Chapter 224

(6)

10.

The unexpected arrival of allies.

Sven, barely surviving with the help of two Knights, stared blankly at the middle-aged knight charging towards the monsters and mages.

“…….”

No wonder.

Every time Kadel swung his sword of light, the monsters and mages disappeared at lightning speed.

A scene that overwhelms dozens of enemies all by himself.

Just as Sven was trembling with excitement, a pure white light suddenly enveloped him gently.

‘It doesn’t hurt.’

The pain that had been so intense he could hardly breathe vanished without a trace, thanks to the Healing Prayer that Ian had used.

Just as he was engulfed in a comforting sensation.

Suddenly, he snapped to attention. He recalled what he had just heard from the Knights.

‘They definitely said it was the Saintess.’

The two had said they were sent by the Saintess to fetch him. The problem was that Sven had no idea who this Saintess was.

‘And….’

How did this Saintess know he was here? With this growing question, Sven cautiously spoke up.

“Excuse me, how did you know I was here…?”

“I heard from the captain of the defense in Shulfern that you were here.”

“……!”

Ian’s immediate response stunned Sven.

He opened his eyes wide at the mention of Milena Armadin. Then, he seemed to lose his composure and yelled.

“Wh-what happened to Shulfern? Are the soldiers safe? Is Milena alright?!”

“It’s fine. The outer wall got a bit damaged, but the castle hasn’t fallen completely.”

The outer wall has fallen?

What on earth happened?

Just as Sven’s gaze flickered like a candle, Ian continued to respond.

“Besides, the captain is safe.”

“R-really?”

“Really.”

Ian smiled softly.

Sven let out a sigh of relief.

What mattered to him wasn’t the city of Shulfern, but Milena Armadin alone.

Just as their conversation was wrapping up.

“Looks like the battle has ended.”

Ian murmured almost to himself.

Kadel, who had been alone overwhelming the enemies, sheathed his sword. Watching this scene, Ian immediately called out in a loud voice.

“Master, everything is wrapped up over here too!”

They had found Sven, healed his wounds, and now all that was left was to return to Shulfern.

But Kadel’s reaction was a bit odd.

“Master?”

Even with all the enemies gone, Kadel stood immobile like a statue. With his lips pressed tightly together, he intently stared into the depths of the jungle.

A sudden action.

There was a reason for this.

‘There’s something inside.’

An evil and unholy power. It was a presence of an utterly powerful force and magic that was on a different level from the monsters and mages he had just faced.

‘It would be wise to eliminate it at once, but…’

His instincts, honed from a long time on the battlefield, warned him. If he approached that place, the chance of meeting death was greatly increased.

Of course, Kadel was not one to back down.

He was the Paladin Master. The enforcer of judgment and punishment against foes who deny the Divine Being. But this time, he could not act according to duty.

‘Right now, the Saintess’s command comes first.’

Safely bringing Sven Isaac back.

Remembering this primary purpose, Kadel snapped out of his thoughts. He then turned to Ian, who was wearing a curious expression.

“Is the healing done?”

“Yes, I’ve made sure he can walk.”

“Good. Then let’s head back.”

He had just acquired a new objective.

To investigate the source of the evil power felt in the depths of the jungle. But first, getting Sven to the city was the priority.

After wrapping up all his judgments.

The three turned away from the battlefield. Heading back to where everyone was waiting, Shulfern.

11.

Meanwhile, at that moment.

There was another group moving toward Shulfern, just like Ian’s party.

The Magic-Powered Train that had departed from Flute and crossed the northern canyon entered the territory of the Cern Kingdom.

It was Ulan’s group.

“We’ve just crossed the border!”

“I think we can reach our destination in half a day.”

Two geniuses blessed by Mana, Delia and Noa had combined their talents to create the magic rail, allowing the train to run swiftly and cross the border earlier than expected.

But at that moment.

Delia’s eyebrows twitched.

“I think we, need to stop the train.”

“What? All of a sudden?”

“Is it a lack of magic?”

At her sudden remark, Ivella and Noa looked puzzled. Delia then shook her head solemnly and explained her reasons.

“No, an enemy has appeared.”

“……!”

In an instant, the expressions of the group turned serious.

Currently, Delia was creating the magic rail while simultaneously using the Star’s Eye.

Her goal was to observe if there were enemies in the direction the train was heading. As soon as she mentioned an enemy, Ulan, who was at a distance, approached.

“How many are there?”

“More than before. And….”

“And?”

“……there’s something dangerous.”

Her golden eyes trembled slightly.

What kind of danger was it? Ulan asked with curiosity, and soon got a detailed answer.

“It’s a gigantic force of magic. It feels like they have magic similar to mine or even stronger.”

If the enemy had power comparable to or greater than that of the High Mage, it was definitely a threat. Ulan narrowed his eyes and replied.

“Do we know what it looks like?”

“Yes. A small figure in a gray robe, and wearing a mask like a goat’s head.”

A gray robe and a goat’s mask. As soon as Delia finished her description, Noa, who had been quiet, opened his eyes wide.

“Wait a minute! Is it a black goat?”

“Yes, that’s right. How did you know?”

Delia asked, astonished.

But there was no answer. Noa stared at Ulan with trembling eyes, and Ulan frowned slightly as he muttered.

“It’s an Undying Minion.”

The Lord of the Immortals, Astevan.

Unlike other Lords who lead dozens or hundreds of minions, he has only twelve of them.

Supreme Undeads symbolizing destruction, unholiness, disaster, and curse, who wear beast-like masks.

Among them, the one with a black goat mask is particularly troublesome to deal with, a monster he had fought several times in his former life.

Ulan immediately recalled.

‘The Priest, Kaprae.’

A being that amplifies the strength of surrounding Undead just by existing. Additionally, he transforms the death energy emitted by the Undead into the Power of the Abyss.

Thus, the more Undead there are, the stronger Kaprae becomes.

‘He must not be allowed to live.’

In his previous life, he had realized this too late.

By the time he understood the creature’s abilities, five kingdoms had already fallen.

After finishing his brief recollection.

Ulan’s gaze burned with determination.

‘This is a golden opportunity.’

Right now, when the Undying Legion hasn’t gathered strength, is the perfect time to eliminate him. He must absolutely be taken down here.

Just as he was filled with strong resolve.

A voice broke his thoughts.

“What should we do?”

Delia asked for Ulan’s opinion.

The other members of the party also turned to Ulan.

Ulan responded by taking action. He equipped his Magic Armor.

“We’ll break through.”

“Huh? B-break through?!”

Professor Melt’s eyes widened in surprise.

The other engineers and magic technicians nearby had similar reactions.

“Isn’t that a bit impossible?”

“That’s right. There are no safety devices or protective armor on the train!”

“If the engine room gets attacked….”

The train would stop immediately.

No, stopping would be good. There was also a risk of derailing or exploding.

Meanwhile, Ulan remained firm in his decision.

“It’s fine. I have a plan.”

His plan was as follows.

First, Noah would take charge of laying down the magic rail moving forward. Next, once Delia had some leeway, she would inscribe protective magic on the train.

After that, Fertisha would wrap the train covered by spirits, solving all issues.

“This alone will handle the Undead.”

Ulan finished his confident response.

In fact, this was a very obvious and simple plan that anyone could come up with. However, only Ulan could articulate this plan.

The reason was simple.

“Okay, I’ll follow Ulan’s lead.”

“I’ll do the same!”

The Princess of the Arpen Duchy and High Mage.

The hidden princess of the Rubens Empire and Spirit User.

Ulan was the only one who could move both of these heavyweights at once. After finalizing the operational plan, Ulan grasped his axe.

“And I’ll take care of the goat-headed one.”

“Oh! Then I’ll help too.”

Ivella quickly followed.

However, Ulan shook his head.

“I appreciate the thought, but you can’t come this time.”

“What? Why not?”

“The Undying Minions can move even inside the Master’s Domain.”

“……!”

Ivella’s eyes widened.

It seemed she understood what Ulan meant. Noa also closed his mouth and silently nodded.

‘Just as Ulan says.’

Astevan’s twelve minions.

Each one possesses power comparable to a Master. In the original story, facing them was the worst difficulty level.

‘So….’

The power held by the Undying Minions was also the main reason Ulan and the seven heroes created the Transcendent Domain technique.

In other words, to completely eliminate them, one must fundamentally know how to use the Transcendent Domain. Hence, for now, Ulan was the only one capable.

“I see the enemy!”

“We’re about to collide!”

The engineers shouted urgently.

Soon after, the operation commenced.

In a blink, Delia finished casting magic with the veil of stars wrapping the train, and the spirits of Fertisha covered it.

And at that moment.

Ulan leapt atop the train.

Naturally, the wind whipped around him like mad, but nothing could block his path.

Just as they confidently approached their destination, a grotesque voice suddenly broke the atmosphere.

【Hear this, foolish mortals.】

A voice that sounded unpleasant, like the wind brushing against old, crumbling bones.

Following that, what came into view was a monster with a goat’s head that had formed a formation where the train was heading.

The Arch Lich, Priest Kaprae.

【This land has been subjugated by the great King of the Immortals, so from the moment you step here, you will all submit to the King…….】

Ignoring the drivel.

Ulan steadied himself.

Drawing up all the Spirits, he extended his senses to their utmost limit. Just as he gauged the quickly closing distance to the monster.

‘Now!’

The domain of forty-nine steps unfolded.

Unlike the Lord of the Abyss, who couldn’t even react, it was the domain of an absolute powerhouse, freezing them in place.

However, Kaprae was different.

【This is—.】

The moment he entered Ulan’s domain.

The chattering mouth closed.

The relaxed glare now carried confusion.

But for only a moment, as Kaprae realized Ulan was a Master, he unleashed a cold glare and waved his arms.

In an attempt to block Ulan’s attack.

But it was already too late.

『Transcendent Domain』

A unique technique of the seven heroes.

Stepping forth into a fleeting moment that expanded beyond the Master’s domain, Ulan lunged forward and swung his axe at Kaprae.

【―――!?】

And the battle came to an end.

Kaprae’s source was destroyed in the blink of an eye, and he turned to dust without having a proper attack to show for it.

Meanwhile, when the commander disappeared, the Undead charging at the train momentarily froze, and the train seized the opportunity to increase its speed.

Crunch! Whoosh! Brrrrr!

The train barreled through the Undead.

Wrapped in the veil of stars and surrounded by the spirits, the train’s rush crushed and trampled the Undead effortlessly.

After swiftly breaking through the battlefield.

Ulan successfully returned to the train, and Noa muttered, still in shock.

“I can hardly believe it. To take down Priest Kaprae this easily…”

“It’s thanks to the spirits’ help.”

To eliminate the Undying Minions, two conditions must be met. One was the Transcendent Domain, and the other was either Divine Power or Spirit Art.

In other words, he was able to take him down so easily because of his contract with Fertisha.

“Also, the number of Undead was small.”

That was also true.

In Ulan’s previous life, Kaprae led a legion of hundreds of thousands of Undead.

Noa nodded silently.

“In any case, it’s now clear.”

The assault of demon beasts that began in the Eastern Jungle.

The fact that the sudden inundation of the Undead Legion was backed by the Lord of the Immortals, Astevan.

“We need to hurry more.”

“Yes, we should.”

The moment they confirmed the true identity of the enemy, there was no need to hesitate any longer. Thus, the train carrying Ulan and his group accelerated swiftly.

To the final destination, Shulfern.

Chapter 51: The Unexpected Allies