Lysander turned his gaze away from the giant Centaur and looked out toward the sunlit plains. The distant silhouette of the Human Kingdom's border was barely visible on the horizon.
"My return to the village will have to wait," Lysander stated, the mechanical filter of his mask making his voice sound like grinding stones. "I still have business in the Human Kingdom"
Kaelith's amber eyes widened in alarm. She shifted her heavy equine body, her hooves scraping anxiously against the stone floor.
"The Human Kingdom?" Kaelith asked, disbelief lacing her booming voice. "Why would you go there? It is a death trap! If they discover you killed the slavers and destroyed the Duke's property, they will send an army of Royal Knights after you. What business could possibly be worth that risk?"
Lysander slowly turned his head to look at her. His glowing red eyes were calm, devoid of any fear.
"War requires logistics, Kaelith," Lysander explained methodically. "An army cannot fight an empire with bare hands and broken sticks. I need high-grade weapons. I need armor. And more importantly, I need to find people who know how to forge them—Blacksmiths, Alchemists, Crafters"
Kaelith frowned, her thick brow furrowing. "But human merchants will not sell quality weapons to a stranger without a massive amount of Gold Coins. And purchasing slaves with crafting talents is even more expensive"
"Do not worry about the gold," Lysander interrupted smoothly, a dark, confident edge to his voice. "I have my methods. I will use the Kingdom's own wealth to forge the blades that will cut their throats"
He took a step closer to her, his heavy armored boots echoing in the cave.
"Furthermore," Lysander added, his tone dropping into a deadly whisper. "I need to gather intelligence. I need to find out exactly which nobles purchased the surviving females of the Equus Giganteus. Once I have their locations... we will tear their manors down and bring your sisters home"
The words hung in the damp air of the cavern.
Kaelith stared at the black-armored titan. A tidal wave of emotion crashed over her. Tears blurred her vision as she realized this stranger wasn't just offering her survival, but a chance at vengeance and the rescue of her family.
Gritting her teeth against the dull ache in her bandaged waist, Kaelith forced her massive front legs to bend. With a heavy thud, she knelt before him on the damp cave floor, bowing her proud, sun-bronzed head.
"I thought the honor of this world died with my father," Kaelith declared, her voice thick with emotion. "I was wrong. You saved my life. And now you offer salvation to my sisters"
She paused, looking up at the terrifying, glowing red eyes of his mask.
"But..." she whispered. "I do not even know the name of the one who saved me. Who are you?"
Lysander looked down at the kneeling giantess. He didn't hesitate.
"I am Zero"
Kaelith's amber eyes widened slightly. She pressed her right fist over her heart, her booming voice ringing with absolute, unshakable resolve.
"Then hear the oath of the Earth-Shaker's daughter. From this day until my flesh rots and my bones turn to dust, this warrior belongs to you, Lord Zero! I will be your vanguard. I will trample your enemies under my hooves. My life is yours!"
Lysander could feel the raw, heavy mana radiating from her oath. He had just secured the loyalty of an SSS-Rank heavy cavalry unit.
"Rise, Kaelith," Lysander commanded gently. "I accept your oath. But right now, you are in no condition to fight"
Kaelith slowly pushed herself back up, wincing as the movement pulled at the stitches and bandages around her waist.
"Your wounds are treated, but the flesh has not knitted together yet," Lysander noted. "If you try to run or fight now, you will tear the wounds open and bleed to death"
He reached into his spatial inventory and pulled out a large canteen of fresh water and a bundle of dried rations, placing them on a flat stone near her.
"Eat and drink," Lysander ordered. "I am not leaving you here alone. The smell of your blood might attract monsters from the plains. I will stand guard at the cave entrance for the night"
He walked over to the mouth of the cave, his midnight-blue cloak settling around him as he sat down, acting as an immovable iron wall between her and the outside world.
"Rest, Kaelith. Tomorrow morning, when you have regained some strength, you will accompany me to the Human Kingdom"
Kaelith, who had just picked up the canteen, froze. Her horse-ears pinned back in alarm.
"Accompany you?" Kaelith asked, disbelief lacing her voice. "Lord Zero... to the Human Kingdom? Look at me"
She gestured to her massive, towering Equus Giganteus frame.
"I am a giant Centaur. I cannot simply walk into a human city. The slavers were transporting me for a Duke. The moment the gate guards see me, they will recognize the stolen 'property' and sound the alarm. We won't even make it past the outer walls without triggering a war!"
Lysander didn't turn around. He kept his gaze fixed on the darkening plains outside, completely unbothered by her panic.
"I am aware of your size, and I am aware of the Duke," Lysander replied, his deep, distorted voice echoing calmly in the cave.
"Do you think I would march my vanguard blindly into a trap?"
Kaelith blinked, clutching the water canteen.
"Then... how will we get inside?"
"Leave that to me," Lysander stated, absolute confidence radiating from his armored form. "I have a method to hide you in plain sight. For now, stop worrying about tomorrow's problems. Have some patience, eat your rations, and sleep"
Kaelith stared at his broad, armored back. Despite the impossible situation, his calm demeanor managed to soothe her racing heart. She gave a firm, respectful nod, even though he couldn't see it.
"I understand, Lord Zero," she said softly.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, plunging the plains into darkness, the titan and the giantess settled into the quiet cave—waiting for the dawn that would bring them to the gates of Oakhaven.
The first rays of morning light pierced through the entrance of the cave, casting long, golden shadows across the damp stone floor.
Kaelith stirred, her long horse-ears twitching. She opened her amber eyes and took a deep breath. To her absolute shock, the burning, feverish agony that had plagued her for weeks was reduced to a dull, manageable ache. The medicine had worked miracles overnight, aided by the natural, monstrous vitality of the Equus Giganteus bloodline.
She pushed herself up. Her massive hooves clicked against the stone as she stood to her full, towering height. The white bandages around her waist and wrists were tight and secure. She felt weak from hunger, but the fatal danger had passed.
She looked toward the cave entrance.
Lysander had not moved an inch. The black-armored titan sat exactly where he had been the night before, his midnight-blue cloak draped over his broad shoulders, his red eyes staring out into the plains. He looked less like a man and more like a gargoyle carved from Abyssal Steel, an eternal guardian.
"Lord Zero," Kaelith called out softly, her booming voice hushed with respect. "You stood guard all night"
Lysander stood up, the hydraulic servos in his armor hissing as they engaged.
"I do not require much sleep," Lysander replied, his distorted voice echoing calmly. He turned to face her, his glowing eyes scanning her massive frame. "Your color is better. The bleeding has stopped. Can you walk?"
"Yes, my Lord," Kaelith nodded, puffing out her broad chest. "I am ready to follow you to the ends of the earth."
She took a step forward, but then stopped, her brow furrowing in worry. She looked down at her massive Clydesdale lower body, then back at him.
"But, Lord Zero... we still have the problem of my appearance," Kaelith reminded him anxiously. "It is broad daylight. If we walk down the King's Highway, every merchant and patrol guard will see us. A giant Centaur cannot wear a cloak to hide. How will we bypass the gates of Oakhaven?"
Lysander didn't answer immediately. He slowly walked toward her, stopping just a few feet away.
"Kaelith," Lysander asked, his voice dripping with absolute authority. "When you swore your oath to me, did you pledge your soul?"
Kaelith blinked, taken aback by the intense question. "I... yes. I swore my life and my loyalty to you. Completely"
"Good," Lysander said. "Because the System recognized your oath. And as your King, I possess abilities that go far beyond swords and magic"
"System," Lysander commanded internally.
"Activate [Demon King Talent: Subordinate Shadow Sanctuary]. Target: Kaelith"
Ding!
[Skill activated: shadow sanctuary]
[Description: The Demon King can store absolute loyal subordinates within his own shadow. Inside the shadow realm, time flows normally, but the occupant is placed in a state of suspended rest, accelerating their healing process by 200%]
Suddenly, the shadow cast by Lysander's massive armored body began to move. It didn't stretch away from the light; instead, it expanded outward, pooling across the cave floor like a puddle of thick, black liquid ink.
The dark pool stopped right at Kaelith's hooves.