Chapter 158
Chapter 158
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: The Felton Family's Duty
-----------------------------------------------------------------
For a moment, I almost shouted.
‘Guardians? Don't make me laugh. Bunch of damn robbers.’
The Felton family, as I remembered them, was a military power obsessed with territorial expansion and becoming the strongest on the continent.
Of course, I didn't know what they were like now, but that was certainly how they were twenty-two years ago.
If they hadn't been so caught up in that fantasy, they wouldn't have betrayed their allies, the Riverune family.
When I gave him a questioning look, Camil looked away.
It seemed even he thought his answer was far too cringeworthy.
“If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you. Follow me.”
“What do you think? The sun is setting, and we have nowhere else to stay anyway.”
Instead of answering, I looked back at Rhys Ganiol.
Since Everfilt had planned this, I was telling him to make a decision quickly.
The Vice-Commander seemed to agree with me.
What with the mysterious mental attacks, he probably wanted to get away from here as soon as possible.
“Let’s go.”
And so, we followed Camil.
The Felton family had set up camp on the eastern side of the Island of the Dead.
The reason was simple.
“It’s the best location.”
“Doesn’t look like it to me.”
But as soon as I saw the camp, I immediately voiced my disagreement.
The surrounding area was pockmarked with countless craters.
The camp itself was situated awkwardly in the middle, like an island.
It was clearly a complete mess. Best location, my ass.
“Of course, the terrain isn't great. We just settled here because it’s easy to spot the demonic rings.”
“Right. With the surroundings in that state, they’d be hard to miss.”
I nodded, examining the craters.
They were likely formed by demonic rings flying in from the east and crashing into the island.
I could roughly picture the situation, so I didn't bother asking.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll go have a word with them.”
“Of course.”
Camil left us outside the camp and went in alone.
I could feel the gazes of the Felton family members from a nearby watchtower.
Their eyes seemed to ask why outsiders were in a place like this.
Well, that kind of reaction was to be expected.
‘We find you guys just as strange.’
Unlike my outwardly indifferent expression, Rhys Ganiol’s face was full of curiosity.
After all, everything happening on the Island of the Dead was a phenomenon that would pique any mage’s desire for knowledge.
Before long, Camil appeared with a group of people.
‘This one is…’
Red hair, sharp eyes, and a massive build reminiscent of a monster.
The man in the lead looked like a walking advertisement for the Felton main line.
Otherwise, there was no way he could resemble the Heavenly Emperor Simeon so closely.
I knew quite a bit about this man.
‘Azis, the Crimson Heavenly Prodigy.’
He was nothing less than a ghost from the past.
He was someone I'd been quite close with, in a way, in my past life.
“Welcome. Let’s go inside and talk.”
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
After greeting Azis, the Vice-Commander went straight into the camp.
I just stood there, blankly watching the scene unfold.
Seeing the bastard I once considered a friend in person made rage boil up inside me.
Camil gave me a strange look and gestured lightly.
“What are you doing? Not coming in?”
“…Nothing. He just looks like a real asshole.”
“Hah! My eldest brother can be like that.”
Even though I was insulting a member of his own family, he reacted nonchalantly.
If anything, he seemed to find me interesting.
It made sense, since Camil had feared the cruel natures of his first and second older brothers.
Judging by his usual expression, it seemed he had managed to shake off some of that fear.
‘Did he overcome it?’
The question popped into my head, but I didn't voice it.
I wasn't the student council president of Venderford now, so I needed to be careful about how I acted.
“Let's go.”
“Yeah.”
At Camil's urging, I slowly started walking.
Lately, I felt like I was losing my composure more often.
It was probably because I was running into my enemies from my past life one after another.
‘Be patient. Now is the time to wait.’
I’ve really mellowed out.
* * *
The Felton family's camp was remarkably simple.
It was little more than a few tents and campfires.
It seemed there was a story behind it, but now wasn't the time to ask about such minor details.
Rhys Ganiol looked full of questions, but Azis was the one leading the conversation.
“It’s surprising to see people from the Four Great Families in a place like this. Two of you, no less.”
“We are searching for Padiac’s Tower.”
“I heard the gist of it from my younger brother. However, it will be difficult to provide any clear information.”
“Is there something you want? We are prepared to meet any demands.”
With his goal so close, it was natural for him to feel a sense of urgency.
But contrary to the Vice-Commander's thoughts, Azis slowly shook his head.
“I don’t mean I want to make a deal.”
“Pardon?”
“We haven’t been here long ourselves, so we haven’t been able to survey the entire island.”
“Ah! So that’s what you meant.”
“You’ll have to find this Padiac’s Tower on your own. But I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“Is it because of the mental attacks?”
“It’s a phenomenon caused by demonic energy. People start acting strangely, as if possessed. If both of you were to fall under its influence at the same time…”
Azis trailed off, his expression bitter.
The implication was that they would suffer a terribly harsh fate.
“To be honest, we didn’t expect this. It’s not something that happens in the Forest of the Dead.”
“I understand. On the surface, this place and that one look the same.”
Rhys Ganiol stared at the ground with a somber expression before suddenly lifting his head.
Azis immediately showed his disapproval.
It seemed he had already anticipated what would be said.
“We’re stretched thin on manpower as well, so providing support will be difficult.”
“Hah… That’s a shame.”
“Come to think of it, I heard a direct descendant of Rantzverger came with you. He should have a rough idea of the local situation.”
The conversation took an unexpected turn.
Standing there blankly, I spread my hands and replied.
I had no idea what these bastards were talking about.
“Why me, all of a sudden?”
“As a direct descendant, you should…”
But, just as Azis was about to say more.
*Clang, clang, clang, clang!*
“Incoming! P96 spotted to the southeast!”
A frantic sound came from the watchtower.
At the knights’ shout, Azis and Camil shot to their feet.
They exchanged grim looks.
“Don’t mess up this time.”
“I won’t.”
After their cryptic exchange, the two of them vanished outside the camp.
Left alone by the campfire, the Vice-Commander and I could only look on in bewilderment.
They hadn't said a word to us.
I shrugged and said sarcastically.
“Let’s go see what this 'guarding the continent' bullshit is all about. What do you say?”
“I’m also curious why they’re short on manpower. I’m sure I saw several dozen of them.”
*Rumble!*
Just as we were about to stand up, my body suddenly tilted sharply to the side.
I managed to regain my balance quickly, but Rhys Ganiol, being a mage, ended up kissing the ground.
The vibration that struck the ground was that powerful.
It seemed certain that something significant was happening.
I left the fallen Vice-Commander behind and rushed out of the camp.
What entered my vision was a massive, pitch-black shape.
A ring that had flown in and crashed into the ground.
‘A demonic ring?’
It was obvious at a glance that it was a demonic ring.
But what happened next was so astonishing I had to doubt my eyes.
*Grind! Rumble!*
The black ring began to transform with a deafening roar.
Arms and legs sprouted out, and the demonic ring soon took on the shape of a giant person.
“That’s…!”
A giant clad head-to-toe in armor.
The guardian of the Colossal Being I had encountered in the Forest of the Dead.
With its four arms, it resembled the Four-Armed Knight, Tetra Manus.
‘So this is how the colossal soldiers cross over?’
In that moment, one of the secrets of the Forest of the Dead was revealed.
*BOOM! KABOOM!*
Soon, the Felton knights surrounded the colossal soldier and began to unleash their attacks.
As if they had experienced this situation many times, their movements were perfectly coordinated.
But for some reason, they seemed to be getting pushed back.
“They seem to be lacking in strength.”
The Vice-Commander, who had approached at some point, muttered in a worried voice.
Even to a mage’s eyes, it was clear the Felton knights weren't dealing any significant damage.
Looking around, I quickly found the reason why.
‘Those are recently made graves.’
Dozens of burial mounds rose from the flat ground beyond the craters.
It seemed many had fallen in a previous battle.
No wonder they were struggling in this fight.
*Shing.*
I drew the Black Dragon Sword and strode forward.
Rhys Ganiol hurriedly followed, saying.
“Are you joining the fight?”
“It’s the only way we’ll have a reason to ask for their support. Don’t you want to find Padiac’s Tower?”
“Ah… You’re right!”
The Vice-Commander’s face brightened as he took out his wand.
Regardless, I was already lunging toward the colossal soldier.
I had spotted a perfect opening.
*Fwoosh—!*
I started with the Heaven-Severing Explosive Wheel.
My opponent was simply massive.
If I could embed all the aura fragments into it?
It would be possible to inflict damage comparable to the Heaven-Severing Ultimate Destruction with minimal effort.
*THWUMP! Fssssssht!*
The Heaven-Severing Explosive Wheel detonated near the target’s side.
As countless fragments pierced its armor, the colossal soldier staggered heavily.
This was a move I wouldn't have even dared to use against the Four-Armed Knight.
Its power was too low to be effective against a truly strong opponent.
This time, however, it was considerably effective.
‘Its power has increased significantly.’
It seemed I was now truly feeling the increase in strength that came with reaching Tier 2.
*CRASH!*
Caught in the blast from the Heaven-Severing Explosive Wheel, the colossal soldier finally collapsed to the ground.
It had tried to withstand the blow, flailing about, only to be hit by a concentrated attack from the Felton knights.
But the creature thrashed violently and quickly broke through the encirclement.
It felt far more agile than the Four-Armed Knight.
‘So you're no pushover, huh?’
I began circling the colossal soldier in a wide arc.
I was looking for another opening.
But the creature wasn't foolish enough to fall for the same trick twice.
Its gaze remained fixed on me, and I couldn't move recklessly.
It was aiming at me with a massive stone spear.
Then, someone suddenly spoke to me.
“I thank you for your help. But, as I thought, you already knew. I can tell by the way you joined the fight without being asked.”
It was Azis, the Crimson Heavenly Prodigy, who was leading the battle.
I scowled and answered as if spitting out the words.
“What the hell are you talking about? I only came here because I was curious.”
“You’re a direct descendant and you don’t know about this situation?”
“No, I mean, why the hell should I know?!”
I yelled, just like I used to when dealing with Azis in the past.
His constant spouting of incomprehensible nonsense was infuriating.
Azis flinched back, then opened his mouth with a stiff expression.
“There’s no way you wouldn’t know. The one who handed this place over to us before leaving for a while was Crow, the Black Sand.”
“...!”