episode_0056

Duke Felios obliterated the temporary supply tent of the Terdoan Army with a bolt of lightning.

Afterward, wiping the sweat off his forehead, he said to Ardor, “Let’s head to the Crown Prince now. I’ll make sure even that brat tastes the bitterness of betrayal.”

‘Ardor acts tough, pretending to be powerful by using the powers and mana stones of other sorcerers.’

Internally cursing, Ardor replied with a submissive tone, “Understood.”

“Are you cursing me in your mind?”

‘How did he know?’

“What? No, absolutely not, I didn’t-”

Startled for a moment, Ardor inadvertently revealed his confusion.

Slap!

Without hesitation, Duke Felios slapped Ardor across the face.

“You bat-like brat! How dare you curse me internally!”

“No, this is going too far-”

Smack!

“Should I throw you to the Terdoans? Did you curse me or not? Speak the truth right now!”

Grabbing Ardor by the collar, Duke Felios shook him roughly, speaking harshly.

‘He’s insane. This guy is truly insane!’

The pain was excruciating, almost suffocating.

Unable to bear more hits, Ardor had no choice but to confess.

“What? How dare you really curse me?!”

Contrary to Ardor’s expectations, Duke Felios continued his retribution until they reached the airspace where the Serbis army was stationed.

***

Eastern plains of Eisen Barony.

Obscured by ominous dark clouds, even the moonlight was hidden, while countless orbs of light cast by sorcerers illuminated the area as bright as daylight.

And on the brightly lit plains.

A horrifying spectacle unfolded, making anyone, human or otherwise, want to flee immediately.

“Craaack!”

“Kiaaak!”

“Oh no!”

“Save me!”

From skeletons and zombies to all sorts of monsters, corpses roamed like mountains, attacking the Ferum Kingdom’s sorcerers.

Thud! Thwack!

“Crunch!”

They bit into humans even after being hit by arrows.

Boom!

“Kyaaah!”

Even when hit by magic, they shattered human bones.

Crackle!

Snap!

The undead rose again, whether their bones broke or rotten flesh scattered, at the chilling command of a lich hovering in the air.

Sorcerers were no different.

Upon death, they turned into undead.

Having lost their souls, they enslaved former allies with magic.

This alone was enough to shatter any hope of victory.

“Help me!”

“I don’t want to die like this!”

People started fleeing one by one, an inevitable outcome.

Bang!

Boom!

Amidst the chaos of death and destruction, there was no way to salvage the situation.

The parade of the dead covering the plains.

Their numbers increasing rapidly, there was no way to stop their relentless advance.

Despite attempts by rear sorcerers to use massive destructive spells, it was futile.

Even with giant flame tornadoes or widespread freezing magic, the undead kept dying and resurrecting.

The lich leading the undead army was no different.

Having stored his soul in a phylactery, the towering skeletal mage would not die until the phylactery was destroyed.

But since the phylactery was securely hidden, it seemed impossible to find it no matter what.

‘What on earth can we do now?’

Prince Meorad Pereum, the Crown Prince of Pereum Kingdom and the Supreme Commander of the Army, could only watch silently as the situation worsened by the moment, unable to do anything concrete.

His only current option was to slowly retreat, looking for an opportunity to withdraw while the undead relentlessly pressed on, making even a retreat challenging.

It was truly inexplicable.

Where had all these undead come from?

Why were they specifically targeting the Pereum Kingdom’s forces?

Of course, there were no clear answers.

The Great Necropolis in the north of Eisen.

The sheer number of corpses there seemed more abundant than the stars in the night sky, undoubtedly indicating their origin.

Yet, it only added to the mystery.

If they had indeed come from there, then logically, the weaker undead should have targeted Eisen first.

With its fortified gates, Eisen could withstand this number of undead for quite some time.

So why were the undead solely converging here?

“Did they just pass by Eisen?”

Why?

Did that Lich hold some grudge against Pereum?

Suddenly, a person fell from the sky.

“Who goes there!”

Thwack!

The figure who effortlessly knocked down his esteemed swordmaster with a single blow was a man with silver hair, someone he had never seen before but heard of.

He was said to be the first prince of the Mersen Empire, Eos.

***

Meorad Pereum.

This man was someone he had read about in novels.

Once the Crown Prince of Pereum Kingdom, he met his demise at the hands of Servis after attacking Mersen.

He wondered if it was really him.

As far as he knew, Pereum was the only one capable of amassing such a large army in the kingdom.

And if it was him, communication could be possible.

“I’ve come to propose a deal. I am Eos, the fallen prince of Mersen.”

Seemingly expecting it, Meorad also revealed his name.

“I am Meorad Pereum. Quite surprising indeed. I heard the first prince had become a cripple.”

“This cripple is here to offer you help. Will you consider my proposal?”

“To help me…”

Meorad stared blankly for a moment, as if searching desperately with his eyes, resembling someone hunting for gold dust in the desert.

“Well, since I was already in a dilemma, let’s hear your proposal.”

“I will rid you of the undead.”

“Haha! Hahaha! Now I see, the fallen prince didn’t become a cripple but a madman. But in my current state, I have no choice but to accept this madman’s help. Speak. What do you desire?”

***

Riding the winds of Wint, I soared smoothly through the darkness.

Of course, I held the Lich’s scepter in one hand.

“Krrrgh!”

“Kyaaargh!”

The undead below, mere meters away, reached out their arms towards me, struggling to retrieve the scepter.

Standing right in front of me was the Lich.

“You audacious thief! How dare you steal my scepter?!”

Clearly furious, his hoarse voice echoed like thunder in the night sky.

I replied calmly, “Lead the undead back to the labyrinth peacefully, and you shall live.”

“How dare you, a mere mortal, bring such disgrace upon the immortal king of the undead!”

Countless magical runes appeared in the empty space around the Lich.

“I shall burn you to ashes!”

“Are you sure about that?”

Turning my gauntlet into Portis Valum, I struck the scepter.

Clang!

A clear resonance spread through the night air.

“Do you think you can shatter my scepter with such a feeble attempt?”

Perhaps realizing that my gauntlet was no ordinary item, his tone gradually softened.

I struck again.

Clang!

Portis Valum was an ego shield.

The more impact it received, the stronger it became.

Unable to break what never existed in the first place. So it was something the protagonist cherished.

Crack!

Snap!

“Oh no! Stop! Please, stop!”

Crack!

Creak!

“I-I’ll go! I’ll leave right now!”

Rich pleaded with me to stop.

Crack!

“Ahh!!! I’m leaving right now!!!”

Grasping his head with both arms, Rich turned around abruptly, causing a seizure as he led countless undead back into the labyrinth.

Truth be told, I had no intention of sparing Rich.

But if he were to die here…

The immense horde of undead, easily exceeding a hundred thousand, would lose control in an instant and scatter in all directions, inevitably causing another disaster.

Delaying Rich’s death was for that very reason.

***

Meorad Ferrum couldn’t comprehend how to react to the current situation.

“So many undead actually retreated….”

Undead who had been relentlessly advancing, taking hits from swords and magic, suddenly turned around and charged wildly.

“Like a miracle…!”

Moments ago, it seemed inevitable that the arrogant forces brought from the Ferrum Kingdom would be in vain.

And undoubtedly, as a result…

The prince would not only lose his position but also pay a hefty price.

Yet, out of the blue, the Crown Prince of Mersenne appeared and saved them all.

Admittedly, it was a somewhat bizarre deal they struck.

Nevertheless, gratitude was unavoidable.

“Eos, thank you sincerely. I shall honor our pact.”

While it was a commitment regarding mana that he couldn’t break, adding a bit more than promised would surely be appreciated.