The Invincible Young Master-Chapter 209 - Seven Layers

The tension of the expedition bore down on each force like an unseen force pressing against their backs.

Their armor gleamed under the pale sunlight, their banners fluttering in the breeze, but beneath the surface tension crackled like an impending storm. No matter their confidence, every soldier knew the truth, they were stepping into the unknown.

At the forefront of the formation, a white-armored commander rode steadily, his sharp gaze scanning the distant ruins.

Beside him, a small figure clutched a wooden staff, her grip firm despite the slight tremble in her fingers.

The commander finally spoke, his voice steady but edged with concern. "Lady Lina, how much do you know about the dangers inside?"

Lina’s fingers curled tighter around her staff. "I-I was given some information by the elders who scouted ahead."

Her voice wavered slightly, though she forced herself to continue. "A-at the early stages, the dangers aren’t life-threatening…"

The commander’s brow furrowed. "Early stages?"

"There are stages?!" His sudden exclamation cut through the murmurs of nearby officers, drawing a startled step back from Lina. She blinked up at him, wide-eyed.

Realizing his mistake, the commander immediately softened his stance, lowering his head in a brief nod of apology. "Forgive me. Please, continue."

Lina swallowed, as she continued.

"Y-yes… There are layers," she admitted, her voice quieter. "The deeper one goes, the greater the danger."

The commander’s jaw clenched. "And how deep did the elders go?"

"The elders reached the seventh layer while searching for Senior Silica," Lina answered, voice still unsteady. "T-they were forced to retreat… not because they encountered something fatal, but because they were unsure of what lay ahead and they had e-exhausted themselves."

"Seven layers…" the commander muttered, barely restraining his disbelief.

Lina’s words carried implications far beyond what they had been briefed. The expedition had been briefed about ruins enclosed within a vast dome, with threats lurking within. But nothing had mentioned a structured, multi-layered descent into escalating peril.

"Lady Lina, are you saying there are more layers beyond the seventh?"

Lina nodded, her shoulders stiff. "Y-yes."

The commander turned to Reynold, who had remained silent throughout the exchange. His lack of reaction told the commander everything he needed to know, this information had been purposely withheld.

They hadn’t been told. Not because the elders had forgotten, but because knowledge of what lay ahead would crush morale before they even set foot inside.

Even now, as the ruins loomed like an open maw before them, unease clung to the soldiers like a second skin. If they knew there were seven layers, and possibly more, many would falter before the expedition even began.

Breaking the silence, the commander spoke again, his tone quieter. "Forgive me for overwhelming you with questions, Lady Lina, but I must confirm one last thing."

Lina flinched at his sharp gaze but managed a weak nod. "W-what is it?"

"What do you believe will be the casualty rate for this army… once we step inside?"

A long silence hung between them before she finally spoke.

"If-If nothing unexpected happens, the c-casualty rate won’t be too high."

The commander exhaled in relief, but his hope quickly shattered as Lina’s next words followed, sinking into him like a stone dropped into a deep well.

"B-but… if they go deep, with the intent to clear the ruin… t-the casualty rate could rise to more than f-fifty percent."

The commander had anticipated grim news, but hearing it from Lina, so matter-of-factly, made the reality of it far worse.

Fifty percent.

Half the whole army.

Even in past expeditions to dangerous ruins, casualty rates often exceeded seventy percent. In comparison, fifty seemed generous. But still, it meant that for every two soldiers who ventured in, only one would make it out.

As the commander struggled to process the gravity of the situation, a soft voice broke through the haze of his thoughts.

"B-but again, I-it shouldn’t reach that high…" Lina’s hesitant tone caught him off guard, pulling him back to the present.

He turned to her, expecting the same fragile uncertainty. Instead, he saw something else. A faint but undeniable resolve in her eyes. She wasn’t the timid figure she appeared to be.

"B-because the High Elder and the Four Protectors are joining…" Lina’s voice steadied as she continued, her words gaining strength with each passing moment. "A-and I will make sure we enter safely."

The commander’s gaze followed hers toward the Dome of Magic looming ahead. Near its glimmering edge, the High Elder of the Emperor Academy and the Four Protectors kneeled in unison, placing something on the ground.

From his position, he couldn’t make out the details, but the scene was undeniable. They were preparing something critical.

The High Elder and the Four Protectors were the elite among ascendants. Their presence could shift the balance of this expedition.

The commander had almost forgotten in his own internal whirlwind. With these powerful figures joining the venture, this was no longer a blind gamble. It was a calculated mission.

Furthermore, they still had their lord, Reynold. They weren’t marching into the unknown empty-handed. They had contingencies in place, fail-safes designed for the worst scenarios.

Just then, another officer approached, halting in front of Reynold with a sharp salute.

"Everything’s prepared, my lord," the soldier reported, his tone steady. "The formation is stable. The carriages are ready to move."

Reynold gave a slight nod, his golden hair gleaming in the light as he turned his attention toward the heart of their ranks.

In the center of their force, surrounded by white-armored soldiers, sat several large carriages. Their frames were reinforced with enchanted metals, the cargo beneath thick black tarps, hidden from view.

To the untrained eye, the sight was nothing remarkable. Large armies always carried supplies, whether food, weapons, or other equipment.

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Similar carriages could be found among the other factions as well. Some relied on storage artifacts, but physical transport was still the most reliable method for distributing goods.

To most, the carriages were nothing but a standard part of the military’s equipment.

But Lina’s gaze didn’t waver from those particular carriages in the center. Her eyes sharpened, her pupils glowing as if her very vision was cutting through the layers of secrecy.

"T-this…" she whispered, her voice barely audible, a mix of awe and dread coloring her tone. "S-such malice…"

Reynold, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. "Keep it a secret."

Despite the layers of concealment, Reynold understood that Lina’s perceptive eyes would see through it. He had anticipated her reaction.

Lina swallowed hard, the dry lump in her throat making it difficult to speak. She hesitated, but her curiosity and fear finally overcame her hesitation.

"S-senior…" she stammered, her voice stuttering. "I-is that alive?"

Reynold’s gaze remained fixed on the carriage, unblinking.

Then, without a moment’s pause, he nodded.