Chapter 197

(4)

6.

Crash! Boom!

With Ulan’s strike, the wall crumbled, and the scenery around them shifted yet again.

The forest vanished without a trace, leaving only a gray void to fill the space. The only thing that remained was a pond so deep that its depths seemed infinite.

A pond as black as the night sky.

As I stood there, captivated by the sight, Fertisha, who had remained silent until now, muttered in a dazed voice.

“…Source of Magic, Arsen.”

“What did you say?”

“The spirits just told me that.”

That must be certain then. Spirits don’t lie.

Ulan was overtaken by a strange feeling as he gazed at the pond from which he had just rescued Fertisha.

The true source of magic. The center of Zone 5, a passage leading beyond the Abyss. And a place where, far in the future, the Gate of the Abyss would open.

Perhaps that’s why? Ulan stepped forward towards the pond with a curious expression.

Just then.

Thud! Squirm!

A black mass suddenly surged forth from the debris of the wall, wriggling as if alive. Ulan knew what it was.

‘Spirit of the Abyss.’

The spirit he had once fought alongside as a knight in the past life, while guarding Fertisha against the Abyss.

Unlike other spirits, this one had a physical form, allowing ordinary eyes to verify its existence.

‘So this is indeed the Trial of the Hero.’

Its crimson eyes gleamed sharply.

Ulan couldn’t fathom why the trial had rushed in ten years earlier than in his past life.

But now that the Spirit of the Abyss appeared, it was undoubtedly the trial he had to face.

‘That was a close call.’

Remembering the situation he had just gone through, Ulan sighed in relief, glad that he hadn’t sent Fertisha away alone.

Just as he was shaking off those thoughts.

A darkened voice echoed.

“Why is everyone getting in my way?”

The writhing black mass.

The Spirit of the Abyss had uttered its first words.

“Am I not allowed to leave here? I’m curious about the outside world. I’ve been stuck here alone for an eternity! So please…”

With a plea in its desperate whimper.

The spirit muttered.

“…Let me out.”

The spirit began to crumble slowly.

Black tears, dark as the pond, dripped down. In the midst of it, an unexpected voice rang out.

“Okay, I understand.”

“What…?”

“Let’s go outside together.”

The voice that interrupted was none other than Fertisha. With a smile, she gazed intently at the Spirit of the Abyss.

“I saw your memories just now.”

“Memories?”

“Yeah. You’ve endured alone for an unimaginable amount of time, right? So if you dislike being lonely, let’s go out together.”

She reached out her hand, smiling.

The Spirit of the Abyss trembled with uncertainty. The expression on its face was one of clear confusion.

“B-but I…”

“That doesn’t matter.”

She shook her head firmly.

Of course, it was scary.

It might have been trapped in the Abyss, enduring an endless eternity of solitude.

However, unrelated to that, Ulan felt a sense of pity for the Spirit of the Abyss.

Unlike Fertisha, who had been surrounded by spirits since birth, this poor spirit had no one by its side.

“I was just like you.”

A life isolated in a world of forests.

Always longing for the outside yet unable to escape the woods without permission, they shared many similarities.

“And we’re the same kind of spirit, aren’t we?”

The Spirit of the Abyss, with its distinct form.

Fertisha, with a human body.

This common ground made her feel an inexplicable kinship with the Spirit of the Abyss.

“So it’s fine.”

Let’s go outside together.

Fertisha added those words and reached out once more. With each passing moment, the spirit’s body quivered more vigorously.

It was clearly conflicted.

But the contemplation didn’t last long.

“…No.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“I can’t leave here.”

Shaking its head violently.

The spirit muttered pessimistically.

“If I leave, they will come.”

“They…?”

Ulan knew who they were referring to.

During the process of peeping into the spirit’s memories, Fertisha had also caught a glimpse of ‘them.’ They seemed somewhat similar to spirits, yet were entirely different beings.

But that didn’t matter.

“Don’t worry. You’re not alone.”

“Not alone…?”

“Yes. I’m here, and Ulan is too. If we cooperate, we can definitely get out.”

“R-really?”

“Of course! It’s a sure thing.”

Fertisha beamed a smile.

Ulan silently nodded along.

Respecting her decision.

It was the obvious choice.

This way, Fertisha would pass the Trial of the Hero, and in the future, the Spirit of the Abyss would join their party as a comrade.

“…Alright.”

And finally.

The Spirit of the Abyss moved.

Dispelling fear, it seemed to come to a decision and reached out for Fertisha’s hand.

But at that moment.

“…!”

Something suddenly sliced through the air and flew towards them.

Dozens of spears.

Their target was Fertisha. Of course, since Ulan had sensed the ambush beforehand and intervened, she wasn’t hit by the spears.

Crack! Smash!

As he crushed all the spears with his axe.

A cracking voice resonated.

【Finally caught you.】

Accompanied by the sound of hooves.

It sounded as if many cavalrymen were marching in unison.

【I’m glad I didn’t let you go.】

【Even after hearing the desperate whispers of the spirits—】

【A Half-Human Half-Spirit wouldn’t just stand idly by.】

Entities soon surrounded them.

Cloaked in hazy forms, all of them were mounted in armor, shields, and spears, like a ‘knight squadron’ preparing for battle.

“You guys…!”

Fertisha’s eyes wavered.

And rightfully so.

They had been the very ones who prevented the Spirit of the Abyss from leaving. Meanwhile, the knights collectively aimed their spears at Fertisha’s position.

【Seventh star.】

【Your story ends here.】

【Resistance is futile.】

【Accept the Abyss silently.】

With a notice laced with malice,

dozens of knights charged forward with their spears raised. However, there was one thing they had not realized.

Right at this moment, it wasn’t just the knights who were charging forward.

“Phantom Knights!”

A roar that shook the area.

Ulan swiftly closed the gap. Before the knights even registered his presence, he swung his raging axe faster than anyone.

Announcing the start of battle.

7.

Early morning.

As dawn’s gloom began to fade.

Noa stepped out of the dormitory, looking exhausted as she sighed deeply.

“Hah.”

The reason for her fatigue was simple.

It was because of Ivella and Delia, who realized that Ulan and Fertisha were together yesterday.

Having been tormented by the two girls, Noa hadn’t slept well, and consequently had grown increasingly weary.

‘I can’t endure this until today!’

So she headed straight to the library as soon as she woke up.

Planning to hide in a remote area to avoid both of them. She also had separate research to conduct.

As she hurriedly made her way.

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, her steps halted.

She had to stop in her tracks, despite being in a rush, and it was for a good reason.

A system notification appeared right before her eyes.

The message’s warning content was the cause.

[Warning]

*The Lord of the Abyss has appeared.

*Name: [Phantom Knights]

*Location: Source of Magic, Zone 5

A brief but shocking message.

Noa soon turned to stone.

After a moment, regaining her composure, she spouted out in panic.

“W-what…?”

The trial that Fertisha was undergoing.

It aimed to empathize with the loneliness of the Spirit of the Abyss and escape to the outside world together from the depths of the Abyss.

Naturally, during this process, the minions of the Phantom Knights would interfere, but with Fertisha’s Spirit Art, they could manage that easily.

‘But…’

If the Phantom Knights themselves appeared, it would be a different story.

The Phantom Knights were a proper Lord of the Abyss.

A fearsome monster that even the seven heroes could only face by uniting their strength.

‘What on earth is happening?!’

Why had this happened?

Why had the Lord of the Abyss emerged?

She racked her brain in confusion, but couldn’t find an answer. What was clear was the fact that both Ulan and Fertisha were in peril.

‘Ulan can’t defeat the knights.’

The battle itself simply wouldn’t hold.

The Phantom Knights were a group comprised of spirit knights, as their name suggested. In other words, they were incorporeal ghosts.

‘Weapons can’t harm spirits.’

More specifically, physical attacks had no effect at all. Whether one used Spirit or Aura, the result would be the same.

‘This is truly the worst matchup.’

Of course, while Ulan could break the spears and shields they wielded, it was absolutely impossible to strike at the essence of the Phantom Knights.

Furthermore, the Knights held strong resistance against magic, which meant that Delia’s spells or attacks using Magic Weapons would hardly have any effect.

‘Only two forces can truly bring down the Phantom Knights—’

Divine Power and Spirit Art.

So in the original story, to defeat the Phantom Knights, both Laurea and Ian, along with Fertisha, had to be in the party.

The remaining heroes honestly did not provide much help. Even Ulan, revered as the strongest in close combat, would be in the same boat.

‘Even though Fertisha is with me…’

She wasn’t particularly helpful at the moment.

There was a simple reason. Currently, she had spent her entire life confined within the Imperial Castle, so she had never experienced combat using spirits even once.

Hence Noa gazed anxiously towards the Source of Magic, her feet tapping nervously.

‘Please let them both be safe…’

In the worst-case scenario, even if they didn’t pass the trial, she just hoped they returned safely.

With a desperate expression, that was her prayer.

8.

While Noa was offering her prayer.

The center of the Source of Magic had transformed into a battlefield.

It was because Ulan had charged at the Phantom Knights, unleashing a frenzy of axe slashes.

“I won’t let a single one get away!”

The sound of shattering shields echoed.

Bent armor turned to scrap metal in an instant, and threatening spears were all smashed to pieces.

But to sum it up—

His attacks were utterly meaningless.

Though he did break the knights’ gear, he couldn’t land a single hit on the Phantom Knights themselves.

As Ulan came to realize this, he halted his assault. In response, the Phantom Knights unearthed new equipment from thin air and donned it.

Then they all stared at Ulan simultaneously.

【You are…】

【Ah, the heir of Rudrik?】

An eerie blue glow shone in their eyes.

Soon, a cold voice emerged.

As if they knew who Ulan was.

【The one who has transcended the trial.】

【The swampland and dragon slayer.】

【And the one who was labeled by ■■—】

【An instigator of change.】

A stream of cryptic words flowed forth.

Ulan kept his gaze locked on the knights, shielding Fertisha.

He swiftly recalled the information about an opponent he had battled in his past life.

‘…Phantom Knights.’

The Lord of the Abyss, ranked 3rd.

A group composed of ninety-nine Phantom Knights.

Each member wielded significant strength, making them a difficult foe, but the truly bothersome issue was different.

‘Weapons can’t harm them.’

Similar yet different from the Swamp Ruler.

That one had been immune only to weapons made of minerals, whereas all types of weapons were ineffective against the Phantom Knights.

‘Well, not entirely…’

There were weapons that could effectively hurt them.

And fortunately, at Ulan’s side was a steadfast ally capable of crafting such weapons.

So he opened his mouth right away.

“Fertisha.”

“Yes, what’s up?”

“Lend me the power of the spirits.”

Divine Power and Spirit Art.

Those were the powers that had dealt significant damage to the Phantom Knights in his past life. And if he infused that into a weapon, they could definitely hold their ground.

‘Moreover…’

Ulan was different from his past self.

Back then, he had just entered the mastery level, but now he had reached a substantial level of three stars.

Plus, he bore the Hero’s Enchantment etched on his back and wielded twin axes with special powers.

‘If I can hit them with the right weapons, we stand a chance.’

With that in mind, Ulan thrust the axes toward Fertisha, as if asking her to lend him the spirits’ power.

Meanwhile, Fertisha blinked in confusion, not catching on.

“H-how do I do that?!”

“That is…”

“Please tell me how! I’ll give it a shot.”

For a moment, Ulan found himself speechless.

He suddenly realized.

The current Fertisha was far more inexperienced than the one from his past life. At that moment, he became perplexed by a variable he had forgotten, and just then.

【If weapons aren’t effective—】

【There’s no need to be overly cautious.】

The knights’ morale shifted abruptly.

A surge of Abyssal magic exploded forth.

The powerful magic overwhelmed the battlefield, and ninety-nine spears were aimed in their direction.

【Accept the Abyss.】

Now their targets were two.

Fertisha and Ulan.

Chapter 46. Stay tuned till the end!