Chapter 18: 18

“Eliza…” Zuke called out to his daughter who was trembling and shivering from the echoes of the battle.

She didn’t want and refused to hear the wailings and cries of the guards whom she considered as close relatives.

If the family of Tristan and those working under them were to describe how her personality is, it would be described as benevolent.

She’s someone that doesn’t look down on those that weren’t Royalty. She treated everyone fairly which is why the Guards were willing to lay down their lives for her.

It was because of her that they were able to provide for their family and such opportunistic doesn’t exist in other royalties or at least as benevolent her.

However, now that the people she considered close to her and people who had watched her grow from a young age, had died protecting her…how would she feel?

‘This hurts a lot…why did you have to sacrifice for someone like me…?’ She questioned herself and her mentality was shaken. She didn’t want to open her eyes or hear the sounds of their deaths.

But the blood that was spilled couldn’t escape from her nose, and thus…she desperately tried to escape from this reality.

Nevertheless, upon hearing her name being called by her father, the light that was about to extinguish finally lighted up though it was depressingly small.

“Father…?” She had tears in her eyes as if she had assumed the worst, but now, it was the opposite.

“Father!” She jumped onto him and desperately clung to him as though she didn’t want to lose the only person she has.

“Are you alright Eliza? The Lions never hurt you did they?” Zuke was concerned at the same time, he caressed her back while comforting her.

“Nope…I wasn’t harmed or anything like that” She replied with a soft voice.

“I’m glad that you’re not hurt or anything…if anything happens to you I-I’ll-

Zuke’s voice was trembling and before he could finish his sentence, Elizabeth interrupted.

“Or else what father? You’ll end your life? Father, the scariest fear that I have to experience is living alone in this world…so please…don’t say stuff like that” She begged.𝘦.𝘰𝘳𝑔

“….” Zuke remained silent with his lips trembling.

Zuke had lost the love of his life when she gave birth to his daughter, and if one day, she disappears, he would rampage.

And he almost lost his daughter helplessly if it weren’t for the sacrifice of his men.

‘May all of you reincarnate and I will promise to compensate and take care of all of your families’ Zuke said his farewell to his fallen soldiers, and he’ll remember this favor eternally.

“The Tristan Spear Force is here! We shall kill every beast-..eh? Where are all of them?” Out of a sudden, a force of 100 Soldiers appeared where each of their cultivation ranks is not less than the 10th Stage of the Mortal Rank.

There were even dozens that had the 1st or higher stage of the Foundation Rank, and the one leading the main force possessed the 7th Stage of the Foundation Rank.

“You’re a little bit late Luke” Zuke claimed.

“Brother…I apologized…but you must know that the time it took for us to prepare and reach the destination was 5 minutes since the signal had been sent”

Luke Tristan was the little brother of Zuke Tristan and they were brothers with whom no temptations or jealousy could shatter their relationship.

But if there were talents to describe them both, then, in terms of leadership, Zuke had the charm in it. But when it comes to the talent of cultivating, Luke won him over.

But their difference in talent never doubts their relationship as brothers. Instead, they supported each other’s paths.

But what is surprising was the time taken for them to reach here which was 5 minutes. Meaning to say, the battle began and ended within 5 minutes.

It sounded short, yet so many things had happened within that small frame of time.

“Sigh…I know Luke. I’m not blaming you or anything. But…if there was a tiny little chance of reaching earlier…perhaps these men won’t have to lose their life”

Zuke clenched his fist as he stared at the 12 lifeless bodies where an hour ago, all of them were living with their laughter.

This time, Elizabeth didn’t want to escape and she needed to see their lifeless body as a sign of respect and honoring them within her memories, and it was hard for her to gaze.

Luke walked toward his brother and placed his palm on his shoulder.

“Brother, we can only do what we can do. The fallen soldiers will forever be remembered in our hearts and we shall deliver the news as to how they have died proudly, and we will compensate them equivalent to their eternal sacrifices” Luke shook his head.

“You too Eliza. No matter how life is pulling you down. Remember, that there are always people who would gladly sacrifice their life for you, and this type of treatment could not be found anywhere. Which is why we should appreciate what we have” Luke comforted his niece.

“I understand Uncle Luke…” Elizabeth finds it hard to accept the death of her close ones, but she will need to move on.

“Alright. Gather all of their bodies and place them carefully in the carriers. Do not tarnish their corpse any longer than it should…and let’s return home…” Zuke ordered and he ordered the main force to do their jobs.

And as they were doing their job, Zuke sighed as today had been one of the worst and most unpredictable and he finds it hard to believe that it was all a coincidence.

‘The route that we had traveled on had been the safest and used by other travelers for dozens of years. So how can a Beast appear within the route? This doesn’t add up…could this be simply a coincidence…or is there more work behind it?’

His guts were telling him that there were more things to it than they had shown, and his guts had countless times saved his lives.

‘But there’s no evidence to it and investigating now when we will be mourning our losses would provide an advantage to whoever had planned. Till, then, I shall stabilize my cultivation before finding the clues’

Zuke had thoroughly thought about it and had made some concrete plans in executing. However, just as he was about to assist his men with the corpse, a stranger approached them.

“Hello fellow cultivators, do you mind if I ask for directions toward the land where Tristan’s Family lives?”