Raka and I entered the Slumber Pit Village alone.
The rest of the force remained stationed at the border, awaiting my command.
As soon as we crossed into the village, the sharp, metallic scent of blood hit me thick and unmistakable.
It was coming from the direction of the Sea of Unity.
"North, did you feel that?"
Raka moved closer, his voice uneasy.
"Yes,"
I replied, my expression tightening. "It's coming from that direction."
There was a pause before he asked, "Aren't you scared? Do you want to go back?"
He sounded nervous, but My answer came quickly and calmly.
"No."
We continued walking toward the Sea of Unity and soon caught sight of the 'infamous Dark Cave'.
Every domain had one created to prevent further territorial expansion.
They also served as sacred graveyards.
The Sea of Unity's pure waters were known to cleanse corruption and absorb the negative emotions of the dead, allowing them a peaceful rest.
That's why the caves near it were called the 'Caves of Peace'.
But as we approached, the air grew heavier. The once faint smell of blood was becoming stronger, more alive as if the cave itself was bleeding.
Above us, the sun dipped behind the clouds. A cold breeze swept through the trees, and the atmosphere shifted entirely.
"This is starting to feel like one of those third-rate horror films by that dead magician," Raka muttered.
"You mean the 'Infinity Sunset'?" I asked.
"Yeah, that one. Such a hellish plot… what a waste of mana and time."
I smirked. "So what will you do if we find that the demons have already killed all the kidnapped people?"
He had a smile but his eyes aren't smiling.
Raka shrugged. "Nothing much. Just kill every last demon involved."
"Really? Other than our execution training, we've never killed anyone. That's probably why Mother sent us so we'd get some 'real' experience. You know, the kind that stains your soul."
"Haaa… I know."
I signed but never stopped.
Dark shadows emerged from the cave as we reached its entrance.
"Haha... Lord of Ice, North Frozenlight, and the Angel of Frost, Raka Frozenlight we humble slaves greet the honorable beings."
"We humble slaves greet the honorable beings."
"We humble slaves greet the honorable beings."
"We humble slaves greet the honorable beings."
Their faces were obscured by long, uncanny strands of hair, and their voices were rough yet eerily rhythmic.
Even without using my full senses, I could tell from a single glance their mana was corrupted.
They were demons.
Raka sensed it too.
"Who are you-" Raka began, but before he could finish, they cut him off.
"We are the slaves of Lord Sloth."
"Just humble slaves."
"Very humble slaves."
"Only humble slaves."
Maniacal laughter erupted.
"Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
"Sloth?" Raka frowned. "That incompetent demonic god of sloth? The Father of Laziness? Aren't all divine beings bound by the agreement to remain neutral? If one nation is attacked by another faction, wouldn't that trigger an all-out war?"
"Yes... and no," one of them replied. "We don't know the full truth. But as servants of our Lord, we know this an all-out war is only triggered when multiple factions are involved. If it's one faction against another, it's simply considered a territorial extension conflict."
Raka's voice echoed in my mind through telepathy.
"North, they're stalling. If Sloth had already descended, he would've come to kill us directly. That means he's not here yet he's probably trying to descend using a medium."
"I'll handle them," Raka continued. "You go do what you must, dear god hehe."
With that, he stepped forward toward the shadowy beings and smiled.
"Well, my brother's in a bit of a rush," he said casually. "So how about this I'll stay and keep you all company."
Suddenly, their eyes began to glow crimson.
"Hahaha!"
"You caught us."
"You caught us..."
"You caught us..."
Their laughter twisted into madness as their numbers began to grow from four to ten, then ten to a hundred until the shadows swelled into a horde of over ten thousand.
"North, go," Raka called out, his expression turning fierce. "It's been a while, I could use some fun."
As I passed them, Raka's entire body began to glow with a blinding white light.
Eight pairs of crystalline ice wings burst from his back, spreading wide as he prepared to engage.