Chapter 122

Episode 122

Mahon, the head of the trading company, had a keen eye.

After riding for about an hour from the Milo Plain, we arrived at a desolate wasteland. It felt out of place, a barren patch within a lush green field.

‘There’s definitely something here.’

Even though this was a world inside a game, the basic laws of nature were similar to the world I came from.

The area that had turned into a wasteland maintained a circular shape with a consistent radius.

Desertification meant that some artificial force was at work.

‘If we assume the boundary of the wasteland is the circumference of a circle, we just need to find the center.’

I dismounted and stood at the border between the green plain and the sand-covered desert, touching the ground. Rough sand slipped through my fingers.

“The desertification seems to be progressing rapidly. It’s definitely artificial.”

“Do you sense any demonic energy?”

“Not yet.”

I looked up and gazed at the wasteland. There wasn’t a single trace of greenery as far as the eye could see.

“It means this has been going on for quite some time… And no one noticed?”

“I heard Alpheon was without a lord for a long time. And the previous lord was Roman, so it’s not surprising that this happened.”

We mounted our horses and rode towards the center of the desertified area. The horses struggled to gain speed, so we eventually had to leave them behind and continue on foot.

They were well-trained horses, so they would wait for us as long as they weren’t attacked.

As morning passed, the sunlight intensified. The cool air receded, and scorching heat rose from the sand.

“I should have brought more water.”

“I have plenty. Let me know if you need some.”

Selendis handed me a water bottle. It seemed like she had packed a lot in her bag.

“Why are you carrying so much water?”

“Just in case.”

As expected of a Knight Captain. I quenched my thirst and continued walking.

After some time, the signal I had been waiting for hit me.

“— I sense demonic energy.”

“It seems like we’ve come to the right place. I sense it too.”

Selendis drew her sword at my words.

The “Frost Sword” sliced through the air, emitting a chilling aura. Even the scorching desert heat couldn’t diminish the sword’s coldness.

Selendis’s reaction wasn’t excessive. The source of the demonic energy could be “Dark Souls” or a demonic beast.

If it were a demonic beast lurking beneath the sand, we could suffer a fatal blow.

I focused my mind, maximizing my “Demon Detection” skill.

“It doesn’t seem to be moving. It’s a stationary object.”

“This seems too easy.”

“It’s a mission from the Lady. She wouldn’t send us outside the territory.”

Selendis looked at me, confused. I would have to tell her about “The Legend of Aldebaran” someday.

Jericho, who came from a demon-hunting family, would probably dance with joy if he knew.

“Are you still suspicious of the Lady?”

“Don’t worry. It’s a positive suspicion. One day, I’ll be able to prove my hypothesis. And I’ll tell you everything then.”

Selendis nodded silently.

*Thump, thump—*

The demonic energy intensified as we walked. With each step, the echo of the demonic energy colliding with my body grew stronger.

It meant we were getting closer to the source.

“Selendis, be prepared. We don’t know what will happen.”

“Understood.”

*Bzzzt!*

Selendis activated her aura. The cold Frost Sword glowed brighter in response.

I also drew my sword and activated “Automatic Combat.”

But nothing happened even when we reached the spot where the demonic energy was strongest.

I walked back and forth, trying to find the center point.

‘It’s definitely stationary.’

I looked down at my feet. It was just an ordinary wasteland. But I could definitely sense something emitting demonic energy beneath the surface.

It could be “Dark Souls” or some other artifact.

‘I hope it’s not buried too deep.’

Digging in this heat would be difficult. I hoped there was a hidden space beneath the surface. I cast a spell.

『Enclave.』

A protective barrier appeared. It blocked the leakage of magical energy and also mitigated magical damage, including demonic energy.

“I’m going to destroy the ground. Brace yourself for the impact.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Selendis assumed a fighting stance, and I extended my hand, unleashing pure magical energy.

*Rumble!*

*Boom!*

*Rumble!*

After a few repetitions, the ground shook violently, and sand poured down. We were swept into a dark space along with the flow of sand.

*Whoosh!*

Sand continued to pour down. It seemed like we had fallen into a large space.

I immediately took out a luminous pearl from my pocket.

*Flash!*

The luminous pearl I had received from the Lucius Club emitted a bright light, illuminating our surroundings.

And at the farthest point the light reached, I saw a suspicious altar.

“Doesn’t this look familiar?”

“I remember it clearly. There was a similar altar in Viscount Cliff’s territory.”

“Whoever created this, it seems like this place is also influenced by the demon realm.”

We cautiously approached the altar. We looked around, but it was empty.

There was a small square object in the center of the altar. And on top of it was a pitch-black sphere that seemed to absorb even light.

“Found it.”

It was definitely “Dark Souls.”

I scanned the area just in case, but the center point of the demonic energy was definitely the “Dark Souls.”

It meant there weren’t any immediate threats.

Neither “Demon Detection” nor “Automatic Combat” was reacting.

I put on the holy gloves that Jericho had made. I also prepared the storage box.

“I’m retrieving ‘Dark Souls.’ Cover me.”

I carefully picked up the sphere.

I felt a slight resistance. It seemed to be getting stronger, so I quickly placed it in the box and closed the lid.

*Click.*

Strangely, I couldn’t sense any demonic energy once the box was closed.

“It seems like we succeeded. Let’s return…”

*Rumble!*

The world shook. The ground beneath our feet and the ceiling above us trembled, sending dust raining down.

It never ended peacefully, did it?

*Rumble!*

Another tremor.

I put the box in my bag and took a few steps back. Powerful demonic energy started emanating from the altar where “Dark Souls” had been.

Even Selendis, who couldn’t sense demonic energy, could feel the change.

“It’s dangerous, my lord. Step back!”

“If it’s dangerous, we fight together. Why should I step back?”

*Boom!*

Rock fragments scattered in all directions. And along with the fragments, a pitch-black monster emerged.

The bizarre creature, with the head and legs of a goat, the wings of a bird, and the upper body of a woman, looked very similar to the Baphomet I had seen in the game.

‘Isn’t Baphomet a boss-level monster?’

And it had two horns on its head.

It meant a two-star demonic beast had appeared.

“I should have brought Jericho with us.”

“My lord!”

*Rumble!*

The powerful tremor made me stumble. But I quickly regained my balance with the help of “Automatic Combat.” Selendis barely managed to stay upright with her aura.

The problem was that we had never faced a two-star demonic beast before. But “Automatic Combat” clearly showed me the path I had to take.

‘It seems like escape is impossible, so we have no choice but to fight.’

I could escape if I wanted to.

But if a two-star demonic beast were to roam free, it would be a huge problem.

Selendis charged forward with her shield raised before I could even give her an order.

*Whirr!*

A strange energy I had never felt before.

I traced its source and saw an ominous energy gathering at the tip of the demonic beast’s staff.

My instincts screamed danger.

I immediately followed Selendis. The enclave moved with me, protecting her.

*Boom! Crack!*

As I had expected.

The black energy blast shattered the enclave. Selendis must have been affected by the aftershock, but she mitigated it with her shield and aura.

I finally understood the nature of that energy.

‘It’s a fusion of mana and demonic energy.’

In other words, a hybrid.

‘That’s why it’s a two-star. It means its original power isn’t that strong.’

According to the records, five stars was the highest tier for demonic beasts. After blocking that attack, I realized that a five-star demonic beast would be a continental disaster.

“Selendis! Stay on the defensive! Don’t block its magic attacks dodge them!”

“Yes!”

We were wearing demon-resistant accessories from the Lucius Club.

But it was better to dodge those unpredictable attacks than to try to block them.

And it would also create openings for us to attack.

*Clang!*

The “Sword of Chaos” and the “Frost Sword” slashed simultaneously from both sides. But we didn’t feel any resistance, only a rebound and a scraping sound.

It felt like we had hit something solid, not cut through it. It seemed like our attacks hadn’t even fazed it.

But there was no need to be discouraged.

“Automatic Combat” still had countless options to offer.

“Distract it! I’m going to use magic.”

Since we had decided to dodge its attacks, there was no need to defend with the “enclave.”

I immediately channeled my mana, having figured out its elemental affinity.

『Ice Bolt.』

*Shatter! Shatter! Shatter!*

Ten ice spears materialized above my head.

When I had first learned this spell, I could only create one at a time. And it looked ridiculous.

But after diligently practicing magic, I could now control ten spears simultaneously. And they looked much more refined.

I could probably rename it “Ice Spear,” but I was too lazy to bother.

Selendis, glancing at me, leaped into the air.

*Whoosh!*

Another blast of hybrid energy shot out from the demonic beast’s staff, and Selendis activated her aura, changing direction mid-air.

But something unexpected happened.

『You dare to defy death…!』

The demonic beast yanked its staff, altering the trajectory of the deflected hybrid energy.

Towards Selendis.

But my “Automatic Combat” was faster than the demonic beast’s reaction.

Sharp ice spears shot towards the hybrid energy, and the black sphere, pierced by multiple spears, exploded mid-air.

*Boom!*

I continued casting even as I was caught in the explosion. I couldn’t miss the opportunity Selendis had created with her life on the line.

『Ice Bolt.』

Sharp ice spears shot towards the demonic beast without a moment’s delay.

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

『Groaaar…』

The attack connected.

As expected, the demonic beast was resistant to physical attacks but vulnerable to water magic.

Black smoke was seeping from the wounds where the ice spears had pierced its flesh. We could defeat it if we continued our assault.

But just as I was about to cast another spell…

『With the power… of darkness…』

*Flash!*

Darkness erupted from the demonic beast’s staff.