Chapter 128: The Old Garden

The journey to the Old Garden took several hours, and Reinhard quickly realized that the Association had not been exaggerating when they called this a large-scale operation.

The road ahead was filled with vehicles carrying Awakener teams, Association personnel, medical staff, support units, and specialized equipment. Armored transports moved along the convoy’s sides while reconnaissance teams traveled ahead to monitor the road.

Reinhard leaned against the window. "They really brought this many people. I’m starting to think they don’t trust me to handle everything myself."

Mara didn’t even look at him. "The operation isn’t centered around you."

"That’s what they want you to believe."

Rhea immediately laughed, and Lily quickly joined her while Mara sighed. Reinhard looked toward the distant horizon before casually adding, "Still, I understand why they’re nervous. The heavens have sent me here, after all."

Rhea raised an eyebrow. "Did the heavens actually tell you to come?"

"Obviously."

She stared at him for a moment before asking, "You mean yourself?"

Reinhard smiled proudly. "Who else?"

"Focus, Reinhard," Mara said.

"I am focused. I’m focusing on being handsome and surviving."

"Those aren’t mutually exclusive," Rhea said.

Reinhard nodded. "Finally, someone understands me."

Archon, who had been sitting quietly nearby, calmly added, "He is handsome."

The vehicle went silent.

Reinhard slowly turned toward her while Rhea stared in disbelief and Lily covered her mouth to hide her laughter.

"Archon, I knew there was a reason I liked you."

Mara rubbed her forehead. "You’re encouraging him."

"I’m stating the truth," Archon replied.

Reinhard nodded with complete satisfaction. "Exactly."

The conversation continued after that, but Emily remained noticeably quieter than usual.

Reinhard noticed almost immediately. She kept looking through the window toward the landscape ahead, and the closer they came to the Old Garden, the less she participated in the conversation. He didn’t need to ask what was wrong to know that something about the destination was bothering her.

Instead, he reached over and gently took her hand.

Emily looked down at their hands before glancing at him. Reinhard simply gave her a small smile and looked back outside.

She doesn’t want to talk about it yet. That’s fine. He trusted her enough to let her decide when she was ready.

When the convoy stopped at a temporary checkpoint, Reinhard stepped outside with Emily. The Old Garden could now be seen beyond the hills, its distant outline partially hidden beneath a faint red haze.

Emily stared toward it without saying anything.

Reinhard moved closer and gently rubbed her shoulder. "You don’t have to tell me anything until you’re ready."

Emily was silent for a moment before answering. "I know."

"Good."

He took both of her hands and held them between his while they looked toward the distant Garden. After a few moments, Emily’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and Reinhard gave her a small smile.

Whatever is waiting for us, we’ll deal with it together.

The convoy soon reached the outer staging area. Hundreds of Awakeners had gathered outside the Garden, with temporary camps, medical stations, equipment depots, and communication posts spread across the field. Armored teams checked relic weapons, ranged teams prepared ammunition, and reconnaissance groups calibrated Mana detection equipment.

Several younger Awakeners also kept glancing toward the Ashcroft Family after recognizing the team that had recently reached the Top 10.

Rhea noticed first. "People are staring at us."

Lily smiled. "We’re famous now."

Reinhard looked toward an Awakener who appeared to be pointing in their direction and gave him a confident wave.

The man was actually pointing at someone behind them.

Mara immediately noticed. "He wasn’t waving at you."

Reinhard lowered his hand without embarrassment. "He should have been."

Rhea laughed. "You really have no shame."

"Why would I? We’re ranked ninth."

The staging area gradually became quiet as an older man stepped onto a raised platform near the center of the operation. His uniform marked him as a senior coordinator, and his calm expression suggested years spent commanding dangerous missions.

"Everyone, listen carefully. The Old Garden contains a large Bloodkin concentration, and our objective is not simply to kill whatever we encounter."

A display appeared behind him. "Before entering, every team needs to understand the Bloodkin hierarchy."

The first designation appeared.

Third Order.

"Third Order Bloodkin are the lowest recognized rank within the organized hierarchy, but that does not make them weak. They possess Blood Mana, enhanced physical abilities, heightened senses, regeneration, and resistance to ordinary injuries. They frequently operate in groups, so do not underestimate them."

Reinhard leaned slightly toward Emily. "So even the weakest ones are annoying."

Emily smiled faintly. "Apparently."

The display changed.

Second Order.

"Second Orders possess stronger Blood Mana manipulation, greater intelligence, and significantly stronger regeneration. They can coordinate lower-ranking Bloodkin during combat. If you encounter one, do not engage it alone unless your team is specifically prepared."

The next designation appeared.

First Order.

The atmosphere became noticeably heavier.

"First Orders are extremely powerful Bloodkin capable of sophisticated Blood Mana manipulation. They possess high intelligence and can command large groups while actively manipulating the battlefield." The coordinator looked across the gathered teams. "If you encounter a First Order, report its location and avoid unnecessary confrontation unless your team has been assigned to deal with it."

Then came the next designation.

Special Order.

"Special Orders are rare Bloodkin whose abilities do not follow normal patterns. Their powers can vary dramatically, and some possess abilities that behave more like Abnormalities than ordinary Blood Mana techniques." The coordinator’s expression hardened. "If you encounter a Special Order, your priority is to survive and report its location. Delay it only if absolutely necessary."

Finally, the display changed.

Origin.

The entire field became silent.

"An Origin Bloodkin is not simply another rank. An Origin is the source of the Bloodkin bloodline in this region, maintaining the connection that allows Bloodkin under its influence to regenerate beyond their normal limits."

Maki’s expression became serious. "This is why killing individual Bloodkin will not permanently solve the problem. As long as the Origin remains alive, the Bloodkin connected to it can continue recovering from injuries that should otherwise be fatal."

The display changed again, showing the operation’s objective. "Our ultimate goal is to find the Origin, sever its influence, and eliminate it."

Reinhard raised his hand.

The coordinator looked toward him.

"So we’re basically looking for the final boss?"

Several Awakeners nearby laughed.

The coordinator stared at him. "That is an extremely irresponsible way of describing the operation."

"But accurate."

Mara immediately turned toward him. "Don’t encourage him."

Archon quietly added, "It is accurate."

Mara stared at her. Reinhard smiled. Archon really is becoming my strongest supporter.

The coordinator sighed before continuing. "Once inside, follow your assigned routes and do not pursue higher-order Bloodkin simply because you believe you can defeat them. Anyone who ignores those instructions will endanger the entire operation." He raised one hand. "Prepare to move."

The entire staging area came alive. Reconnaissance teams moved first while combat teams followed behind them. Medical and support units spread toward their assigned positions, and specialized teams entered through different sections of the outer wall.

Reinhard looked around at the hundreds of Awakeners moving together.

This isn’t a dungeon expedition. It was an invasion.

He glanced at Emily, gently squeezed her hand, and moved forward with the others.

The moment they passed through the outer wall, Reinhard was surprised. He had expected the Old Garden to resemble a ruined battlefield, but it was nothing like that. Ancient trees stretched toward the sky, branches twisted and partially dead while flowers grew beneath them. Stone paths wound through the vegetation toward old buildings covered in vines and moss. Broken fountains stood among overgrown gardens, statues partially consumed by nature.

A faint red mist hung between the trees.

Blood Mana.

"This doesn’t look like a Bloodkin stronghold," Reinhard said.

Maki studied the surrounding structures. "It looks like an old settlement."

Reinhard looked at the gardens and ancient stonework. "So the monsters have better landscaping than us."

"Stop insulting the Garden," Mara said.

"I’m complimenting it."

Rhea pointed toward a weathered statue. "That thing is going to move."

"It’s a statue," Mara replied.

"That’s exactly what a monster would want you to think."

Reinhard nodded. "She’s making a good point."

"You’re not serious," Maki said.

"I’m always serious."

Archon examined the statue for a moment before calmly saying, "It could move."

Rhea immediately pointed toward her. "See?"

Reinhard smiled. "Finally, someone understands me."

Mara sighed. "This is becoming a problem."

They continued deeper into the Garden, and the evidence that this had once been a settlement became increasingly obvious: old residences, abandoned kitchens, ceremonial structures, defensive walls, gardens maintained for generations.

The Bloodkin hadn’t simply used this place as a military base.

They had lived here. They had built homes here. They had raised families here.

Then Emily slowed down.

Reinhard followed her gaze toward a stone path covered in moss. She stepped onto it without hesitation and walked several meters before stopping.

"Do you remember this?" Reinhard asked quietly.

Emily stared down at the stones. "I don’t know." She sounded genuinely uncertain.

Reinhard didn’t push her. She recognizes it, but she doesn’t understand why.

The path eventually led toward a ruined house. Emily stared at the broken entrance before quietly saying, "There should be a room on the left."

Maki looked at her. "How do you know that?"

Emily seemed to realize what she had said. "I don’t know."

They entered the house. The room was there. The walls had collapsed, but the remains of its wooden frame were still visible beneath the debris.

Reinhard stared at it for a moment. That wasn’t a vague feeling. She had remembered the layout.

He looked at Emily, but she had already lowered her eyes. Reinhard simply reached for her hand. He wasn’t going to force an explanation out of her when she clearly didn’t have one.

Farther inside the Garden stood an enormous old tree with a split trunk and flowers growing around its roots.

Emily stopped again. "I remember this tree," she whispered.

Reinhard looked at it, then at her. So she really has been here.

He gently squeezed her hand. They continued walking, and the farther they went, the quieter Emily became. Reinhard noticed her shoulders tightening again, so he moved closer and rubbed her shoulder.

"I’m fine," Emily said.

"I know."

He took both of her hands and held them between his while they looked around. She didn’t pull away. After a moment, her shoulders relaxed.

Then the Garden began to change. The flowers became less common, the stone paths cracked beneath their feet, and the buildings became increasingly damaged. A dark stain covered the stones beneath an abandoned doorway, while claw marks scarred the walls of a burned house.

They found broken furniture, damaged doors, and rooms that looked as though their occupants had fled without time to take anything.

Lily eventually spotted an old wooden toy beneath a collapsed wall. "Someone lived here," she said quietly.

Mara looked toward the surrounding houses. "More than someone."

The beauty of the Garden had begun to feel wrong. They entered another residential section where the houses were smaller, and inside several of them were tiny beds, old furniture, and children’s toys.

Emily stopped when she saw the ruined play area between the houses.

Reinhard looked at her. She knows this place.

They entered one of the houses. Lily followed Emily several steps behind when Emily suddenly turned.

"Don’t step there."

Lily stopped with one foot hovering above a section of floor. "What?"

"That part is unstable."

Lily carefully stepped back. A crack spread through the wooden boards a moment later, and part of the floor collapsed into a shallow hole.

Everyone stared.

Rhea looked at Emily. "How did you know that?"

Emily froze. She looked at the broken floor, then at the room. "I don’t know."

Reinhard remained quiet. She didn’t guess. He had seen her expression before she spoke. There had been no hesitation, no calculation, and no uncertainty when she pointed toward the floor.

She had simply known.

The Garden wasn’t merely reminding Emily of something. Her body remembered it.

Reinhard gently took her hand. Emily looked at him, and he gave her a small smile. He still didn’t ask.

They continued through the house and eventually reached a courtyard with a long stone wall covered in names.

Dozens of them had been carved into the surface, perhaps hundreds. Some remained untouched while others had been damaged, scratched away, or broken by age.

The group slowly moved closer.

Lily stopped talking. Rhea stopped joking. Even Reinhard’s smile disappeared as he realized what the names represented.

Children.

Some names had small drawings beside them, while others had dates carved into the stone. The wall felt less like a memorial and more like the remains of a life that had once been ordinary.

Then Emily stopped.

Reinhard immediately followed her gaze.

One name stood out.

SELENE.

The name had been violently crossed out. Deep lines had been carved through the stone until cracks surrounded the letters.

Emily’s expression went completely still.

Reinhard looked at the name, then at her. He remembered the Association representative saying it. He remembered Emily freezing when they first heard the name of the Garden. He remembered the path. The room. The tree. The unstable floor.

And now this.

So that’s why.

He still didn’t know who Selene was, and he didn’t know what had happened here. But he knew one thing now.

Emily’s connection to the Old Garden wasn’t a coincidence.

Reinhard gently took her hand. Her fingers tightened around his. He looked at the crossed-out name one more time before turning back toward her.

Whatever had happened in this place, Emily had been part of it.