Chapter 162: The Price of Forbidden Knowledge

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: The Price of Forbidden Knowledge

The journey back to Bloodfall City was considerably quieter than the previous expedition.

Five members of the Ashen Covenant travelled in chains, guarded by Kharven and the two surviving scouts. Their weapons had been confiscated, and several energy crystals recovered from their equipment were now in Ronan’s possession.

The prisoners had initially attempted to resist.

That ended after Ronan broke the arm of the first one who tried escaping.

Since then, they had remained obedient.

Ronan sat inside the carriage, examining one of the black crystals.

It was roughly the size of his thumb, with a dark surface that occasionally released faint flashes of gray light. Unlike ordinary energy crystals, its energy didn’t disperse when exposed to the air.

Instead, it remained concentrated within the object.

He placed it between his fingers.

The crystal was useful, but he wasn’t certain how to absorb its energy safely.

His system couldn’t identify its composition, and the mark on his palm only reacted when he brought it close to the crystal.

He had already learned not to experiment carelessly with things he didn’t understand.

For now, he stored it.

"How long until we arrive?" he asked.

"Approximately two hours," Kharven replied from outside.

Ronan leaned against the carriage.

He had several things to consider.

The Ashen Covenant had revealed that the mark allowed him to interact with the sealed structures beneath the Ashen Reach. They had also confirmed that the ancient network was deteriorating.

However, the most important discovery was that someone else was responsible for the disappearances.

The Covenant claimed they were trying to preserve the seals.

Whether that was entirely true remained uncertain.

Ronan wasn’t particularly interested in believing strangers simply because they had offered an explanation.

He needed evidence.

And he needed to understand what the Covenant knew about the mark.

The leader was still alive.

That alone made the expedition worthwhile.

---

By the time the carriage reached Bloodfall City, word of their return had already spread.

Several guards gathered near the entrance, staring at the chained vampires.

Their armor was unfamiliar, and the broken masks covering their faces attracted considerable attention.

"Who are those people?"

"Are they prisoners from the western territories?"

"I heard the expedition encountered another powerful creature."

The guards whispered among themselves.

Ronan ignored them and stepped out of the carriage.

"Take the prisoners to the underground detention chambers. Separate the leader from the others."

Kharven nodded.

"Understood."

"Make sure none of them can communicate."

The guards immediately moved forward.

Ronan watched as the prisoners were escorted away.

Then he turned toward the castle.

Varkos was waiting.

---

The Vampire Lord sat behind his desk when Ronan entered.

Several documents were scattered across its surface, and a map of the western territories occupied most of the table.

Varkos raised his head.

"I hear you’ve returned with guests."

"Five of them."

"Members of the organization responsible for the disappearances?"

"Not necessarily. They claim to be an organization called the Ashen Covenant. According to their leader, they’re responsible for maintaining the ancient seals beneath the Ashen Reach."

Varkos leaned back.

"The Ashen Covenant..."

He repeated the name thoughtfully.

"Have you heard of them?" Ronan asked.

"Not directly. However, there are several references to a group that operated in the Ashen Reach centuries ago. They were described as guardians of ancient ruins, although their existence was never confirmed."

Ronan nodded.

That matched the prisoner’s explanation.

Varkos continued.

"What did you learn from them?"

"They detected my presence after I disturbed one of the ruins. They wanted to extract something from my body."

The Vampire Lord’s expression changed.

"Extract?"

"Apparently, the mark branded on my hand allows me to interact with the sealed structures. They believed they could remove it and use it to stabilize the network."

Varkos remained silent.

His gaze slowly moved toward Ronan’s hand.

"May I see it?"

"No."

A faint smile appeared on the Vampire Lord’s face.

"You’re remarkably protective of your secrets."

"I’ve survived this long by being careful about what I reveal."

"Fair enough."

Varkos returned his attention to the documents.

"Did they explain who was responsible for the disappearances?"

"They denied involvement. According to their leader, another force has been disrupting the seals and taking people from the settlements."

"Do you believe him?"

"I believe he was afraid of something."

Ronan paused.

"Whether that fear makes his explanation truthful is another matter."

Varkos nodded.

"Bring the leader to my chamber. I want to question him personally."

"You can do that, but don’t expect him to reveal everything immediately."

"Why?"

"Because he’s hiding something."

Ronan turned toward the door.

"Fortunately, I have time."

---

The leader of the Ashen Covenant was brought before Varkos several minutes later.

His hands were bound behind his back, and the remaining fragments of his mask had been removed.

He looked considerably less intimidating without his armor.

Varkos examined him.

"Your name."

The prisoner remained silent.

A guard struck the back of his knees, forcing him to kneel.

Varkos raised one hand.

"That won’t be necessary."

He leaned forward.

"I asked for your name."

The prisoner hesitated.

"Kael."

"Your rank within the Ashen Covenant?"

"Regional Guardian."

"Who commands you?"

"The Keeper."

Varkos nodded.

"Ronan has already told me about your organization. I want to know how many members operate within the Ashen Reach."

Kael remained silent.

Varkos waited.

When no answer came, the Vampire Lord glanced toward Ronan.

"Is he always this cooperative?"

"He’s considerably worse when he’s being punched."

Kael glared at him.

Varkos chuckled.

"Perhaps we should try a different approach."

He stood and walked around the table.

"You claim your organization exists to protect the ancient seals. Yet your members were found operating near a settlement where several inhabitants disappeared. You also attempted to capture someone who had entered one of the ruins."

Kael looked up.

"We didn’t take those people."

"Then explain why your members were there."

"We were investigating an energy disturbance."

"Convenient."

"The disturbances have increased over the past few months. Several seals have weakened, and some have disappeared entirely."

Ronan’s attention sharpened.

"Disappeared?"

Kael nodded.

"Some of the structures are no longer responding. Their energy channels have been severed, and the guardians have either vanished or become unstable."

That explained the creature beneath the first ruins.

Perhaps the guardian hadn’t simply been awakened by Ronan’s arrival. It might have been struggling against a failing seal for years.

Varkos returned to his seat.

"Why haven’t you informed the surrounding territories?"

Kael laughed bitterly.

"Who would believe us? The last time we approached a regional ruler, he attempted to seize our artifacts. We lost an entire sanctuary because of that decision."

Ronan studied him.

That was plausible.

Powerful rulers had little reason to trust an unknown organization operating within their territories, especially one possessing ancient artifacts.

"Tell us about the other force," Ronan said.

Kael’s expression changed.

"They call themselves the Hollow."

Varkos frowned.

"The Hollow?"

"We don’t know their true name. That’s what our records call them. They appear wherever a seal collapses, and they take people from nearby settlements."

"Why?"

"We don’t know."

Kael lowered his head.

"But we know what happens to the places they visit."

He paused.

"The land becomes empty. The energy disappears, and everything left behind eventually turns to ash."

Ronan’s eyes narrowed.

That description was beginning to resemble the conditions of the Ashen Reach itself.

He considered the possibility that the entire region had once been subjected to the same process.

If so, the ruins weren’t simply remnants of an ancient civilization.

They might be remnants of an ancient disaster.

"Where can we find them?" Ronan asked.

Kael shook his head.

"They don’t have a fixed location. We track the disturbances, but they disappear before we arrive."

"Then how did they find the settlements?"

"We believe they’re following the energy released by the failing seals."

Ronan fell silent.

The explanation was reasonable.

It also meant the disappearances might continue as more seals weakened.

Varkos looked toward Ronan.

"What do you think?"

"I think we need to investigate one of the locations before another seal collapses."

Kael immediately raised his head.

"Don’t."

Ronan glanced at him.

"Why?"

"Because the structures aren’t ordinary ruins. Some of the seals are holding back things that shouldn’t be awakened."

Ronan’s expression remained unchanged.

"That sounds like a reason to investigate them before they collapse."

Kael opened his mouth, then closed it.

Varkos laughed softly.

"You’re remarkably difficult to discourage."

"I prefer knowing what I’m dealing with."

The Vampire Lord considered the prisoner for several moments before giving his instructions.

"Keep him alive. I want the other four questioned separately. Compare their accounts and determine whether they’re hiding anything."

The guards bowed.

Kael was taken away.

When the chamber became quiet again, Varkos turned toward Ronan.

"I have a proposal."

Ronan raised an eyebrow.

"I’m listening."

"I want you to lead another expedition into the Ashen Reach. This time, you’ll have access to a larger team, and my specialists will accompany you."

"And what do I receive?"

"Whatever resources you require for the expedition, within reason. You’ll also receive a portion of any valuable materials recovered from the ruins."

Ronan considered the offer.

He didn’t particularly enjoy working under Varkos, but the Vampire Lord possessed resources he could use.

More importantly, the specialists might help him understand the formations.

"There’s something else I want."

"Go on."

"I want access to the Covenant’s captured artifacts. Anything related to the seals, the energy crystals, or the guardians."

Varkos nodded.

"Agreed."

Ronan stood.

"Then we have a deal."

---

Later that evening, Ronan visited the underground detention chambers.

He wasn’t particularly interested in the other four prisoners.

Kael was the one who possessed the most information, and he intended to extract as much as possible from him.

The leader sat against the wall, his wrists chained to the stone.

When Ronan entered, he raised his head.

"Come to ask more questions?"

"Something like that."

Ronan approached the bars.

"I want to know about the artifacts your organization uses."

Kael looked away.

"Why?"

"Because I intend to visit another ruin, and I’d rather not walk into another formation without understanding what I’m dealing with."

Kael hesitated.

Then he sighed.

"Most of our artifacts are made from materials recovered from the ancient structures. They help us identify energy fluctuations and maintain the seals."

"Can they strengthen someone?"

The prisoner looked at him.

"Some can."

Ronan waited.

Kael continued.

"There are crystals that contain concentrated energy. However, absorbing them directly is dangerous. The energy can overwhelm the body or cause mutations."

Ronan’s interest increased.

"What about the black crystals carried by your warriors?"

"Those are condensed fragments. They’re used to power our equipment."

"How do you refine them?"

Kael shook his head.

"Only the senior guardians know the process."

Ronan frowned slightly.

He had hoped for something more useful.

Still, he had learned that the crystals weren’t ordinary resources. Their energy could potentially strengthen him, provided he found a way to absorb it safely.

He would need to investigate that possibility.

Before leaving, he asked one final question.

"Where is your nearest sanctuary?"

Kael hesitated.

"Beyond the eastern ridge. There’s an entrance hidden beneath the remains of an old fortress."

Ronan nodded.

He had already discovered the location of the eastern ruins, but the sanctuary was a different matter.

"How many members are stationed there?"

"At least twenty."

"How strong?"

"Most are King Realm. The senior guardians are stronger."

Ronan smiled faintly.

That was useful information.

He left the detention chamber and returned to his quarters.

---

The following morning, a package arrived from Varkos’s alchemists.

Inside were several bottles of medicine, a collection of rare blood crystals, and a small metallic container.

A note accompanied the delivery.

The contents of the container were recovered from an ancient ruin. Our specialists believe it may help stabilize unusual energy within the body. Use it carefully.

Ronan opened the container.

Inside lay a dark-red crystal.

Unlike the gray fragments he had recovered in the Ashen Reach, this one contained a familiar type of energy.

Blood essence.

His expression brightened.

He examined the crystal.

It was exceptionally pure, and the concentration of blood essence was far higher than what he could obtain from ordinary vampires.

This was a resource worth using.

Ronan immediately activated Blood Sucking.

The crystal began releasing its energy.

Streams of blood essence flowed into his body, spreading through his veins and strengthening his physical constitution.

He continued absorbing it until the crystal became dull.

A notification appeared.

[Blood essence absorbed.]

[Essence increased.]

Ronan examined his status.

His Essence had increased, and the damage accumulated during his recent battles had begun healing more rapidly.

It wasn’t a breakthrough, but the improvement was noticeable.

He picked up another crystal.

There were several more.

By the time he finished, the injuries across his body had mostly healed, and his energy reserves had recovered.

He leaned back.

For the first time since entering the Ashen Reach, he felt comfortable with his condition.

He had captured five members of the Ashen Covenant, learned about the Hollow, secured access to ancient artifacts, and received resources from Varkos.

Most importantly, he had found a potential path toward understanding the strange energy.

His gaze shifted toward his palm.

The dark mark remained.

Ronan slowly clenched his fist.

"Let’s see what you’re connected to."

He wasn’t going to rush into another expedition.

The next time he entered the Ashen Reach, he intended to be stronger, better prepared, and equipped with enough information to avoid repeating his previous mistakes.

There were still countless creatures to hunt.

And now, there was an entire organization whose knowledge he could exploit.

Ronan smiled.

The Ashen Reach had become far more interesting than he initially expected.