<w:bottom w:space="0" w:sz="0" w:val="nil"><w:right w:space="0" w:sz="0" w:val="nil"><w:between w:space="0" w:sz="0" w:val="nil"><w:shd w:fill="auto" w:val="clear"><w:spacing w:after="0" w:before="0" w:line="276" w:linerule="auto"><w:ind w:left="0" w:right="0" w:firstline="0"><w:jc w:val="left"><w:rpr><w:rfonts w:ascii="Calibri" w:cs="Calibri" w:eastasia="Calibri" w:hansi="Calibri"><w:b w:val="1"><w:i w:val="0"><w:smallcaps w:val="0"><w:strike w:val="0"><w:color w:val="000000"><w:sz w:val="22"><w:szcs w:val="22"><w:u w:val="none"><w:shd w:fill="auto" w:val="clear"><w:vertalign w:val="baseline"><w:r w:rsiddel="00000000" w:rsidr="00000000" w:rsidrpr="00000000"><w:rpr><w:rfonts w:ascii="Calibri" w:cs="Calibri" w:eastasia="Calibri" w:hansi="Calibri"><w:b w:val="1"><w:i w:val="0"><w:smallcaps w:val="0"><w:strike w:val="0"><w:color w:val="333333"><w:sz w:val="22"><w:szcs w:val="22"><w:u w:val="none"><w:shd w:fill="auto" w:val="clear"><w:vertalign w:val="baseline"><w:rtl w:val="0"><w:t xml:space="preserve">Chapter 348 WHOOSH!Strong cold air burst from Bane's body, causing frost to form on the cave walls and the floor to be covered in ice.Both the cult's mages and the Scorpion knights stepped back from the powerful cold storm.Bane recited the lines as Zeke instructed."This is the resting place of the great Holy King! Divine punishment shall befall those who disturb the Holy King's rest!"Then a cult mage pointed at Bane and shouted."It's a guardian protecting the ruins! If we defeat it, the door will open!"After observing the situation, Calito ordered the Scorpion knights."Kill it!"Following orders, the knights charged at Bane with their swords raised.RUMBLE-The strong cold air flowing from Bane's body enveloped the Scorpion knights.At that moment, the cult mages cast spells on the Scorpion knights while chanting ominous incantations.HISS!As black energy seeped into the knights, they began moving their bodies again as if they no longer felt the cold.The knights, with all senses numbed by magic, charged forward ignoring how Bane's cold air was freezing their armor and bodies.Bane was bewildered seeing such knights.'What kind of guys are these?!'He had received orders from Zeke to bind their feet. To carry out that order, Bane used a different spell.CRACK!When Bane swung his staff, a huge ice wall rose up blocking the charging Scorpion knights.Simultaneously, he created multiple ice spikes and launched them at the knights.CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!The Scorpion knights trapped by the ice wall swung their swords to deflect the countless falling ice spikes.But then one of the ice spikes flew toward Gillian who was behind them.CRUNCH!As the ice spike struck Gillian, the magical chains binding him weakened.ROAR!Gillian rose from his spot with a monstrous cry.He strained to forcibly break the chains binding his body.Seeing this, Calito panicked."W-wait!"CRACK!In an instant, Gillian broke the chains.ROAR!Letting out a cry like a barbarian, Gillian thrashed about still unable to remove his restraints.The ancient artifact leather restraints had stronger magic that couldn't be broken by pure strength alone.When the restraints wouldn't come off despite his thrashing, Gillian began charging forward.He sprang forward and rushed straight at the ice wall.CRASH!Gillian's head collided with the ice wall.He repeatedly slammed his head against the solid ice wall before ramming his body into it.ROAR!As if trying to release the pain of being restrained, he kept crashing into it until cracks gradually formed in the solid ice wall before it completely shattered.RUMBLE!As one side of the ice wall crumbled away, Bane couldn't help but be shocked.'No, how can a human do that? Don't tell me he's a barbarian?'ROAR!Gillian howled like a beast while struggling with his body still bound.Watching this, Calito shouted in that moment."Now! Kill that guardian!"The Scorpion knights ran past the broken ice wall toward the floating Bane.WHOOSH!Dozens of knights attacked Bane swinging swords imbued with aura.CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!After soaring into the air, Bane launched ice spikes at the knights.But the knights empowered by the cultists deflected all the spikes and continued advancing while swinging their swords at Bane.Bane was shocked seeing the Scorpion knights who had lost their reason to magic.'They're not undead, so how can living knights act like this?'The cold air Bane summoned had such strong ice properties that it could cause normal people to freeze to death within tens of seconds.The pain from being directly hit by such cold should be tremendous, yet the knights advanced forward swinging their swords without caring.Among the knights, there were some whose frozen arms or legs broke from being unable to withstand the cold.But the Scorpion knights who couldn't feel pain only focused on attacking without caring even if their limbs fell off.They seemed more undead than Bane the lich.The cultists watching from behind began chanting sinister incantations while holding staffs with constellation deity statues attached.Then black mist seeped out from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the divine object.HISS!The black mist flowed into the Scorpion knights' noses and mouths.Soon after, the knights' lips turned black and their tongues withered black.By sacrificing their tongues to the Serpent of the Black Maw, the knights gained unbreakable bodies in return.Perhaps because of this, their eyes changed to become like those of snakes.HISS!The tongueless knights made snake-like sounds, and new limbs grew from their severed parts, covered in scales like those of snakes.The Scorpion knights who gained new arms and legs through constellation power looked too grotesque to be considered human.The Scorpion knights, transformed into snake knights by the cultists' magic, charged at Bane making bizarre sounds."UGH!"Bane retreated in horror seeing the knights trying to grab him by climbing walls and jumping through the air.Then a signal came from Zeke.'Bane, withdraw now.''Yes, master!'Following Zeke's order, Bane shook off the snake knights and floated back into the air.『You fools! The Holy King’s divine judgment shall fall upon you!』With that cry, Bane's body began glowing brightly before enveloping them in a strong gale.WHOOSH!As the strong wind pushed back the snake knights and everything was covered in white cold air, Bane's figure vanished without a trace.HISS!When Bane disappeared, the cold air filling the space also vanished and the air returned to normal.The Scorpion knights turned Serpent knights continued hissing while searching for the vanished Bane.And not long after, the Serpent knights began collapsing to the ground.Then black smoke rose from their bodies as the snake knights turned into withered mummies.Their bodies could no longer endure after depleting the life force drawn out by the cultists' magic.Calito clenched his teeth seeing the knights turned to crumbling mummies.'Damn it. If I stay here any longer, I'll end up like that too.'He tried to think of ways to escape with Commander Gillian.While darting his eyes around, suddenly the door behind him began to open.RUMBLE!As the door opened without any ritual being performed, the cultists deeply bowed toward the divine object and shouted."The constellation has granted us grace and opened the door!"The Serpent of the Black Maw ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was a being that valued transactions highly.It never gave rewards without a price.Though the cultists knew this, they quickly made the first move as they could no longer keep the impatient emperor waiting.The hounds entered inside first to scout the surroundings.Unlike the catacombs outside, the interior preserved its original form properly.The hounds were convinced this was the Holy King's tomb seeing the architectural style that preserved the old Lubern dynasty's culture.Upon receiving the hounds' report, the cult mages immediately ran to report to the emperor that the ruin's door had opened.Hearing this, the emperor spoke from behind the curtain."We must retrieve the Holy King's remains now. Let's go."The imperial guards carried the emperor's palanquin into the ruins.The emperor was anxious.He knew his soul could leave this wretched body at any time.The emperor's palanquin soon arrived at the ruin's entrance.Having missed his chance to escape, Calito had no choice but to kneel before the emperor and bow his head."Your Majesty! This Calito shall dedicate body and soul to protecting Your Majesty!"The emperor entered the ruins with his imperial guards without responding to Calito's words.The cult mages, hounds, and remaining Scorpion knights followed behind.Just as the emperor's side all entered the Holy King's resting place, a sudden thunderous sound was heard.RUMBLE-The opened door began closing again.Seeing this, a startled Calito tried to use an artifact to escape somehow, but surprisingly the magic power reversed and the spell failed to activate.CRACKLE-As the expensive artifact completely failed to work, a flustered Calito hurriedly tried to escape through the door gap.But he was too late.THUD!The door closed completely, trapping the imperial forces inside the resting place.Calito quickly changed his attitude and shouted at the cult mages."How dare you?! Closing the door while His Majesty is present! Open the door at once!"The cult mages were flustered as the arrows suddenly turned toward them."Ah, about that..."The cult mages couldn't do anything since they hadn't actually done anything to open the door.Just then, an angry roar came from the curtained palanquin."Take me to the Holy King's remains without delay!"Calito immediately moved beside the imperial guards and shouted at the cultists."What are you doing?! Did you not hear His Majesty! Lead the way at once!"The cultists sensed something odd about Calito's attitude but didn't think his brainwashing could have worn off as they moved forward holding the divine object.As they walked down the corridor preserved in Lubern dynasty style, a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠massive door appeared before them.The cult mages told the emperor upon seeing the same light curtain pattern as the door they had to open to enter."Your Majesty! The Holy King's remains must surely be there!"The cultists approached the door immediately to make up for their earlier mistake.They held the divine object close to the door.At that moment, the skull attached to the staff began shaking frantically - a subtly different trembling than before."W-what?"Simultaneously, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠closed door slowly opened.The cult mages looked toward the emperor and shouted."Look! Your Majesty! We've finally found where the Holy King's remains….."SLICE!The cult mages couldn't finish speaking as their heads were severed and rolled away.THUD!Calito was horrified watching the headless cult mages collapse.'W-what is this?.'Right after, as the door fully opened, twelve armored knights emerged in rows holding swords.The knights wearing brightly glowing full plate armor stood guard at the entrance to the resting place.They were golem knights protecting the Holy King's resting place.Even with the door open, none could enter past the golem knights with builds rivaling barbarians.The emperor shouted at the motionless golem knights standing in formation."What are you doing?! Remove them at once!"At the emperor's roar, the hounds and Scorpion knights sprang forward."HAAH!"The Scorpion knights and hounds swung their swords at the golem knights with almost desperate battle cries.But the golem knights didn't move an inch while holding their swords.WHOOSH!The hounds and Scorpion knights struck the golem knights' armor despite feeling uneasy.CLANG!Surprisingly, their swords couldn't even scratch the armor.The hounds' faces turned ashen as they realized what the armor was made of."M-mithril?"They were all wearing armor made entirely of solid mithril.Suddenly light flashed from within the lined-up knights' helmets.The previously motionless knights began to move.SLASH!The twelve golem knights drew shields from their backs and swung them at the hounds and Scorpion knights.CRASH!Like leaves in the wind, the hounds and Scorpion knights were swept away by the powerful force."UGH!"As those hit by shields staggered, massive swords came flying.SLASH!The swords cut their waists in half with a single strike.The survivors retreated in horror at this sight.Then the cult mages immediately cast spells on them again."GRRR!"In an instant, all surviving Scorpion knights lost their tongues and became Serpent knights.HISS!The transformed Serpent knights charged at the shield-bearing golem knights.But the result was no different.CRASH!The Serpent knights were all crushed flat when hit by the shields.Watching from behind, Calito ground his teeth.'W-what the hell are those crazy bastards?!'At that moment.The emperor's imperial guards waiting behind began to move.SHING!Aura blades rose from the imperial guards' drawn swords.Just as they were about to charge forward.CRACKLE!Dozens of lightning bolts struck the emperor's palanquin.