Chapter 42
The air—the mana flowing within it—started to shake.
The Blood Tear in the Hell Star’s hands floated above him. The head mage started his chant, forming a path. The knights began to follow the oath, letting their mana flow through it. Like water, it flowed, the curves finally coming together, forming a huge circle of blood mana.
The mana in the air screamed.
The ground shook.
Dark green, murky mana flowed from the ground around the tomb, rising into the air. The trio, under Grey’s request, watched from the side.
The mana flowed through Grey into the Blood Tear, and finally a crimson ray struck the tomb.
The tomb began cracking.
The eyes of those present failed to see it, but it could not escape the Child of Mana’s eyes. From those cracks seeped souls—anguished, tired, tormented souls—thousands and thousands of them, flowing out.
“Your Majesty, now,” spoke the head mage.
The Hell Star began gathering all his mana.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—!”
Screaming, he forced the flow into the Blood Tear. The beam grew larger. The cracks widened. The souls flowed out more violently.
The ground began to shake.
Animals in the forest panicked.
Demons in the city heard the wails of beasts from beneath their homes.
“Knights, push!” the Hell Star screamed.
The knights gathered every drop of their mana, one by one fainting. The beam grew stronger until only the blood mages, the trio, and Riley remained conscious—except for the Hell Star.
The beam darkened. The blood turned redder. The cracks on the tomb glowed brighter. The tomb shook violently until finally the Tomb of Life turned to dust, releasing hundreds of years’ worth of trapped souls.
The souls flowed out—finally freed.
The Hell Star fell to his knees. The Blood Tear fell, rolling away.
“It’s over,” he spoke.
The mana circle dissipated. The green, murky mana was sucked into the Blood Tear. The air returned to normal. The mana quieted.
Finally, the night of the Blood Moon ended.
Leo went to support Riley.
The head blood mage spoke, “Hell Knights, we have succeeded. Now take the mana recovery potion I gave you all, then we can finally go home to celebrate.”
The knights on the ground took their mana potions, except Riley, who was resting on Leo’s shoulder.
Riley spoke, “Leo, let’s give the potion to Father first. He is the one who bore the greatest burden.”
Leo replied, “Okay. You rest—let me go.”
Ryan muttered, “You damn girl magnet.”
Melody added, “For once, I agree with you,” with a pout.
Leo took the mana potion prepared by the blood mage and walked toward the Hell Star.
The Hell Star lay on the ground, Goodwin beside him.
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“Youth is great, isn’t it, Goodwin?” he asked.
Goodwin smiled. “Indeed, my lord.”
At the same time, the head blood mage walked to where the Blood Tear had rolled and picked it up.
Leo reached Grey.
“Sir, please have this mana potion,” he said, handing it to him.
Goodwin interrupted, “Let me, Prince.”
He opened it. The Hell Star held it in his hands.
At that moment, a distinct odor rose from the vial.
Leo’s pupils constricted. His throat tightened.
As the Hell Star was about to drink it, Leo swung his arm, tossing the vial away, screaming,
“It’s poison!”
The Hell Star and Goodwin froze in shock.
Leo used mana to shout, “Don’t drink the potion—it’s poison!”
At that moment, the air changed.
The freed souls let out bone-chilling wails. The Blood Tear glowed. The green, murky mana that had disappeared surged again—this time from the head mage.
All the souls were sucked into the Blood Tear, turning it emerald green.
The soldiers who drank the potion began losing their breath one by one. Out of six hundred and twelve soldiers, only twenty-four who did not drink it survived.
Grey roared, “What are you doing?!”
The head mage replied calmly, “Serving my true liege.”
A figure stepped out from among the hooded knights. He removed his hood, revealing blood-red eyes—the same eyes Grey once held.
Grey, Riley, Goodwin, and the soldiers froze.
Grey stumbled back and fell.
“Garry… my son… why? Why would you poison your own people?”
Garry stepped forward. The blood mages knelt before him. The head mage presented him with the Blood Tear.
“My foolish father,” Garry said. “Talking of duty, loyalty, pride—nonsense. What a ruler must have is power. The power to make all kneel.”
He raised the Blood Tear above his head, feeding it blood from his own slit palm. The red crystal turned dark green. The land rumbled.
“Who would save a bunch of nameless souls when you can have an army—an army of never-dying soldiers?”
The soil twisted. The air turned foul. The stench of rot filled the air. Corpses rose—hundreds and hundreds of demonic beings.
“Now, Father, I am the ruler of the Demon Realm from this day forth! Hahahahahaha!”
“Kill the knights and the brats,” Garry commanded. “Bring back Riley—my queen.”
The head blood mage replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Grey pleaded, “Stop it! Surrender! What you are doing is wrong!”
Riley shouted, “I would rather die than be with trash like you!”
“Complain all you want,” Garry sneered. “You will soon join my eternal army as my slaves.”
He waved his hand. The undead advanced.
Ryan asked, “Leo, what now?”
Leo replied, “We fight.”
Leo, Ryan, and Melody—the only ones still able—raised their weapons. The horde approached, death hanging over them.
“My knights, get ready!” the Hell Star commanded.
The remaining knights stood, bodies drained of mana, eyes still burning with resolve. Riley stepped in front of them.
Then something happened.
The Blood Tear shook. Cracks formed. The undead froze.
“What is happening?” Garry demanded.
“Your Majesty,” the head mage said nervously, “the number of souls exceeded calculations. The orb needs stabilization.”
Leo shouted, “Now is the time! Everyone, retreat!”
The Hell Knights echoed, “Follow the Prince!”
Leo led the knights with Riley, Melody, and Ryan. Goodwin carried the Hell Star.
The undead hesitated but still surrounded them.
“Toward the castle!” Leo shouted.
His crimson sword cleaved through resisting undead. Ryan blasted a path open with magic bombs. Melody buffed the knights.
“Stop them!” Garry screamed.
“We must stabilize the Blood Tear,” the head mage said. “They cannot escape far.”
The Hell Knights broke free from the encirclement and escaped the grave.
“Do not stop!” Riley shouted. “Protect the citizens!”
“We evacuate them to the castle,” Ryan added. “The grand protection array will hold.”
“Knights, divide into 5 groups!” Leo commanded. “Evacuate the people!”
He handed out true mana potions.
“This Blood Moon shall claim no more lives,” Leo declared. “Go—protect your people!”
“Yes, sir!” the knights shouted, rushing out.
Leo said, “Goodwin, take the Hell Star to the castle first. He needs treatment.”
“Follow me, sir,” Goodwin replied.
Riley stopped. “I’m going with the knights.”
Ryan and Melody joined her.
Leo sighed. “I trust you to come back alive.”
“I promise, Captain,” Ryan said.
They split—Leo, Goodwin, and Grey toward the castle.
Back at the graveyard—
“Your Majesty, it is stabilized,” the head mage reported.
Garry plunged the Blood Tear into his chest. Cursed mana surged into him. His body grew, twisted, towering.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty,” the head mage said. “You are now truly the Undead King.”
“Reed, come forward,” Garry commanded.
A demon with a scarred face knelt.
Garry slit his finger and pressed the blood into Reed’s mouth.
After screams and cracking bones, Reed rose reborn—an undead knight.
“Take my army,” Garry ordered. “Bring back my princess and the heads of my enemies.”
“Your wish is my command, my King,” Reed replied, marching off.
The head mage said, “Now only the rest of the army remains.”
“Let’s get to it,” Garry replied.
“we conquer the graves here and shall we head for the graves on the west of the maonor my king”asked head mage
" no, that is the resting place of the hell knights , that is off limits". replied Garry.
