Born in Blood

Chapter 402 Empire of Courage

Flying over the Mega Colony was a surreal experience.

In all honesty, it seemed as though they were birds gliding painfully close to the crocodiles under them.

It looked as though a hand might reach out and seize them out of the air.

It was unsettling.

Not to mention, all around them, were other Abominations!

Thousands!

They were all heading to the same place Liam and the Temple was.

The Line.

For war.

Liam couldn't fly above such a height, either.

There were still Cloud Leeches above.

The acolytes were quiet throughout the ride, but happy nonetheless.

Their excitement had been turned to fear.

Not the morbid kind of fear.

The kind of fear that one experiences in a haunted house.

An 'enjoyable fear'.

Though, they still didn't look up.

In the first place, Liam had flown the Kitsune past the furthest corners of the Mega Colony.

The needle-like building was, in his estimation, 3,350 kilometers away.

'We're safe.'

'For now.'

Liam's eyes constricted towards the horizon.

The Mega Colony, judging by the maps given to Liam by Alucard, was roughly 9,000 meters in diameter!

That was no little number.

But the Line was much further out.

The map Alucard gave them featured 3 lines on the baguette-shaped country.

The first line was the Empire of Fear, and the Mega Colony.

Past this particular line were thousands of little circles.

These weren't colonies.

They were stations.

For battle.

Then, there was the second line.

This was the main Line, where the war was taking place.

Then, past this Line, was thousands and thousands of little squares.

These were also stations, but for the Empire of Courage.

Then, past that, was the third line.

And that was where the Empire of Courage was.

More precisely, where the Emperor of Courage was.

But even at such a height, Liam couldn't see past the Mega Colony.

There was a single veil of darkness further ahead.

Below, Liam could see thousands and thousands of people making a beeline for the Line.

They were mounted upon Abominations, and it almost looked as though they were migrating.

'Soldiers.'

A few of them had glum looks on their faces.

'They probably had no choice but to participate in the war.'

'None of these people did.'

They were being drafted!

And the ride continued wordlessly.

No one exchanged mental transmissions.

It was dangerous.

Who knew what kind of creatures could detect thoughts?

It was better to be safe than sorry.

Everyone had their smells masked by the Kitsune. But Abominations smelled horrendous. And now so did they.

Right…

Kitsu had 'scent manipulation' as well, as if her abilities weren't already strong.

As the days passed by, more and more Abominations filled the sky, creating a terrifying, multi-colored swarm.

Now, there was zero chance Liam's group would get caught in such an environment.

They were one of many, and they weren't even the strongest.

Liam was sitting on Kitsu's maw when a call came to him from the vampires on the other side.

Liam answered.

"We've arrived at the battle zones," the Minister of Magic said instantly. "The war here is much more controlled than I imagined."

Liam paused.

"You don't have to explain it," Liam said. "I'll see for myself."

"Very well. Do make it quick. The smell here is atrocious," the Magic Minister responded. "Until then."

The connection had cut.

Liam sighed.

'They got there much faster than I imagined,' he thought. 'If they don't piss around, this'll be over faster than I thought.'

***

Finally, after two and a half weeks, they were going to pass through the dark veil!

Right now, they couldn't stop or fly around this thing, even if they wanted to.

They had already moved past the first line, the Mega Colony, and below them, there were only hordes and hordes of Imperialists that flowed like living rivers.

As far as he knew, the veil wasn't anything dangerous.

It acted like a one way.

You could go in...

But you couldn't leave.

That was why this veil was erected here in the first place.

To stop deserters or loose Abominations from re-entering the Mega Colony.

...And this veil formed a circle around the Line!

What did this mean, exactly?

If you entered, you couldn't leave.

Either you killed them, or they killed you.

Either you won, or you lost.

There was no in between!

Slowly, the veil was coming closer and closer.

Liam braced himself.

The Elders braced themselves.

The acolytes slightly pissed themselves.

Kitsu lightly growled.

The air whistled in Liam's ears.

A moment later, he burst into the veil without stopping.

There was no physical impact, but it felt like there was.

WHOOSH!

Contrary to expectation, the black veil followed alongside them for several minutes.

Until finally…

Liam was able to see the other side.

He quickly realized how grand this Line thing really was.

From the inside, the veil wasn't actually black. It was transparent.

And Liam could see the Empire of Courage outside of it!

If the Empire of Fear was a grim deathland made for creeps and morbid individuals…

The Empire of Courage was the complete opposite.

It was…

Majestic.

It consisted of marble pillars, sturdy, milk-white walls, towering spires made with a master craftsman's hand covering its skyline. It followed sapphire-blue and gold accents, which contrasted with the Empire of Fear's crimson and obsidian-black. It built atop itself, rising to the skies.

At its foot was a colossal, stone statue of an armored man, his hands resting on the pommel of a silver longsword, the tip of which was lodged into the ground.

It almost… radiated emotion. Like hope, resolve, grit and undying determination.

A beacon for humanity itself!

The lands itself were lush, filled with vibrant wildlife and tame magical beasts.

It looked amazing.

And in the peak of such a magnificent looking place… there was one building in particular that looked like a javelin with a golden tip.

It was definitely where the Courage Emperor lived.

Liam couldn't help but look at it.

Instead of vomiting, Liam simply felt… nothing.

Nothing in particular.

Liam creaked his head back and looked at the Empress of Fear's tower…

But there was also no feeling.

The veil probably blocked it out.

But that was the least of Liam's worries.