she nodded. "As you command."

As the soldiers carried out Zhen Yang's orders, a faint rustling in the bushes caught his attention. His gaze snapped to the source, and his lips curved into a cold smile.

"Come out," he commanded, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.

A figure emerged—a young girl, no older than ten, her face streaked with dirt and tears. She clutched a small knife in her trembling hands.

"You… you killed my brother," she whispered, her voice quivering with rage and fear.

Zhen Yang tilted his head, regarding her with curiosity. "And you think to avenge him with that?"

The girl lunged at him, her movements desperate and clumsy. Zhen Yang caught her wrist effortlessly, the knife falling from her grasp.

"Such courage," he murmured, his grip tightening. "But courage without power is meaningless."

Kaia stepped forward. "My lord, she's just a child!"

Zhen Yang's gaze shifted to Kaia, his eyes narrowing. "A child who raised a blade against me. Should I let her grow, so she can try again?"

Kaia held his gaze, her heart pounding. "Let her live. Show her that mercy is not weakness."

For a moment, the air between them was tense. Then, Zhen Yang released the girl, who collapsed to the ground, sobbing.

"Go," he said coldly. "Run back to your village. Tell them what you saw here."

The girl scrambled to her feet and fled, her cries echoing through the ravine.

Kaia exhaled in relief, though the unease in her heart remained.

As they continued their journey, Kaia couldn't shake the feeling that their path was leading them deeper into darkness.

And in the shadows, Zhen Yang's smile widened. The seeds of fear had been sown, and he relished the thought of what would grow.