Chapter 797 |
It took Ian only an instant to realize that each of those streaks was a wraith, shrieking as it tore through the air.
Not only were they burning with a far more ominous hue, but the twisted faces at their cores—filled with rage and agony—had grown even more grotesque.
Screech—
They were clearly tainted with chaos. That alone explained why the wailing echoing from all directions now carried such a nauseating distortion.
Was I too careless?
Clicking his tongue, Ian set the heavy crate down.
Almost at the same time, Yog whispered.
—Looks like that one couldn’t hold back its greed after all. Your disappearance must’ve given it courage, Friend.
Ian ignored it and started walking.
The crates were tall enough to block the view of the wagons entirely.
"Ian! Ian’s back!" Thesaya’s voice rang out from beyond.
She had clearly heard Yog.
Even amid the ear-piercing wails, her voice carried clearly, reinforced with magic.
—Did they think the dragon had retreated into its nest? Either way, a foolish move. Though I appreciate it.
Yog added lazily.
Ian suddenly stopped, then turned his gaze upward. His Intuition had screamed a warning.
Beyond the slanted rock looming overhead, streaks of dark green light came plunging down like ghostly flames.
The wraiths had broken through the swirling curtain of mist.
Screech— Scrree—
And that wasn’t all.
Even now, a considerable number of wraiths were already flying chaotically through the sky above. More continued forcing their way through the barrier from all directions.
—So they can maintain form even outside the fog now. Though with that pitiful chaos, they won’t last long.
The rising intensity of the wails wasn’t just from chaos alone.
Ignoring Yog’s comment, Ian drew the Blazing Judgment from his waist.
As magic gathered in his eyes while he stared up at the distorted wraiths, a thunderous roar split the air.
Rumble!
A bolt of lightning tore through the incoming wraiths, then shattered into countless fragments, spreading like a web.
Crackle—
In less than a blink, the lightning and the wraiths it struck were gone without a trace.
—So that’s why there are so many circling above?
Yog murmured with a low chuckle as Ian lowered his sword and continued forward.
Almost at the same time, Thesaya’s voice rang out from beyond the wall of crates.
"Nice one, Pup! Master, why are you just standing there? Go greet him already! The Agent of the Saint hates people dragging their feet!"
Looks like she’s got them completely under control.
Ian stepped past the stacked crates.
Fael came rushing toward him, looking like he might burst into tears at any moment. "A-Agent of the Saint!"
He had clearly been assigned the role of relaying the situation to those inside—being the only non-combatant, it made sense.
Ian simply nodded and kept walking.
Fael stumbled to a stop in front of him, nearly tripping over himself as he said, "P-Please allow me to explain what’s happening, briefly and clearly—"
"No need."
"—I will. Pardon?" Fael blinked in confusion as Ian cut him off.
"Let’s go." Ian passed him, his gaze already fixed on the line of wagons ahead.
In the center of the rearmost wagon’s cargo bed, Lily stood, her hair standing on end like a hedgehog’s, staring up at the sky.
"My lord!"
"Great Warrior!"
The guards stationed around the wagons turned toward Ian with visible relief.
Of course, that was only for a moment.
"Why are you looking away?! Eyes up!" Thesaya’s sharp command cracked through the air. She stood atop the cargo wagon, commanding the scene.
—Looks like she’s seized power.
Yog chuckled. Meanwhile, Ian had already swept his gaze over Nila and Moro, who stood guarding the horses at the flank.
"B-but, Agent of the Saint," Fael’s cautious voice came from behind. "Where are the others? Surely, you didn’t come out alone?"
"Well… things worked out that way."
"Lu Solar… of all times…" Fael shut his eyes tight in distress.
Ian glanced back at him briefly. "Stay here with the guards and hold your position. I’ll be back soon."
"Y-Yes, of course—Wait?" Fael froze again. A beat later, he opened his eyes and stared at Ian’s back as he strode ahead. "You’ll be back? Back from where…?"
Ian didn’t answer. He didn’t even turn around.
Rumble!
Just as Fael was about to call out again, a blinding flash and thunderous roar erupted from the wagon.
Lily had thrust both hands skyward, unleashing another bolt of lightning.
Fael flinched violently.
Crackle! Zap!
Brilliant light spread across the sky overhead, and the chaotic wailing that had filled the air began to subside.
Only then did Fael finally exhale and look up at Lily, who stood motionless, her hands lowered, expression blank.
Crackle! Crack!
Tiny sparks still flickered through Lily’s bristling brown hair.
That alone was enough to explain why the guards were pressed tightly against the edges of the wagon.
Fael, too, now fully understood why the Elder had called that girl a walking spell turret.
"Thesaya, Nasser. Get on Moro."
It was then that the Agent of the Saint’s voice rang out from ahead. He was already mounted on the sacred beast, Nila.
It was a command that made both Fael and the guards widen their eyes, but Thesaya and Nasser moved without hesitation, stepping up onto the partition.
"Going after the source, then?"
"I figured as much."
They climbed over the partition without hesitation as the black warhorse, Moro, snorted and stepped forward.
"Why’d you leave Redhead and the Prosthetic behind?" Thesaya asked, leaping lightly onto Moro’s saddle.
Ian gave a small tilt of his head. "I’ll explain later. Let’s go."
"Seriously, you’re no help at all…"
"Please move back, Elder. I’ll take the saddle." Nasser added as he vaulted up behind her in a smooth, practiced motion.
Fael stared blankly at the scene, then blinked in sudden realization. "W-Wait! Agent of the Saint!"
Ian, gripping Nila’s reins, finally looked back. Fael raised a trembling hand toward the fog barrier.
"Are you saying you are going to break through that fog and eliminate the source of this? Just the three of you?"
"You heard right. Though it’s not three. It’s six," Ian answered calmly.
Fael blinked, utterly lost.
Meanwhile, Ian turned to the guards and added, "Take care of Lily. And Lily, don’t overexert your mana."
"Leave it to us, my lord!"
"Y-Yes!"
"Understood, Great Warrior!"
Bor answered first, followed by Hallig and Oscar.
Lily simply nodded.
Clip-clop, clip-clop!
Nila surged forward toward the fog barrier, scattering sparks like drifting embers in its wake.
Moro snorted and followed right behind.
"Pup! Just keep doing what you were doing! We’ll be back soon!" Thesaya shouted, standing on the saddle behind Nasser, gripping his shoulder.
She even waved her hand toward Lily.
Lily, expressionless, raised her hand and waved back.
Moments later, the group disappeared beyond the veil of fog.
"Lu Solar, have mercy…" Fael muttered blankly behind the wagons.
Bor’s voice came from beside him. "Why don’t you crawl under the wagon or something, Master? You’re in the way."
"How can all of you be so calm?" Fael raised a brow, staring at him. "No matter how much the Agent of the Saint has risen to the rank of a demigod, this is—"
"That’s enough. Any further doubt is blasphemy, Master." Bor cut him off.
"What?" Fael asked a beat late, stunned by what he had just heard.
"I really don’t understand how long you intend to keep this up. It feels long past time for you to accept it." Bor shook his head, then lifted his gaze to the sky. "At this point, I’m starting to doubt whether you and I truly experienced the same things or heard the same stories."
"Of course I know. I’ve heard them countless times, and I believe them. But does that mean I’m not even allowed to worry?"
"Worrying about wraiths like these is an insult to the Great Warrior, Master. So you might as well hide under the wagon," Oscar added calmly, still watching the sky.
When Fael looked at him, Oscar flicked his tongue slightly and smirked. "We, on the other hand, will have the honor of witnessing yet another of his feats."
"Don’t be anxious. Until we hear the end of the Northern tale, we’re not dying."
At Hallig’s words, Oscar let out a low, amused growl. "Well said, brother."
"What on earth is wrong with all of you?" Fael muttered in disbelief, then suddenly flinched.
This time, it wasn’t Lily.
Screech!
The wraiths circling above and swarming the fog barrier all at once unleashed a horrific, tearing chorus. It was the most chilling sound yet.
As if seized by madness, they all surged in the same direction: the one Ian’s group had gone.
Fael stared blankly as they streamed overhead, his gaze naturally drifting toward the fog beyond.
The dark green tide churned violently as it receded into the distance.
It took only a few seconds for him to realize that the wraiths had begun pursuing Ian and his group.
"O Light, preserve us…" Fael exhaled in quiet dread.
Bor spoke again, almost lazily. "Well, at least now you don’t need to crawl under the wagon."
Fael turned, his brow twitching.
Bor, Hallig, and Oscar had already lowered their weapons, gathering casually by the side partition. Not fear, but anticipation filled their eyes.
Even Lily, after scanning the sky, stepped over to join them.
Rumble!
A distant thunder rolled into Fael’s ears. He froze and slowly turned his head.
Boom! Rumble—
His eyes widened.
Beyond the churning, dark green fog, bluish flashes of light were bursting one after another. Thunderclaps and explosions overlapped between the shrieking wails.
"The Great Warrior of Thunder and Lightning…"
"Indeed," Bor murmured in awe.
Fael couldn’t respond. He simply stood there, staring blankly at the flashing haze. Stories he had heard countless times began to surface in his mind.
For a moment, all that remained were silent awe and breathless wonder.
Screech!
Then, a completely different kind of shriek tore through the valley, as if the entire gorge itself were screaming.
Right after that, an ominous dark green glow began to intensify beyond the fog. Its sheer size was unmistakable.
"Lu Solar, have mercy…"
However, that wasn’t what drew the breath from Fael’s lips.
Through the mist, now steeped in that dark green light, a brilliant surge of gold erupted upward.