The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic-Chapter 510

SWOOOSH!

In the darkness of the night, a few figures stepped out of the portal one after another. The air was cold and damp, and the ground beneath their boots was soft with fallen twigs and rot.

Ruth and Ramos took the lead alongside Elliot, their expressions hard and focused. The rest of the group followed in silence.

But as they turned around, their expressions fell.

Behind them, Kael and Martina walked out last. Kael was wearing a strange-looking mask that covered the upper half of his face.

Ramos stared at him and snapped, "Are we going to a fancy dress?"

Kael adjusted the mask calmly. "I need to hide my face, or it might draw other evil groups toward us."

"... "

No one argued after that. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Everyone knew what he meant. All evil groups had people they hated deeply, but Kael might be the only one wanted by almost all of them. The Abyssal Sect had not yet issued a most wanted notice for him.

It seemed the full details of the eastern war had not reached them yet. But everyone was sure that after this, Kael would be at the top of their list.

Ramos exhaled through his nose. "Do what you want, but make sure it does not affect us."

"Yes, sir." Kael gave a mock salute and then looked around.

They were in a strange, dark forest. The trees had no leaves, only twisted branches that clawed at the sky. A thin layer of mist hung low, crawling around their ankles. The place felt sick and lifeless.

Elliot stepped forward and spoke in a low voice. "Let us revise the plan before we move."

Everyone nodded and crouched down in a small circle.

"We will enter the Imperial Castle. We will assassinate the Emperor, kill as many enemies as possible, and take control of Nightstar."

He paused and looked at each of them.

"If we fail, we will retreat here and escape. If we succeed but cannot return, we will mix into the Empire’s crowd, hide, and then make our way to the eastern region."

"Is that clear?" he asked firmly.

"Yes, sir," they answered together.

Kael tilted his head. "But where are we? Do we even know this place?"

"I know it," Elliot replied. "I have visited this place many times before. Follow me."

He gestured with his hand and began moving through the forest. The group followed closely, careful not to make noise.

Soon, the outline of massive walls appeared ahead. Tall, dark, and silent, they surrounded the Imperial Capital like a giant beast protecting its heart.

Elliot stopped and pointed ahead. "There is a maze of canals under the Imperial City. They lead to the castle. We will go down from there."

As he said that, Kael looked at Martina with a serious expression.

Martina frowned. "What?"

"Your Highness, it is going to be very dirty. Can you handle it?"

Martina raised her fist and lightly punched Kael’s arm. "Stop joking and be serious."

She walked forward without waiting for him.

Kael blinked behind his mask. ’But I was serious... Whatever.’

As they moved closer to the canal entrance, a low voice cut through the night.

"Alert," Ruth warned.

Everyone froze at once.

They quickly slipped behind the trees and thick bushes. One by one, they leaned out just enough to look.

Kael narrowed his eyes. A patrol was walking along the outer path.

Eight guards.

All B rank.

"He surely expected this," Martina muttered under her breath.

"There are eight of them and we need to deal with them fast, without giving them time to react."

As she spoke, everyone looked at Elliot.

He gave a small nod. "We have a group of assassins."

He raised his hand slightly.

Swoosh.

Several shadows detached from the darkness and moved. No sound. No wasted motion.

The assassins spread out like smoke. Before the guards could even turn their heads, cold steel flashed.

One guard’s throat was slit from behind. Another’s mouth was covered as a blade pierced his heart. A third felt only a sharp chill before his head rolled off his shoulders.

There were no shouts nor any alarms.

In just a few breaths, all eight guards lay on the ground. Blood soaked into the dirt.

The assassins quickly dragged the bodies into the bushes and covered them with leaves and branches.

Kael crouched beside one of the corpses. "Hey. Take their clothes. It might be useful. Search for them."

The bodies were checked. Pockets turned inside out.

A few coins. Basic swords. Nothing else.

Kael clicked his tongue. "Che. Are they guarding the Imperial Capital or a beggar’s capital?"

He pulled off one of the guards’ armor coats and wore it over his own clothes to blend in later.

Elliot gave a short nod. "Let’s move."

Ramos looked toward the dark forest and then at the canal entrance. "I will guard here. I might be noticed if I enter. I will wait for other Demi God realm experts to appear."

The group nodded. Then they slipped down into the canal system.

The air inside was damp and cold. The smell of stale water and rot filled their noses. Narrow stone paths ran along both sides of a dark, slow-moving stream. Water dripped from the ceiling at random spots.

Their footsteps echoed softly, so everyone moved carefully.

Faint green moss glowed along the walls. Old runes carved into the stone showed the canal was ancient. Rats skittered across the paths, vanishing into cracks.

The deeper they went, the darker it became.

Just as they were about to turn a corner, Elliot suddenly raised his hand.

Everyone stopped.

"There is a strong presence," he whispered.

"What is this?" Martina frowned.

"Are they even guarding here?" someone muttered, disbelief clear in his voice.

A heavy feeling pressed down on them. The air felt thicker, like breathing through mud.

Then they saw it.

From the tunnel ahead, a black figure slowly walked out.

It was tall and thin. Its skin looked like charred stone. Faint red lines pulsed under its surface. Two curved horns rose from its head, and its eyes glowed dimly in the dark.

A faint heat rolled off its body.

Kael’s breath slowed.

"Damn... That’s an abyssal demon," he muttered in shock.

The creature tilted its head slightly, as if it had already noticed them.