A spark of anger lit in Galthor. "Starve? Why don't you feed them?"
Karathra smiled bitterly and raised her brows at his tone. "Oh? I didn't know that you care."
Galthor didn't.
At least not in the way that she meant. He cared that those who should be the foundation of this worship were starving to death. But in the end, it was still the same.
So he said, "I care. They are my people."
Karathra's face became unreadable as she studied him, as if trying to figure out what elaborate prank Galthor was putting up. "Well, if you must know, it's been more than two months since the Chief last came here, and the other banner leaders are asking for our own banner leader before they allow us to hunt."
Galthor did not understand. "Are you not the representative that the Chief put here?"
"I am, but since the Chief was reported dead, even as a rumor, they are demanding that I produce the banner leader."
"Explain," Galthor commanded.
"It's an elaborate scheme. Since the Chief is no more, they want to swallow what remains of the Stronghide and share it among themselves. And it was a success, since almost all of our warriors have joined the other banners."
Galthor's eyes tightened. They dared to take his warriors? How despicable! He would have to show them a thing or two!
But first, food.
"How do I get food for my people?"
Again, Karathra gave him the measured look. "Well, we have the hunting ground where you can hunt monsters. There are edible monsters and plants."
A memory from his host rose up in Galthor's mind, and a chill ran down his spine. "Do you mean... there's an Abyssal land here?"
"Yes. That is the reason for this whole Howling after all. The Abyssal land was found by the Chief's father but hidden from the overlords. But when the Chief became the ChainLord, he called the Howling. Or they called him. Either way, it is said that there's something important in this Abyssal land that can be used to make the Stronghide stronger. But now... well..."
Galthor's eyes gleamed.
An Abyssal land is a phenomenon caused by the Supreme Beings of Eros Divine World fighting the Abyssal creatures. It was a fight eons ago, and yet its effects are still strong.
It was a war between the creatures of the Abyssal and the Supreme Deity of Eros and his war host.
It ended in the death of the Supreme Deity as well as numerous gods, the barbarian god being among them. And it caused the Abyssal land.
It's called the Abyssal land because it usually manifests as unbeatable monstrous forests that seek to devour the land. And it's usually followed by a host of monsters.
At the core of the Abyssal land are usually relics from the time of the Supreme War. Sometimes it can trigger a scenario of the past that one must clear to be free.
The Abyssal land is one of the sources of danger in Eros but also a source of opportunity for both gods and mortals.
It was a way for Galthor to make himself stronger by devouring the core of an Abyssal land.
But first, food.
"What are we waiting for? Get your weapon, Karathra. Let's go hunting."
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It turned out that the Abyssal land was behind the stronghold. In fact, most of the place where the Stronghide was had been cleared of the forest of the Abyssal land.
They went down into the small chasms where the wilderness spilled outward.
Galthor, Brakthar, and Karathra.
When he first told her that they were going hunting, the look she gave him was one of curiosity mixed with surprise, as if she were staring at someone filled with madness.
But she did pick up her weapon, a war axe that was as tall as her, made entirely of a single iron block as it was carved out. Then she said simply, "Let's go."
As she led the way, she also explained more of the situation on the ground. Apparently, the warriors and especially the other two remaining masters were lured away with the promise of food and better opportunities in the other banners.
Galthor didn't really care that they went to join other banners. He would have done the same instead of staying on a sinking ship. But why deny them the right to hunt? That was just wrong.
How dare they starve his soon-to-be worshippers?
Before long, they got close to the Abyssal land. The first signs, apart from the fact that Galthor could feel it, perhaps because of his divinity, were the unnatural trees growing.
There was not a single patch of soft soil; everything was hard rock, and yet trees were growing as easily as if it were a garden. And the closer they got, the more they found.
Even undergrowth and weeds.
The trees were black as coal, their leaves carrying a variety of deep colors, rustling without wind.
It was unnatural, but Galthor instinctively didn't mind the feeling. It wasn't bad; the sensation and pressure coming out of everything were not comfortable, and yet comfortable.
He didn't have the time to think more about it, as they had gotten close to a set of buildings that stood in the way of anything or anyone going into the Abyssal land. Or coming out of it.
There were three buildings.
"These are the guards in place to ensure that no one trespasses, or that nothing trespasses from the inside," Karathra said. Then she added, "We have no guard house here, and all of them are masters."
The guard houses weren't big at all. They were made not to be comfortable but to provide some kind of invisible barrier. The guards were expected to guard the forest at all times.
And as Galthor and his group approached, the three guard groups from the three buildings came out.
The first was led by the Winged People. Another from the Kobolds, and then the last from the Xyrrh.
One thing Galthor noticed was the fact that there were two barbarians among them.
And he was sneering when he saw Karathra. "Didn't I tell you not to show yourself here again?"