Episode 462
“We’ve found a trace…”
The priest’s voice trailed off, clearly unimpressed by the apostle’s report.
Sensing the priest’s displeasure, the apostle bowed his head further and reassured him, “Do not worry. We’ve captured the guardian of the forest, so retrieving the Black Star should be swift.”
The priest remained silent, his expression unreadable.
After a moment, he turned his gaze to the unconscious Abel and spoke, “What of the movements from the Siemens side?”
For the second baptism to proceed, Abel’s body was essential. While the heart of the dragon was in Siemens’ possession, Abel’s body had fallen into the hands of the Abyss. Cooperation was inevitable.
The apostle stepped closer to the priest and reported, “The altar for the baptism is nearly complete. We expect them to contact us soon.”
The urgency lay with Ramon Siemens, who needed the second baptism. Contact was inevitable before the ceremony.
Until then, the Abyss could leverage Abel’s preserved body to negotiate favorable terms with Siemens. However, they had temporarily sustained Abel’s body with a knight’s heart, but it was uncertain if it would last until the baptism.
The priest’s eyes, hidden beneath his worn ceremonial robes, gleamed with determination.
“Retrieve the Black Star as quickly as possible. With it, we won’t need to negotiate with Ramon Siemens.”
“Understood. I’ll instruct the dispatched units to hasten their efforts.”
Once the apostles departed, the priest, Harvey West, stood alone in the ruined temple, gazing at a tapestry on the wall. It depicted a sinister symbol: a triangle surrounded by three hooks.
Raising his hands towards the symbol, the priest intoned, “O great King in Yellow, the time of your arrival draws near.”
Rumble—
As if in response, the cursed temple pulsed with energy.
The priest’s eyes flashed with fervor. “A new world, as the King desires, will unfold here.”
Thud, thud, thud!
Zeke made his way from the Republic of Dortha to the Principality of Troy, heading straight for the Forest of the Forgotten.
Upon reaching the forest’s outskirts, he was confronted by beasts unlike any he had seen before.
Growl—
Their reptilian skin was paired with wolf-like fangs, four eyes, and spines running from head to tail. And there were dozens of them, all advancing menacingly towards Zeke.
“These aren’t the beasts that originally inhabited this forest.”
Having once guarded the Forest of the Forgotten with Nigel in a past life, Zeke was familiar with the local beasts. He was certain these were not native.
“Could these be the creatures summoned by the Abyss, as the Hermit of Stories mentioned?”
They were as savage and fierce as the forest’s original beasts, rivaling even high-tier monsters. The sheer number was alarming.
“I need to find out where they came from.”
Cautious, Zeke donned the monocle given to him by the Great Sage.
Whirr—
As the monocle activated, it scanned the beasts, revealing their origins. To Zeke’s surprise, all the data pointed to the Eastern Continent.
He recalled reading about the vast numbers and varieties of beasts beyond the Eternal Mountains on the Eastern Continent. These creatures had come from there.
“If they’ve managed to control beasts from beyond the Eternal Mountains… they might soon breach the Eternal Barrier.”
The Eastern Continent was strictly divided by the Eternal Mountains. While the Abyss hadn’t yet reached inside the mountains, the lands beyond were a different story.
For now, it seemed the Abyss was merely transporting these beasts for warfare. But if they crossed the Eternal Barrier, their influence could spread unchecked.
“One challenge after another.”
Determined, Zeke drew the holy sword Ascalon and stepped forward. The beasts recoiled at the sword’s radiant energy but soon charged again, driven by their destructive instincts.
Screech—
With a calm stance, Zeke swung his sword at the oncoming beasts.
Whoosh—
With a single swing, the beasts exploded in a cacophony of sound.
Even Zeke was taken aback by the sword’s immense power.
“What is this?”
The strength was incomparable to when he wielded Roland. In an instant, the beasts were reduced to mere remnants.
Though the remaining beasts bared their fangs and growled, they hesitated to approach.
“If this is the result of a simple swing, using the Sacred Relic would be…”
To those tainted by dark magic, Zeke would be a living nightmare.
With resolve, Zeke advanced towards the remaining beasts.
“Let’s finish this quickly.”
Moments later, a brilliant light and the anguished cries of beasts echoed from the western edge of the Forest of the Forgotten.
“What the hell is that noise?”
Covered in beast blood, Bodmir lowered his bastard sword and grumbled.
Adnan, standing beside him, lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and replied, “It’s those beasts. They’ve been showing up more frequently.”
Bodmir scowled at the mention. “Those damn hounds. Persistent and hard to kill. They’ve been multiplying lately, and now this.”
They had been battling here for over a month. Despite the Highlanders’ best efforts, the beasts showed no signs of dwindling.
Many comrades had fallen, and crucial positions had been lost. The Highlanders were barely holding the line from their central stronghold.
Bodmir pulled out a nearly empty potion bottle, took a sip, and tossed it to Adnan.
Adnan caught it, drained the last drops, and sighed. It was barely enough to catch their breath, but it was all they had.
Suddenly, the sound of a horn blared from behind.
Bwooo—
Alerted, Adnan and Bodmir sprang to their feet. Below the central stronghold, a dark mass was advancing.
Adnan, with his keen eyesight, recognized the threat and gritted his teeth.
”…This is insane.”
Thousands of hounds were charging towards the stronghold.
Realizing the situation, Bodmir hefted his bastard sword and spat. “Damn it, my bad predictions always come true.”
Could they fend off thousands of hounds with their current numbers?
From the central stronghold, a chant began to resonate.
Whirr—
A protective barrier of mana enveloped the stronghold, halting the hounds’ advance. Meanwhile, mages and archers unleashed a barrage of attacks.
Thwack!
The archers fired anything they could grab, while the mages strained their magic to strike the hounds.
Roar—
Despite the Highlanders’ desperate assault, the sheer number of hounds was overwhelming. For every fallen beast, another took its place.
Then, the Hermit of Stories appeared above the stronghold, holding an open book.
“Let’s see… Ah, it’s in ancient Eastern script. In a moment of crisis, as countless foes charged our walls, a massive fireball descended upon their center, sweeping them away. Thus, a grand victory was forged!”
As the Hermit finished reading, the book began to glow.
Whirr—
From the sky, a colossal fireball descended.
Boom!
The fiery onslaught decimated the hounds.
Adnan quickly shouted to the Highlanders, “Throw the oil jars at them!”
The Highlanders, momentarily awed, grabbed small oil jars and hurled them at the burning hounds.
Sizzle—
The oil ignited, intensifying the flames and consuming the hounds.
Growl—
The burning hounds howled in agony and collapsed.
Though the Hermit’s wide-scale attack had reduced their numbers, the horde was still vast. The surviving hounds sought refuge from the flames.
Bodmir called out to the Hermit, “Hermit! Hit them with something stronger!”
At those words, Nabu shouted weakly.
“I’m already exhausted! Damn those cursed beasts…”
Though they were holding on with Mana’s absolute barrier, there was no telling when it might break and let the creatures in.
The Highlanders gritted their teeth and fought off the relentless hounds to the bitter end.
The archers, out of arrows, and the mages, drained of magic, resorted to hurling stones in a desperate attempt to hold the line.
But then, one side of the barrier, heavily targeted by the beasts, finally gave way.
Thud, thud, thud—
The hounds squeezed through the small breach, forcing their way into the trench inside the camp.
Seeing this, Adnan and Bodmir leaped over the wall, swinging their swords at the intruding beasts.
Slash!
Bodmir’s bastard sword and Adnan’s twin blades sliced through the hounds.
“You filthy beasts! Come and get it!”
Bodmir cursed as he cut down the hounds.
But there were just too many of them, an endless tide that sapped the strength from Bodmir and Adnan’s hands.
“Hah, hah…”
Their breathing grew ragged, and their vision began to narrow.
They tried to hold their ground, gripping their swords tightly, but their bodies had long since reached their limits.
Adnan spoke to Bodmir.
“We need to seal that breach.”
He pointed to the gap in the barrier.
Bodmir nodded at Adnan’s words.
“Alright. Let’s do this, partner!”
With death in their eyes, the two charged at the hounds.
“Haaaah!”
They surged forward with renewed vigor, pushing the hounds back outside the barrier.
Growl!
Driven by their fierce determination, the hounds retreated beyond the barrier.
As they forced the hounds back, Bodmir shouted to Nabu.
“Master! Seal it now!”
Nabu clenched his teeth, seeing Bodmir and Adnan ready to sacrifice themselves.
He began to chant with difficulty.
“Behold! The breach in the dam is sealed, and the waters shall no longer overflow!”
Sizzle—
With his words, the gap in the barrier closed.
Outside the barrier, Adnan and Bodmir watched the thousands of hounds approaching with weary eyes.
Bodmir turned to Adnan.
“Damn, I wanted to end it all with a big score in Dortha, in the arms of a beautiful woman.”
Adnan shook his head, a cigarette between his lips.
“Such luxuries were never meant for us.”
As they exchanged these calm words, the hounds lunged at them, teeth bared.
They raised their swords, determined to take down as many as they could.
“Chaaarge!”
With a fierce shout, Bodmir swung his bastard sword.
Boom—
Suddenly, dozens of beasts exploded, drenching Bodmir in blood.
“What?”
Bodmir stared in disbelief at the vanishing beasts.
Adnan placed a hand on Bodmir’s shoulder.
“Maybe that big score in Dortha is possible after all.”
Whoooom!
A massive light erupted from the sky.
It split into countless bolts of lightning, striking the hounds charging the central camp.
Crack!
The lightning-imbued bolts struck the hounds, turning them into black ash.
The Highlanders in the camp were left speechless by the awe-inspiring sight.
Nabu, leaning against the wall, gasping for breath, looked up at the sky.
At the end of his gaze was Zeke, mounted on Bucephalus.
Seeing the brilliant lightning, Nabu clenched his fist and shouted.
“Zeke Draker! The knight of salvation has arrived!”