Step, step, step.
The Shadow Mountains of the Turian Kingdom.
An elf was climbing the mountain path, surrounded by countless monsters.
Screech!
Dozens of orcs charged at the elf, shrieking wildly.
Their bloodshot eyes gleamed, and saliva dripped from their mouths.
It was clear to anyone that they were far from normal.
The monsters of the Shadow Mountains were all like this. Driven by an endless urge for destruction, they sought to kill every living thing in their path.
"Hmm…"
The elf, Erenes, watched the approaching orcs. Though she had heard the rumors, this was her first time witnessing them in person.
Monsters as deranged as these should have been fighting amongst themselves. Yet, the sheer number of monsters here was astounding.
No one had ever figured out the reason behind this bizarre phenomenon. All they knew was that it culminated in the "Monster Wave," a time when the creatures surged out into the world.
Because of this, the Turian Kingdom, which bordered the Shadow Mountains, had built numerous fortresses near the range to constantly cull the monsters.
"…Why was this done?"
Though it was Erenes's first time seeing the phenomenon, she didn't dwell too much on the question. She already had her suspicions about who might have caused it.
It would likely be difficult for humans to investigate these mountains. The monsters were too numerous, and they were already preoccupied with fighting the Salvation Church and the rifts.
Snap.
Erenes snapped her fingers. Flames erupted around her, engulfing the approaching orcs.
Screech!
The fierce fire spirits surrounded her, burning the orcs to ash.
Even as they burned, the orcs struggled to reach Erenes, their relentless bloodlust astounding.
After easily dispatching the orcs, Erenes looked down at her hands.
"My strength…"
Her full power was gradually returning.
Surprisingly, when she had fought alongside the Lutania Army, she hadn't been in peak condition.
In Ghislain's past life, Erenes was considered the second-strongest of the Continent's Seven Strongest. Despite rarely fighting, her reputation had grown to such heights because her strength seemed to know no bounds.
"The seal… is almost gone."
For centuries, a curse had confined her to the World Tree's Forest. Even when the seal had begun to lift, her full strength had not returned.
She should have been glad to regain her power, but instead, Erenes's face was filled with sorrow.
"Could it really be… that you've returned…?"
The return of her full strength meant that the adversary she had fought long ago was reemerging.
It also meant that his influence over the world was growing stronger.
Erenes moved with a grim expression. If the adversary had truly returned, there was someone she had to meet here.
Screech!
The monsters attacked Erenes whenever they spotted her.
The deeper she ventured into the mountains, the more monsters came at her.
While it wasn't quite the scale of a Monster Wave, the continuous battles were exhausting.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions and collapses echoed throughout the mountains. Though the monsters couldn't stop Erenes, even she couldn't handle every single creature in these mountains alone.
There were limits to how stealthily she could navigate, as the monsters were so numerous they seemed to block her path at every turn.
Because Turian's hunters had ceased their activities during the war, the monsters' numbers had surged dramatically.
As Erenes began to tire, a strange sound echoed from deep within the mountains.
Wooooooo…
It resembled the blowing of a horn or the resonance of vibrating air. It was an indescribably otherworldly sound.
As the sound spread, something remarkable occurred.
Growl…
The monsters' madness seemed to subside.
No, the madness remained—their bloodshot eyes and drooling mouths hadn't changed.
But they began to ignore Erenes as if she were one of them.
"Finally… you've found me."
Erenes let out a deep breath and moved in the direction of the sound.
After walking for some time, she arrived at the entrance to a massive cave.
A goblin stood at the cave's entrance, bowing low.
"Krrk, krrk. The Master has ordered me to bring you, esteemed one. Krrk."
Erenes nodded at the goblin's words. Such events were not unfamiliar to her.
Deep within the cave was an enormous space. In its depths resided the true master of these mountains.
The goblin that had escorted Erenes dropped to the ground, trembling as it spoke.
"I, I have brought the esteemed one, as the great Master commanded."
The goblin, voice quivering with fear, quickly retreated to the side.
The great master of the mountains slowly began to speak.
"Erenes… guardian of the World Tree and Grand Chieftain of the elves. It has been a long time…"
With only a few words, the air around them grew icy. Frost instantly formed on the goblin's body, and it shivered violently.
Erenes gazed at the master of the mountains and bowed her head slightly.
"It has indeed been a while, Artherion."
The master of the mountains was no ordinary being.
Scales that shimmered like heavenly glass, a massive, elegantly curved body.
Teeth and claws as sharp as ice crystals, and wings folded with a majesty that resembled a grand fortress.
His eyes, as cold and clear as blue ice, emitted a chill light that pierced through the darkness.
He was a being of mystery and majesty, like a god ruling over all the winters of the world.
The White Dragon, Artherion.
Once, he had lost his storm-laden domain during an ancient war and became trapped in the Shadow Mountains—the last of the Dragon Lords.
And in Ghislain's past life, he was known as the Mad Dragon, the last dragon who became yet another enemy.
This was the master who ruled over all the monsters of these mountains.
Erenes carefully studied Artherion's form before speaking.
"The seal hasn't been fully broken yet."
"Indeed… but it won't be long now…"
Artherion replied slowly. His body was bound by chains of black energy.
Chains that glimmered with malevolent power, keeping him restrained even in his vast strength.
Black chains emanating from the void were wrapped tightly around the dragon's massive body, binding him.
Yet, every chain was cracked and fractured. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before the chains broke completely.
This restriction was designed to last longer against stronger beings. That was why Artherion, unlike Erenes, still couldn't move.
Artherion looked at Erenes and asked,
"The breaking of our seals… means the Salvation Church has risen again, and that accursed one has returned… Have you found him…?"
"No, we haven't found him."
"The rise of the Salvation Church is clear… What is the situation now…?"
"Humans are holding their ground well. The battles are fierce, but they're in a far better position."
"The rifts in Turian's kingdom… were fighting the monsters of these mountains. What of the other rifts…?"
"They've mostly been contained to prevent further expansion, though the measures are temporary."
At those words, Artherion's icy gaze flickered with faint surprise.
"The humans of this age… truly remarkable. How is such a thing even possible…?"
Erenes thought briefly of Ghislain. His extraordinary abilities had led Lutania to victory in its civil war.
Thinking of him brought a smile to her lips.
"There is an exceptional human ruler among them. He moves and prepares as if foreseeing everything."
"Impressive… Then if we can find and kill that 'traitor,' it will all be over…"
A murderous glint appeared in Artherion's eyes as he spoke.
Erenes hesitated for a moment before replying,
"It's not certain that he's truly returned… The Salvation Church has been lingering for a long time."
Grrrr…
Artherion growled deeply, his voice thick with displeasure.
"Do you still doubt, even as our seals are breaking? You too have been trapped by the curse, living far beyond your natural lifespan."
"....."
"That traitor has already returned. I can feel it. He has come back, as he vowed long ago, to exact his revenge on us!"
Boom!
Artherion's sudden outburst of rage shook the cave, causing parts of it to collapse. The goblin nearby coughed up blood and fainted.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Artherion tried to move, but the black chains held him fast. His voice, brimming with fury, echoed through the cavern.
"Even the goddesses abandoned us! We who sacrificed our lives to protect humanity! According to his curse, your kind became slaves, and my kind was driven to extinction! Is that justice?"
"....."
"I will never accept it! This time, I will destroy his soul completely!"
By now, Artherion's icy blue eyes had turned crimson with rage.
Erenes remained silent. She understood the depth of the dragon's anger and the enormity of his grudge.
Artherion's growling voice carried a warning, directed at Erenes.
"He is nothing but a traitor who betrayed humanity. Do not expect anything from him, and do not hold on to any lingering attachment. Just wait a little longer. I will find him and kill him."
"....."
"You will have to fight him anyway. Have you forgotten? He will never forgive us."
"....."
Erenes closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.
He was right. The adversary would never forgive her. He wouldn't forgive anyone still living in this world.
His sole desire was to destroy everything.
To eliminate the adversary and the Salvation Church, humanity had paid an immense price. Even now, the entire continent was engulfed in war because of the Salvation Church.
The adversary was a being who had to be found and destroyed.
Artherion, his presence radiating an icy chill, spoke again.
"The holy relic. Find the holy relic left behind by the Saintess. It will surely guide you to him."
"....."
Erenes did not respond. She already knew Ghislain possessed the holy relic.
After all, she had helped him acquire it.
If the holy relic could truly lead them to the adversary, she just needed to stay close to Ghislain.
But for some reason, she didn't want to reveal this to Artherion yet.
Something about it unsettled her.
Instead, she asked about something else that had been bothering her.
"Why… did you unleash the monsters in such a crazed state?"
"I already told you. In a fleeting moment, I sensed that he had returned. He was reborn in the Turian Kingdom. I could feel the cursed energy."
"So… in the Turian Kingdom…"
Artherion's gaze grew even more murderous.
"Yes, I have been sending the monsters continuously to kill him."
Erenes was stunned. He had sent the maddened monsters based on nothing but his intuition?
And for over twenty years at that.
Because of this, the Turian Kingdom had been devastated, forced into constant battles against the monsters.
Erenes found it hard to believe. Artherion was a wise dragon.
"Why would you do such a thing? Even innocent humans are suffering and groaning under the weight of these battles."
Artherion sneered at her.
"What's the problem if a few insect-like humans die? They are the ones we protected. They have no right to complain if we take their lives in turn."
"....."
"Even the goddesses abandoned us. I cannot move. So, isn't it only logical to send monsters to hunt him?"
"Still, involving other humans…"
"The traitor will only die if every last human in the Turian Kingdom dies too!"
Rumble!
Artherion's rage caused cracks to form along the walls of the cave. The goblin's head had already burst, leaving it dead.
This was the secret behind the Turian Kingdom's endless battles against the monsters.
And if Artherion's words were true…
The 'Adversary' had truly been reborn in the Turian Kingdom.
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