Read Novel Full Chapter 667- Tainted Lands (2)
Chapter 667- Tainted Lands (2)
"The finalized map is currently being transported toward your camp."
Good. This was one of the most important objectives.
The Tainted Lands was vast and unstable. It constituted more than 70% of the land of Valdonia.
The terrain had changed completely due to demonic corruption. Making old maps nearly useless.
Having accurate information was invaluable.
"The fifth division has reported that..."
As he listened to the long stream of reports, a faint smile appeared on Reinhardt’s face.
Everything was proceeding better than expected.
Then another report came.
"Current enemy activity remains low. No signs of large-scale demonic movements within the immediate surrounding area."
That caused several nearby knights to visibly relax.
However, Reinhardt’s eyes narrowed slightly instead.
The demons were too quiet.
Although they had fought numerous demonic hordes on their way here, it was mostly comprised of middle and low-ranking demons. Demonic monsters made up most of the numbers.
The cunning ones, the demons who stood at the peak of the ladder, were yet to make their move.
The demonkind were not fools.
Humanity had made such big movements over the month and had entered the Tainted Lands with overwhelming force.
There was no way they weren’t aware of it.
That said, Reinhardt did not make a mountain out of a molehill.
They were still at the periphery of the Tainted Lands. They had yet to truly encroach inside.
Still.
"Maintain all scouting operations," Reinhardt ordered everyone to remain on guard.
"Double the night patrols around the outer perimeter. And inform all divisions not to lower their guard simply because progress has been smooth."
"Understood."
The voice from the device answered immediately.
Reinhardt lowered his gaze toward the empty map that was slowly being filled.
With more than seventy percent of the land fallen to the demons, one could imagine how vast the Tainted Lands were.
Without a map to rely on, everything was unknown.
Still, seeing the incomplete map was enough to fill anyone with a sense of duty and achievement.
Humanity was finally taking back its land that was seized from them.
.
Reinhardt exited the command tent for a stroll.
The cold wind brushed against his cape immediately.
The camp was lively.
Knights moved everywhere carrying supplies. Repairing armor, setting up tents, and transporting weapons.
Some groups sparred openly despite the ongoing campaign.
Others sat around purified fire pits eating meals while laughing loudly.
The heavy despair usually associated with the Tainted Lands was nowhere to be seen.
A scene like this was a stark contrast from the events from twelve years ago.
The Allied Knight Orders’ first expedition against the demonkind.
Reinhardt slowly walked through the camp while observing everything quietly.
"Did you see Hero Achilles split that giant demon in half earlier?"
"Hahaha! I thought the mountain exploded!"
Laughter erupted everywhere.
There was excitement, hope, and confidence in the eyes of all the knights.
And all of it was due to Reinhardt.
Without him, this expedition wouldn’t have been as easy.
Pure mana drifted around the area. It filled the knights with strength.
For many this was the first time they had ever stood inside the Tainted Lands without feeling suffocated.
So when they saw Reinhardt passing by, they hurriedly saluted.
"Sir Divine Paladin."
Reinhardt nodded lightly toward them before continuing with his stroll.
Far away, the darkness of the true Tainted Lands still stretched endlessly.
For now, this progress was good.
.
.
Somewhere deep within the Tainted Lands.
A place so dark that there was no difference between sky and earth.
Metallic corridors hummed. Walls made of alloy and massive glass chambers towered from floor to ceiling. Filled with bubbling liquids.
The place was filled with cutting-edge technology far more advanced than the current era of civilization.
The place was unlike anything that could be found in Valdonia.
No, to be more precise in the present-day Valdonia.
The technology here was reminiscent of the ancient technology that could now only be found in Labyrinths and Shelters.
It was widely known that no life could exist in the Tainted Lands.
Especially in the deeper parts where the concentration of demonic energy was too extreme.
Yet, as if toppling that knowledge, life thrived here.
Vines crawled across everywhere. Flowers bloomed and trees rustled from the wind.
An artificial sun hung in the ceiling. It illuminated the place with its rays.
Rivers, insects, and even animals lived their life in this place.
A biosphere reserve.
It was beautiful.
Yet it stood as a complete contradiction to the knowledge of the outside world.
Men and women wearing long white coats walked calmly through the facility. Conducting various research.
On the glass tubes, one could see dissected corpses of various races.
Humans, demi-humans, even races that had long gone extinct in Valdonia like the ancient giant race and dragons.
That was not all. Even the corpses of some high-ranking demons could be seen suspended inside those glass tubes.
If Reinhardt was here, he would be shocked by the existence of such a place. After all, the scene here seemed quite similar to the vision Minerva had once shown him.
The scenes of her origin.
At this moment, inside one of the rooms of the establishment, one creature suddenly opened its eyes inside the glass tube. It banged its fist against the tube.
BANG. Cracks appeared on the tube.
Researchers hurried and injected a solution into the tube. Suppressing the subject and causing it to fall unconscious.
Seeing this, several researchers calmly took notes as if such things were normal.
"Subject 10044’s aggression levels have increased again."
"What about Aether instability?"
"It is minimal."
"Good."
One of the researchers standing at the center of the laboratory slowly nodded. Satisfaction flashed across his face.
He wore black-rimmed glasses. His greying beard was unkempt and his body was broad and stocky.
Nothing about him looked imposing.
And yet the fanaticism burning inside his eyes made even the surrounding researchers unconsciously lower their heads.
Other than the intellect of the man, there was nothing remarkable about him.
If you placed him among the ordinary humans, he wouldn’t even stand out.
Yet this man was the most wanted criminal in the world.
The man was Doctor Victor Voss.
However, no one knew him by this name.
The world called him the Father of Chimera Research.
The Mad Scholar.
The most wanted criminal in the world.
The leader of the Organization.
That’s right, he was the man behind the research on the Demonic Markings.
Reinhardt’s subordinate Karina was once a failed product and member of the Organization.
Years ago, he had founded a secret research organization that abducted countless races. It conducted horrifying experiments in pursuit of "human evolution."
In his pursuit of knowledge, he caused indiscriminate destruction and loss of life.
When the truth finally surfaced, the whole world united to hunt him down.
Even Reinhardt had led a few expeditions to track him.
However, it had always ended up in failure.
The Organization was just too slippery.
Unexpectedly, though, over these couple of years, the organization had suddenly gone silent. Leading to people believing that Doctor Victor Voss had died.
However, no one could have known that not only did the doctor not die, the organization was still continuing its research.
"I knew it."
Victor muttered while staring at the glass chamber.
"My methods were never wrong. I have finally uncovered the truth of this world."
He slowly spread his arms.
"They mocked me. They condemned me. They called my work inhumane."
"But now, it is my turn to laugh at them. HAHAHAH..."
A maniacal laughter escaped his throat.
The other researchers also joined in the joy.
"It is fortunate we followed you, Leader."
"If we had remained with humanity, we would have died ignorant like cattle."
"They worship Heroes while fearing evolution."
"They still believe demons are another race."
Victor nodded. He agreed with their views.
Pitiful. That was how he viewed humanity now.
A species shackled by morality.
Although he had achieved a great victory, Victor did not let this cloud his mind.
"Compile the latest report. And deliver it personally to Lord Astaroth. His patience has been running thin," he hurriedly instructed.
Hearing that name, the researchers gulped. They obediently started compiling the report.
Meanwhile, Victor removed his lab coat.
When he revealed his bare upper body, the thing embedded in his chest came into view.
At first, it looked a grotesque pulsing mass. A living tumor.
With black veins and crimson light pulsating from it, it looked quite disturbing.
However, Victor Voss did not share the same feeling.
He even looked proud at the thing attached to his chest.
"Prepare a pod for me. Ready the lineage serum. It is time for me to shed this mortal form and ascend to a greater race."
"Yes, Leader!"
The researchers hurried into motion immediately.
Meanwhile, inside the adjacent glass tube, Subject 10044 convulsed violently.
CRACK.
Its spine bent unnaturally. Bones protruded outward and dark skin covered the previous wheatish skin.
That was not all. Wings tore through its back.