Episode 267
Boom!
A sword strike, glowing with a golden aura, exploded against the body of the fallen Gung-gi.
Sizzle—
Black smoke began to rise from the corpse.
Determined to finish the job, Zeke gripped his sword and charged forward.
Suddenly, the ground trembled, and a monstrous claw shot up, blocking his path.
Screech!
It wasn’t a beast-like monster but a massive insect-like creature resembling an ant.
“Damn it!”
Zeke swung his sword, slicing the creature in half with a single stroke.
But it wasn’t over. More monsters kept emerging from the ground.
Zeke pulled out Bahamut from his inventory, wielding a sword in each hand, and cut down the advancing creatures.
Crunch! Crack!
Even as black smoke continued to rise from Gung-gi’s body, the sound of bones snapping back into place echoed.
Zeke took a step back, eyeing the oncoming monsters.
“I need to deal with him quickly.”
He donned Agamemnon’s mask, planting both swords into the ground to focus the power of purification.
He intended to unleash the full power of the mask for a grand purification.
Zeke first unleashed a holy fire, sending a barrage of light hammers at the monsters.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dozens of lightning bolts of light rained down on the creatures.
Zeke then summoned the power of grand purification.
Vroooom!
A golden aura radiated from his body, spreading in all directions.
Screeeeech—
The two swords he had planted resonated, and the purifying force swept through the monsters.
Screech—
The creatures writhed in agony, spewing black smoke as the purifying light touched them.
Screech!
Even the dead Gung-gi let out a wail.
But as the monsters writhed in pain, they began to gather around Gung-gi’s corpse, piling up like a mountain.
Soon, the body was completely obscured by the mass of creatures.
“Is this another trick of the Four Fiends?”
A monster commanding other monsters.
It was unlike any other creature he had encountered.
Zeke gripped his sword tighter, intensifying the purification.
Vroooom!
A golden ring formed, rising into the air. As it expanded, it scattered radiant light.
Moments later, the ring exploded, sending vibrations through the air.
Snap—
The golden ring carried the power of grand purification across the entire forested island.
Simultaneously, the light spread, drifting around the area.
Zeke finished the grand purification and stood up.
He approached the mound of monsters that had piled up.
Though they had tried to shield Gung-gi, they couldn’t escape the purifying force.
With no allies around, Zeke unleashed a devouring force on the mountain of creatures without hesitation.
Sssss—
A shadow rose, engulfing the mass of monsters.
After absorbing the creatures, Zeke sensed something was off.
“No message about absorbing Gung-gi.”
He quickly extended his senses to scan the surroundings.
But there was no trace of Gung-gi anywhere.
Zeke withdrew the shadow and examined the spot where the monsters had been.
“Damn it!”
A hole gaped open in the ground.
“Princess, it’s time to eat.”
Cloné entered the tent where Arina was, greeting her with a warm smile.
She placed a bowl of hot soup in front of Arina, who shook her head with a gentle smile.
“Cloné, I’m fine. I’m not hungry yet.”
Cloné sat down with a worried expression.
“You shouldn’t blame yourself. If you hadn’t intervened, everyone might not have been safe.”
Despite Cloné’s sincere attempt to comfort her, Arina’s face remained clouded with guilt.
She felt responsible for nearly endangering her companions and the children of Lubern due to her misjudgment.
Looking up at Cloné, she spoke.
“Cloné, I think I was deluded into believing I was strong after inheriting the magic of light.”
Cloné shook her head, responding earnestly.
“Princess, you are strong. And beautiful, and graceful! You must regain your strength!”
To Cloné, who had been an orphan, Arina was like a mother.
During the days when the Rose Knights were on the run from the Holy Kingdom, Arina had taken in orphans, feeding and raising them despite her blindness.
Thus, the Rose Knights were fiercely loyal to her, treating her as a mother and willing to do anything for her.
Arina extended her hand, and Cloné rested her head on Arina’s lap.
Arina gently stroked Cloné’s hair, her expression bittersweet.
Though Cloné was tough and fearless outside, to Arina, she was still like a child.
Arina spoke to Cloné.
“Cloné, I want to entrust the Rose Knights to you.”
Cloné lifted her head abruptly.
“Princess, what do you mean?”
“I plan to step back from the front lines and focus on teaching the children. I’ll leave the affairs of the knights to you.”
Cloné shook her head vigorously.
“That’s impossible! The Rose Knights are a holy order following the God of Light. To us, you are our guiding light.”
Arina smiled gently.
“I’m not a god, Cloné. You know that well.”
She took Cloné’s hand.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I want you to lead the Rose Knights and follow Sir Zeke.”
Cloné’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Sir Zeke?”
“You might have sensed it, but Sir Zeke also carries the bloodline of Lubern. He can wield the power of light even more strongly than I can.”
She touched her eyes.
“It was actually Sir Zeke’s power that healed my eyes. He possesses a miraculous power.”
Cloné was taken aback.
She had always thought Arina’s eyes had healed due to her own inherited power. To learn it was Zeke’s miracle was astonishing.
“Princess, I…”
“I’ve seen you enjoy training with Sir Zeke’s knights. To be honest, Cloné, you suit armor more than a nun’s habit.”
Cloné blushed at Arina’s words.
She had indeed found joy in honing her skills with the Black Sword Knights, discovering a passion for knighthood.
In fact, she had reached the peak of a Blue Knight and was eyeing the rank of a Red Knight.
Despite not having formal training in mana techniques, her innate talent and instincts made her stand out among the knights.
Arina patted her shoulder.
“There’s no rush. Think it over, and we can discuss it…”
At that moment, Arina’s sharp senses picked up something.
She stood abruptly, shouting.
“Cloné, sound the alarm!”
Cloné dashed outside, ringing the bell to alert the camp.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
The alarm bell rang, putting everyone on high alert.
“Everyone, to your positions!”
The dwarves in the camp stood ready with their makeshift anti-monster weapons.
Richmond led the undead legion, Kaiman the dragon warriors, and Gurav the shark dragon unit, all on guard.
But the enemy came from an unexpected direction.
Chitter!
Insect-like monsters burst through the ground beneath the camp.
Screech—
Though the attack was sudden, the knights quickly composed themselves and charged at the creatures.
“Charge!”
Felix, Aster, and Diego led their knights against the intruding monsters.
Slash!
The monsters began to falter under the knights’ calm and coordinated assault.
The Rose Knights joined in from the rear, attacking the creatures.
“Die!”
Zap!
Cloné swung her mace, imbued with the light of retribution, at the monsters. Each swing felled another creature.
Nerissa and the young mermen used nets to catch the emerging monsters, spearing them with harpoons.
“Ugh, what are these things?”
“Brother! You’re not stabbing them right. Do it properly!”
While others fought the monsters, Arina climbed the watchtower.
Her ominous feeling wasn’t coming from the ground.
Sion approached her, asking.
“Lady Arina, why are you here…?”
Just then, Arina’s eyes widened as she spotted something approaching from the sky.
“Enemies are coming from above!”
Rumble—
Insect-like monsters were swarming in, carrying beast-like creatures.
Arina extended her hand toward the sky, gathering the power of light.
Vroooom!
Dark clouds began to gather, slowly covering the sky.
Rumble—
Within the clouds, white lightning crackled.
Arina clenched her fist, shouting.
“Heavenly Thunder!”
As the lineage of the Lubern dynasty faded into history, the highest form of light magic, long thought lost, was unleashed in a dazzling display.
Crackle!
Bolts of light began to strike down from the ominous clouds above.
Boom!
With a thunderous roar, the lightning targeted the oncoming horde of monstrous creatures.
Screech!
The insect-like beasts, clutching their prey, were struck by the divine lightning and plummeted to the ground.
Thud!
Those hit by the light were reduced to nothing more than a pulp upon impact.
The few that managed to rise, driven by sheer vitality, were swiftly dealt with by the waiting forces of Richmond, Kaiman, and the Gurav unit.
Rumble!
The massive bolts of light, like divine retribution, forced the flying beasts to reconsider their approach, turning them back in retreat.
But then, something pierced through the lightning, wings flapping defiantly.
Roar!
A creature, now larger than before, spread its wings wide and let out a terrifying cry, urging the retreating beasts to charge once more toward the camp.
At Arina’s command, the lightning struck again with renewed intensity.
Crack!
Half of the creatures fell, but the rest continued their relentless advance.
Behind them, the massive creature snatched up any retreating beasts, devouring them whole, leaving the others no choice but to press forward.
Screech!
As the beasts neared the camp, they released their prey, dropping them like rain from the sky.
Growl—
With their formidable bodies and regenerative abilities, the beast-like creatures quickly rose and charged at the knights defending the camp.
“You bastards!”
Nerissa shouted fiercely, summoning a water spirit to sweep away the surrounding beasts.
Screech—
The water spirit, in the form of a sea serpent, coiled around the beasts and flung them aside, only for more to rush toward Nerissa.
Hum!
Her eyes glowed, and water materialized from thin air, enveloping her. The swirling water engulfed the approaching beasts, drowning them instantly.
The young mermen cheered at the sight of Nerissa’s ancient magic.
“You’re amazing, Captain!”
“That’s our Captain!”
Overhead, the creature observed the battle, grinding its teeth as the humans fought more valiantly than expected.
Its plan to break the human formation and drain their souls had gone awry.
The creature intended to absorb souls to regain strength and escape the island for larger lands.
Unconcerned with the fate of its minions, the creature turned away, planning to weaken the humans through repeated assaults before launching a final attack. Despite its growing power, it couldn’t underestimate the humans’ numbers.
As it prepared to retreat, something approached.
Growl—
Sensing a strange power suppressing its own, the creature scowled.
It quickly turned, opening its maw to unleash a petrifying smoke at the approaching human.
Whoosh!
The smoke, darker and thicker than any before, filled the sky.
The creature believed no human, regardless of their power, could escape it.
But then—
Crackle!
Lightning rained down upon the creature.
Screech!
It veered sharply to avoid the strike.
Emerging from the smoke, Zeke appeared, clad in Hersion armor and mounted on Bucephalus.
Clang!
Chains shot from his hand, wrapping around the creature.
Screech!
Trapped by the soul-binding chains, the creature thrashed wildly, but the more it struggled, the tighter the chains constricted.
A golden aura radiated from Zeke’s sword, merging with Bucephalus’s lightning.
Crackle!
The golden lightning struck the creature, bound in chains, with explosive force.