The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic - Chapter 412

411: 411 411: 411 “Blurp!” A wet, unsettling sound echoed through the dark chamber.

“Hungryy!” The voice was thick, guttural, filled with impatience.

Then came another louder sound that shook the whole underground hall, causing the hanging bones and flesh along the walls to tremble.

“I want to go to battle!” A massive, distorted figure sat hunched on the stone floor.

His belly swelled grotesquely as he patted it, eyes burning faintly yellow in the dim red glow of the torches.

“SHUT UP, you fat ass!” A cold voice sliced through the noise.

The bulky demon stopped and slowly turned.

His thick fingers dug into the slab of raw meat beside him as he stared toward the one who spoke.

Selena stood there, her pale skin glowing faintly under the crimson fire.

Her wounds hadn’t fully healed, and the dried blood across her chest made her look even more menacing.

She breathed heavily, irritation twisting her face.

“It’s because of you, Selena,” the bulky demon said, his tone filled with mockery.

“If you hadn’t gone and gotten beaten so badly, I wouldn’t be sitting here waiting like a starving dog.” He chuckled deeply and then looked at another demon leaning against the wall.

“Isn’t it right, Alex?” Alex smirked faintly, sharp teeth glinting.

“Yes, Karoga.

Because of your stupidity, that bastard Roman locked us in this hole.” Selena’s eyes twitched.

The mention of her defeat made her blood boil.

After the battle on the first day, Roman had locked the major generals in the fortress, forbidding them from engaging again until his orders changed.

“Are you finished complaining,” a deep voice echoed, “or do you have more useless whining to spill?” The sound carried across the room like the weight of thunder.

Roman appeared from the shadows, walking slowly with his usual pride and sharp presence.

His black armor gleamed faintly, and his crimson cloak dragged across the floor behind him.

His expression showed no emotion, but the pressure in the air grew heavy the closer he came.

“Roman,” Alex snapped, eyes narrowing.

“I want to go to war right now.” “I will steal their weapon.” Roman stopped in front of him, looking down with an unreadable expression.

As the embodiment of Greed, Alex’s hunger for possession was never satisfied.

He wasn’t interested in killing.

He wanted to steal, to collect, to take everything that glittered.

What drove him insane wasn’t bloodlust, but the desire to sneak into the human camps and snatch away their treasures.

He grinned to himself.

“And by the time the humans realize, it’ll be too late.” Karoga growled from the side, rubbing his round belly.

“Yes.

I’m hungry.” His voice came out low and mournful.

Selena rolled her eyes.

“You’re always hungry.” “Why stop them?” Karoga asked suddenly, turning toward Roman.

“Just let us go.” Roman’s patience cracked.

His jaw tightened, and his voice burst out sharp.

“Let you go and do what?

Get killed?” The air trembled as his aura rose.

The shadows along the walls bent and shook.

“You three are top S-rank demons,” he said slowly, his voice heavy with restrained fury.

“But on the other side stand four S-rankers and three SS-rankers.

Do you still want to go out there and die for nothing?” He stared each of them in the eyes.

“If we lose this front, I will be held responsible.

And none of you will be there to take the blame.” Silence fell over the chamber.

The meat on the table stopped sizzling.

The fire crackled weakly.

Then, Selena suddenly shot up from her seat, tail flicking with anger.

“Wait, what did you just say?” she shouted.

Her crimson eyes widened.

“Did you just say three SS-rankers?” Roman didn’t answer, his expression calm.

Selena raised her claws and began counting.

“There’s that white-haired bastard, that royal prick, the loudmouth bitch, and that quiet cook guy.

That’s four S-rankers.” She narrowed her eyes.

“Now where the hell did they pull out three SS-rankers?” Her words hung in the air.

The other two demons looked at her, then at Roman.

“They have been in the camp for your kind information so we need help.” “Leave that aside..Tell me how did you know about this.”Selena demanded A faint smile tugged at the corner of Roman’s lips.

“You’re starting to get it.” For a moment, no one spoke.

Then a realization flickered in their eyes.

“Wait,” Alex whispered, his voice low and grim.

“Is it them?” “Did you bring the information from them?” Roman didn’t answer directly.

He just clicked his tongue and looked away.

“You could say that.” Alex’s usual smirk vanished.

His expression turned solemn.

“Hey, Roman.

Is it really okay to involve them?

Don’t forget, even though we’re demons, we’re still natives of this world.

We’re not like them.” Karoga frowned.

“Will they really help us?” Roman finally turned to face them again.

His eyes glowed faintly red.

“They promised,” he said quietly.

“But we can’t rely on them alone.” His hand brushed over the hilt of his blade.

“I relayed the news to Demon Army.They said they’ll send a Duke.” The words dropped like a curse.

Selena’s breath hitched.

The air seemed to grow colder.

A Duke.

Even the flames in the torches flickered as if afraid.

“Shit,” Alex muttered.

“If they’re sending a Duke, then this isn’t just war anymore.

It’s slaughter.” Karoga laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck.

“Guess I’ll get to eat plenty then.” Roman’s glare silenced him instantly.

“You’ll eat when I tell you to.” He turned toward the distant wall, his gaze seeming to pierce through the stone, as if he could already see the battlefield beyond.

Snowstorms raged outside, and the cries of battle echoed faintly through the wind.

“Prepare yourselves,” he said finally.

“Once the Duke arrives, everything will change.” The room fell silent again.

…….

The tent was quiet except for the rustling of maps and the faint sound of wind whistling through the cracks.

Fred and Hobbins looked at Crebs, who stood stiffly beside the war table.

His hands were trembling slightly, and his face had turned pale.

“What happened?” Fred asked, narrowing his eyes.

Crebs didn’t answer at once.

He glanced down at the map, tracing the lines that marked their frontlines.

His lips pressed into a thin line as he finally spoke.

“Don’t you think we’ve been winning too easily?” Hobbins raised an eyebrow.

“Winning too easily?” Crebs nodded slowly.

“Yes.

The demons are strong.

Their lower ranks fight like beasts, yet…

there’s been no resistance from their high command.

It’s strange.” Fred and Hobbins exchanged glances.

The thought had crossed their minds, but none had dared to say it aloud.

“Now that you mention it,” Fred muttered, “you’re right.

We’re pushing too far without much loss.

It’s like they’re letting us advance.” “The lack of their upper echelon,” Hobbins added, rubbing his chin, “it’s giving us an opening.

But it’s unnatural.

The demons always move with precision.

This silence feels wrong.” Crebs exhaled deeply, the cold air misting from his lips.

His voice lowered.

“I don’t know why, but I have a bad premonition.

Like something terrible is about to happen.” The tone in his voice made both men tense.

Fred frowned.

“What do you mean?” Crebs looked back down at the map.

His finger hovered over the northern bridge, where their armies had crossed into the enemy’s territory.

“It’s too quiet.

Everything has been too smooth.

It’s like walking into a trap we can’t see.” “Are the demons hiding something?” Hobbins asked, his voice tightening.

Before Crebs could reply, a distant cry echoed through the camp.

The sound grew louder with each second until a soldier burst through the tent flap, face covered in mud and sweat.

He was panting heavily, almost stumbling as he bowed.

“My Lord…

bad news…

bad news!” Fred slammed his hand on the table.

“What happened?

Speak clearly!” The messenger tried to steady his breath, his entire body trembling.

“A new demon has appeared on the eastern path.

The scouts confirmed it.” Fred and Hobbins leaned forward.

“Who is it?” The soldier swallowed hard, his voice shaking.

“It’s…

an SS-rank demon, sir.” “SS-rank?” Hobbins repeated, his expression darkening.

“Who?” The soldier’s eyes darted up, fear written across his face.

His voice came out as a whisper.

“It’s the Duke of Wrath…” For a moment, no one spoke.

Only the faint flicker of the candlelight danced against their faces, casting long shadows on the map.

Fred clenched his fist tightly.

His knuckles turned white.

“Shit…” he muttered under his breath.

The messenger stood still, unsure whether to leave or stay.

The air around them felt heavier by the second.

“The Duke of Wrath,” Crebs repeated in a hollow voice.

“If that monster joins the war…” “We’ll lose the northern front,” Hobbins finished grimly.

Fred turned toward the entrance of the tent, his jaw tense.

“Send word to Hans, Martina, and Roosevelt immediately.

Tell them to fortify the bridges and brace for impact.” “Y-yes, my lord!” The messenger ran out, his footsteps fading into the storm outside.

Fred looked at his companions again.

The candlelight flickered once more, casting eerie shadows over their worried faces.

Crebs stared silently at the map.

The tremble in his hand had not stopped.

“So it begins,” he whispered softly.

Hobbins didn’t reply.

He only reached for his sword, checking its edge.

“It seems the time has come for us to step in.”