Chapter 438: New Found Power
Roland could hardly believe the words. Doubt still lingered inside him, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it. They were on a timer, and it seemed the group wouldn’t stop until they found a safe place to hide from whatever was chasing them.
They marched for hours, nearly fifty people alongside the King and his daughter, Stella.
Both looked depressed as they walked.
Only the King spoke now and then, offering quiet comments about the terrain, the kingdom’s problems, or distant hopes for the future. The oracle occasionally joined in, speaking of the past or the present—explaining what had happened to this world.
Roland glanced upward. The sky above was not natural. It looked bloated, as if something was blotting out the sun.
"I see you noticed," the King said, following his gaze. "Maybe in your world the sky is blue, but here... it has been altered—to suit the vampires who wish to keep us as cattle."
His blue eyes reflected the red-tinted sky, as if being swallowed by its ominous, dark hue.
"Do you think... I’ll have a chance against them?" Roland asked. He was feeling stronger than before, but not ready for battle. He had never killed anyone—yet hatred simmered inside him. His aunt and uncle had taken everything he should have owned.
"Can you not feel your body changing?" the King said. "It won’t be long before your mind sharpens, too. Your thoughts will come quicker, your instincts clearer. Your newfound authority will come naturally. Just give it time, boy. You will lead this world to better days."
It wasn’t the first time Roland had heard those words, but with each repetition, he began to believe them a little more.
Roland was given usable armor and a few weapons. From them, he selected a broadsword. It felt like the best choice—just large enough that he could also use it as a shield when needed.
It was nearly as big as he was, yet he managed to lift it without much effort. With it, he fought off anything that came their way—scouts, creatures, or anything else that dared attack them.