Chapter 7: Too late for regrets
Ronan was not the only one who felt threatened.
The Ghouls all turned and faced the commander as he walked toward them.
Meanwhile, wide smiles broke out across the soldier’s faces.
Seeing not only their commander but also their town leaders brought them immense relief.
They hadn’t been ordered to retreat because they intended to abandon the town.
They had retreated so the higher-ups could step in and battle the Ghouls themselves.
Their morale was instantly boosted as the officer in charge hurried toward the commander.
"Commander... Great to see you here. We—"
But before he could finish speaking, his words were cut short as everyone’s expressions changed to horror.
Splatter!
A body, cleanly sliced in half, fell to the ground as the commander cut his own soldier in two.
Then everyone saw it.
His crimson-red eyes.
Immediately, they realized something was terribly wrong.
"No..."
"Aghhh!"
"Help!"
"Help me!"
The soldiers’ screams filled the air as the town leaders, their eyes glowing crimson as well, joined the slaughter.
Then the Vampires appeared like ghosts as an order rang out.
"Dispose of them."
The Ghoul army immediately moved.
For a brief moment, Ronan lost control of his body once again as he followed the horde.
Only this time...
He was happy.
He knew the massacre of the humans was the work of Levit and the other Vampire masters, but the main reason he was excited was that he could now kill humans and gain Essence.
Besides, the humans were already fighting each other.
It was only natural for the Ghouls to clean up the rest.
With the Ghoul army joining the battle, it didn’t take long before the remaining soldiers were wiped out.
Now, only the elite guards, the commander, and the town leaders remained, standing like puppets as they awaited the Vampires’ orders.
At that moment, Ronan truly realized just how terrifying this ability was.
The fact that it could actually force people to obey like this was nerve-racking.
Though he wasn’t one to talk.
After all, he himself was still under Levit’s control.
"Alright, dispose of this one too," one of the Vampires said as he waved his hand.
The Ghoul army immediately moved, and Ronan couldn’t help but feel excited.
The stronger a being was, the more Essence he would gain from killing it.
So if he managed to land the finishing blow on even one or two of these elite guards, it might finally be enough for him to level up.
Just as Ronan was filled with excitement, he suddenly felt his body tremble as a powerful pressure descended upon the battlefield.
"What... where...?"
"Wait... what have I done?"
Suddenly, the commander snapped out of the Vampires’ control as he looked around in horror.
Corpses littered the battlefield.
Fragments of memories flooded his mind—memories of himself slaughtering his own soldiers.
His legs gave out beneath him as he collapsed to his knees in disbelief.
Seeing him break free, the Vampires weren’t surprised.
After all, the stronger a being was, the harder it was to control.
Especially those in the Transcendent Realm.
Unlike the commander, the elite guards and town leaders were still completely under their control.
"You. Kill him."
Seeing this, Levit pointed toward a stronger Ghoul at Transcendent Three Star.
The Ghoul stepped forward and slowly marched toward the kneeling commander.
At that moment, the commander’s memories had completely returned.
It felt as though his heart had been pierced as unbearable pain filled him.
He couldn’t believe he had killed his own men.
Although it had been the Vampires’ doing...
It was still his own hands that had taken their lives.
He felt like nothing more than a puppet.
He was consumed by guilt.
More than that...
He had failed.
He was supposed to protect them.
Instead, he had slaughtered them.
He could still remember the fear and disbelief on their faces as they died by his blade.
"I owe my useless life to you all," the commander muttered as he slowly stood up, gripping his sword tightly.
His armor clattered softly as he stared at the approaching Ghoul.
At this point, he no longer cared whether he lived or died.
The only thing he wanted...
Was to atone for his sins with his life.
"Come!"
The commander roared as he charged toward the Ghoul.
Cracks spread across the stone pavement beneath his feet as he dashed forward and swung his sword.
Ding!
A loud metallic clang echoed across the battlefield as the Ghoul was forced back several steps.
Ronan gulped.
If he had been the one facing that attack instead of the Ghoul...
He had no doubt he would have died instantly.
Was this the gap between them?
For the first time, Ronan was witnessing a battle between two Transcendent Realm experts.
"Raarrr!"
The Ghoul roared as it dashed forward.
Its body reached a speed Ronan couldn’t even comprehend as it swung its arm at the commander.
The commander raised his sword to defend as the stone pavement beneath them shattered upon impact.
They clashed again and again.
Ronan’s mouth hung wide open as they moved at speeds that even the fastest human in the world would be jealous of.
He gulped nervously as their clash grew more and more intense.
Soon, powerful shockwaves began forming, and fierce winds swept across the battlefield, slamming against everyone’s faces.
Of course, the commander possessed far greater battle awareness.
He was a seasoned veteran.
He unleashed crushing, life-threatening attacks one after another.
But alas...
His sword couldn’t pierce through the Ghoul’s body.
He had to attack while constantly dodging the incoming blows of a creature that didn’t need to worry about defending itself.
Soon, sweat dripped down the commander’s forehead as he retreated several meters.
"Huff... Huff..."
The commander breathed heavily as he looked at the charging Ghoul.
He couldn’t help but glance around.
First, at the Vampires, who watched him as though he were already dead.
Then at the Ghoul army in the distance.
Finally, his gaze fell upon the half-eaten, mutilated corpses of his comrades.
To his left stood the town leader and the elite guards, frozen like lifeless puppets.
He didn’t need anyone to tell him.
This battle was over.
There was no way he could win.
No way in hell.
The Ghoul he was struggling against was far from the strongest being present.
The Vampires were.
Their mere aura made his heart tremble.
If he couldn’t even defeat one of their slaves...
How could he possibly defeat the Vampires?
It was impossible.
Yet...
The commander stood once more.
Not because he believed he could win.
But because he had betrayed his comrades.
He had killed them.
The very least he could do was repay that sin with his own life.
Weak and exhausted, he raised his sword once again.
Then, with a furious roar, he charged at the approaching Ghoul.
Ronan sighed as he watched the human’s stubbornness.
"It is over..."
He couldn’t help but feel a trace of pity.
After all...
He had once been human too.
Perhaps if he hadn’t died again, he would have been on the other side, fighting against these undead creatures.
But alas...
He was one of them now.
And he...
Had already killed another human.
He didn’t think there was any coming back from that.
Clang!
The two collided once more as the outcome of the battle was decided at that very moment.
And the winner was...