Chapter 593
We Are the Only Ones Left. (1)
Step, step, step.
Shadow Mountains of the Turian Kingdom.
An elf was ascending a mountain path swarming with monsters.
“Kwaaaah!”
Dozens of orcs let out ear-splitting screams as they charged toward the elf.
Their bloodshot eyes gleamed as they drooled uncontrollably.
Anyone could see they weren’t normal.
The monsters of the Shadow Mountains were all like this constantly tormented by an insatiable urge for destruction, attacking any living being in sight.
“Hm…”
The elf, Ereneth, watched as the orcs closed in. She had only heard about them in rumors, but seeing them firsthand was a different experience altogether.
With monsters so crazed, they would usually be too busy fighting among themselves. Yet, their numbers never seemed to dwindle a truly baffling phenomenon.
No one had ever been able to uncover the cause of this strange occurrence. The only known fact was that, when the time came, these monsters would desperately try to pour out into the world, an event known as the Monster Wave.
Thus, the Turian Kingdom, which bordered the Shadow Mountains, had no choice but to construct numerous fortresses nearby, perpetually hunting down the monsters.
“…Why would someone cause this?”
Though this was her first time witnessing it, Ereneth felt no need to question the situation. She already had a strong suspicion of who was behind it.
Humans would find it nearly impossible to investigate this mountain range. The sheer number of monsters alone made it a daunting task, not to mention they were already preoccupied with their battles against the Salvation Church and the Riftspawn.
Snap.
Ereneth flicked her fingers.
At that moment, towering flames erupted around her, engulfing the charging orcs.
“Kraaaaah!”
As fierce fire spirits encircled her, the orcs were set ablaze, collapsing one after another.
Yet, even as they burned alive, they still struggled to reach her, their relentless murderous intent astonishing.
After dealing with the orcs effortlessly, Ereneth gazed down at her own hand.
“My power…”
Her strength was gradually returning to its former glory.
A surprising revelation when she had fought alongside the Ritania Army, she hadn’t been in her full state.
In Ghislain’s past life, she had been ranked second among the Seven Strongest on the Continent. Even without actively engaging in battle, her reputation had been cemented. Her power only grew stronger with time.
“The seal… is nearly broken.”
Long ago, a curse had bound her, preventing her from leaving the Forest of the World Tree.
Even after the seal was lifted, she had been unable to regain her full strength until now.
She should have rejoiced at the return of her power.
But instead, Ereneth’s expression was filled with sorrow.
“…So, you’ve truly returned…”
The fact that her seal was breaking and her strength was returning could mean only one thing her long-time Adversary had reappeared.
And his influence over this world was growing stronger by the day.
With a heavy heart, Ereneth pressed forward.
Now that her Adversary’s presence was undeniable, there was someone she absolutely had to meet here.
Kaaah!
Whenever the monsters spotted Ereneth, they lunged at her.
The deeper she ventured into the mountains, the more monsters swarmed toward her.
Though their numbers weren’t as overwhelming as during a Monster Wave, the real issue was the constant fighting.
Boom! Boom! Booooom!
Explosions rang out across the mountain range, causing parts of it to collapse. The monsters couldn’t do anything to stop Ereneth.
However, no matter how powerful she was, she couldn’t possibly face every monster in these mountains alone.
Even sneaking past them had its limits there were simply too many.
With the war keeping Turian’s hunters from active duty, the monsters' numbers had exploded in no time.
Just as Ereneth was beginning to grow weary, a strange resonance echoed from deep within the mountains.
Buuuuuuuuuu……
It sounded like a horn being blown or perhaps the very air itself trembling.
It was an enigmatic sound, one that defied description.
And the moment it spread through the surroundings, something astonishing happened.
Grrrrr……
The monsters’ madness subsided.
No, their madness hadn’t disappeared their bloodshot eyes and drooling mouths remained unchanged.
They simply… ignored Ereneth, as if she were one of their own.
“…Hah. So, you’ve finally noticed me.”
Taking a deep breath, Ereneth began moving toward the source of the resonance.
She walked for a long while before finally arriving at the entrance of an enormous cave.
Standing before it was a goblin, bowing deeply.
“Krrrk, krrrk. The master has ordered me to bring the esteemed guest. Krrrk.”
At the goblin’s words, Ereneth nodded. This situation was nothing new to her.
Deep within the cave lay a vast chamber, home to the true ruler of these mountains.
The goblin who had guided Ereneth prostrated itself before the chamber’s master.
“As… as the great master commanded, I have brought the… esteemed guest.”
Its voice quivered in terror as it immediately shuffled to the side.
The great ruler of the mountains slowly began to speak.
“Ereneth… Guardian of the World Tree and High Chief of the Elves. It has been a long time…”
Just speaking sent a chilling frost sweeping through the air.
In an instant, frost formed over the goblin’s body, causing it to shiver violently.
Ereneth gazed at the ruler of the mountains and slightly inclined her head.
“It has been a long time, Arterion.”
The mountains’ ruler was no ordinary being.
Scales that shimmered like heavenly glass, a colossal body curving in elegant arcs.
Fangs and claws as sharp as ice crystals, wings folded yet reminiscent of a grand fortress.
Its eyes two frozen blue glaciers, piercing and unyielding emitted a cold light that refused to fade, even in the deepest darkness.
He radiated a presence both mystical and imposing, like a god reigning over all the winters of the world.
White Dragon, Arterion.
The last Dragon Lord, trapped within the Shadow Mountains after losing his snowstorm-filled domain in a war long ago.
And in Ghislain’s past life, the lastl dragon was once called the Mad Dragon who became yet another adversary.
He was the master who ruled over all the monsters of this mountain range.
Ereneth carefully observed Arterion before asking,
“The seal still hasn’t been fully broken, has it?”
“Indeed… but not for much longer…”
Arterion responded slowly. Surprisingly, his massive body was bound by chains forged of black energy.
Countless dark chains extended from the void, entwining the dragon’s form.
However, every chain bore deep cracks, fractured and weakened. At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before they all shattered.
The strength of this seal was proportional to the power of its target. That was why, unlike Ereneth, Arterion remained immobilized.
Then, Arterion asked Ereneth,
“If the seal is breaking… that means the Salvation Church has returned, and that one has reappeared… Have you found him…?”
“No, we haven’t.”
“But the Salvation Church has indeed resurfaced… What has become of them…?”
“The humans are holding them back well. The battle is fierce, but they are in a far more favorable position.”
“The rifts in the Turian Kingdom were clashing against the monsters of these mountains… What of the other rifts…?”
“Most of them have also been contained. It’s only a temporary measure, though.”
At those words, Arterion’s eyes flickered with slight surprise.
“The humans of this era… they are truly remarkable… How could such a thing be possible…?”
Ereneth suddenly thought of Ghislain. A man who had led Ritania’s civil war to victory with his astonishing abilities.
The mere thought of him brought an unconscious smile to her lips.
“There is an extraordinary human sovereign. He moves as if he has foreseen everything, preparing in advance for every possibility.”
“Impressive indeed… Then, all that remains is to find and kill that ‘traitor’… And truly, everything will be over…”
A murderous gleam flickered in Arterion’s eyes as he spoke.
Ereneth hesitated before responding.
“We still cannot be certain that he has truly revived… The Salvation Church has been keeping its presence alive for a long time.”
Krrrr…
Arterion let out a low growl, his voice laced with displeasure.
“Even after witnessing our seals breaking, you still doubt it? You, too, are bound by this curse, living beyond your natural lifespan.”
“…”
“The ‘traitor’ has already returned. I can feel it.
He has come back to exact vengeance upon us!
Just as he declared long ago!”
Kwaaaang!
Arterion suddenly erupted in rage, causing part of the cave to collapse and tremble. The goblin had already coughed up blood and fainted.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Arterion attempted to move, but the black chains refused to release him. He continued speaking, his voice thick with fury.
"Even the goddess abandoned us! We who risked our lives to protect humanity! Because of that damned curse, you became slaves while we were driven to extinction! Do you call this justice?!"
"……."
"I cannot accept this! This time, I will utterly annihilate that bastard's soul!"
At some point, Arterion’s blue eyes flickered with murderous intent, glowing a deep crimson.
Ereneth did not respond. She knew just how vast the dragon’s fury was.
Arterion kept growling, as if issuing a warning to her.
"That bastard is nothing more than a traitor who abandoned humanity. Do not hold onto any hope or hesitation. Just wait a little longer. I will find him and kill him."
"……."
"We have to fight anyway. Have you forgotten? He will never forgive us."
"……."
Ereneth closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
He was right. The Adversary would never forgive her. No he would never forgive anything that lived in this world.
Because he was the one who wished to destroy everything.
How many sacrifices had humanity made to eradicate the Adversary and the Salvation Church? Even now, the entire continent was engulfed in war because of them.
The Adversary had to be eliminated at all costs.
Arterion exhaled a chilling aura as he spoke.
"The relic. Find the relic the Saintess left behind. That relic will surely guide you to him."
"……."
Ereneth did not answer. She already knew that Ghislain had the relic.
After all, she had helped him steal it.
If the relic truly had the power to lead them to the Adversary, then all she had to do was stay by Ghislain’s side.
But she didn’t want to tell Arterion that just yet.
Something about it felt… unsettling.
Instead, she asked about something else that had been bothering her.
"Why… why did you unleash the monsters in such a frenzy?"
"I told you, didn’t I? For just a fleeting moment, I sensed it his resurrection. That bastard was reborn in the Kingdom of Turian. I clearly felt that cursed energy."
"So… you sent them to the Turian Kingdom…."
Arterion’s eyes gleamed with bloodlust once more.
"Yes. To kill him, I have continuously sent monsters."
Ereneth was dumbfounded. Did he really mean that he had been releasing frenzied monsters just based on a hunch?
For over twenty years?
Because of him, Turian Kingdom had been reduced to ruin, constantly forced to fight against the monsters.
She couldn’t believe it. Arterion was supposed to be a wise dragon.
"Why would you do such a thing? Innocent humans have suffered and died fighting those monsters."
Arterion sneered at her.
"Why should I care if a few insignificant insects die? They are the ones we protected. They have no right to complain if we take their lives in return."
"……."
"Even the goddess has abandoned us. I cannot move. So what choice do I have but to send the monsters after him?!"
"But why involve other humans—"
"Because only when every single human in Turian Kingdom is dead will he die too!"
Rumble!
Arterion’s fury cracked the walls of the cave. The goblin’s head had already burst, leaving it dead.
This was the secret behind Turian Kingdom’s endless battle against the monsters.
And if his words were true—
Then the Adversary had truly been reborn in the Kingdom of Turian.