Ch.89Chapter 89. Secret Progress in the Shadows (1)

# Chapter 89. Secret Progress (1)

I watched the movements of the dark clouds while hiding with the warriors of the Ash Mist tribe.

I didn’t forget to move to other totems to warn other tribes, including the tribal federation headquarters.

“Is, is that the dark cloud demon? Not a natural disaster?”

Noah’s reaction to seeing the dark cloud demon for the first time was, well, as expected.

“Calm down.”

I spoke firmly, telling him that while I understood his anxiety, I wanted him to trust me and remain composed.

Mistakes tend to happen in times like these. I needed to tighten things up.

Wooooo-

It made an eerie sound as it passed over us, dragging all sorts of demons along.

So it wasn’t targeting us. That means they failed to block the coordinate transmission elsewhere.

I accessed the community.

[MorningTentInstaller: What the fuck is with that dark cloud!!!]

Siwoo was also logged in. No wonder he was staring blankly at the sky.

[TrustedMonkeyUncle: Real-time Paladin… lying down like dead…]

[3Rep500: What’s happening what’s with the sky]

[Ghooulr: Which crazy bastard touched it? Damn]

[ShotgunAttack: If you’re going to kill yourself, at least say something first. Do you have to kill everyone?]

[Bramanda: Is everyone okay?]

[OhDoManlyMan: Ack! LovingPaladinDeath DemonLord is starting regular maintenance! Anyone caught will be punished!]

[BasementActivist: Is this the time for jokes? We could all die if we’re not careful]

There were no users who announced they would attack the dark cloud demon like Abraham did.

It really seems like a sudden incident… what could it be?

“Don’t move until the dark cloud passes.”

My eyes can zoom in and out like a camera, allowing me to see distances that normal humans cannot.

I fully utilized this ability to watch the dark cloud demon moving with its minions.

I could see hundreds of flying demons and lower demons attached to their bodies and legs.

It’s a frightening sight no matter how many times I see it.

Suddenly, I recalled Charon’s zombie army from Beatrice’s secret warehouse.

Ah, I wish the dark cloud would go toward that guy instead.

It would be a happy ending if the two forces—demons and zombies—fought each other to mutual destruction.

[NotACatfish: Sans! Are you okay?]

I received a private message from Hanna.

[Yeah I’m fine. It just passed by a moment ago]

[How are you?]

I’m worried about Hanna, who’s already in an anxious situation.

[NotACatfish: NPCs]

[NotACatfish: I mean I’m hiding with the villagers]

[Good]

[NotACatfish: Do you think someone made a mistake?]

[Might not be a possessed person’s doing]

It’s possible that some force we don’t know about meddled with a mid-level demon and caused an accident.

While barbarians might not, there could still be civilized forces that remain intact.

[NotACatfish: I have a hunch about something]

[?]

[NotACatfish: The monsters from the sea, they moved a few days ago]

Ah. Those creatures who came by boat? They were suspicious indeed.

[NotACatfish: I saw them passing by armed with harpoons and spears. Could they be a completely different monster faction that’s hostile to demons? Like a necromancer lord?]

[You’re saying they summoned the dark cloud demon?]

If that’s true, they’ve pulled off quite the trolling.

[NotACatfish: Maybe? I can’t be certain]

I was alternating between checking Hanna’s messages, the community, and the movement of the dark cloud demon.

The dark cloud demon stopped in one area.

[DuroupTree: It’s Quinton! It stopped at Quinton!]

So that’s Quinton over there.

Wooooo-

Demons poured down from beneath it, looking like black rain falling.

Due to the terrain, I couldn’t see how the demons moved after landing on the ground.

Though I couldn’t see, I could imagine what they were doing. Probably destroying everything in Quinton.

As I was watching the dark cloud demon that had stopped at Quinton with mixed feelings.

KWAAANG-!

A pillar of light shot up and attacked the dark cloud demon!

Or rather, it would be more accurate to say it pierced through it. The pillar of light penetrated the dark cloud and rose into the sky.

“…!”

Princess Dina, was it you?

Did you not block the coordinate transmission to lure out the dark cloud demon?

…No. That doesn’t make sense.

MeleeSpy left a comment saying if you’re going to catch the dark cloud demon, take at least three max-level paladins.

I remember Princess Dina saw that comment and replied.

She said something like “There won’t be time for that,” if I recall correctly.

That wasn’t denying MeleeSpy’s claim that three max-level paladins were needed to defeat the dark cloud demon, but rather an expression close to resignation that gathering three max-levels would be nearly impossible.

Someone who responded like that wouldn’t have summoned the dark cloud demon without thinking.

Perhaps she obtained some good hidden piece that could defeat the dark cloud demon.

No, that’s strange too. If she had, she would have posted about it in the community.

She could have posted another recruitment notice for a dark cloud demon subjugation team.

The whole situation just feels contrived.

The sea monsters Hanna saw, and Princess Dina’s special forces attacking the dark cloud…

There seems to be something going on that I don’t know about.

[3Rep500: What what what now]

[TrustedMonkeyUncle: Wasn’t that just now Princess Dina’s skill?]

[FallenPowerKnight: Is this Dina’s special forces’ doing?]

[FullPlay: That’s the Celestial Light skill!]

[CowBikiniDance: Knew they’d cause trouble tsk tsk]

The speed of posts increased dramatically.

Other users had also witnessed the pillar of light, or more precisely, the “Celestial Light” skill.

I guess everyone’s peeking out to see what’s happening.

[Bramanda: Princess Dina landed a hit!]

[DinosaurPunch: Oh! Oh! Is this it?]

[TrustedMonkeyUncle: Can we clear it?]

I don’t see it that way.

The dark cloud demon pierced by Celestial Light didn’t howl in pain, nor did it spurt green blood.

Wooooo-

It just writhed while floating in the air.

KWAAANG-!

The Celestial Light skill was fired once more. The pillar of light was aimed at the same spot it had penetrated before.

This time, the dark cloud demon moved too. It extended long, thin tentacles from within the dark clouds.

With a sinking feeling, I waited for the collision between the Celestial Light and the tentacles.

“Hmm.”

Not even close.

[TrustedMonkeyUncle: How the fuck is this possible]

One user’s post summed up the result.

PAANG!

The Celestial Light was deflected as soon as it touched the tentacle. Its direction twisted and it flew off into empty space… or perhaps it would be more accurate to say its trajectory was altered.

It changed the path itself with an invisible force like telekinesis.

It was able to deflect a level 8 high-ranking paladin’s skill.

[Bramanda: …]

[DinosaurPunch: Ah]

[LoveDeathNyang: TT]

The atmosphere in the community became almost like a funeral.

As for me, well, I was better off than them.

If you don’t expect anything from the start, you won’t feel despair or disappointment.

I quietly watched as Quinton turned into a wasteland. Buildings collapsed like sheets of paper.

Light flashed a few more times, but that was it. There was no third Celestial Light.

WOOOONG!

When even the small flashes of light stopped appearing, the tentacles extending from the dark cloud moved.

Those that had been creeping toward the ground snatched up small living beings and lifted them.

Kikikik…

Without realizing it, I tightly clenched the totem golem’s fist as I watched the living beings being quietly dragged into the dark cloud.

The distance was too great to hear any sounds. I could only hear the wind blowing.

Nevertheless, I felt like I could hear desperate pleas for help and screams of terror.

[MeleeSpy: …]

Even MeleeSpy, who was always noisy, was quiet. Was he feeling the same emotions as me?

Slightly, just slightly, I understood him.

Anyone would go mad if they kept witnessing things like this.

I waited until the dark cloud retreated, wondering who had summoned the dark cloud demon.

The post that resolved my question came after I had recovered the magic stone and returned to the tribal federation.

[PrincessDina: This is Princess Dina.

Please understand that I cannot leave a long post due to the unfavorable situation.

An unidentified force disturbed a mid-level demon. The one ruling Quinton.

It wasn’t a coincidence, but appears to have been done targeting our Dina Special Forces who were staying in Quinton.

They were beings mixed with fish or crustaceans, and they tried to take us down with them.

Currently, I am tracking their traces with the special forces. I will return after finding out what their purpose is and who they are.]

Phew, so she’s alive. It seems the special forces are still around too.

Whatever method they used, they apparently escaped the dark cloud demon’s eyes. She didn’t seem like someone who would die easily.

The unidentified force is clearly the sea monsters. After some consideration, I sent a message to Hanna.

[Hanna. Let’s give Princess Dina information about the sea monsters and ask for help]

I don’t know how strong the sea monster faction is, but Princess Dina probably wouldn’t be helplessly defeated.

Even if she can’t take them down, she might be able to save Hanna and the villagers of Matrba who are in danger.

With various thoughts in mind, I ended the day.

***

“Lord Malak. Can you hear my voice?”

I hear a voice calling me from afar.

It was a voice I had never heard before.