Chapter 199

(2)

2.

Meanwhile, at that moment.

Noah, who was headed to the library, turned her steps toward the Source of Magic.

The news of the Phantom Knights appearing, one of the Lords of the Abyss, had left her unable to focus on anything else.

‘What should I do? What should I do?’

Noah bit her nails anxiously.

She wanted nothing more than to rush into the Source of Magic and help Ulan. But thinking practically, that wasn’t a great idea.

‘Phantoms are immune to sorcery.’

Sure, she could handle low-level minions to some extent, but she couldn’t deal any real damage to the Phantom Knights themselves.

Yet, just sitting around made her feel like anxiety would explode her heart.

Stuck in a situation where she could do nothing.

As she was pacing back and forth.

“…Huh?”

Her bright blue eyes widened.

A system notification that she thought she’d never see again popped up.

What if it’s a notification about one of the heroes being dead? Noah turned away, gripping her heart that was racing with anxiety.

【You have achieved a hidden achievement.】

Thankfully, the worst-case scenario was averted.

She sighed in relief. At the same time, the details of the achievement were revealed.

【Achievement】: Contractor of Half-Human Half-Spirit

【Condition】: ‘Fertisha Eve Al Rubens’ will enter into a contract with the spirit of her own will.

【Reward】: Elixir of Creation

“Huh?”

Noah tilted her head.

She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand and looked again, but the content remained unchanged.

“W-What is this?”

She hadn’t seen anything like this in the original.

She had just learned that a contract with a Half-Human Half-Spirit was even possible. She did know what the Elixir of Creation was, though.

‘An elixir that grants characteristics.’

Just like the name suggests, consuming this elixir adds a new characteristic.

For example, it could bestow magical talent onto someone who has none.

‘But the problem is…’

Until it’s consumed, she wouldn’t know if it would add a beneficial characteristic or a penalty.

Still, it was a precious consumable, so she carefully tucked the elixir away, thinking she’d find a use for it later.

Just then.

“Noah.”

Someone called her name.

Turning her head at the familiar voice, she found two girls who looked just as familiar as the voice.

Delia and Ivella.

As she awkwardly smiled at their arrival, Delia spoke with a serious expression.

“You sensed it too, didn’t you?”

“Huh? Wh-What?”

“The magic, I mean.”

Delia pointed at the Source of Magic.

The magic had been leaking from the spring before, but today it was especially intense.

Maybe that’s why? She couldn’t concentrate at all and ended up ditching the lecture to check this place out.

“…I feel an ominous magic.”

“I feel it too. I can’t explain it precisely, but it feels just like when we fought the ‘Swamp Monster’ in Zone 3—the same unsettling feeling.”

Ivella also wrinkled her face.

Meanwhile, Noah couldn’t hide her surprise at their judgment. It was because their assessment was quite accurate and close to the truth.

‘It must be a hero’s instinct.’

Especially since Delia had recently become a fully-fledged hero by overcoming a trial, she was bound to be more sensitive to the Power of the Abyss.

However, the conjecture didn’t end there.

“Just to check…”

“Is this related to Ulan?”

A sharp assumption that cut to the essence.

Noah nodded without hesitation.

With that realization, there was no point in hiding it further. Most importantly, lying before Delia’s Heart’s Eye would be futile.

“Then tell me as well.”

“Right. If it’s related to Ulan, we can’t just ignore it.”

The two girls showed strong enthusiasm.

Just as Noah was pondering how to respond, Delia’s ears perked up as if she’d heard something special.

“Huh? That over there…”

Her golden eyes fixed in a direction.

Turning to look, she saw a white-furred wolf racing across the scene.

Delia tilted her head.

“Isn’t that the wolf that was with Ulan?”

“Huh? Seems like it, right?”

Ivella nodded in agreement.

Just like they said, that wolf was the White Wolf of Mimu, a minion of Kazan Rudrik, and currently following Ulan.

And right now, the White Wolf was racing toward the very spot where everyone had been paying close attention.

The Source of Magic.

As soon as they realized this fact.

Delia and Ivella’s eyes lit up with determination, as if racing against each other.

“Then if we follow that wolf…!”

“We might find Ulan’s location.”

Having made up their minds, the two jumped down to the ground.

They were about to dash after the White Wolf toward the Source of Magic. Noah, feeling an inexplicable foreboding, quickly interjected.

“Wait! Do we have permission?”

You need a permission slip to enter over there.

However, Ivella and Delia replied nonchalantly.

“Nah, we don’t need that.”

“We can just break through if we have to.”

Was it because this was related to Ulan?

They looked like they’d almost lost their senses.

Especially Delia, who seemed determined to forcefully break in, even creating a magic formula to do so.

Feeling a tickle of annoyance at the trouble that might arise later, Noah quickly proposed.

“Then let’s go together!”

“You too want to go see Ulan?”

“Yeah, I happen to have a legal way to enter the Source of Magic.”

What Noah pulled out was a permission slip.

Proof of her contract to cooperate with the Empire, which she received from Marquis Gorphant.

Delia and Ivella’s eyes widened in surprise upon seeing it. Moments later, they happily accepted Noah’s proposal.

“Alright. Let’s go together.”

If there’s a way to get in without fighting, it’s definitely better to take that route. Meanwhile, Noah’s eyes glinted with resolve.

‘Yeah, this is better.’

It’s far better to support Ulan together than to let him fight alone, whether that help proves useful or not.

Also, waiting anxiously for him to be safe was no longer something she wanted to do. Shaking off her hesitation, Noah began to walk alongside the two girls.

Following the trail left by the White Wolf.

Towards the Source of Magic where Ulan was.

3.

After entering into a contract with Fertisha and the moment the spirit began to wield the enchanted axe, the tides of battle flipped in an instant.

“…Eighty-seven, eighty-six, eighty-three.”

Ulan continued to swing his axe maniacally while counting the remaining number of Phantom Knights.

After fighting alongside the spirit for a while, he came to a new realization.

‘Spirits respond to the Spirit’s flow.’

The spirit’s movements change according to the flow of the Spirit. For instance, when he harnesses the spirit into the axe and swings it to create wind, it generates much stronger wind pressure that slams into the enemies.

Whoooosh! KABOOM!

The terrifying power tore the ground apart. This was thanks to the reinforcement of the wind spirit enhancing the wind pressure itself.

‘And that’s not all.’

As he closed in on the knights, the vibrations intensified when he stomped the ground.

This was also due to the earth spirits responding, amplifying the vibrations that Ulan created.

‘Much easier now.’

It felt like his whole body was strengthened.

It wasn’t just the spirit residing in the weapon, but it felt as though he was receiving various support from the very existence of the spirit.

‘And one more thing.’

There was a reinforcements helping Ulan.

Fertisha, protected by the Spirit of the Abyss, was singing.

Listening to her song washed away the fatigue built up in his body, making him feel as if power was bubbling up inside him.

Receiving the combined support of Fertisha and the spirit, Ulan was truly thriving in battle.

Meanwhile, as he focused on the fight.

Fertisha, who was singing, suddenly heard the conversation of the Phantom Knights.

【This is something that won’t exist in the future.】

Huh? The future?

Fertisha tilted her head.

From their dialogue, it sounded like they already knew the future.

But her thoughts didn’t linger.

【For now, it’s best to retreat.】

【Return the Spirit of the Abyss.】

【We’ll head back into the Abyss together.】

The moment she realized the knights’ purpose.

Fertisha sensed the danger and hastily shouted for help.

“Ulan!”

But she didn’t need to call separately.

Her thoughts were conveyed to the spirits, and they whispered that fact to Ulan without leaving any detail out.

So, before Fertisha’s shout even faded, Ulan had already reached the destination. Just before the Phantom Knights noticed this.

『Transcendent Domain』

A technique that breaks through the boundaries of each domain, transcending space itself was unleashed. The results came almost instantaneously.

The Phantom Knights met a gruesome defeat.

Those whose forms were crumpled turned to ashen remains and scattered, and Ulan roared fiercely.

“You can’t take her!”

Neither the Spirit of the Abyss nor Fertisha.

They had sworn to take them all together.

And—

“You guys can’t go back either!”

The roar resounded through the battlefield.

Ulan, bellowing angrily, seemed to uphold the declaration he just made, unleashing his domain again to use the Transcendent Domain.

CRACK! THUD! BOOM!

His movements were like a flash.

It was hard to even follow with the eyes, and the wildly swinging axe was too fast and fierce to notice its approach.

The already reversed flow of battle tipped even further, and the number of Phantom Knights decreased to nearly half.

The moment he realized this fact.

The knights made a decision.

【Scatter!】

With that short command, the clustered formation of the Phantom Knights dispersed.

To the outside observer, it looked like a chaotic scatter, but they all had one common goal.

They were heading to the Abyss.

“…!”

Ulan activated his Transcendent Domain again.

His muscles felt like they were about to tear, but he did not show any sign of his pain.

What mattered right now was different.

‘I can’t let a single one get away.’

They had two annoying characteristics. One, their weapons and magic don’t work on them.

And the other is—.

Even if only one knight survives among the ninety-nine knights, as long as there’s the Power of the Abyss, they can recover anytime.

‘To completely erase them, I need to deal with every last one of those ninety-nine knights.’

That was Ulan’s reason for counting the remaining Phantom Knights.

But it was becoming overwhelming to do it alone.

The knights had already scattered, calculated their distance from Ulan’s domain, and increased the gap. Plus, somewhere along the line, they had also summoned their minions.

‘If it goes on like this…’

At least a dozen would slip through his fingers.

Then the Phantom Knights would quickly replenish their numbers, and today’s battle would likely end without meaning.

‘If only there were others around to help, this battle would be much easier.’

The divine forces wielded by Laurea or Ian.

Or even Ivella or Delia, Noah would do.

Just having them tie down the retreating Phantom Knights in the Abyss would be enough. It was at the moment when he bit back his disappointment at the absence of his comrades.

[Awoooooo—!]

An unexpected reinforcement arrived.

The furious howl of a wolf.

Not just one, but numerous sounds echoed across the battlefield. Soon hundreds of wolves appeared from all directions.

The White Wolf of Mimu.

【Minions of Rudrik!】

【How in the world are you here…?】

The Phantom Knights widened their eyes as if they recognized the identity of the White Wolf. But naturally, there was no answer given.

CRACK! WHACK!

The wolves ruthlessly bit down on the legs of the Phantom Knights and their specters. Because the very essence of the White Wolf was that of a spirit, this was indeed possible.

In the midst of it all, the White Wolf locked eyes with Ulan.

With fierce, piercing eyes.

It seemed to convey that it would block the knights’ retreat and hold them down, urging Ulan to eliminate them in the meantime.

“I owe you one.”

A smile broke across Ulan’s face.

If the White Wolf held the Phantom Knights and their minions down, it was as good as solving his troubles. Thus, he summoned the spirit once more and dove into the fight.

“Thirty-two, thirty-one, twenty-nine.”

The number of knights dwindling rapidly.

The spring that led to the Abyss was just a stone’s throw away, but it was already filled with the split White Wolf pack.

In a completely blocked route, Ulan hunted the Phantom Knights like a killer whale hunting a school of sardines.

“Twenty-three, twenty-one, eighteen.”

The Phantom Knights were being picked apart rapidly.

Just a moment ago, scattering was a wise choice and an avenue of escape, but now, due to the White Wolf’s intervention, everything had changed completely.

Had they sensed an impending crisis instinctively?

The scattered knights collected their remaining forces and minions together and charged in unison toward one direction.

The true Source of Magic, Arsen.

The instant he realized their objective.

“I won’t let you!”

Ulan chased after them using the Transcendent Domain.

Blood dripped from his nose and mouth, but he didn’t care. Moreover, the White Wolf desperately prevented the knights from pushing forward.

And as a result.

The enchanted axe, swirling with the spirit, struck a phantom.

Just one, however, it was a half-step too short to make contact.

“…!”

Only one Phantom Knight.

Just a hair’s breadth away, it set foot in the spring, where darkness surged from the Abyss to meet him.

At the same time, he opened his mouth.

【I grant the victory of this battle to you.】

He sighed a short, resigned breath. It’s as if he was relieved that Ulan’s axe hadn’t reached him.

【But next will be different. I might become a minion at any time. In the following battle…】

However, he couldn’t finish his sentence.

Ulan, who had expected the knight to be watching his return with a depleted expression, willingly stepped into the spring leading to the Abyss.

“No, there won’t be a next time!”

Ulan stepped forward.

The Phantom Knight’s eyes widened.

【───!?】

This was an entirely unexpected turn of events.

Soon, the darkness of the Abyss enveloped Ulan.

A living being should have felt instinctive fear, but he roared without a hint of intimidation.

“I have no intention of letting you go.”

So follow me to the end.

Even if that place is the bottom of the Abyss!

A roar laced with madness and obsession. The Phantom Knight seemed to freeze, overwhelmed in that moment. Then, the darkness of the Abyss swallowed them both.

“U-Ulan?!”

Fertisha reached out in panic.

But her hand never touched him. Ulan and the Phantom Knight vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.

Chapter 46. I’ll follow you to the very end!