novelraw Chapter 307: The Carapace Clan
Chapter 307: The Carapace Clan
Seated inside a half ruined room, Thoren stared silently at the Jackal Chief Beastman without the slightest change in his expression even though the Beastman continued groaning painfully from his horrific injuries.
Blood flowed endlessly from the severed lower half of the Jackal Chief’s body, staining the shattered floor beneath him crimson. The metallic scent of blood filled the room heavily while fragments of broken stone and splintered wood littered every corner.
The atmosphere inside the room felt suffocatingly tense.
Outside the ruined building, the entire town remained deathly silent after the massacre. Nobody dared approach too closely. Nobody dared interrupt whatever was happening inside.
Meanwhile, inside the broken chamber, only the painful groans of the dying Beastman echoed faintly through the air.
"I need some information from you," Thoren finally spoke calmly.
His voice sounded casual and steady as though he was discussing ordinary matters rather than interrogating the defeated ruler of the town.
"You may choose to remain silent," he continued softly, "but I advise you to think carefully about your fellow kinsmen before making that decision."
The Jackal Chief Beastman stared deeply at Thoren as though he was looking directly at some terrifying devil born from the depths of hell itself.
For many years, he always believed the Jackal Beastman race represented brutality and savagery perfectly. Their race slaughtered enemies mercilessly, enslaved weaker races, and ruled through fear and violence.
Yet after witnessing everything today, the Jackal Chief finally realized something horrifying.
Compared to the silver haired human before him, the brutality of the Jackal Beastmen seemed insignificant.
This human standing before him resembled death itself.
The Jackal Chief swallowed painfully while fresh blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. His breathing remained unstable while agony continued spreading through every inch of his broken body.
"H Human... what exactly do you wish to know?" the Jackal Chief asked hoarsely.
Without hesitation, Thoren reached calmly into his inventory and retrieved the mysterious ancient book discovered within the ruins earlier.
The thick black book landed softly upon the cracked stone floor between them.
"Can you read this language?" Thoren asked directly.
The moment the Jackal Chief laid eyes upon the ancient book, his expression changed drastically.
His crimson pupils widened violently while shock flooded his face completely.
"T This..."
He opened his mouth instinctively, yet no words emerged immediately. For several moments, he even seemed to forget the unbearable pain ravaging his body entirely.
"W Where did you find this ancient book?" he asked suddenly while his voice rose sharply with disbelief.
Thoren looked at him calmly.
"Do you really need to ask?" he replied casually. "Of course I found it within the ruins."
Naturally, the Jackal Chief already understood where Thoren discovered the book. However, he simply could not believe such an object still existed within the ruins after all these years.
"H Human, do you understand what you are holding right now?" the Jackal Chief asked while staring at the ancient book with obvious fear.
After several seconds of silence, he finally released a deep exhausted sigh mixed together with blood.
"If news concerning this ancient book spreads throughout the Bleeding Desert," he muttered heavily, "then this world will never know peace again."
His voice gradually became graver.
"Blood will flow like rivers."
"This entire desert may descend into endless war."
Unlike the visibly shaken Jackal Chief, Thoren remained completely calm throughout the conversation.
Of course, he already understood the terrifying importance hidden behind the ancient book.
Unfortunately, importance alone meant nothing if he could not read its contents.
Without understanding the language written upon its pages, the book remained nearly useless to him.
Thus, regardless of the dangers involved, he needed someone capable of deciphering it.
That path could not be avoided.
Before Thoren could continue questioning him further, the Jackal Chief spoke again.
"This book contains secrets regarding why our world became an endless desert," the Beastman revealed slowly.
"Although I personally cannot read the language inside, I once heard rumors about a clan within the inner regions."
"They specialize in ancient world history."
"They should possess the ability to decipher this language."
The Jackal Chief paused briefly before slowly raising his gaze toward Thoren once more.
His expression became unusually serious.
"Before I reveal their identity," he said quietly, "promise me something first."
Thoren narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Speak."
"Promise me you will spare my kinsmen," the Jackal Chief pleaded weakly. "They are innocent regarding this matter."
"They only followed my commands."
"They had nothing to do with my decisions."
The Beastman no longer doubted whether the human before him possessed the ability to wipe out the remaining Jackal Beastmen entirely.
After witnessing today’s massacre personally, he understood clearly that nothing inside this town could stop Thoren if he truly desired complete extermination.
With death already looming over him, the Jackal Chief could only gamble upon the small possibility that the silver haired human still possessed some lingering shred of restraint.
"You need not worry," Thoren responded calmly.
"I will not slaughter them indiscriminately."
"As long as they avoid crossing my path, I will not touch them."
Although he acted ruthlessly against enemies, Thoren never considered himself some mindless lunatic obsessed with meaningless slaughter.
He killed when necessary.
Nothing more.
Watching the serious expression upon Thoren’s face, the Jackal Chief finally released a shaky breath of relief.
Strangely enough, despite his current condition, he trusted the silver haired human’s words completely.
Perhaps because deception seemed entirely unnecessary now.
Or perhaps because Thoren simply looked like someone who never bothered lying.
"The clan is called the Carapace Clan," the Jackal Chief finally revealed.
"They reside deep within the inner regions."
However, his expression soon darkened further.
"You must understand something clearly," he warned gravely.
"They are even more savage than the Jackal Beastmen."
"They worship combat."
"They respect only strength."
"Anyone weak before them becomes nothing more than prey."
Despite the warning, Thoren’s expression never changed.
If there was one thing he feared least, it was battle itself.
After everything he experienced so far, combat no longer frightened him.
"Jackal Chief," Thoren suddenly said calmly while standing up slowly, "I hope this information is not another one of your schemes."
The Jackal Chief shook his head weakly.
"I am already dying," he muttered bitterly. "Why would I invite destruction upon my remaining kinsmen?"
He had already learned his lesson completely.
Opposing the Grim Reaper only invited annihilation.
Thoren no longer responded afterward.
Without another word, he turned calmly and walked out from the ruined chamber before entering another partially collapsed room nearby.
Inside the dark room lay the corpse of the Guild Captain.
His chest remained completely motionless while blood pooled heavily beneath his broken body.
Death had already claimed him completely.
However, Thoren showed no emotional reaction whatsoever upon seeing the corpse.
"Grave Whisper," he commanded softly.
Instantly, a pale illusory figure floated slowly out from the Guild Captain’s corpse.
It was the man’s soul.
The transparent figure stared blankly ahead with hollow lifeless eyes while eerie spiritual energy surrounded its form.
"Tell me everything about your guild," Thoren ordered calmly.
Under the influence of the skill, the soul obeyed immediately.
The Guild Captain’s spirit began revealing information rapidly regarding the Slave Trade Guild, including its structure, hidden operations, powerful members, and connections within the Bleeding Desert.
The deeper the information became, the colder Thoren’s eyes gradually turned.
Several minutes later, Thoren finally walked out from the ruined building and returned calmly to the silent blood soaked streets outside.
However, if anybody entered those ruined rooms afterward, they would discover only the lifeless corpse of the Jackal Chief Beastman.
As for the Guild Captain’s corpse, it had already disappeared entirely.
Naturally, Thoren would never waste the opportunity to acquire such a powerful undead servant for his growing legion.
A Level Thirty existence possessed tremendous value.
Especially for him– the Grim Reaper.
***
AN: This poor author is asking for your support. Please support with your Magic Castle. I’m crying right now. I’m just too poor right now...
Take pity on me.