Ch.204Chapter 204: The Kingdom of Duron (10)

# Chapter 204: The Kingdom of Duron (10)

“Kukukuk… You’ve managed to crawl all the way here. The ‘Gerungtu’s mongrel’ and his noisy swarm of flies.”

The man in the ominous red robe, Obscurant Third Seat ‘Kalian,’ spoke with a sneer.

His voice was dry and hot, like the crackling of flames.

“But your meaningless struggles end here.”

The man in pitch-black robes that seemed to absorb all light, Obscurant Sixth Seat ‘Morvis,’ continued.

His voice was cold like a shadow, seeping in without a sound.

Two Obscurants. The dark and powerful, evil magical energy flowing from them was incomparably deeper and stronger than that of the former Eighth Seat.

Beyond mere strength, their very existence twisted the surrounding space with an overwhelming pressure that seemed to crush the minds of the weak.

Ramrepo was already sitting on the ground gasping for breath, nearly suffocating from that energy, while Liris and Rati desperately cast protective barriers and mental shield spells on him.

Even Solphin, Yuria, and Aireen took defensive stances, instinctively sensing the threat.

“Holy hell! Master-level or beyond!?”

Aireen shouted in shock.

“I know!”

Professor Riman answered, gripping his sword tighter.

His expression was more serious than ever before.

“These guys are no ordinary foes. Both are at least high Master-level, or even beyond! Especially the magical energy from that red-robed one… it’s on a completely different level!”

Kalian cackled.

“I’m honored you recognize me, Professor Riman. Though you won’t be teaching anymore.”

“I thought Obscurant members were supposed to be secretive and solemn, but looking at you, that’s not entirely true.”

At that moment, Sixth Seat Morvis silently appeared from the shadows behind Valt and whispered:

“Die…”

In his hand was a dagger, black and sharp as obsidian.

“…!”

Sensing the killing intent behind him, Valt instinctively leaped away, but the dagger still grazed his arm, leaving a shallow wound.

“Ugh!”

“Lord Valt!”

Liris cried out in shock.

“Die, mongrel, you’re too much of a nuisance.”

As Morvis’s dagger lunged toward Valt’s heart—

Clang!

Professor Riman’s sword flew at an incredible speed, precisely deflecting Morvis’s dagger.

“I told you I’m your opponent, you gloomy rat-like bastard.”

Riman shouted in anger.

“Hmph, the old man is being troublesome.”

Morvis disappeared back into the shadows without hesitation.

“Don’t let your guard down!”

Riman shouted. “That one moves through shadows! You never know when or where he’ll appear!”

“Kukukuk, do you think you can stop us even if you remain vigilant?”

Kalian sneered as he raised his orb.

“Then… try to block this!”

Kwaaaa!

Dozens of crimson magical arrows poured like a storm from Kalian’s orb, engulfing Valt’s entire group.

“Damn it! Everyone, defend!”

Valt shouted, creating a massive barrier with both hands.

Solphin and Aireen also drew upon their aura to deflect the magical arrows with their swords, while Rati and Liris deployed magical shields to their fullest extent.

Crackle!

Clang!

Boom!

The magical arrows exploded violently as they hit the barriers and auras.

Shockwaves and fragments flew in all directions, and though the team members barely blocked the attack, their formation was disrupted and some suffered minor injuries.

“This isn’t working! We’ll be picked off one by one!”

Valt shouted. The two Obscurants were too powerful and their coordination was excellent.

While Professor Riman engaged Kalian, the elusive Morvis kept exploiting the team’s weaknesses.

“Kyahaha! Not bad for the Obscurant!”

Yuria shouted as she stomped the ground and swung her claws wildly at Morvis, who kept disappearing and reappearing from the shadows, but she repeatedly slashed at empty air or was deceived by illusions.

Solphin was also struggling against small magical golems that Kalian seemed to have summoned.

Her claymore broke through the golems’ armor, but the creatures persistently rose again to attack.

“Damn these tin cans!”

Professor Riman was also giving his all to block Kalian’s powerful and unpredictable magical attacks and curses.

He still showed flawless defense and sharp counterattacks, but he lacked the composure he had when facing the Eighth Seat earlier.

‘Damn it…! These guys really came prepared to capture us! We’re running out of time, and we can’t afford a war of attrition!’

Valt’s mind raced. ‘Somehow… we need to break their coordination and create an opening to get inside the factory!’

He quickly scanned his surroundings. Perhaps due to the distorted forest’s influence, the space around the workshop entrance was subtly rippling, with unstable magical residue and broken magitech devices scattered everywhere.

That’s it.

“Everyone! Focus on defense when I give the signal!”

Valt shouted. He placed both fists on the ground and began gathering immense physical force, twisting every muscle in his body. The earth around him started to vibrate and crack.

“KRAAAAAAAA!!!”

With Valt’s roar, the physical magical energy containing all his strength flowed into the ground.

His target was the entire foundation in front of the workshop entrance!

“SINKHOLE!!”

Rumble! KWAAAAAAAA—!!!

With a tremendous roar, the entire ground where Valt’s group and the Obscurants stood surged like a massive wave, rising and falling repeatedly.

Machine fragments and dust flew everywhere, and the Obscurant agents and magitech golems who lost their balance screamed as they tumbled about!

Even Obscurant Third Seat Kalian and Sixth Seat Morvis were momentarily confused by the unexpected large-scale ground attack and struggled to maintain balance! That was the moment.

“How could a barbarian possess such magical power!?”

***

Meanwhile, at the same time. At the southern edge of the continent, in the imposing fortress city of Geruntia built upon vast, barren red earth. In the heart of the city, a throne room decorated with bones and black steel.

The Absolute Ruler of the South, Kwan, was leaning deep into his throne with his eyes closed.

Instead of his usual coldness, there was a very faint but strange satisfaction on his face.

Only a few of his closest retainers were in the room, watching his mood in suffocating silence.

“Today… Lord Kwan seems unusually serene.”

One retainer whispered to another, barely audible.

“Shh! …It must be because of that ‘item’ coming from Duron. Finally, the South’s long-cherished wish…”

Another retainer carefully replied.

At that moment, Kwan slowly opened his eyes. His deep, dark pupils scanned the retainers.

The retainers unconsciously shrank back.

“Hmm. I’m looking forward to it.”

Kwan said in a low voice. Though quiet, his voice had the power to resonate throughout the room.

“That merchant Ramrepo seems to be bringing quite an interesting toy this time. If the children of the South get more water to drink… that wouldn’t be bad.”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

Seeing that smile, the retainers felt chills down their spines rather than relief. Because behind that smile always lurked a terrible storm.

Sure enough, Kwan added in a very calm voice, but words no one could take as a joke:

“However,”

His voice turned ice-cold.

“If that fellow crawls back empty-handed with some pathetic excuse, or if he dares to exceed the promised date by even a single day and disturbs my mood…”

He paused briefly, looking out at the red wasteland beyond the window.

“Then those fertile Duron plains would make an excellent hunting ground. Quenching our warriors’ long-standing thirst with their blood would be quite a nice picture. Don’t you think? Kukuku.”

His low, eerie laughter filled the throne room.

The retainers didn’t dare raise their heads, staring at the floor in terror. His words were not a mere threat. They were a declaration.

***

KWAAAAAAAA—!!!

Due to the massive ground collapse caused by Valt, the coordination between Obscurant Third and Sixth Seats was completely broken for a moment.

Amidst the chaos of screams and explosions erupting from all directions, Valt shouted:

“Now’s our chance! Break through to the inside! Our goal is still the parts!”

As Professor Riman launched a final restraining attack at Kalian, Valt lunged without hesitation toward the entrance of the Fifth Workshop!

Liris, Ramrepo, and the other companions who had regained their senses followed closely behind him.

“You bastards!!”

The furious cries of Kalian and Morvis could be heard from behind, but Valt’s group had already hidden themselves among the collapsing debris and dust, diving into the dark and bizarre interior of the workshop.

Creeeeak… THUD!

As if it had been waiting for them, the workshop’s massive inner iron door closed automatically as soon as they entered, cutting them off from the outside.

It was brief, but they had succeeded in shaking off the Obscurants.

However, before they could feel any relief, they caught their breath at the grotesque and perilous landscape of the workshop interior.

This was no ordinary factory. It was the entrance to another hell where the boundaries of dimensions were twisted.