Chapter 268 — I Know

His voice carried absolute certainty, pointing toward where the structure stood invisible beyond the fog.

"There’s something large in the distance. It’s the only thing visible in this entire dimension and likely connected to whatever’s controlling these creatures."

Edrin processed immediately, his mind already planning marching order and defensive formations.

"We’ll need to organize properly. Can’t afford to be caught scattered if another wave attacks during movement."

Damian nodded, stepping back deliberately.

"You handle the formation. Everyone here knows you’re the best tactical coordinator present."

The statement wasn’t flattery, just fact acknowledged openly.

Edrin had proven during the battle that his ability to process battlefield information and issue effective orders exceeded even the Imperial heirs in certain contexts.

The Imperials showed no offense at Damian’s implied hierarchy, just nodded acceptance of Edrin’s capabilities in this specific role.

Survival mattered more than pride.

****

Edrin moved to the center of the formation, his voice carrying clearly despite the rain.

"Shield bearers at front and flanks. Heavy weapons supporting from interior positions. Ranged attackers in center mass with clear sight lines."

Students scrambled to positions, the organization coming faster than before.

"Imperial heirs need to be scattered throughout formation rather than clustering. Cassius, take point. Jonathan, rear guard. Ben, east flank. Raymond, west flank. Alexander, wherever shields are needed most. Sophia, center for area control. David, mobile healing as required."

The Imperials moved to assigned positions without argument.

Within five minutes, the formation was organized – one hundred seventy students arranged in a moving defensive formation, weapons ready, Auras conserved but accessible, everyone showing determination rather than the panic from before.

Damian remained at the absolute rear, his crimson eyes scanning constantly, his position allowing oversight of the entire group while maintaining ready response capability.

And they began marching.

Moving through blood-soaked mud toward a structure they couldn’t see.

****

They’d been moving for maybe twenty minutes when Lysa’s voice cut through the rhythmic sloshing of boots through mud.

"Contact! Northeast, forty meters! Twenty signatures, D rank, moving to intercept!"

The formation reacted instantly, shields raising on that side, ranged weapons tracking toward the called position, everyone moving with coordination that would have been impossible before the battle.

The creatures emerged from fog like ghosts, white eyes gleaming, knife-claws extended, their silent approach ended as they charged.

But this time, there was no panic.

No screaming or breaking formation or nobles sacrificing commoners.

Just cold and professional violence.

"FIRE!"

Edrin’s voice carried command as ranged attackers released simultaneously.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Arrows and Aura blasts and thrown weapons filled the air, striking creatures mid-charge, dropping several before they reached melee range.

The survivors hit the shield wall with familiar impact.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

But the shields held, students bracing properly, using skills rather than just raw strength.

"Hold the line, thrust on three! One! Two! THREE!"

The synchronized attack punched through gaps in the shield wall, spear points finding vulnerable spots in natural armor, creatures collapsing with precision strikes.

Heavy weapon holders swung from supporting positions, their massive blades and hammers crushing skulls and breaking limbs with devastating efficiency.

Within seconds, all twenty creatures lay dead or dying, the formation having barely slowed its forward march.

Zero casualties with perfect coordination.

Edrin’s voice carried approval as he directed the formation to close gaps and resume standard spacing.

"Good work! But maintain vigilance. Lysa, call out any additional contacts immediately."

"Yes!"

Her response was crisp, her sensory skill maintaining constant awareness of their surroundings.

****

Forty minutes into the march, a larger group emerged.

"Contact! Multiple directions! North, sixty creatures! East, forty! West, thirty!"

The formation contracted automatically, shields forming complete perimeter, ranged attackers repositioning for optimal coverage.

"North has numerical advantage!" Edrin’s tactical assessment was instant. "Imperials, focus fire north! Everyone else, hold flanks!"

Ben Royce’s fire blazed to life, his reserves still too depleted for Inferno Dominion but sufficient for directed attacks.

WHOOOOSH!

A wave of flame rolled toward the northern creatures, not the overwhelming inferno from before but concentrated enough to cripple their charge.

Jonathan’s Divine Aegis remained inactive, but his swordsmanship was still exceptional, his blade cutting through creatures with practiced efficiency.

Cassius used his spear without activating Shadow Legion, conserving his Aura for genuine emergencies, but his physical capabilities alone were devastating.

The battle lasted three minutes.

Seventeen students suffered injuries – cuts, broken bones, one dislocated shoulder.

But David moved through the formation systematically, green healing Aura closing wounds, setting bones, keeping everyone functional.

Zero deaths again.

And the march continued.

****

They’d been moving for two hours when the third wave hit.

Larger than before.

"Contact! All sides! Estimate... two hundred creatures! They’re trying to surround us!"

But the formation had become machine-like in its precision.

Shield walls interlocking.

Weapon lines thrusting in perfect synchronization.

Ranged attacks focusing fire on the densest clusters.

Imperial heirs moving to wherever pressure was greatest, their presence turning tide without needing to activate bloodline abilities.

And throughout it all, Damian’s team at the rear remained barely engaged, only activating when breaches threatened, their efficiency making them seem more like insurance policy than active combatants.

The battle lasted for eight minutes with thirty-two students injured.

Four seriously enough that David had to spend significant Aura on stabilization.

****

Damian’s crimson eyes tracked everything, noting the improvements.

But he also noticed other things.

Zavier wasn’t right.

He moved mechanically, his spear work efficient but lacking the manic energy that was previously present in his combat style.

His eyes kept drifting toward certain Noble students.

Watching them and studying them.

His hands clenching on his spear shaft with white-knuckle intensity whenever particular faces came into view.

’He wants to kill them.’

The observation was clinical, carrying no judgment, just recognition of a dangerous psychological state in one of his people.

’Probably the ones he thinks will throw commoners at creatures during the battle... Or maybe just Nobles in general after what he has been through. Either way, he’s one bad moment from doing something stupid.’

Damian disappeared from his position at the rear, his movement completely silent, reappearing beside Zavier like he’d teleported despite just using enhanced speed.

His hand came down on Zavier’s shoulder, grip firm but not painful, making the boy flinch from surprise rather than threat.

Zavier turned, his eyes meeting Damian’s crimson gaze, seeing understanding rather than reprimand.

Damian didn’t say anything as he just smiled.

It was a knowing smile, carrying a message without words – I see what you’re feeling. I understand the rage. But not now.... Control it.

Zavier took a deep breath, his hands unclenching slightly, tension bleeding from his shoulders.

"I know, Boss."

His voice was quiet, carrying acknowledgment of unspoken warning.

"I know."

Damian nodded once, patted his shoulder, then disappeared back to his position at the rear.

Crisis averted... for now.

’He’s holding it together for now. But when we get back... he’ll need to release that anger somehow or it’ll consume him from inside.’

****

The further they marched, the more the atmosphere changed.

The creatures’ attacks became less frequent.

Then stopped entirely.

The fog remained thick, visibility still reduced to barely ten meters, but the constant threat of ambush had simply... vanished.

No more white eyes emerging from mist, no more silent charges and no more mindless assault.

Just silence!

Oppressive and unnatural silence broken only by their own footsteps squelching through mud and the distant rumble of thunder.

The students’ nervousness increased paradoxically.

Fighting was terrifying, but at least combat was comprehensible.

This eerie quiet suggested something worse was coming.

Gulp.

The sound of students swallowing simultaneously echoed through the formation.

"Lysa?" Edrin’s voice carried question without panic.

"Nothing. My sensory skill isn’t detecting anything within fifty-meter range."

Her voice showed confusion mixed with unease.

How could a hostile dimension suddenly become devoid of threats?

What changed?

The answer was obvious but no one wanted to voice it.

They were approaching something terrible.

The fog rolled past them in waves, thunder rumbled overhead, rain continued its chemical assault.

And one hundred seventy students marched toward the unknown, their footsteps synchronized, their formation perfect, their determination absolute despite the terror gnawing at the edges of consciousness.

Because turning back wasn’t an option.

Because standing still meant slow death from attrition.

Because the only way out was forward, through whatever nightmare waited.