(ch59) The Sixth general

Rin

RIN WAKE UP

The comforting warmth of the bed cover was abruptly torn away, leaving her vulnerable to the biting cold of the room. In an instant, she was jolted from her cozy cocoon into the harsh chill, as if some unseen force had yanked the blanket away with cruel intent.

She groaned as she rolled off the bed and stood up, every movement a reminder of how much her body loathed her at that moment. Her head pounded relentlessly, adding to her misery.

"You look like shit"

She looked over tiredly at Sunny who looked at her with a hint of concern

"Thanks, i feel like it too"

His eyes trailed to her knuckles that weren't in the best of shape something in his head clicked and he asked.

"i'm gonna guess that the blood splatters outside were the red hooded guys, you okay?"

She glanced down at her knuckles, noticing the rough, exposed patches of skin. A sigh escaped her lips as she took in the sight.

"Right on the money, we also got ourselves an informant and teammate…. Oh and i'm fine"

"Nice, the more information the better, also your lip is bleeding"

Using the back of her hand she rubbed the blood off looking at it she smiled.

"Yeah they didn't play fair"

She realized the blood wasn't coming from her lip but from deep within her own body, as if a tiny part of her was constantly tearing at itself. It felt like an internal battle, a wound that kept reopening, leaving her with a lingering pain that never seemed to heal.

She didn't need to share this with Sunny.

To be honest, she could hardly believe it herself. The flaw was already tearing her apart, and she had only used her ability once.

'guess I turned on a biological ticking time bomb within me huh'

Rin watched Sunny as he packed, her eyes tracing his movements. As he busied himself, he glanced up and caught her gaze. A soft smile played on his lips, acknowledging her presence.

"You coming"

She let out a huff and smiled, trying to stifle a cough that was pushing its way up her throat.

"you go, i'll meet you in the eating hall"

He didn't appear to notice any issues, so he nodded and exited the room.

As he walked out the door, she waited a few seconds until he was out of earshot. Then, she burst into a violent coughing fit. She clung to a wooden chair in the room, using it for support.

The pain, akin to a blender churning inside her chest, left her gasping sharply, unable to move much, which left a puddle of black blood on the floor that she hurried to clean up before Sunny could notice.

A short while later, she found herself, scanning meticulously for any signs of blood that might have slipped past her notice. Finding none, she eventually decided to leave and meet Sunny.

Unbeknownst to her as she shut the door behind her, a shadow shifted inexplicably without any discernible source.

*****

Over the next four days, the trio largely confined themselves to their rooms. Meanwhile, Sunny's shadow stealthily navigated through the castle, gathering intel on its inhabitants and uncovering their hidden truths.

Rin, on the other hand, held clandestine meetings with her subordinate Luna, who operated as her spy within the castle walls, acquiring vital information about the mysterious cult.

She had also been given a menu by the spell, giving her the names of everyone she had under her control.

[Current team: luna]

Rin discovered that all the kills and rewards earned by her team were automatically transferred to her. Additionally, each team member's personal flaws became less severe under her influence.

For instance, Luna's ability, which initially could only immobilize limbs, had now evolved to freeze an entire body.

'no wonder my flaw is this'

Through Sunny's shadow and Rin's gathered intelligence, they began to grasp the unsettling undercurrents beneath the facade of tranquillity within the pristine white fortress. Far from being a sanctuary of peace and purity, the reality revealed a complex web of secrets and turmoil.

Here, surrounded by hundreds of lost youths cut off from civilization, and amidst the influence of a cult with deranged beliefs, the illusion of serenity quickly faded away.

They were far from surprised; if anything, the sight of some form of law and order prevailing, no matter how objectionable, was peculiar amidst the challenges. Within the castle, a delicate balance somehow enabled its inhabitants to coexist.

The system was cunningly designed to offer hope to the oppressed for a brighter future while curbing the oppressors from crossing certain limits. A "better life" often meant earning Gunlaug's favor, whereas overstepping boundaries could result in exile to the bleak outer settlement or worse, falling prey to the cult.

And thats what she learnt from lunar, Gunlag wasn't the leader of this red cult, but he did work with them.

Both fear and hope held sway over the minds of the people under the Bright Lord's rule, shaping their behaviors and relationships. Fear of abduction kept individuals cautious and mistrustful, fostering division among them.

The outer settlement appeared distinct from the castle, yet they functioned together as integral parts of a larger interconnected community. Those outside yearned for the security of the inner sanctum, shielding them from perceived threats.

Conversely, those within dreaded the prospect of expulsion to the outer realm, or worse.

The promise of a potentially improved or worsened existence captivated their thoughts, distracting them from the reality that regardless of their circumstances, they were caught in a perpetual cycle.

Like a serpent devouring its own tail, the symbiotic relationship between the Bright Castle and the outer settlement formed a self-contained cycle of exploitation and abuse. Strangely enough, this cycle was crucial for maintaining the sanity and survival of everyone within the Dark City.

The setup was undeniably clever.

However, the trio wanted no part in perpetuating this system.

Rin couldn't pinpoint the exact number of survivors in the slum, but she estimated around six hundred Sleepers taking refuge within the ancient stronghold. These residents didn't all occupy the same social standing; a complex hierarchy dictated their roles. While some groups held clearly defined positions in this hierarchy, others found themselves in more ambiguous positions.

Most of the castle's residents naturally served Gunlaug directly. Among them were guards, cultists, hunters, pathfinders, artisans, and handmaidens. Overseeing them were five lieutenants who reported directly to the lord, each managing different aspects of daily life within the fortress. Additionally, there was a secretive sixth lieutenant, known only to a few.

The Castle Guard was the largest of these groups, consisting of around one hundred and fifty men. They were in charge of guarding the stronghold and enforcing Gunlaug's laws. Just like Caster had said, they were near the bottom of the totem pole in terms of power and status.

Anyone with a remotely useful Aspect Ability could join the Guard, and although their training was rather rigorous, actual opportunities to experience combat were few and far between.

Their job was undeniably perilous. Whenever a Nightmare Creature strayed up the hill or launched an attack from above, it was their responsibility to either eliminate the threat or drive it away.

In the Dark City, every monster was a terrifying and lethal force.

The Castle Guard was commanded by Tessai, a somber giant of a man and one of Gunlaug's most trusted lieutenants. Tessai, possibly the oldest Sleeper on the Forgotten Shore at just shy of thirty, was a ferocious fighter and a ruthless commander who maintained a strict hold over his subordinates.

Above the Castle Guard in the hierarchy stood the Hunters. These elite warriors were the backbone of Gunlaug's forces, each one equipped with a formidable combat Aspect, extensive battle experience, and the cunning to leverage both to their fullest. Numbering around fifty in total, they were divided into seven specialized hunting parties.

Every morning, as the castle gates creaked open, one of these hunting parties would venture out from the safety of the impregnable marble walls. Their mission took them into the treacherous labyrinth of the Dark City, where they sought out and eliminated Awakened creatures.

The tireless efforts of these Hunters ensured that the inhabitants of the ancient stronghold had food on their tables. Without their bravery and skill, survival in the stronghold would be impossible.

Hunters were chosen from among the Guards, and for many, it was a dream realized. This role came with significant perks: a private room instead of the crowded barracks, superior food, and access to luxurious items. They also received the finest tools and most cherished Memories that Bright Castle had to offer, along with many other...

Privileges.

Of course, the other side of the coin was that their lives were often the shortest. Despite all their experience and preparations, many never returned from the hunts.

And the only reason any did at all was the Pathfinders.

Pathfinders acted as indispensable guides for the hunting parties. As Effie had mentioned, the key to surviving in the Dark City was to target and kill weaker creatures while avoiding encounters with far deadlier threats. Their primary role was to track Awakened monsters and steer the Hunters clear of the lethal Fallen abominations.

The number of Pathfinders was astonishingly low, so much so that Rin doubted if they could even be called a group. The entire castle housed fewer than a dozen of these skilled individuals. Each Pathfinder was a battle-hardened veteran, having survived countless bloody skirmishes in the ruins. Their extensive experience allowed them to navigate large sections of the Dark City with the familiarity one has with the back of their hand.

Needless to say, all of them were incredibly fearsome combatants and enjoyed lavish, sometimes even decadent lifestyles.

Both Hunters and Pathfinders were led by a charismatic man called Gemma. Gemma came to the Forgotten Shore in the same year as Gunlaug, and had helped him take control of the castle.

Together, these three groups, Guards, Hunters, and Pathfinders, formed Gunlaug's army, which was simply known as the Host.

Pathfinders served as essential guides for the hunting parties. As Effie had explained, the key to surviving in the Dark City was to target and kill relatively weaker creatures, carefully avoiding encounters with far more dangerous ones. The Pathfinders excelled at this, skillfully tracking Awakened monsters and steering the Hunters away from the deadly Fallen abominations.

Additionally, Gunlags had his own team of personal assassins, overseen by a mysterious sixth general. These assassins handled Gunlags' most unsavory tasks the dirty work that no one else wanted to touch. Rin knew little about this secretive figure, not their name, appearance, or abilities but she was aware of their existence through the tightly controlled cult and the insider information provided by the Lunars.