Chapter 13: Amidst the Mist

"Sir, all the goods are packed. Last night's 'support supplies,' including seven oxen, twenty sheep, one packhorse, and various other items, have all been accounted for and packed," reported the steward Karim, wearing his neat cotton shirt, though his expression was glum. No one was happy about heading into the Northern Province. From the walls, all they could see was an endless expanse of gray mist stretching to the sky.

Karim had considered fleeing, but Field gave him no chance. Sam and the other slave soldiers, corrupted by money, had become Field's loyal followers. Karim was certain that if he ran, those damned dogs would kill him immediately, and then Field would reward them with a silver coin.

"Damn dogs," Karim cursed in his heart. "They'd sell their souls for money, not caring about their lives." That's how slaves were—give them a bit of hope and better treatment, and they'd be willing to sacrifice their lives.

"By the way, sir," Kaa hesitated several times, glancing at Asheena before finally asking, "Is that slave—sorry, I mean Miss Asheena—really The Chosen? Can you show us a miracle?"

Field had announced the news about The Chosen to encourage morale the previous night.

"Do I need to prove it to you? Why don't you go lead the expedition while I become your steward? I wonder if you could survive the empire's extermination forces," Field snorted, stopping Asheena from summoning her giant wolf. He glared at Karim, the unfaithful steward who had been speaking pessimistically the entire time. If it weren't for the fact that Karim was one of the few literate people, Field would have made him a coachman.

It was time to put him in his place.

Kaa felt the pressure, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. He muttered an "uh," not daring to speak further. His master seemed like a different person, perhaps because of the immense pressure from the family. That had to be it; after all, even he didn't want to enter the cursed land. A pampered noble certainly wouldn't want to either. Kaa's mind was in turmoil.

"No objections? Then let's go!" Field lit the mist-dispersing lamp, each one costing twenty-five gold coins. Every minute it burned felt like throwing money into the fire.

Gritting his teeth, Field stepped into the Northern Province. The surrounding sounds and the presence of any living beings abruptly vanished. In their place was a terrifying silence. Looking up, Field saw the surrounding gray death mist, eerily quiet and so thick that even the sun was obscured. Staying too long gave the illusion of being in the deep sea, making Field tense and fearful, let alone the slaves.

Without the mist-dispersing lamp, they would be corrupted, and without Field's announcement about The Chosen, they would have lost their sanity, throwing themselves into the mist to be turned into monsters.

The ground was covered with writhing red-black "tentacles," corrupted plants that, while not attacking, entangled the wheels of the carts.

"Feels just like Silent Hill," Field muttered, forcing himself to stay calm. He walked at the front of the group, making sure they could see him, leading them forward and giving them courage. If a noble was willing to risk his life, what reason did they have to run?

"Caw caw caw..."

"Roar!"

Strange sounds echoed from the mist, the lamp illuminating only a hundred paces ahead. The howls came from farther away, offering no sense of security.

Ruins and broken walls littered the landscape, with rusting spears still impaling withered heads. Field even saw faded griffon banners; the empire had sent many expeditionary forces, all dead and turned into "locals."

"Gulp."

Field swallowed hard.

"Sir, fall back behind me," Asheena warned, her crimson eyes watching the right front intently. "A monster is approaching."

Soon, a zombie missing half its face staggered into view.

"Whizz!"

Asheena drew her bow, releasing a silver streak. The zombie's head exploded like a watermelon, and its body rolled to the ground, motionless.

"Watch out! More monsters are coming!" Field saw a swarm of red skull markers on his mini-map. Exposed, he shouted, "Just like before, form a wagon circle! Archers, fire!"

Field had acquired eighty crossbows and a hundred imperial bows at Kasan Fortress, though only two or three slaves could shoot. Fortunately, crossbows were easy to use, so he equipped twenty archers.

The howls grew louder, accompanied by the sound of countless footsteps. A dark mass of zombies appeared, visible to all. Despite Field's mini-map, the density of monsters forced them into combat.

"Damn it, fire!" Field ordered, and the slaves fired their trembling crossbows.

"Whoosh whoosh," the front row of zombies hit an invisible wall and fell.

Asheena put away her bow, summoning her giant wolf to charge. Though only a first-tier Chosen, her combat power was far beyond ordinary humans. Her long sword danced like a butterfly, cutting down zombies.

Some zombies lost their heads, others were crushed by the wolf's claws. Asheena plunged into the horde, her wolf spinning and spewing blue flames, reducing the zombies to ashes.

"She really is The Chosen?" Kaa rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

Asheena shouldered much of the burden, but the tension remained. The endless zombies emerging from the mist created immense psychological pressure.

"Kill!" Sam shouted, thrusting his spear at an oncoming zombie. 

Three or four spears pierced a zombie's chest, then lifted it like a rag doll. More zombies clashed with Sam's slave guard, their fists and claws raining on the shields and armor, producing a metallic clang.

"Huh? What's flying over?"

Field noticed a fast-moving skull marker on the map, directly above. Without hesitation, he dismounted, knowing he was too exposed.

Just as he landed, a gust of wind rushed past him.

"Watch your head!"

Field ducked, thrusting his sword upward. In a flash, he saw a batwoman. 

Headless and eyebrow-less, her hideous face and female body were marred by bat wings for arms and hooked claws for feet.