Chapter 3, The Fire of the Soul

Hmph! 'The Death Pact of the War God'... Heaven knows what the Light God Clan originally intended. Perhaps they hoped that humans would be more adept at eliminating the followers of the Dark Demon. As for the life or death of the spellcaster, they wouldn't care at all. Matisse let out a cold laugh and heavily patted Saga's shoulder, "Therefore, you must become a powerful human in the future, far surpassing your father. That is precisely what we hope for."

The jarring and piercing sound of the horse-drawn carriage gradually echoed above the mountain. As the procession drew closer, one by one, figures emerged from the edge of the fortress, gathering at the entrance, sending forth a hearty and boisterous cheer from afar. Like their comrades returning from the distance, most of them bore fierce expressions and were emaciated, resembling a group of malevolent spirits guarding the fortress. What set them apart was that among these soldiers clad in Morian military leather armor, some had lost an arm, some were left with only one leg, and a few were entirely missing their lower bodies, supporting themselves on their hands as they slowly crawled out from the fortress.

The metallic scent of blood in the air has become almost tangible. The surrounding beasts, the most numerous of their kind, are driven nearly mad by the smell of blood. As the first beetle-like creature can no longer contain itself and leaps into the air towards the horses, a series of dark shadows follow suit, frantically rushing to meet the oncoming flashes of blades.

"Good child, even if I die, I will not let anything happen to little Sajia." Mathis abruptly raised his thick eyebrows and shouted in a low voice, "Wika, you take Sajia and rush over to the boss, I will clear the way for you..."

"Little Sajia, you better not wet your pants on my back!" Mattis deftly dodged a claw swipe from a beast, joking lightly. Casually, he glanced at Mendita, who was simultaneously dealing with four gnawing beasts, yet appeared to be handling it with relative ease. A subtle shadow flickered across his brow, barely noticeable.

The power unleashed by the "God of War's Death Contract," conditioned on life, is beyond imagination. The remaining armored beasts rapidly decreased in number, ultimately being slaughtered to extinction. When the last beast staggered and fell with a thud, everyone turned their gaze towards the herd of horses.

Strictly speaking, "God of War's Death Pact" cannot be classified as a martial skill; it should be regarded as a form of magic. As a gift to the faithful, the Light God Clan bestowed this special ability upon warriors when they imparted magic to humanity centuries ago. Any practitioner of fire energy, upon reciting the incantation of "God of War's Death Pact," can temporarily enhance their strength to one or two times their original capacity. However, the human body cannot withstand such an extreme increase in fire energy, and the only outcome for the caster is death. The duration of survival after invoking the incantation is directly related to the degree of enhancement in fire energy. Although there is only one possible outcome, no caster would attempt to reach the limit, as that would be tantamount to immediate suicide

Their leader, the man who seems never to fall, stands before the herd of horses, leaning on his long sword, silently gazing at them. His iron-like chest rises and falls rapidly, and in his sharp, indifferent gaze, there is an unmistakable hint of pain.

As in previous encounters with the monstrous beasts, Kamrei transformed the area where the herd of horses was located into a true dead zone. With one hand wielding the sword, he blocked the surrounding horses, standing like a solitary, insurmountable peak. Each flash of the blade, swift as a cold lightning, inevitably resulted in a charging armored beast being cleaved in two, direct and fierce. The parched earth had already been soaked by the gushing blood, presenting a damp and chilling brownish-purple hue.

The robust man was clearly aware that his time was limited. After continuously felling dozens of monstrous beasts around him, he charged without pause towards another battle group not far away. The swelling, explosive heat was tearing at his skin and gradually compressing his internal organs and blood vessels. Each movement brought unimaginable agony. Yet, he wore a rugged smile, wielding his blade tirelessly, prepared to maintain this action until the moment he fell.

As the cavalry was crossing the last giant hill, they encountered some trouble. Due to the excessive weight of the cargo on the cart, as the steepness of the hill increased, the warhorses pulling the cart began to slip with their front hooves, making it nearly impossible to advance. After a moment, all the horses and humans, having exhausted their last ounce of strength, moved the cart inch by inch towards the towering ridge.

I will bury you in the highest vacant spot of the fortress. When I have free time, I will come to drink and talk with you. Kamray raised the blade and coldly said, "Saka, open your eyes wide. Look closely at Uncle Wika's appearance, and never forget this true man!"

Matisse was momentarily at a loss for words, striking left and right among the herd, casting an envious glance at Kamray, who stood proudly ahead: "The boss is still impressive! He must be close to the sixth level, right? I really don't know how he trained to achieve that!"

Matis lowered his head to glance at the kind and gentle child he had known since childhood, and said gently: "You are mistaken; becoming stronger is to avoid being killed. Just like Uncle Wika protects Sagan, you can also guard what you cherish the most"

Sajia tightly held Wika's head, walking alone at the end of the line, appearing somewhat lost in thought

"Great God of Light and War, I am willing to pay with my life in exchange for the soul fire that can burn everything..." The burly man slashed at the beasts around him, murmuring as if to himself. As his lips moved, the previously dim white flames on his saber surged violently, transforming into a dazzling golden radiance that was blinding. In an instant, the fatigue on his face vanished, and the muscles throughout his body gradually swelled, causing his physique to expand by a factor of two

Home has arrived. On the long and dark journey back, it was a few clusters of faint yet resilient flames that guided him and others in the right direction. In a special martial arts incantation, these lights, ignited with life, are referred to as "Soul Fire"

The excessively large size prevented the crowded beasts from making agile biting movements. They collided against each other, eagerly wanting to seize the delicious flesh before them. In the chaos, a dozen strong horses pulling the cart were torn apart by the biting beasts, their bloody limbs devoured. A faint scent of blood spread through the air, driving the hungry pack of beasts into a frenzy.

As each warhorse was harnessed to the cart, all the sacks of grain that had not been crushed by the giant beasts were loaded onto the wagons, piling the compartments high and solid like a mountain. The men mounted the remaining horses, and after a low, deep command, they slowly departed from this land filled with death and bloodshed.

Sometimes I often find myself lost in thought, wondering what kind of trouble these guys behind me would cause if the team leader in the fortress were someone else instead of you. Of course, I would be one of them. " Wika chuckled lightly, resting his right arm across his chest and saluting, "I don't want to end up as a pile of minced meat, boss. Please give me an easy way to die; just bring my head back.

The Bianyun Fortress, rather than being described as a small military stronghold, is more aptly referred to as an unguarded miniature earthen city. The unique hard clay of the Qilizha Mountain Range encases variously sized square stones, roughly constructing the foundation of the entire fortress. The earthen walls, over one zhang high, are pockmarked and dilapidated, with makeshift watchtowers erected at various points, all devoid of personnel. Ascending from the mountainside, one can see the end of the bare and rugged mountain path, where two heavy wooden gates of the fortress stand wide open, silent and still without a sound. At some unknown time, the blazing sun has been obscured by dark clouds, and the crude earthen city stands silently atop the shadowy mountain, resembling an ancient beast, cold and solitary.

Just like the way young birds feed their parents, they learned from the veterans how to ambush and lie in wait, how to rob merchant caravans, and how to avoid the pitfalls of the Gobi Desert. This brutal means of survival has been perpetuated. The vast majority of the new recruits are death row inmates drawn from various regions of Moria. They were once guilty of numerous crimes, committing every kind of evil, and now they can still slaughter an entire merchant caravan without batting an eye. The only thing that has changed is that previously, he and his companions killed for money and greed. Now, it is for survival and responsibility.

A series of violent cracking sounds erupted, and the carriage was torn apart like a toy under the frontal assault of the beast herd. The warhorses neighed in terror, and the monstrous beasts roared wildly. Amidst the chaos and noise, Mattis and the others barely managed to shoot off their last wave of arrows, discarding their longbows and drawing the gleaming single-edged sabers from their waists. Immediately, hundreds of armored beasts surged into the not-so-spacious clearing. Man and horse were completely engulfed by the green tide they formed. Immediately, hundreds of armored beasts surged into the not-so-spacious clearing. Man and horse were completely engulfed by the green tide they formed.

A dozen golden flashes of blades suddenly erupted and scattered, and the blood rain flying across the sky instantly filled half of it. The burly man, with a hint of surprise, glanced around at the dismembered bodies of the monsters lying haphazardly on the ground and let out a low, sinister laugh: "Not a bad feeling..."

Weika smiled and winked at the pale-faced Sajia, speaking kindly: "Little one, it's time to say goodbye! Remember to eat more every day, so that you can grow as strong as your father in the future. Hehe, I really hope to have a child like you..." Reluctantly glancing at Sajia, he stepped forward to Kamulei and slowly knelt down: "Boss, you said a long time ago that my life is tough. Six years ago, a total of thirteen death row inmates were forced to walk through that swamp, and I was the only one who didn't get stuck. Do you remember when I first arrived at Bianyun, you whipped me and then let me have the most filling meal of my life? From that moment, I knew that although you looked fierce, you still regarded us as human beings in your heart.

Countless pale blue triangular scales fell from the sky like raindrops, and thick, dark red blood splattered everywhere, staining every inch of Kamelei's body. He maintained an upright posture, wielding the horse-slaying sword, while on the ground beside him lay several dismembered corpses of demonic beasts. When the iron-like scales met the edge of the horse-slaying sword, they became as fragile as paper. The primary reason for the overwhelming destruction was not merely due to this unique weapon, which possessed unimaginable weight and sharpness. When the iron-like scales met the edge of the horse-slaying sword, they became as fragile as paper. The primary reason for the overwhelming destruction was not merely due to this unique weapon, which possessed unimaginable weight and sharpness. Rather, it was the faint, flowing light that shimmered like water along the elongated blade. In the sunlight, it presented a slight yellow hue, interwoven with the original crimson color of the horse-slaying sword, vibrant and translucent.

Matisse paused, and when he reached the child's side, he placed a hand on the child's shoulder: "I'm out of strength! I really don't know if I can climb up by myself; you have to give me a hand." Glancing at the slightly bowed head of Zach, he chuckled softly, "What's wrong? Are you about to cry again?"

Not far to the left, a stocky man suddenly jumped up and thrust his fiery saber directly into the gaping mouth of a gnawing beast: "My fiery energy has only reached the third level... in terms of archery alone, you are not capable."

Behind the temptation of flesh and blood lies the vast and endless darkness awaiting these greedy monsters. Kamrei was drenched in thick beast blood, and the pile of monster corpses before him had long surpassed the height of an average person. Although his breathing had become slightly labored and beads of sweat covered his forehead, his hands remained steady. The otherworldly brilliance of the blade he wielded cut through the air with a chilling sharpness. All the predators attempting to cross his path were severed in two after the arc of light from his blade flickered and extinguished in succession

A thick layer of ointment was applied to the wound on Matisse's side, wrapped in the torn hem of a comrade's clothing. Although he still felt pain from the jolting of the horse, it had stopped bleeding. His complexion appeared very pale, with his thin lips showing no trace of color, making him look like a resilient pine tree that had endured a snowstorm, still standing tall despite the injuries. For some unknown reason, since the end of the battle, his gaze had frequently lingered on the stout man named Mendita, shrouded in secrecy and gloom. His complexion appeared very pale, with his thin lips showing no trace of color, making him look like a resilient pine tree that had endured a snowstorm, still standing tall despite the injuries. For some unknown reason, since the end of the battle, his gaze had frequently lingered on the stout man named Mendita, shrouded in secrecy and gloom.

"Uncle, put me down. I am short and can run fast; they definitely won't be able to bite me." Saga felt the sound of Mathis's heavy breathing growing louder and couldn't help but whisper in his ear.

Matisse fell silent, quietly following closely behind the fiercely charging Wika, stepping over the overlapping and densely packed corpses of the monsters, and staggeringly making his way towards the location of Kamray and the - map - book

However, not all "food" can be easily obtained. A group of black warhorses formed a perfectly aligned circle, with their tails raised outward. Whenever a gnawing beast approached with bared fangs and claws, they would rear up on their hind legs and kick fiercely. Although such resistance does not pose a real threat to the demonic beasts, like their proud and valiant masters, they have long learned the only rule in this vast wasteland—if one wishes to survive, one must dare to trample anything underfoot

The blazing sun hung silently in the high sky, coldly observing this fierce drama of death. Amidst the mountain of beast corpses, a burning killing intent, hotter than the sun, ignited in Kamrei's eyes. The six-foot-long saber whispered softly in his hand, eagerly exuding a flickering brilliance. In a brief moment, he had slain sixteen impatient beasts, and wherever the blade pointed, the lurking armored beasts would shrink back in fear. At that moment, the man wielding it had become as ferocious as a demon.

"Is it to become stronger in order to kill? I do not like killing, not at all," Saga replied hesitantly

Amidst the densely packed corpses of the monsters, there are shattered fragments of broken carts scattered everywhere. Bags of burlap filled with grain lie strewn across the ground, already soaked in thick, congealed blood. A few carts that miraculously remained unscathed during the melee stand alone at the side, as if silently awaiting the chance to resume their unfinished journey

Saka returned to his father's horse, quietly sitting between his strong arms. Wika's head continued to bleed profusely, his eyelids half-closed, a faint smile lingering at the corners of his lips. In the embrace of the child's delicate hands, he appeared peaceful, as if in a deep sleep. Kamrei vaguely sensed that subtle changes were quietly occurring in his usually timid son. For instance, he no longer feared blood as he once did. Moreover, at this moment, Saka did not shed any tears.

Matisse gently laid down Saka, and facing the distant silhouette of Wika, he slowly and solemnly saluted. The men standing beside him all raised their right arms, striking their chests heavily, producing a series of synchronized, muffled sounds. In this final moment of farewell, they stood tall like javelins, their bodies stained with blood, silently bidding farewell to their comrade in a soldier's manner

Every member of the cavalry waved their hands in response to the calls of their distant companions. Long ago, these soldiers with mutilated bodies had also ridden fierce horses, engaged in slaughter and plunder, and had been as defiant and strong as they were. Everyone, including Kamray, had consumed the food that these veterans had exchanged for their lives when they were still recruits. Most of the killers from that time have died, and those who were fortunate enough to survive the jaws of the beasts have also lost their ability to plunder. Everyone, including Kamray, had consumed the food that these veterans had exchanged for their lives when they were still recruits. Most of the killers from that time have died, and those who were fortunate enough to survive the jaws of the beasts have also lost their ability to plunder

In the distance, Kamrei trembled, a bitter expression flickering across his rock-like, stern face. After the sudden explosion of that rough, powerful roar, every person engaged in the fierce battle let out a hoarse roar, madly slashing with their sabers. Their eyes had turned into a fierce, blood-red hue, and their lower lips were bitten to shreds by their own teeth. Despite having endured countless separations, when it truly arrived, these men who had fought side by side through life and death could still not withstand the pangs in their hearts. Long ago, they had ceased to shed tears; the only thing they could shed for their brothers beside them was their own blood. Despite having endured countless separations, when it truly arrived, these men who had fought side by side through life and death could still not withstand the pangs in their hearts. Long ago, they had ceased to shed tears; the only thing they could shed for their brothers beside them was their own blood

The burly man, whose facial skin had already cracked, took a few steps toward him, and just as he opened his mouth to reveal a smile, his torso suddenly exploded from within, shattering into countless tiny fragments of bone and flesh

Kamei nodded slightly, his gaze dim: "You are not only my brother, but also an excellent soldier; I have never doubted this."

Finally, the carriages gradually ascended to the top of the hills. Ahead, the majestic and steep Qilizha Mountain Range sprawled across the plains like a giant dragon, seemingly within reach. Gazing into the distance, on a section of the mountain facing the side of the hills, a gray-brown earth fortress was faintly visible. From the moment they saw it, the lifeless expressions on the men's faces gradually softened, and their steps became lighter. For that was their home. From the moment they saw it, the lifeless expressions on the men's faces gradually softened, and their steps became lighter. For that was their home

For a long time, Kamrei has firmly believed that only a man with an iron will can grow into a true king. In this world filled with crises and deceit, while great strength is certainly a safeguard for one's life, it is even more important to possess a heart that is cruel and cold. Kamrei is a soldier; he employs all means to temper Sajia's will, focusing solely on speed and results, never concerned with the process. The capacity of Sajia's spirit to endure is not within Kamrei's considerations. Because in his eyes, Sajia is not only his son but also a man

Whenever one touches the surface of a demon beast, this peculiar radiance will subtly flicker and tremble, slicing through the tough scales between the blades. In Moria and throughout the entire Kalan continent, this is one of the most powerful killing skills mastered by humanity—Flame Qi. Since only military personnel, apart from the nobility, are qualified to cultivate this indomitable potential, most people are more accustomed to referring to it as "military-grade Flame Qi"

It seems that being injured is not necessarily a bad thing. " Matisse said with a wry smile, shaking his head as he looked at his companions who were stern-faced and pushing him aside.

Like a lightning bolt dancing wildly across the night sky, the crimson brilliance that cleaves through the air flashes swiftly, unimpeded, severing everything it touches. From scales and armor to flesh and bone, and ultimately, life itself

Several burly men nearby, struggling to hold on, simultaneously witnessed this scene and rushed over with anguished roars. After slaying the voracious beetle that was devouring their companion's corpse, one of them was pierced through the chest by a silent claw that had attacked from behind, his eyes wide open in anger as he unwillingly breathed his last.

Saka gazed at the face of Wika in his arms and said sadly, "If only one could become powerful without having to die."

Sakha cradled the head of Wika as he advanced through the fortress gate. Following him was the entire cavalry. Kamrei stood at the edge of the cloud, turning back to gaze long at the vast expanse of the Gobi Desert

Why does Uncle Wika have to do this? Why?" Saga raised her face and asked in a hollow tone

With a low grunt, a panting man was unable to block the beast's claw that pressed down from the side, and his right arm was immediately severed at the shoulder, falling to the ground with a thud. The other end of the biting beast opened its gaping maw and, without hesitation, bit down on a small portion of his body. After a few violent shakes of its head, the man's upper body was brutally snapped in half, resulting in instant death

The flash of the blade was sudden, and Weika's head immediately rolled away, a copious amount of blood gushing from his neck and spraying into the air. His robust body swayed slightly before collapsing forward. Kamrei bent down to pick up his head and turned to stride towards the herd of horses: "Don't just stand there, re-harness those wagons that can still move, and be quick about it"

Mendita did not respond, but continued to chop away at the swarming gnawing beasts around him.

As the muffled sound reached their ears, most people's bodies began to tremble uncontrollably. These men, who showed no fear while battling life and death against the demonic beasts, silently turned their heads, unable to bear the sight of the blurred mass that their companion had become

Sakya hesitated for a moment and replied: "I am afraid, but my legs are covered in your blood... If you do not come down soon, it will cost you your life."

Haha! This time I am the strongest!" Matisse swung his knife in a horizontal slash, forcefully severing the foreleg of a monstrous beast. With one arm, he lifted the nearby Saka and slung him over his back. "Mendita, didn't you say last time when you were drunk that only you could be called the number one archer in Bianyun? I don't know if I was seeing things just now, but it seems like you killed one less beast than I did with that arrow? Hmm?"

Wika, who was also trapped in the circle, rushed forward, effortlessly cutting down several monsters. Looking at the astonished Mathis, he smiled and said, "Fortunately, I still remember that long and foul incantation of 'God of War's Death Pact'; otherwise, you would have gotten ahead of me."

Boss! You must bring the brothers and the supplies back to Bianyun. In the next life, I will still be your subordinate!" shouted a rough-looking, stout man.

It is unclear when it began, but dozens of gnawing beasts had quietly surrounded him and another companion. Faced with crises from all directions, Mathis devoted almost all of his attention to Sajia. While dealing with a perilous ambush, he used his sabre to block several claws aimed at Sajia, but allowed another beast to pierce his side. As blood flowed uncontrollably from his body, the heat he could emit weakened, the blade's pale yellow gradually turned to white, and ultimately became dull and lifeless. Without the heat, the blade lost its terrifying destructive power and could not cut through the gnawing beast's tough scales. Now, the only thing Mathis could do seemed to be to quietly await the call of the King of the Underworld while desperately dodging.

After several hundred corpses of the demon beasts had fallen, the King of Hell, who ruled over the underworld, finally pointed the Staff of Death towards the humans. The prolonged and intense battle had caused the faint white flames on the weapons of some warriors to gradually dim, and their physical exhaustion rendered their movements slow and weak. The deaths of numerous comrades instead provided ample space for the remaining gnawing beasts. They instinctively began to leap and dodge, evading attacks while wielding their sharp claws and gnashing their massive teeth, effectively surrounding the warriors in several distinct areas. Compared to humans, these colossal creatures possessed far greater stamina.

Matisse narrowly dodged the pounce of the two gnawing beasts and unexpectedly laughed, saying: "Aren't you afraid?"

Like Kamray, a military aura is also gradually emanating from the edges of others' palms. Some are close to a pale yellow, while others are a faint white. They surge down from the edges of the men's palms, silently climbing, swiftly attaching themselves to the long arrows in their hands

At this moment, Matis was already on the brink of physical exhaustion. In this team, he was one of the few who had cultivated to the fourth level of fire energy. In terms of strength, even if he were to fall, he should be among the last to do so. The unprecedented encounter with a massive beast horde was indeed a brutal and severe test, but the true indirect cause of his fatigue stemmed from the burden of the sack on his back

At an extremely close frontal distance, this volley did not opt for a clustered launch. Individual arrows, flickering with faint light, pierced through the front of the target and continued to penetrate its body, seamlessly claiming the lives of the second, and even the third and fourth beasts. The entire dark mass of beasts resembled a surging angry sea, while these dozen or so long arrows acted as ferocious sharks slicing through the waves.

Kamelei's expression was clouded, as he stared for a long time at the menacing subordinate before him. It seemed he wanted to engrave the large scar on the man's face deeply into his memory

Matthias fell silent for a moment, his gaze shifting to the winding convoy ahead: "Look, every single person, including your father, is exerting all their strength to push the cart. They are already very tired, so exhausted that they can hardly lift their arms or move their feet. But now is not the time to rest, because there are still many people waiting for the food on the cart. If something happens, you and I, along with everyone in the border cloud, will starve to death. But now is not the time to rest, because there are still many people waiting for the food on the cart. If something happens, you and I, along with everyone in the border cloud, will starve to death. Wika knows this, which is why he is willing to sacrifice his life in exchange for a chance for everyone to survive.

Although it may sound cruel to say this, I want to tell you that the death of one or two individuals is far better than the loss of life for everyone. " Mathis's voice gradually softened, and a brilliant light flickered in his eyes, "I, your father, and those uncles with the carts, would all do the same thing. Death is indeed terrifying, but at certain times, it is not so significant.

For the first time in his life, Saka experienced a vague thought emerging in his mind. This seemingly sudden idea quietly took root and sprouted in his tender heart, bringing with it a courage he had never known before. The warm and broad hand on his shoulder, the muscular back of his father ahead, and the seemingly sleeping head in his arms all seemed to remind Saka of the distinction between slaughter and protection

From the very beginning, the herd of warhorses was the primary target of the carnivorous beasts; however, not a single one was able to become their prey. This was because, between these bloodthirsty monsters and the sleek, ferocious warhorses, there stood a powerful human who had jumped down from a shattered carriage and had been guarding the herd ever since.

When they saw the mutilated corpses loaded on the backs of several horses, the veterans at the gate fell silent. There were no longer smiles on their faces; instead, there was only desolation and sorrow