Chapter 116
The battle with the Monsters that had begun in broad daylight showed no signs of ending even as the sun began to set.
Moreover, Enoch and Kaiden were surrounded with their backs to the river, leaving them with nowhere to retreat. Covered in wounds, their fighting spirit was waning.
Kaiden glanced at Enoch, who was covered in blood, and bit his lower lip with an anxious expression.
"Are you alright, Your Highness?"
Enoch immediately understood the meaning behind Kaiden's question. It was a question filled with concern that he might have a seizure and go into a Berserk state.
"I'm fine."
Enoch roughly wiped the blood splattered on his chin with the back of his hand as he replied.
"I can control it."
He could. No, to be precise, he had to.
It was an urgent situation where even Margaret's life or death was uncertain.
Besides, what happened after he intentionally went into a Berserk state to eliminate the Monsters last time? She almost got hurt, didn't she? So, until he confirmed that Margaret was safe, he couldn't afford to lose his mind.
He had to overcome it. Drowning in self-loathing and losing his grip on his sanity wouldn't solve anything.
He tightened his grip on the sword. As a result, red veins stood out on his trembling hand.
The Monsters surrounding them had bizarre appearances unlike anything they had seen before. They were on a different level from the Monsters he had seen on the Southern Island.
One of them broke through its group and rushed forward quickly. It was a bizarre Monster in the form of a fish with legs.
Kyaak!
It lunged at Kaiden, opening its huge mouth.
Seeing the sharp, dense teeth, Kaiden turned halfway and passed the right to attack to Enoch, who was back-to-back with him. Enoch immediately thrust his long sword upwards from under the fish's snout.
Starting with the fish Monster's attack, the Monsters that had been watching cautiously rushed at them again.
Kwaaaak!
Kaaak!
The sun had set, and a deep night had come, but the battle showed no signs of ending. This was because the Monsters continued to swarm in while they were surrounded.
"Damn it, it's undignified, but how about we just run away?"
Kaiden said, panting heavily.
Enoch, covered in blood and pointing his sword at the Monsters, let out a weary breath. Then, he calmly scanned the Monsters and frowned.
"That would be a good idea."
However, the number of Monsters surrounding them was considerable. It seemed difficult to find a gap to escape. The situation continued to not go as they wished.
At that moment, Enoch couldn't help but hesitate. If things continued like this, he might really die. Without even finding Margaret.
"Damn it! There's no way out!"
Kaiden shouted in a voice full of annoyance. Enoch, with a face so expressionless it was eerie, easily cut down a rushing Monster once again and looked at Kaiden.
Then, in a fleeting moment, his tension was released.
In that instant, Enoch immediately entered a Berserk state.
"Damn it! I guess we should focus on one side to break through... Your Highness?!"
Kaiden's shout faded into the distance.
Enoch's ears were filled only with the sound of his own huge heartbeat and hot breathing.
Haa, sseup, haa.
His vision was blood-red. Enoch couldn't see anything but the blood-red color that had been dyed like a hallucination.
The turbulent emotions gradually subsided, and he felt comfortable. He felt like he was gradually losing control over himself.
Just as he was helplessly dominated by the unconscious, and even the awareness of who he was faded and disappeared beneath the surface.
'Don't worry about protecting me, worry about yourself first. You wouldn't last a day on this island without me.'
'Stop saying you're sorry. Because I know it's not your fault.'
A clear and refreshing woman's voice lingered in his ears.
'Enoch. I want to live. And I hope you survive too. I mean it.'
It was Margaret's voice.
The moment he recalled her face, Enoch's vision, which had been entirely blood-red, slowly began to return to its original color.
He had to control it.
Even if going into a Berserk state could kill all the Monsters, it would only distance him further from truly overcoming his trauma.
If that happened, he might be able to save his life from the immediate danger, but someday Margaret might be in danger because of it.
That must not happen.
He would rather be bitten to death by Monsters, thinking of Margaret with his sanity intact.
His focus sharpened, and his blurred mind returned.
He could feel it. He was now able to control the Berserk state. Perfectly.
The first thing Enoch noticed as soon as he fully regained his senses was the scene of two Monsters driving Kaiden to the edge of the river and rushing towards him.
Enoch immediately ran towards him. He quickly slashed one of the rushing Monsters with his sword and roughly pushed Kaiden away.
At that moment, another Monster that was rushing towards Kaiden bit Enoch's shoulder.
"Damn it!! Your Highness!!"
With Kaiden's scream, Enoch flew into the river along with the Monster.
He plunged deep into the river with the Monster. But without giving in, he grabbed the Monster's neck and stabbed his sword into its body.
Enoch threw away the Monster that had died and immediately swam towards the surface of the water. He could see fierce flames raging beyond the rippling surface.
Puhah.
As soon as he surfaced, he saw a huge flame erupting, tearing through the dark sky.
Hwaaaaaak-
The flames that soared high into the sky swept through the Monsters surrounding Kaiden on the riverbank.
Kwaaaak!
The screams of the Monsters writhing in pain filled the air. Kaiden briefly covered his ears at the ear-splitting noise and scanned his surroundings.
Meanwhile, Enoch walked out of the river, leaving a large scar on his shoulder and dripping blood.
"Damn, you're safe. I knew it, but sometimes you're scarier than those Monsters, Your Highness?"
Kaiden said, stroking his chest after finding him.
Enoch shook the water off his sword once and nodded towards Kaiden. Thanks to the flames, a gap had formed among the Monsters.
"Lord, this way."
As Kaiden and Enoch escaped through the gap, they saw a silver snake breathing fire in the distance.
"I knew it would be you. Hey, Eunji."
When Kaiden called him, the snake, who somehow recognized his name, glanced at them sideways. The reason he glanced sideways was because the work of burning the Monsters to death was not yet finished.
Kwack!!
However, because there were so many Monsters, Eunji couldn't kill all of them alone.
Enoch and Kaiden eventually ran to Eunji. Eunji, who looked up at the two men running towards him, closed his mouth and tilted his head. As a result, the flames stopped.
Kaiden quickly picked up the bewildered Eunji and ran with Enoch.
Kaaak! Kwaak!
The screams of the Monsters and the sound of them chasing after them were heard from behind.
Kaiden ran while holding Eunji and glanced down at him.
"Where have you been?"
Even at his question, Eunji only blinked his eyes and clung to him as if he didn't understand.
Looking at that innocent face, Kaiden clicked his tongue. In the first place, without Margaret, he couldn't even know what the guy wanted, so he quickly gave up on communication.
"Lord, wait a moment."
While they were running, breathing heavily, Enoch blocked Kaiden's path.
It was a dead end. The screams of the Monsters heard from behind were gradually getting closer.
"Damn it."
While Kaiden was muttering curses, Eunji, who had been riding down his wrist, fell to the floor with a thud.
"Huh? Hey!"
Kaiden was surprised and reached out his hand. Eunji didn't care and crawled somewhere, then turned his head towards them. Enoch, who had been quietly watching Eunji, said.
"It seems like he's telling us to follow him."
Only then did Kaiden remember that Eunji was imprinted on Margaret.
"Ah. Come to think of it, that guy had been following Margaret since before he hatched."
He had been chasing after her like a ghost even when he was an egg, so he probably knew where she was even if she was far away.
Enoch looked at the approaching Monsters and nodded to Kaiden again.
"Let's go."
At Enoch's words, Kaiden readjusted the dagger he was holding and nodded.
"Let's go."
They moved, following Eunji.
I have no idea what the Monster wrapped around my waist is. It had a long nose like an elephant, but it couldn't see, and only sharp teeth were visible.
I was hanging upside down from the third floor, unable to move. Zenas, who had leaned out of the third-floor window, spoke to me.
"Oh, there was a Saintess among Meg's group."
"What the fuck?"
"You swear well."
Zenas burst into laughter. Is it funny?
"Keep a close eye on her."
"Speak so I can understand! Let me go!"
"I'm just borrowing the eyes of the Monsters, not controlling them. They just like you."
Zenas shrugged his shoulders. The Monster didn't move. I was still hanging upside down in the air by the Monster and shouted at Zenas.
"Why do Monsters like me?"
"Meg must smell delicious. Different from other people."
So, they think of me as a delicacy! I tore at my hair. Damn it.
Zenas was leaning against the window, watching me, as if he was omitting any further explanation.
"What do you mean by keeping a close eye on the Saintess?"
"Just, that Saintess seems to know something."
"What?"
"Ask her yourself. I'm curious too."
You bastard!