Chapter 260: Star of Demtor
A colorless, grey forest.
On one side of the Forest of Ghosts, uninvited guests had long since set up camp.
Rows of extended barracks, knights patrolling the periter,
clusters of mages moving in groups, accompanied by rcenaries supporting them—and behind the barracks, a swarm of lizard-like beasts called Hotaru.
The full military force of Demtor had stationed itself in the forest, pressing down on the witches.
Among them, inside the largest and most lavishly decorated barrack—tinged with a faint red glow—sat a group of mages.
The Hexagram (Six-Pointed Star)—Demtor’s symbol—
Those seated around the round table bearing that symbol were mages with personal followings, the so-called “Stars of Demtor,” mages above others, each ruling from the heavens with their own factions.
They sat in silence, as though waiting for soone.
After a while, a mage in a crimson robe appeared at the entrance of the tent, prompting the Stars to rise from their seats to greet him.
He was a middle-aged man who exuded both gravity and strength.
Bersen Clarke.
A man who had taken leadership of the Mage Tower Alliance, asserting both his overwhelming magical power and noble imperial lineage.
His crimson robe was symbolic, representing the Fla of Scorching Fire, Clarke’s emblem.
“Let’s begin the eting.”
At Clarke’s nod and single statent, the Stars sat and the eting comnced.
The first to speak was a man in a white robe, seated opposite Clarke.
A younger mage than the Grand Duke, with strikingly handso features—
Ren of Radiance.
Brushing back his ash-grey hair, Ren glanced at the empty seat among the hexagram and spoke.
“A full assembly was called. Where is the Black Tower Lord, Gram?”
“She left on urgent business a week ago.”
The one who answered Ren’s question was a lean, sharp-featured old man—
Lindbergh of the Tempest, Lord of the Wind Tower.
Ren frowned slightly at Lindbergh’s reply.
“I heard that a week ago. I’m asking for news after that.”
“She hasn’t returned yet. You’ll know as soon as I hear anything.”
“Can you tell us what business she left for?”
“I have no idea.”
“It’s strange that the one who reported her absence first knows nothing about her whereabouts.”
“I only relayed what I was told. And must I report every detail to you personally?”
Sharp glances were exchanged between Lindbergh and Ren, their poor relationship evident even at a glance.
“That’s enough. Let’s set that matter aside. What’s before us takes priority.”
“But abandoning her post without notice at such a critical ti is not behavior befitting a Star.”
Clarke rolled up his sleeves and looked at Ren. He was smiling, but Ren felt a subtle pressure.
“We’re on the brink of war with the witches. Gram is a non-combat mage. Is there a reason for her to be here?”
“She’s the one who developed Blood Nature. If side effects arise during battle, she’s the first who should respond. Her absence is unreasonable.”
“I granted her leave.”
“And I can vouch for the perfection of Blood Nature. Is there any clearer proof than my transformation?”
Though his hair was half-grey, his skin had grown noticeably youthful.
His aura had intensified, and the mana radiating from his crimson eyes had grown denser.
Having undergone awakening procedures alongside Blood Nature, Clarke had clearly grown both younger and stronger.
That was why he was so quick to defend Gram.
But the change in the Grand Duke was abnormally fast—
Ren, who knew of how Veluga and Hotaru had been born through Gram’s forbidden studies, could not help but feel concerned.
There were too many secrets in her research.
No one could predict what side effects might erge.
“It would be wise to be cautious until the Blue Tower Lord’s investigation is concluded.”
“You’ve taken Blood Nature yourself, haven’t you? Surely you felt it?”
“Or is it that Gram denied you the procedure?”
“I never asked. Nor do I intend to.”
Ren’s tone hardened, and Clarke sneered, turning his gaze toward the Blue Tower Lord.
“Ella of the Blue Tower.”
“Yes, Grand Duke.”
A refined, fair-skinned woman with short blue hair and clear blue eyes lowered her head and replied.
“Have you found any side effects in Blood Nature?”
“That is...”
She trailed off, then looked at Ren and shook her head slightly. At that, Ren sighed quietly and muttered a curse under his breath.
Deserting one’s post during a crucial battle was a grave offense.
He had hoped to hold Gram accountable through this incident, but judging by the others’ reactions, it would be difficult to win a vote to reprimand her.
The Grand Duke trusted Gram.
Lindbergh was Gram’s next scheduled awakening procedure candidate.
And—
He failed to persuade Modin.
Ren turned slightly to look at a bespectacled, quiet man sipping tea.
Modin, Lord of the Ivory Tower.
Publicly a neutral figure, he made decisions only when they concerned Demtor’s profits.
His silence was an implicit agreent with the Grand Duke.
“Ren, if you have no further objections, shall we move on to the next topic?”
Ren gave a bitter smile and nodded.
There were six Stars total.
With Gram and Lindbergh siding with Clarke, that made three.
Modin stood in neutral territory, and only Ren and Ella acted in opposition.
Thus, under the majority rule of Demtor’s round table, power currently flowed around the Grand Duke.
Just like how no one could stop this war.
“It’s ti we began hunting the witches. What do you all think?”
“A fine idea.”
“Modin, your opinion?”
Lindbergh imdiately supported the Grand Duke’s view, and all eyes turned to Modin.
Important matters like this were often swayed by his decision.
That was the strength of neutrality.
And Demtor’s Stars trusted the Ivory Tower because it controlled all of Demtor’s intelligence.
If he approved, the operation would proceed under majority rule.
That was why the Grand Duke asked him directly.
Modin adjusted his glasses and nodded.
“The success rate does appear high. However...”
“However, what?”
“If the plan is to take down all the Dortas, I cannot guarantee success.”
The witches had ford a defensive periter around the Witch’s Garden and were in a tense standoff with Demtor.
Though Demtor had made nurous attempts to pressure and probe the garden, it had gradually been forced back.
Over half the rcenaries brought had already died.
Ten Hotaru had been killed, and so mages had fallen into mana poisoning due to mana depletion.
The longer they stayed in the Forest of Ghosts, the more rapidly Demtor’s forces were weakening.
It confird the witches’ long-held belief—that mages were vulnerable inside the Forest of Ghosts.
Perhaps for that reason, the witches were starting to shift into a more aggressive stance.
Among them were Dortas.
Everything was unfolding just as Kal had predicted.
Now all that remained was to set the trap and drive them into it.
“Witch Punkin and Oarla will certainly fall for the bait.”
“So, you don’t want to use them to lure out the other Dortas?”
“I believe eliminating those two first is the correct move.”
“This may be our only chance to wipe out the Dortas entirely.”
“Let’s not forget—this is the Forest of Ghosts. If the witches’ reinforcents arrive, or if Ren is right and Blood Nature causes side effects, this place could beco the grave of the Stars.”
“Hmm...”
Clarke trusted Blood Nature without a shred of doubt.
That reflected how firmly he believed in Gram.
But since she wasn’t here, he still needed Modin’s approval to move forward.
“Then let’s proceed with that plan.”
It felt like they had just missed a golden opportunity.
Clarke glanced at Ren and Ella with irritation—the thorn in his side, always opposing his decisions.
They had been against the witch hunt from the beginning.
If not for the majority rule, they wouldn’t even be sitting here.
Gram was right. I can’t let these fools continue to oppose .
Just one more Star, and Clarke could hold full control.
Once the Ordor Forest was secured, he’d need to either eliminate or force submission from the others.
But hiding those thoughts, he smiled warmly as Ren and Ella exited the tent.
“It’s been a while since we’ve all moved together, hasn’t it?”
“Be careful.”
“I’m not the man I once was. You’ll see that soon enough.”
“May your radiance shine bright.”
Ren gave a slight bow and left the barrack.
Clarke’s face, now expressionless, reached out to retrieve his relic weapon—the Staff of Ruin.
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWAAANG—!
Violent magic rained down upon the Forest of Ghosts, igniting the forest in flas.
Though the trees of the forest were highly resistant to fire, they could not withstand magical bombardnt.
KRRRAAAAARGH!
GRUAAA!
Through the collapsing forest, massive lizards charged forward, tearing through trees in their path.
Everything that touched their bodies or tails was destroyed.
Those trampled by their legs were crushed to bits.
It was an all-out scorched-earth assault on the sanctuary of the witches—Ordor Forest.
And the witches wouldn’t sit quietly and watch.
Zzzzk-zrrrk—
The ground beneath the Hotaru suddenly caved in, swallowing one whole.
rcenaries guarding the mages flailed as if under hallucination, swinging their blades at friend and foe alike.
Earth spells and hallucinatory magic—Dortas Punkin and Oarla had entered the fray.
Among the chaos, bodies burst and victims died under curses.
The witches had begun supporting the Dortas directly.
As their assault intensified, the mages began to retreat.
Amid the darkened Ordor Forest, a group wearing wide-brimd hats slowly erged.
The Witches of Ordor Forest.
The mages cast spells in retreat, while the Hotaru attacked the witches, ripping through the forest.
Punkin and Oarla shouted fiercely, rallying the witches forward.
The witches surged out of Ordor Forest and into the Forest of Ghosts.
Cursed mages died screaming.
rcenaries coughed blood and collapsed en masse.
Even the Hotaru shrieked as they fell.
The more Demtor’s blood soaked into the ground beneath the Forest of Ghosts, the fiercer the witches’ advance beca.
“They’re within range.”
At Modin’s report, Clarke nodded.
He turned his gaze—there, a group of shamans stood.
Ten in total.
Sent by Kal, their role was to control the voodoo dolls sent from Blyer.
“Begin.”
The shamans bowed deeply and began chanting.
Red light began to pour from the crimson crystals in their hands.
A mont later, the darkened forest turned blood-red.
Flash—
Hundreds of eyes opened.
The Van Dyke puppet had awakened.
At the sa ti, all the Stars of Demtor drew out their relics—and drank their vials of Blood Nature.
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