Krrrrrrr!
However, the moment Uriel stepped into the cave, she heard a familiar growl from behind.
Krrr! Krnng! Grurrrk!
Uriel’s body tensed with nervousness. This time, it wasn’t just one creature. Of all times, Apollonia had to be there too.
“Could it be——”
“Your Highness, stay still.”
Apollonia slowly raised her astonished eyes and looked behind Uriel. A little distance away, dozens of pairs of yellow eyes stared back at her, filled with life. Through the undisturbed morning mist, crocodile-like creatures, but larger and darker, were revealed.
Krrrrrrk!
And behind them, what she had thought was a large black rock higher up the mountain began to move slowly. It was a gigantic Croadin, resembling the others but much larger.
‘A queen.’ Apollonia momentarily held her breath. The creature, with its eyes now crimson and a long scar running down one side of its face, was so large that she could make a plaything out of Freya. Instead of easily stepping forward, the queen stood behind the other creatures. She was different from when she first met Caelion and Uriel.
‘She perceives us as dangerous foes.’ Seeing the scar on her face, it made sense. Aside from her eyes, which were unaffected, the queen had bolstered her defenses, anticipating Uriel’s sword strikes. Rather than directly advancing, the queen growled in the direction of Apollonia and Uriel.
“Your Highness, I will distract her!”
“Fly, Freya!” Before Uriel could take action, the other monster that carried Apollonia soared high up into the sky.
Krrrrrrk!
Dozens of creatures roared in unison toward the sky. The queen, with her invisible eyes, turned upward and revealed her presence. Apollonia could barely fly Freya above the reach of the rest of the Croadins. Freya seemed to read her rider’s intentions as she swiftly moved in the direction Apollonia desired. Looking down from afar, Apollonia observed the queen, who pricked up her ears and paid attention to Freya’s movements. Other creatures surrounding the queen and the knights waiting below the mountain looking up with astonished eyes were also in sight. Like a shadow, only Uriel had seemingly disappeared the moment she took off. Apollonia reevaluated her plan to summon the troops waiting below the mountain and rescue Caelion and Uriel. Given the number of Croadins gathering near the cave, it was impossible to avoid them or break through to escape with the injured. But waiting indefinitely was not an option either.
‘Is there any other way besides evading them?’ Apollonia fidgeted with the vial she had brought inside her robe. “Even after being shot with an arrow or stabbed with a sword, their venom doesn’t enter the body.” She recalled what Evangeline had said back at the palace. “To inject the right amount of venom for their size, there’s no other way but to feed them. But it’s risky.” Afterward, some words of concern followed, but Apollonia erased them from her mind.
‘Perhaps?’
Krrrrrrk-
Observing the queen howling with rage, Apollonia thought of one possible way. There was only one chance, and there was no time. Even at this moment, Caelion and his knights were becoming exhausted.
“Uriel, help me.” Apollonia said loudly. Even though Uriel could barely see her mouth, she would surely hear. No matter how dangerous the situation, Uriel would keep Apollonia in her sight.
“I have an idea. Just distract the queen for a moment!” She shouted once again, riding on Freya. For a few seconds, there was no sign of movement. But in the next moment, something silvery emerged from the gap in the rocks and swiftly burrowed into the heart of the croadin’s pack.
Krrr-
They reacted quickly, but Uriel was faster. He swiftly maneuvered through small gaps and in an instant, he was close to the queen’s tail. Two ashen croadins, guarding the queen, charged at him simultaneously.
Shwish-
Her short dagger drew a couple of arcs, leaving long scars on the torsos of the ashen creatures. They fell to the sides without a scream. Sensing Uriel’s position, the queen moved her thick tail threateningly, but Uriel deftly avoided it and climbed up the creature’s back. Despite the queen’s attempts to shake him off, Uriel persisted and held onto the queen’s head, immobilizing her.
Errrrk-
“Good.” Apollonia nodded once. As if understanding her mind, Freya prepared to descend even before she was given a command. More creatures that had climbed up the cliff behind the queen revealed themselves. There was no time to hesitate. “Now!” The moment Apollonia’s words fell, Uriel swept her shining dagger below the queen’s eyes.
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