UNLOCK: I CAN SEE MY STATS

chapter 49 : urgent news

In the eastern camp, which is now under the control of Ironland…

The sun was setting behind the mountains that loomed like black blades on the horizon, while Ironland’s banners fluttered above the tents with threads of blood and cruelty.

The air was thick with the scent of blood and burned corpses, and the soldiers marched in lines that knew no confusion, like polished machines that knew nothing but obedience.

The central tent, which had belonged to Lorana just yesterday, had now become the beating heart of the plan to destroy it.

Inside, a massive map covered the table, showing the camps, fronts, and mountains, surrounded by red and black markings. Three men and two women stood around it.

General Harmil, a short man with a face carved from stone, spoke in a low voice that carried the weight of the guillotine:

"The village camp… the last line of defense for eastern Lorana. If it falls, all they’ll have left is screaming."

General Arya replied, her shining eyes reflecting discipline that knew no mercy:

"But they know the terrain, and every village will turn into a trap. We don’t want to repeat the mistake of Kora Valley."

General Turmal let out a cold laugh that passed over wounds without healing them:

"Not this time. This time, death will come from the inside."

He stepped closer to the table and pointed at the large red dot that represented the village camp:

"The operation begins in four days. Three fronts, each with a different angle of attack. Their center is weak… if it breaks, the edges will collapse automatically."

Arya said, arms crossed:

"And what about the civilians?"

Harmil gave her a long look:

"Anyone who remains… has no place in this world."

Silence fell. Then Harmil moved slowly, pointing to Lorana’s supply lines:

"Our spies sent a signal hours ago. The supply lines on the western front are about to collapse. Glograph has completed its preparations and will attack simultaneously with us from the southeast."

Turmal asked:

"And the exact time?"

Harmil answered without hesitation:

"Dawn of the fourth day. No sooner, no later."

---

At the edge of the village camp…

The watchtowers let out a faint whistle, and the soldiers at the barricades stared at the approaching shadows. Two were running, they didn’t seem like a threat, but their appearance was terrifying enough to trigger the alarm.

The head of the guard came down himself and drew his sword. He pointed his sword at the visitors and said coldly:

"Stop right there!"

Markus raised his hands up to show he came in peace and signaled to Liana to do the same.

The guard commander’s expression softened slightly. "Who are you!? And what is your purpose in coming here!?" While speaking, he gestured to the guards behind him to move in and arrest them.

Markus sighed bitterly as he was forced to kneel.

"Markus Abomarian… from the medical team unit…" he nodded toward Liana, "Liana, from the medical team. We came from the eastern camp… we have urgent information!"

The guard commander ignored everything Markus said and focused only on the part that they came from the eastern camp.

"Impossible!!" he denied strongly. "The eastern camp fell two days ago and there’s no trace of any survivors…"

"In fact, there are survivors and they’re standing right in front of you…" Markus said with a forced smile before turning to the soldier who had bound him. "Could you loosen the restraints a bit, my right arm is slightly broken…"

The soldier ignored Markus’s request, and Markus sighed in disappointment.

The guard commander stared at Markus as if he were looking at a fraud.

"You're telling me that a boy like you who hasn’t even grown facial hair, and this lady next to you, escaped from the eastern camp from twenty-five thousand Ironland soldiers and crossed that long distance alive to here…?"

Liana nodded firmly. Markus also nodded. "Exactly…"

"Check my ID…" he pointed to the slightly burned ID on his waist.

The commander frowned and motioned to a soldier to inspect it. The soldier stared at the card he pulled out.

"Markus Abomarian… Abomarian!?" He immediately stared at Markus’s forehead, covered in dirt.

"You’re claiming to be an Abomarian!? I don’t know if you’re a fool or if you think we are! Really, an Abomarian!?"

"Oh!" Markus understood what the commander was referring to, since he lacked that distinctive mark on the forehead that every member of the Abomarian clan has once they awaken their bloodline.

Liana quickly clarified the misunderstanding, "He really is from the Abomarian clan, he’s just…"

Markus completed:

"An outcast…"

"Look, I could do this all day, but there’s an urgent matter the commanders need to hear, or you can simply imprison me and then take responsibility later…"

"The great guard commander imprisoned two surviving soldiers who carried intelligence that could decide the future of the state…"

"Alright, alright, alright, stop, I get it…" the commander said quickly and gestured to the soldier:

"Take both of them to the main tent and tell the generals they have urgent news…"