Beast Blood

Chapter 2: Uncle

The group of boys was scared out of their wits. Ignoring the blood that was all over their bodies, they rushed toward the crowd to ask for help while I followed them without hurry.

When the people saw this bizarre scene, they were also moving away in fear.

Such a large commotion soon attracted the attention of even more people, including some skilled men who quickly restrained me. My body was bound with ropes and I was pushed down onto the ground.

Everyone was talking amongst each other. There were people constantly pointing fingers at me, calling me a beastman.

It was only then that I found out that this was a beast transformation, a condition that rarely occurred to anyone.

Humans and beastmen had been at war for many years. At the mention of them, the emotions of the people were riled up.

Someone had taken the lead, saying “burn him”, and his words resonated with everyone. “Burn him”, the words resounded through the streets. Soon, I was brought to a square where a pile of dry wood was prepared.

I had already returned to normal at this time, back into a human. But still, it did not dispel their ideas of burning me. They had already decided that I was an alien, I was not one of them.

Very soon, I was secured to a cross and placed at the center of the woodpile. No matter how I tried to explain myself or how I cried, they would not let me go.

It seemed like I would not be able to escape.

A chill crept up my heart, freezing me to the bone. I was shivering, and my heart was filled with deep despair.

A fire rose from the woodpile. Just as I closed my eyes and waited for my end, a loud “stop!” rang through the square. A man in silver armor descended from the sky, just like a god.

That was right, just like God. That was what I thought during that moment, because I was the only one who knew how deep my despair ran.

He kicked away the burning lumps of firewood and shouted at the men who were trying to approach. "Are you trying to rebel? You're challenging General Rylough of the Locke Legion!"

This name clearly subdued many of the people. That was because the Locke Legion was one of the three major legions of the imperial frontier stationed here, and they were also the bravest and strongest ones among them. General Locke was also of resounding fame in this region because he once led a team of a hundred troops deep into a beastman tribe, saving the captured mayor and even beheading one of their senior generals. Later, the head was determined to belong to the Beastman Kylo Legion's general, Ursla.

After that battle, Rylough became the general of the Locke Legion, and he also became close-knit brothers with the Lord Mayor through thick and thin.

I could not help but feel a sense of excitement and injustice rose up within me. I was finally saved, because this man was my uncle, my uncle by blood,although I was not close with him. My uncle did not show me much enthusiasm due to the nature of my birth, and the number of times we met was also very low. Still, I could not suppress the warmth I felt in my heart to see a family member come to my aid in my time of need.

My uncle looked at me emotionlessly. He said nothing, but the furrow in his brow clearly showed his displeasure.

A team of heavily armed soldiers arrived in a neat line. They were separated into two teams and stood on each of his sides. In an instant, their presence silenced the crowd.

A middle-aged man with a grim face stepped up and questioned my uncle.

"Loughan, that boy hurt someone, and everyone saw him transform. He's clearly not one of us! He could even be a Beastman. You can't trust these beasts. It's only natural that we've decided to execute him. You're not thinking of protecting him, are you?"

"That's right, that's right! I saw it!"

"I saw it too!"

Quiet voices echoed in the ground. Seemed like these people really were not willing to let me go.

My uncle turned back to look at me, then he turned back to the man.

This man was the brother-in-law of the deputy mayor and also held considerable influence in the city. At the same time, the Lord Mayor and the Deputy Mayor had always been at odds. Some said that the Lord Mayor's capture by the beastmen had been orchestrated by the City Mayor himself. He figured that he would have been able to take his place should the Lord Mayor be gone, but he did not expect Loughan to appear and save the man from the beastmen. From then on, their grudge had been cemented, and with my uncle being on the Lord Mayor's side, he naturally did not deal too kindly with this man.

"Alec, you have to have proof of what you say. The empire's talents are not something you can just besmirch."

Alec laughed.

"You want proof? His appearance earlier was proof! His eyes had turned red, and not only had his skin turned dark red, there was fur growing all over his body! Isn't that just like a beastman?"

"Just like, you say? Is likeness the end of it?"

My uncle interrupted him.

"Have you heard of a Berserker?"

"A Berserker?"

He looked at the man in contempt.

"Seems like you've never heard of it. Oh, but of course, how could a debauchee like you ever know? The Berserker is a rare constitution that has rarely been seen in the history of the empire. Their body's potential can burst out in a desperate situation, quickly improving their strength. Under that power, a Berserker can fight a hundred foes at once, rising many times over that of ordinary warriors at later levels. Tell me, isn't someone like this a talent for our empire? And you wish to execute him? Could it be that you're a beastman spy who can't stand to see our empire gain?"

Alec was greatly pressured by my uncle's accusations, but it seemed true in fact that he had never heard about the Berserkers and was stammering at once.

"Hmph, you win this time, but there won't be a next time!"

Finally, he slunk away. But before he left, he shot me a vicious glare and cursed at me. That sinister look in his eyes sent shivers down my spine, as if they were saying, "Don't let me catch your weaknesses, brat, or just wait and see how I wring the life out of you!"

My uncle stepped forward to block him, ridiculing, "Don't go, Alec. Let me tell you more about how great the Berserkers are. Perhaps one might even appear in your family."

"Harumph!"

Alec flung his sleeves and angrily squeezed through the crowd, followed by his lackeys.