Chapter 462
Chapter 462
Chapter 462
"So they found traces…?"
The High Priest trailed off, seemingly displeased with the Apostle's report.
Sensing this reaction, the Apostle bowed his head again and spoke.
"Do not worry. The Forest Guardian has been captured, so we'll be able to retrieve the Black Star quickly."
The High Priest showed no reaction to the Apostle's words.
Then, turning to look at the unconscious Abel, he spoke.
"How are things moving on Jiemens' side?"
Abel's body was needed to proceed with the Second Baptism.
While the Dragon's Heart was kept by Jiemens' side, Abel's body had come to the Abyss's side, so they would eventually need to join hands again for the baptism.
The Apostle approached the High Priest and said.
"The altar for the baptism seems to be almost complete. They should contact us soon."
Ramon Jiemens was the one in a hurry, needing to perform the Second Baptism. They would certainly make contact before then.
The Abyss's side could propose significant conditions to Jiemens as long as they preserved Abel's body until then.
However, while they were maintaining Abel's body by inserting a knight's heart as an emergency measure, it was uncertain whether they could hold out until the baptism with the Red Knight's heart.
The High Priest's eyes gleamed behind his worn ceremonial robes.
"Retrieve the Black Star as quickly as possible. With that, we won't even need to negotiate with Ramon Jiemens."
"Understood. I will order the dispatched units to hurry."
After the Apostles withdrew, Harvey West, the High Priest left alone in the broken temple, stared at an emblem carved on one wall.
An ominous symbol with three hooks spread around a triangle in the center.
The High Priest raised both hands while looking at that symbol.
"Great King in Yellow. The time of your descent draws near."
RUMBLE RUMBLE!
The cursed temple pulsed as if responding to his words.
The High Priest's eyes gleamed once more.
"The new world that the King desires will unfold here."
* * *
THUD! THUD! THUD!
After moving from the Dorta Republic to the Troy Principality, Zeke headed straight for the Forest of the Forgotten.
As soon as he arrived at the forest's outskirts, what Zeke encountered were monsters of a form he'd never seen before.
GRRRR!
They had reptilian skin but sharp wolf-like teeth, four attached eyes, and dense spines running from head to tail along their backs.
Moreover, there wasn't just one or two of these monsters.
At least dozens of monsters approached Zeke with threatening presence, baring their teeth.
'These aren't the forest's native monsters.'
Having protected the Forest of the Forgotten with Nigel in his previous life, Zeke was familiar with most types of monsters in the forest's outskirts.
Thus, Zeke could be certain that the monsters before him now were not originally from here.
'These must be the monsters that the Hermit of Stories said the Abyss summoned.'
They looked as fierce and violent as the forest's original monsters, possibly surpassing even high-ranked monsters.
The problem was that their numbers were unsettling.
Even in his previous life as a Highlander, he had never seen so many of the same type of monster together.
'I should examine where these creatures came from.'
Zeke put on the monocle given by the Great Sage while watching the monsters cautiously.
WHOOSH!
As Clairvoyance activated, it searched for information about the monsters.
Soon, documents explaining the monsters appeared before his eyes.
Surprisingly, all the materials came from the Eastern Continent.
Through Clairvoyance , Zeke had previously read that beyond the Eternal Mountains of the Eastern Continent existed far more numerous and varied monsters than in the Central Continent. And these monsters now were from exactly there.
'The fact that they can handle monsters from beyond the Eternal Mountains... means they might soon cross the Eternal wall.'
The Eastern Continent was strictly divided by the Eternal Mountains.
While the Abyss seemed unable to reach inside the mountains yet, the situation was different in the monster lands beyond them.
For now, the Abyss appeared to limit itself to transporting monsters from there for war, but if they crossed the Eternal Barrier, there was no telling how far their influence would spread.
'Mountains beyond mountains.'
Having identified the monsters' nature, Zeke drew the holy sword Ascalon and stepped forward.
The monsters flinched and backed away from the light emanating from the holy sword.
However, their destructive instincts must have been stronger, as they soon charged forward again with screams.
SCREECH!
Dozens of monsters rushed at Zeke, trying to sink their sharp teeth into him.
Holding Ascalon, Zeke calmly took his stance and swung his sword at the monsters.
SWOOSH!
He swung the sword just once.
SPLAT! SPLAT!
With that single sword strike, the monsters exploded with a thunderous sound.
Even Zeke was surprised by the tremendous power of his swing.
'What is this?'
The power was incomparable to when he used Roland.
In an instant, only traces of the monsters turned to bloody mist remained.
While the other blood-covered monsters made threatening sounds baring their teeth at Zeke, they couldn't easily approach.
'If this is just a normal swing, then with the Divine Spirit Technique...'
To creatures of darkness, Zeke was nothing short of a nightmare incarnate.
Zeke approached the remaining monsters with his sword raised.
"No time. Let's end this quickly."
Right after, along with a massive flash of light, the monsters' howls echoed throughout the western outskirts of the Forest of the Forgotten.
* * *
"What's that sound?"
Bodmir, covered in monster blood, asked while lowering his bastard sword.
Adnan lit a cigarette next to him, took a deep drag, and spoke.
"Monster sounds. The ones we've been seeing more of lately."
Bodmir frowned at those words.
"Those demon dogs. Damn, they're persistent and won't die easily. They've been increasing lately giving us headaches, surely more aren't coming."
They had been fighting fierce battles here for over a month.
Though the Highlanders were defending with all their might, the monsters showed no signs of decreasing.
Many comrades had already fallen to the monsters, and important positions had been lost.
They were barely handling the incoming monsters from the central position held by the High Table, but most Highlanders were already exhausted.
Bodmir took out an almost empty potion bottle, drank a little, and threw the rest to Adnan.
Adnan silently caught the bottle and downed the few remaining drops.
While it was barely enough to catch their breath, they had no choice.
Then a horn sounded from behind.
HOOOOOORN!
Adnan and Bodmir rose at the urgent warning signal.
Surprisingly, something black was swarming up towards the central position.
Adnan, with his good eyesight, realized what it was and clenched his teeth.
"...This is insane."
Thousands of demon dogs were rushing toward the central position.
Beside him, Bodmir belatedly understood the situation and spat while raising his bastard sword.
"Damn, I'm always right about bad predictions."
It was questionable whether they could stop thousands of demon dogs with their current numbers.
Then chanting sounds came from the central position.
WHOOSH!
Manna's absolute barrier spread around the central position on the hill, blocking the incoming demon dogs.
Meanwhile, mages and archers rained ranged attacks on the demon dogs.
THUD! THUD!
The archers shot whatever they could grab, broken arrows or not.
The mages squeezed out their mana to launch spells at the demon dogs.
ROAR!
Though the Highlanders launched fierce attacks with all their might, there were too many enemies.
When some died, other demon dogs immediately filled their place.
That's when it happened.
The Hermit of Stories appeared in the air above the central position.
The Hermit opened a book and started reciting something.
"Ah, let's see. Oh, it's ancient Eastern language. In the moment of crisis as countless enemies charge our walls. A great fireball splitting two heavens falls strongly into the enemy's center. No, that's not it. It fell into the center with strong impact sweeping through. Thus laid the foundation for a majestic victory!"
As the Hermit finished reading, the book began to glow.
WHOOSH!
Then huge fireballs started raining down from the sky.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The lightning from heaven swept away the demon dogs.
Seeing this, Adnan quickly shouted to the Highlanders.
"Throw oil jars at them!"
The Highlanders who were admiring Adnan's command quickly threw small oil jars at the burning demon dogs.
WHOOSH!
As the oil spilled, the flames spread even larger, engulfing the demon dogs.
GROWL!
The demon dogs engulfed in flames collapsed with horrific screams.
Though Nabu's area attack reduced their numbers, there were still too many incoming.
The surviving demon dogs sought areas untouched by flames.
Bodmir shouted to Nabu floating in the air.
"Hermit! Hit them with a stronger story!"
Nabu shouted back weakly.
"I'm already dying from exhaustion! Ugh, damn these cursed monsters..."
Though Manna's absolute barrier held, they couldn't know when the defense would break.
The Highlanders gritted their teeth and attacked the charging demon dogs.
Archers without arrows and mages without mana desperately threw stones.
Suddenly, one section of the barrier wall broke under concentrated attack.
THUD! THUD!
The demon dogs squeezed through that small gap, pushing toward the trenches inside.
Seeing this, Adnan and Bodmir leaped over the rampart and swung their swords at the intruding demon dogs.
SLASH!
Bodmir's bastard sword and Adnan's dual blades cut through demon dog flesh.
"Come at me, you bastards!"
Bodmir cursed while cutting down demon dogs.
But there were far too many incoming.
The endless wave of demon dogs gradually sapped the strength from Bodmir and Adnan's sword arms.
"Haa, haa..."
Their breathing grew ragged and vision narrowed.
They tried to hold their swords against the charging demon dogs, but their bodies had long reached their limit.
Adnan spoke to Bodmir.
"We need to block that first."
He pointed at the gap in the barrier.
Bodmir nodded.
"Alright. Let's go, partner!"
The two charged at the demon dogs, ready to die.
"HAAAAAH!"
They charged forward with fierce strength to push the demon dogs outside the barrier.
GROWL!
The demon dogs retreated outside, pushed back by their desperate spirit.
As they drove back the intruding demon dogs, Bodmir shouted to Nabu.
"Hermit! Seal this gap!"
Nabu clenched his teeth seeing Bodmir and Adnan's readiness to sacrifice.
He painfully recited a verse.
"Behold! The hole in the dam is filled, no more shall the waters overflow!"
SIZZLE!
With his words, the gap in the barrier sealed.
Outside the barrier, Adnan and Bodmir stared with sunken eyes at thousands of approaching demon dogs.
Bodmir spoke to Adnan.
"Damn, I wanted my last moments to be a big score in Dorta, dying in a beauty's arms."
Adnan lit a cigarette and shook his head.
"Such luxury doesn't suit us at all."
As they conversed calmly, the demon dogs charged with bared fangs.
They raised their swords one last time, determined to kill as many as possible.
"HYAAAH!"
Just as Bodmir swung his bastard sword with a mighty roar.
SPLAT!
Dozens of monsters suddenly exploded, covering Bodmir in blood.
"Huh?"
Bodmir stared blankly at the explosively vanished monsters.
Adnan gripped Bodmir's shoulder and spoke.
"Maybe it's possible after all. That big score in Dorta."
WHOOSH!
A massive light appeared in the sky.
The light split in all directions, creating countless lightning bolts.
CRACKLE!
Light-infused lightning struck the demon dogs charging the central position.
SCREECH!
The struck demon dogs turned to black ash and vanished.
The Highlanders at the position were stunned by the majestic sight.
Nabu, exhausted and gasping against a wall, raised his head to the sky.
At the end of his gaze was Zeke riding Bucephalus.
Seeing the striking lightning, Nabu trembled his fist and shouted.
"Zeke Draker! The Knight of Salvation has arrived!"