Bloodhound’s Regression Instinct

Chapter 78

As Yan entered the castle, he immediately assessed the situation inside.

There were slightly over eighty survivors, and no visible corpses within the castle.

The absence of casualties meant that Kasa had effectively led the trainees so far.

However…

“Resentment toward Kasa is gradually accumulating,” Yan thought.

Those fools.

To sustain over eighty trainees without casualties for more than a month in this desperate situation was a testament to Kasa’s exceptional leadership.

Yet, despite their reliance on him, some dared to harbor complaints.

Pathetic.

Other trainees appeared mentally strained or fatigued due to the prolonged defense and lack of hope.

As Yan and his group entered, the trainees who had been fending off undead attacks atop the castle walls now eyed them with open disappointment.

“Are they the rescue team?!”

“And there are only five of them!”

“…They abandoned us. We never had a chance to survive in the first place.”

The trainees felt let down upon realizing that Yan and his team were their supposed saviors.

Despite their impressive records in the Elite Soldier Project, five people seemed insufficient to reverse this dire situation.

In the distance, Kasa, who had been wielding his sword like a madman, noticed Yan’s group.

“What?!”

After shouting something at the trainees beside him, who were still fending off the undead, Kasa hurried over to Yan’s team.

“You’ve come just in time! How did you manage to get here?”

Sweat dripping down his forehead, Kasa asked as Yan chuckled in response.

“We heard you were in danger and volunteered to help.”

[Volunteered to help?]

Monmon seemed bewildered.

Although they were ordered by the Chief Instructor to come, there was no need to reveal that. Besides, it was also an opportunity to establish goodwill with one of the future Seven Stars of the Empire.

While Kasa’s expression showed gratitude and relief, there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes. Perhaps he shared the same sentiments as the other trainees but couldn’t express them openly in front of Yan’s group.

“Apologies to everyone who struggled to get here. If any of you have some energy left, would you be willing to assist?”

“Of course, we’re here to help. But before that…”

Yan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small rectangular metal plate.

The plate fit in the palm of his hand. A thick rope was tied to it, securing a large magic stone, and intricate runes were engraved on the back.

The appearance of this mysterious object caught the attention of Yan’s group and Kasa.

“What is that?”

Kasa asked, and Yan grinned.

“Have you ever heard of an ‘Improvised Warp Gate’?”

The mention of a warp gate made Kasa’s eyes widen.

Yan nodded.

“You’re right. This artifact allows us to exit from here.”

The Improvised Warp Gate was an enhancement of the original warp gate, which was bulky and impractical for personal use. Magician Isaac had invented it, and it looked like a plain piece of scrap metal. However, its effectiveness was likely guaranteed.

After all, it was a prototype created by a master magician.

Cruel, with an astonished expression, grabbed Yan’s shoulder.

“Wait, where did you get that? Did the Chief Instructor give it to you?”

“No, I swiped it from Jeren Jazak.”

The original owner of this Improvised Warp Gate was none other than Jeren Jazak. Probably given to ensure that Jeren, who would soon be assigned to the Eastern Front, would be firmly on the side of the Zion Duchy.

And Yan had taken it discreetly.

“Jeren Jazak? When did you… Oh, during that time?”

Cruel burst into laughter, and Yan nodded in agreement.

He had discreetly taken it from Jeren during a scuffle at the tavern.

Considering that Jeren always carried it, even during drinking sessions, he probably hadn’t noticed its absence yet.

Yan’s expression turned serious as he addressed Kasa.

“Don’t mention this to the other trainees for now. Only a few people should know.”

Kasa raised an eyebrow.

“Are you suggesting we leave the others behind?”

“No, the mana stored in the embedded magic stone won’t be enough to transport everyone here. There’s a solution, but it’ll take some time.”

Originally, the Improvised Warp Gate was designed for individual use, so it couldn’t accommodate many people. But…

[Make it work for over a hundred people? How does that benefit me?]

Monmon’s magical expertise allowed him to modify the artifact, enabling it to transport more than a hundred people. The only issue was mana.

With the addition of a mana-concentrated elixir, the artifact could absorb ambient mana, making it self-sustaining.

* * *

Following Kasa, Yan ascended the castle walls. There, trainees and undead engaged in a fierce siege.

The undead, numbering over a hundred thousand, pressed forward with overwhelming force, making the barbarian horde from the north seem laughable.

Meanwhile, the trainees fought back, pushing the undead off the walls and trampling them underfoot.

“…When did we gain access to that gate?” Cruel asked Yan, clearly already weary of the relentless battle.

Roman smirked and passed by Cruel. “Hey, what’s with that laughter? What’s going on?”

Cruel, easily provoked, chased after Roman, forgetting his previous weariness.

Though Lorena and Charl remained pale-faced, they quickly identified where they were needed and moved into action.

“Let’s hold out for just two more hours,” Yan instructed.

“Okay,” Kasa nodded heavily and returned to his original position.

Yan gazed across the wall, observing the relentless onslaught of undead. They climbed over each other, desperate to breach the castle.

Yet the true threat had yet to reveal itself.

The fact that undead had naturally appeared within the Empire due to their relentless siege was likely attributed to their ignorance. But Yan knew the true culprit.

Lich Eamon.

An ancient lich with centuries of existence, one of the future Seven Stars of the Empire.

And Yan intended to capture him.

Eliminating the mastermind behind the Eastern Undead Outbreak would be a significant achievement, rivaling their previous successes. It would bring him closer to his ultimate goal.

“Now is not the time to think about what comes after. Focus on the present,” Yan reminded himself.

Distracting thoughts vanished as he concentrated on the situation at hand.

Suddenly, a desperate cry echoed next to Yan.

“Help! Someone here needs assistance!”

Yan swiftly grasped Ascalon and rushed to the scene. A trainee had been bitten by an undead, blood flowing freely from their hand.

“Am I turning into a zombie too?” The bitten trainee asked, eyes wide with fear.

Other trainees tightened their grips on their swords, equally anxious.

Yan approached the trainee, cutting away their clothes with Ascalon and fashioning makeshift bandages. “You’re safe. I’ll take your place. Zombies won’t overrun the Empire because of you.”

The trainee’s eyes widened, and they nodded vigorously.

Yan stepped into the breach.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Undead skeletons collided with the wall, and zombies roared.

Though boneless and headless, they staggered back.

But more undead quickly took their place.

An endless tide of enemies.

Yan relentlessly swung Ascalon, determined to repel the undead attempting to breach the walls.

As he fought, he noticed zombies gathering on the plains below.

They congregated, and soon, a crimson energy emanated from their midst.

Yan frowned.

[Magi?]

“Damn.”

He was the only one here who knew the true identity of that energy.

And he had a rough idea of its implications.

Pushiiiiing!

Amid the struggling zombies, a red mist began to rise. From the innermost circle, the undead dissolved into puddles of melting flesh.

The liquefied flesh expanded, and a purplish haze spread.

Yan clenched his teeth.

[Magi?]

“…Abomination.”

One of the highest-ranked undead, the pinnacle of zombie-kind, had revealed itself.

The eerie creature emerged from the unknown pool of flesh.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Its massive form stood before the high castle walls.

“Kyaaaaah!”

“What is that? Aaargh!”

Trainees staggered, some losing consciousness.

The abomination’s body resembled a giant, with limbs and organs protruding in grotesque ways. Its face held dozens of eyeballs, and its mouth sat near its chin.

A bizarre, unparalleled sight.

Yan identified it.

“…Abomination.”

Among the highest-ranking undead, the pinnacle of zombie-kind.

The creature emitted a horrifying aura.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The most malevolent undead had revealed itself.