96.
The resting place of the dead.
Truly a terrifying and dreadful place.
Even if it’s ‘daytime,’ stepping into this place turns it into ‘night.’ In this ‘Resting Place of the Dead’ field, the concept of ‘daytime’ does not exist.
If you follow the path down from the western forest entrance, you come across this field which is literally…
“Here, could it be?”
“I sense the energy of the deceased here.”
The Land of the Dead.
Literally, the land of the deceased.
According to the lore, this place was a battlefield from a fierce war 300 years ago, where numerous demons, humans, and other races perished.
The unjustly deceased souls gathered here, covering the field, defying even the laws of nature, and locking ‘night’ into this land.
In many ways, it is a fearsome place.
But I am certain.
We will break through this place without a single casualty and reach the boss of Act 3.
As I stepped forward, a message appeared as if in anticipation.
“You have set foot in the Resting Place of the Dead!”
“The disturbed dead rise!”
“The dead eye the living!”
“The dead roar!”
Then.
With a crackling sound, the dry ground split open, and hands emerged from it.
Zombie soldiers in attire from 300 years ago.
Skeletons wielding greatswords and ghosts with no feet.
Various undead creatures rose up, facing the extermination squad.
Their ‘souls’ were already tainted and wicked.
Long deceased, their polluted souls merely guide their restless bodies.
However, they were merely monsters coming out of the field, and the proper Act 3 had not even begun.
“Prepare for an all-out battle, break through the shortest distance.”
Everyone nodded.
Of course.
Our forces are not so weak as to stop just here.
* * *
Watching him break through the horde of undead with magic and daggers at the vanguard, Evnis thought.
“…It’s fascinating.”
In the past, he had no talent for mercenary skills or manipulating others. Instead, he was a malicious man who enjoyed finding the “weaknesses” of others, exploiting them for his pleasure.
He was rumored to have committed all known “misdeeds” and was said to have even joined the “darkness.”
Naturally, Evnis couldn’t understand such lineage, and despite having the noble blood of Repelheight, he was angry at such actions.
For the sake of the family, it was right for him to drive out that incompetent man and become the “capable” successor.
“…And it certainly turned out that way.”
However.
Instead, he began to soar even higher after being driven out as a “successor.”
Reluctantly admitting… seeing someone who couldn’t even handle simple magic suddenly start using it, and someone who was too lazy to wield a sword now cutting off zombie heads with a dagger, one could not help but reconsider.
Above all…
“You now have someone following you.”
If it had been just a few months ago. Even if he was the commander of the punitive force, there would have been many who were dissatisfied with following his orders.
But not now.
Those he had gathered, from Reyna von Wolfang, the heiress of the Snow White family, to Milishe Halo, the descendant of the elves, and even the imperial princess.
Also, Eran, the second in command of the Knights’ Department, and those with him were also with Adrian.
Suddenly, Evnis had a thought.
Did he have such people around him?
…There are those who worship him. There are probably more people supporting him than Adrian.
Already, more than half of the students at this academy are not Adrian’s allies.
Yet.
“Adrian! Don’t rush ahead alone!”
“Adrian, I will stand at the front!”
“Don’t go ahead alone, let’s go together, Adrian!”
“Senior!”
“Adrian, you are my master! Take care of yourself!”
Evnis clenched his fist.
“…What is this indescribable feeling?”
Envy? Not sure. Why can they laugh and be together like that?
How many life-and-death battles have they fought together?
Were there… such people by his side?
At that moment.
Crack!
In the midst of her contemplation, a zombie soldier charged at Evnis, swiftly swinging a rusty sword toward her face.
“Ugh!”
Stepping on the ground, she swiftly evaded the sword with a smooth movement.
Her strength, comparable to the transcendent being, the ‘hero’ Repelheit, allowed her to accomplish what would normally be impossible.
Crack!
The ground couldn’t withstand her sudden evasion and was torn apart.
“You’ve let your guard down!”
It was a mistake.
However, she had a weapon to swiftly overcome such a situation.
She transformed the “Holy Sword” and grasped it in her hand.
The most suitable thing in this situation is “swiftness.”
The pointed spear-shaped Holy Sword appeared in Evnis’s hand, and she immediately stepped forward, thrusting the spear.
From Noble mtl dot com
Ssshhhhh!
Tearing through the air and emitting “light,” the advancing spear of light pierced the zombie soldier’s chest, completely shattering it into dust.
Subsequently, she reverted the weapon back to its ordinary sword form using “execution,” intending to join another battle when…
“Evnis!”
Hearing someone calling her, Evnis looked up.
“W-Wolfgang?”
“Hurry, come here. Why are you alone?”
As he ran towards her.
She saw a woman reaching out towards this direction.
Long black hair, green eyes, and a beautiful smile.
She remembered playing together since childhood… She used to call her “sister” and once got scolded for it.
“M-Me?”
“Of course.”
“I-I am… I am Adrian’s enemy…”
She didn’t understand.
Why was she saying this all of a sudden…
“A-And, can I… join you all…?”
“Oh my, did you forget about the agreement? Weren’t we supposed to cooperate until we exterminate the demons? If you join hands until then?”
“…Tsk, I misspoke. It’s not joining hands, just cooperation.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
In response to her words, Evnis slightly turned her head to look at the man in front.
Countless zombies and skeletons were scattered around him.
“Evnis. If you’re not coming, then what’s the point? Weren’t you supposed to deal with the demons? If you’re making such a complicated expression, fine. All the credit here will be mine. You can go pick up rocks over there.”
…hahahaha.
Still not pleased.
One day, she’ll punch that shameless face with a fist of light.
“Yes! I’m going!”
Saying so, Evnis ran off.
Very faintly, she couldn’t hide the upward curve of her lips.
◈
“You all did well. It was all thanks to you that we could do it.”
The members I gathered were the top and second-top students from every department, along with trustworthy individuals, forming our elite group.
Naturally, we smoothly broke through the front field of the “Resting Place of the Deceased,” and not a single person was injured in the process.
After breaking through the field, we took a short break.
Everyone gathered around, drinking mana recovery potions, eating preserved food to replenish their stamina.
“Can everyone see that?”
The edge of the map.
The large fortress there.
That is precisely the location of the boss battle.
“All our battles will end right there. We must conquer that fortress.”
“…I have a question!”
Erian raised his hand, and I nodded.
“The demons… where might they be?”
Naturally, they won’t easily reveal themselves. But it is certain that they are somewhere within that fortress. That is why we must conquer it.
“I have a question. So, as we rush to the fortress, do we need to deal with those monsters we saw earlier again?”
“No. Princess. From now on… different monsters will appear. Horrifying… hateful monsters will appear. So, for now, we just take a break to prepare for that. Do you need a potion?”
Yes.
From now on, it’s the real beginning.
After breaking through the early stages of the “Resting Place of the Deceased,” until we can see the fortress with the naked eye.
It truly begins.
The darkest and most miserable highlight of Act 3 in the Salenium Saga.
“If everyone is ready, please rise.”
Brushing off the dust on their clothes, everyone looked ahead.
And…
[Ahahahahaha. You managed to find your way here, huh!]
“S-Senior! This is…”
“Mm.”
[Yes, you finally found your way here. But, none of you will return alive!]
A resounding voice.
[Why? Because! You’re already… too late!]
And then.
Thud, thud, thud, thud.
Along with the sound of the ground trembling, large white figures ran towards us from the fortress, kicking up dust as they approached.
Their exact appearance couldn’t be discerned, but it was clear that they had twisted limbs, multiple faces, and a horrifying form.
Some were walking on two legs, others were running on four.
“Ch-Chimera!”
“The chimeras we defeated… why are they here…!”
For those who were seeing them for the first time, they were as shocking as ever.
These people, who I had already seen, were overwhelmed by their numbers.
[‘Connected to the “Resting Place of the Dead” field!]
[Severe fear and confusion are intensified by more than double!]
Why don’t you give it a try once?
[The bloodline of Repelhite howls!]
[The shout of the ‘Vanguard’, who was the ancestor of this bloodline in the past, was to encourage the confused soldiers who saw the demons!]
[Now, the bloodline has brought out the weapons of that era that had been deeply forgotten!]
[Proficiency increases with repeated use!]
[‘Dignity of the Bloodline’ is enhanced! Now, you can exert ‘intimidation’ on up to 20 people using ‘voice’ and ‘atmosphere’!]
Ha.
Even in moments like this, am I constantly getting stronger?
“Everyone! Prepare for battle right now!”
[All abnormal conditions affecting the 15 members of the assault team are lifted!]
Everyone regained their composure at my words.
[hahahahaha! I will kill all of you, create chimeras with your corpses, and completely destroy the Academy created by Salenius and Repelhite, which is not funny at all!]
“That’s funny.”
[Huh? What?]
At the same time.
“[Wind Blade].”
“[Hero’s Sword: Continuous Strike].”
“[Holy Sword: Destruction].”
“[Attribute Sword: Sever].”
“[Intermediate Lightning Elemental Magic: Lightning Sphere Arrow].”
“[Intermediate Fire Elemental Magic: Ignis Range Field].”
….
Countless spells and attacks poured down on the chimeras in front of me.
They rushed forward like surging waves and completely swept away the first approaching chimera.