Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Turbid Spirit Realm
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I opened my eyes to find myself in the Spirit Realm. But it was nothing like the descriptions in the Empire of the Dead world. Water, fire, wind, and earth were all jumbled together, yet it didn't feel pure at all.
A murky energy hung heavily in the air. I turned my head to look behind me—Desia was nowhere to be seen, and the dimensional gate had closed.
She must not have been able to follow.
"Is this the Spirit Realm?"
Raymond narrowed his eyes and scanned his surroundings. Unlike the lore in the Empire of the Dead or the novel's descriptions, no spirits were visible.
Something's wrong.
He extended his right hand, summoning the energy of the Thousand Knights. A white Soul Sword materialized at his fingertips.
Holding a weapon eased his anxiety a bit. He began walking slowly, recalling the novel's depiction of the Spirit Realm.
[The Spirit Realm was beautiful. It took the form of pristine, clear nature, where small spirits shaped like animals frolicked peacefully. The sky glowed with radiant light, and the earth was fertile. Occasionally, humanoid spirits appeared, but they were not hostile.]
The novel clearly stated the spirits weren't hostile, but the current situation was different. Five humanoid spirits stood before him, all radiating intense malice toward Raymond.
Spirits were usually indifferent to anyone but spirit summoners. There was no setting where they displayed such thick hostility.
Something must have happened.
Raymond raised his Soul Sword into a defensive stance. Mana gathered in his left hand, ready to draw a magic circle at any moment.
"I have no hobby of letting those who bare their fangs live. Come on, then."
"Grrrrr."
His voice came out chillingly cold. Did they understand human speech? The spirits let out eerie cries as they slowly approached.
They resembled armed human soldiers. Were they fire-attribute spirits? Flames burned fiercely across their entire bodies.
"Come."
Urged once more, the fire spirits moved. Three charged with ferocious momentum, while the remaining two hurled flame-infused spears.
A magic circle formed, and with the incantation complete, the advanced spell took shape. Four ice spears materialized in the air, intercepting the flame spears and targeting the bodies of the two rear fire spirits.
"Grrrrr!"
Pierced by the ice spears, the fire spirits wailed in agony. Their flame bodies scattered into the air as they met their end.
"Grrrrr!"
Did their comrades' deaths ignite rage? The remaining three fire spirits accelerated toward him.
"Raaargh!"
At about five meters away, the fire spirits spewed flames in unison. His vision turned red, and Raymond hurriedly thrust out his mana-charged left hand.
"Shield!"
A transparent mana shield blocked the flames. The moment the red curtain faded, Raymond kicked off the ground.
The distance closed in an instant. His swung Soul Sword cleaved through the fire spirits—slashing necks and bellies, then splitting the last one's head.
Having dispatched the fire spirits, Raymond drew a magic circle in the air. It was a detection spell that scattered mana over a wide area.
This carried a high risk of detection by others, but finding Sylvia was the priority, so he didn't hesitate.
"If danger comes, I'll just exterminate them all."
He didn't think mere spirits could inflict serious harm on him.
Humm!
The detection circle resonated with his mana, and soon he located traces of Sylvia. But he also had to deal with other uninvited guests.
Spirits drawn by the scent of mana. All glared with hostility, immediately turning aggressive upon spotting him. Over twenty in number, but Raymond swept them away with a single high-tier spell.
"Your Majesty...?"
It was around the time he'd eliminated the fourth group of spirits and irritation began to set in.
After entering a forest-like area and walking for about thirty minutes, a familiar, welcome voice called out from somewhere.
He turned toward the direction of the familiar presence. There stood Sylvia.
She looked exhausted but bore not a single wound. True to her future title of "Forerunner," her high elf lineage had allowed her to navigate this alien space, evading all dangers.
"H-How... are you here...?"
"That doesn't matter."
"It really is Your Majesty..."
His somewhat cold response actually reassured her. She hurried toward him with quick steps.
She tried not to show it, but he could tell she'd endured a lonely, grueling time. Raymond silently stroked her head, and Sylvia smiled like a puppy.
He wanted to savor the joy of reunion longer, but unfortunately, this place wasn't safe.
"Let's move for now."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The two set off. Sylvia took the lead, guiding him based on information from wind spirits—avoiding hostile spirits and dangerous areas to a safe spot.
"This should be safe for a while."
"Do you know how much time has passed here?"
Raymond asked. He recalled the setting that time flowed differently in the Spirit Realm, but the exact ratio wasn't in the lore bible, so confirmation was needed.
"About ten days, I think."
Raymond nodded at Sylvia's answer. Since only one day had passed in the mortal realm, he now had a rough idea of the time differential.
"How'd you handle food?"
"With the preserved rations I had. But there's hardly any left now."
She always carried some for emergencies, but only a small amount—not enough for ten days. She'd rationed it carefully to survive this long.
"I heard there are edible fruits here. See any?"
"I've heard that too. Spotted some a few times, but other spirits were guarding them..."
She trailed off, but he could guess what happened. Her current combat ability was nil.
Hostile spirits guarding fruits or water would have made consumption impossible.
"Um... want some?"
Sylvia cautiously offered a handful of small jerky pieces. Her rations were nearly depleted, but she'd pulled them out anyway, worried he might be hungry.
"I'm fine. You eat and take care of yourself."
It wasn't a lie. He'd only just entered the Spirit Realm; he wasn't hungry or thirsty yet.
But Sylvia was different. Surviving ten days on meager rations had left her drained and severely parched. Raymond noticed her condition at a glance.
We need drinking water.
Unfortunately, in his haste through the dimensional gate, he hadn't brought any survival supplies. Food and water would have to come from the Spirit Realm itself.
As Raymond recalled, the fruits and water here had properties similar to the mortal realm's, safe for human consumption.
Hostile guardians were no issue for him.
"Remember the fruit tree's location?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. It's not far from here. There's a stream right next to it, so we can secure water too."
"Good. Let's head there."
Raymond nodded and replied. Sylvia gave a faint smile and took the first steps.
True to her word, the fruit tree and stream weren't far. After about an hour's walk, she cautiously raised her right hand to signal arrival.
"That it?"
He muttered softly, his sharp gaze sweeping ahead.
Sylvia alone couldn't have handled this.
Over twenty spirits surrounded the tree and stream—not just wandering, but patrolling in formations like soldiers in an army.
The problem's that spirit...
His eyes fixed on one emitting a distinctly different aura. A fire-attribute spirit, burning with far more vivid and intense flames than the others.
Definitely a high spirit.
Not a regular one. With his Soul Sword ready to summon, Raymond turned to Sylvia.
"Hide. I'll clear them out quick."
"Yes..."
Sylvia nodded but couldn't hide her regret.
Feeling like a burden weighed on her heart. She wanted to fight alongside him, but her nonexistent combat skills meant hiding actually helped more.
As she retreated, Raymond advanced. White energy coalesced in his right hand into a sword form, while a magic circle formed in his left.
The incantation completed, and ice rained down from the sky in droves. Half the spirits guarding the tree and stream vanished.
"Graaargh!"
The survivors' gazes locked onto Raymond.
"Graaargh!"
The spirits charged as one, but only the high spirit stubbornly held its ground.
Trying to read the flow of battle?
Sending underlings to probe enemy movements. In the realm of true masters, a single exchange could decide everything. Even minor intel on the opponent was invaluable.
Sorry, but I'm not revealing my hand here.
Would a high sword-mage expose his arsenal against mid-tier spirits? Raymond had no intention of showing even basic forms.
Sweep them with magic.
He gathered mana again. Still over ten meters away—plenty of time for an advanced spell.
Another completed spell pierced the spirits. They collapsed limply, their bodies run through by sharp ice spears.
"Gr... graa..."
As intended, he cleared the rabble in an instant. Since it was all magic, aside from the circles, not even his sword basics were exposed to the high spirit.
"Come at me!"
"Graaah!"
The high spirit swung a massive flame greatsword as it charged. It closed over thirty meters in less than 0.1 seconds. Raymond swung his Soul Sword at the foe now right before him.
Boom!
An explosion rang out. But it didn't feel like he'd cut anything. Instead, it was like striking something solid.
Sure enough, through the rising dust, a sturdy shield blocked his Soul Sword.
"Graaah!"
The high spirit bellowed, shoving the shield forward forcefully.
Caught off guard by the counter, Raymond's sword was pushed aside. He hurriedly retreated to recover, but the high spirit was just as quick. The distance closed again in a flash.
Enduring the extreme mana drain, he cast Blink—not to widen the gap, but to reposition behind the high spirit.
Five ice-attribute supporters spawned. The high spirit's reaction speed exceeded expectations.
Before the Blink's residual mana even dissipated, it spun around, assuming a defensive stance.
Fast reflexes. Among high spirits, one on the verge of great spirit realm?
The thought flashed briefly, but it didn't linger. The high spirit swung its flame-infused greatsword!
Boom!
He blocked the head-splitting downward strike, but the immense force shattered the bones in his right wrist completely.
"Urk!"
Excruciating pain surged, but he gripped the Soul Sword without letting go. Believing it had seized the advantage, the high spirit leaned its full weight into the flame greatsword, pressing down.
With the over-two-meter giant's mass bearing down, the strain on his right wrist intensified, the pain worsening.
Dual chant it is.
Raymond's eyes gleamed sharply. With his left hand, he simultaneously drew two magic circles—one for healing, the other for attack.
Dual-chanting different spells demanded extreme focus and vast mana, yet Raymond executed it effortlessly even while enduring the high spirit's flame greatsword.
Soon, bright light erupted from his left hand, completing both spells.
His right wrist began regenerating, while the blue circle at his feet unleashed a barrage of sharp ice shards. Caught off guard, the high spirit's lower body was riddled like a honeycomb by the spraying ice.
"It's over!"
Raymond stepped back, readjusting his stance. With a final swing, his white sword targeted the high spirit's head.