Chapter 108 The Scent of Blood

Five figures moved through the wilderness beyond Silverwood City.

Aldric led the way, with four Shadow Soldiers following close behind. Their dark clothing blended into the forest’s shadows, and their movements were quiet and deliberate.

Nearly two hours had passed since their last encounter with a Monster Beast.

Aldric checked the coordinates on his communication device. According to the military’s report, several Monster Beasts had abandoned their usual territories and begun approaching areas frequented by humans. Their mission was to eliminate these threats before they could reach nearby settlements.

The exact number of creatures remained unknown.

We need to stay alert, Aldric thought.

During their journey, they had encountered several mercenaries who reported unusual Monster Beast activity. Numerous groups were operating in the region, making the wilderness more crowded than usual.

Aldric had no intention of getting involved in someone else’s business. Their mission was important, and unnecessary conflicts would only complicate matters.

He raised his hand, bringing the group to a halt.

“Maintain formation. Keep an eye on your surroundings and report anything unusual.”

The four soldiers nodded before continuing forward.

A few minutes later, Aldric suddenly stopped.

A faint smell had reached his nose.

He took another breath.

Blood.

The scent was unmistakable and growing stronger. A considerable amount of blood had been spilled somewhere nearby.

“What is it, Commander?” one of the soldiers asked.

“I’m not sure yet.” Aldric turned toward the source of the smell. “I can smell blood nearby. It could be the aftermath of a battle between Monster Beasts, or another mercenary group might have run into trouble.”

He frowned and listened to the surrounding forest.

“But if there’s been a battle, why haven’t I heard any fighting?”

Without seeing the scene himself, he couldn’t draw any conclusions.

“Something seems to have happened up ahead.” Aldric turned toward one of the Shadow Soldiers. “Go and check it out. Find out what’s going on, but don’t engage anyone unless absolutely necessary. Observe the situation and report back.”

The soldier acknowledged the order and slipped between the trees.

Aldric turned to the remaining three.

“Stay here. Be ready to move.”

He watched the scout disappear into the vegetation.

Hopefully, whatever lay ahead wouldn’t interfere with their mission.

The Shadow Soldier moved through the forest without making a sound.

As he approached the source, the smell of blood became almost overwhelming. He slowed down and stopped behind a massive tree, peering through a gap in the vegetation.

A small clearing lay ahead.

He carefully adjusted his position to get a better view.

Then he froze.

Hundreds of human bodies lay scattered across the clearing.

Some lay beneath the trees, while others were strewn across the blood-soaked ground. Broken weapons and damaged combat equipment littered the area.

These weren’t Monster Beasts.

They were people.

The Shadow Soldier scanned the area, searching for survivors or any sign of movement. His gaze soon settled on the center of the clearing.

An enormous tiger-shaped Monster Beast sat among the corpses.

Its striped body stretched nearly four meters in length, far larger than that of an ordinary tiger. It had powerful limbs and a broad head lined with sharp teeth. Despite the carnage surrounding it, the creature appeared completely unbothered.

One of its massive paws rested beside a fallen human.

Its powerful jaws tore into the flesh of another body.

Crack.

The sound of breaking bones echoed through the clearing.

The Shadow Soldier remained hidden behind the tree, watching the creature devour its meal.

Did this thing kill all these people?

He couldn’t tell exactly how many people had died, but bodies covered almost the entire clearing. The tiger showed no visible signs of injury, making it difficult to imagine anyone had managed to put up much of a fight.

The soldier shifted his attention to the far side of the clearing.

A man stood several steps away from the tiger.

The Shadow Soldier recognized the badge on his uniform.

BloodFang Mercenary Group.

He had heard about the group during their journey. BloodFang was an established mercenary force, and its leader was known for commanding experienced fighters.

Yet the man standing before the tiger hardly resembled a confident leader.

His head was lowered, his shoulders tense, and his hands rested close to his sides. He held no weapon and avoided meeting the creature’s gaze for more than a moment.

He looked like a servant waiting for his master’s orders.

Why is he here? And if he’s one of the BloodFang mercenaries, why hasn’t the tiger attacked him?

A mercenary leader of his standing should have had little reason to bow before a Monster Beast. Yet the man’s posture suggested that he wouldn’t dare offend the creature.

The tiger continued eating, paying no attention to the man standing nearby.

For several moments, the only sound in the clearing was the creature tearing into its meal.

Then the BloodFang leader took a slow breath and raised his head slightly.

“My Lord…”

The tiger didn’t respond. It continued chewing, its bloodstained jaws moving slowly.

The BloodFang leader lowered his head again, waiting for permission to continue.

The Shadow Soldier watched in silence.

A Monster Beast being addressed as My Lord was unusual enough. But seeing the leader of an established mercenary group treat it with such deference raised an even bigger question.

What kind of relationship did they share?

And what had led to the slaughter of hundreds of people?

The scout remained hidden, determined to gather as much information as possible before returning to Aldric.

He had come here expecting to find the aftermath of a battle.

Instead, he had stumbled upon a massacre and a secret meeting that was clearly not meant for outsiders to witness.

The BloodFang leader waited beside the tiger, his expression tense with nervous anticipation.

The creature swallowed its latest mouthful.

Only then did the man seem ready to speak again.

The Shadow Soldier listened intently.

Whatever happened next could change the entire course of their mission.