Chapter 33 - Hellish Slash
The chilling mist still lingering in the air served as a silent reminder of the massacre that had just occurred. As Rygar moved across the debris-strewn terrain, his thoughts returned to Gallus. He hadn't destroyed the ice statues. The thought struck him, quickening his pace.
"If he's escaped..." Rygar muttered to himself. That would be troublesome—or perhaps Gallus would simply flee to another country. Still, Rygar wasn't willing to take that risk. He silently prayed that Gallus was still there, trapped and unable to escape the ice that encased him.
When Rygar arrived at the location where the statues stood, he exhaled a sigh of relief. They were still there. The frozen forms of the mercenaries remained motionless, their expressions twisted in pain and shock, eternally etched into the translucent ice. Gallus was among them, though his condition was different. Rygar stepped closer, narrowing his eyes to examine him more carefully.
The ice encasing the advanced warriors was complete, penetrating deep into their bodies. Rygar could sense no trace of life within them. However, Gallus, with his robust Touki, had resisted more than the others. The ice had not penetrated as deeply, leaving him partially frozen but still immobilized. His wide eyes reflected the terror and agony of someone who had endured indescribable torment.
Rygar recognized this as a truly terrible way to die. In such a situation, being weaker might have been better, as death would have come instantly.
"This ends here," he murmured, raising his hand. A sharp gust of wind surged from his palm, obliterating the ice statues in an instant. Shards glittered in the air like crystalline rain, dissolving into the blood-stained ground.
With that done, Rygar climbed atop a mound of rubble and surveyed the entire complex. He closed his eyes and activated his mana vision, allowing energy to flow into his field of view. Every corner of the structure was analyzed, his senses attuned to any signs of life. There was no one left on the surface. All enemies who hadn't fled were dead. Unfortunately, even the servants and slaves in the upper levels had succumbed to the chaos. Still, Rygar detected movement below ground. The underground area teemed with activity, mana signatures pulsing with desperation or confusion.
He closed his eyes again, deactivating his mana vision, and took a deep breath. There was still more to be done. With firm steps, Rygar left the ruins to meet his group, who awaited him outside. The sight he encountered brought a mix of relief and concern. Scattered around them were bodies, evidence that the battle had extended there. At the center, Yan lay wounded and unconscious on the ground. Rygar paused for a moment, realizing he had completely forgotten about Yan, whom he had ordered to attack the base with him.
"Eidar, were there any complications?" he asked.
Eidar, breathing heavily, nodded. "Two advanced warriors showed up. The Doldia warriors and I managed to handle them together."
Rygar turned to Rufus, who was staring at the lifeless bodies on the ground but seemed unharmed. "And you, little one, how are you?"