The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Among the many Beastmen tribes in the Midnight Labyrinth, the Bloodfiend tribe was among the best. Their hunting party had just ambushed a squad of 12 Red Robes, eliminating them with numerical superiority. Although they lost 10 of their own, it was all worth it, because these Red Robes had the flavor of fresh meat, unlike the rotting flesh—though in the past, the tribe's food and water, thanks to the blessings of the gods, could grow spontaneously in the labyrinth as rotten meat chunks and foul-smelling thick juices, satisfying the physiological needs of these greedy beasts, the flavor of human meat greatly supplemented their growing taste demands.

In addition, their armor was very good protective gear, and some of their weapons were usable while others were not, but the Beastmen knew how to use grenades.

Sanet 'Giant Hand', the hunting party leader, carried a huge battle-axe and led the team back to the lair, a foul-smelling chamber filled with countless remains. Countless skulls formed a throne, upon which sat a鬃毛-covered, horned beast leader, chewing on the remains beneath him.

Beastmen never create, and of course, they never wanted to change that. This could be understood from the now foul-smelling interior environment of the lost ark.

Previously, the walls and ceilings of this place would grow deformed tentacles of the Chaos Realm, and even actively capture stray Beastmen, sending them into their own barbed esophagus to be digested, but now these strange supernatural images had disappeared, and even the whispers and eerie laughter that once echoed like broadcasts in the chambers and passages had vanished.

Their home was becoming deathly silent, but the Beastmen would not rejoice in this, because it meant that the blessings of the gods were moving away.

"We must find a way to regain the blessings of the gods, perhaps with a sacrifice."

The Bloodfiend tribe's leader, Caton 'Bloodgreedy', tore at the Red Robe corpse under his feet, muttering to himself. Sharp beast claws repeatedly stabbed into the bloody abdomen, the internal organs and leaking lubricant mixing together to emit a stench. These unique robed people not only had a lot of metal on them, but even oil in their blood vessels, but this did not affect the Beastmen's appetite.

A silver hard-shell helmet floated in the blood. This was the leader's after-dinner leftovers.

Not far away, a priest hid in the shadows, greedily watching everything the leader possessed. Beastmen were by no means kind, and even when facing their own kind, their hearts, filled with anger and mania, would not soften.

Any leader who could rule the tribe relied on strength and the gifts of the gods.

"We're back!"

The hunting captain threw a corpse with only the upper half heavily on the ground, which attracted many greedy eyes, but then the axe falling on the corpse made all eyes cautious.

Sanet 'Giant Hand''s scarred beast body rose and fell with heavy breathing. The contaminated air circulated freely in its lungs, but the Beastmen had adapted well to the filth of the Midnight Labyrinth and had no adverse reactions.

"Prey, here, ten hung."

The hunting captain walked resentfully to his "dining table," a decaying remains of a cogitator, and began to enjoy his prey.

The priest also emerged from the shadows, raising the eight-pointed star scepter in his hand. The mysterious relic that could communicate with the gods was still firmly held in its hand after several acts of cannibalism, which was a symbol of strength, and therefore its position in the tribe was second only to the leader himself, regardless of whether the other horned ones were convinced.

【 】

Several scarred hunters delivered a share of prey to the priest.

Even in the most savage tribes, there was an order representing inequality. The priest symbolized the gods, so it did not need any labor to obtain spoils.

The other horned beasts were attracted by the bloody smell and gathered around. Although the fragrance of fresh meat was very tempting, the herd members still looked at the only leader. Their eyes shone with greed and fear, and naturally, no Beastman revealed dissatisfaction, because fear would ensure that they suppressed it in their hearts.

And the lower-level members did not even have the opportunity to look, and could only wait for the warriors to finish eating before scavenging for leftover bones.

"You guys, do you even have me, this leader, in your eyes?"

Caton 'Bloodgreedy', who had stopped eating, violently pulled the bloody, deformed bull's head out of the Red Robe's chest cavity, sharp teeth protruding from his lips, with strands of flesh still hooked on them.

"Why attack the Red Robes who broke into the hunting grounds so rashly? They are just bait. I planned to use these weaklings to attract more fish!"

"I'm sorry, leader, their meat is very tempting."

The hunting captain did not show any respect. It was still eating, but its hand was tightly holding the axe, tapping on the metal floor. The echoing sound of sharp metal friction and collision represented a signal—the second strongest warrior in the tribe was already angry and needed a definite release.

A challenge was brewing.

Suddenly, the priest, with a face like a raven, let out a sinister laugh, which was a superposition of two different voices.

"Hoofless ones, especially those among them who have not been transformed, devouring them will not be noticed by the gods at all. The gods obviously want stronger and fatter prey. Eating one or two small fish and using tricks to lure them will only be ridiculed by the gods."

An unceremonious reply from a subordinate, with sarcasm in his words towards the leader's petty cleverness. If the tribe beast king ignored it, the rule would become precarious.

With a low roar, the gray beast body covered with鬃毛 was driven by strong muscles, pulling it upright. The priest's figure in front of that black shadow seemed to have become much shorter.

"The gods? I think the gods now need a clever head."

The filthy beast hoof heavily stepped on the ground, producing a ripple-like sense of oppression.

But at the same time, the hunting captain also roared, giving up eating and walking over, placing his hand on the priest's shoulder, bringing the other party behind him.

"A devout warrior will not threaten the gods' messenger, unless it becomes cowardly and fearful, afraid to face the challenge issued by the gods."

Caton 'Bloodgreedy' grabbed his weapon, a power axe picked up from some dark corner. Although it could no longer rotate, its enormous weight and the still sharp serrations on it allowed it to maintain a terrifying killing power in the Beastmen's brute force.

"Eating too much meat, becoming more courageous, very good—"

With a heavy crash, an imminent challenge was interrupted. Accompanied by the flash of explosives, several horned beasts guarding the entrance to the "cave" flew through the air like rag dolls thrown by giants. Their necks had been twisted before they hit the cargo hold, and brain matter flowed out of their shattered skulls. One beast horn was even directly shattered by the force of the explosion.

"Enemies!!"