Chapter 91
“Over there! Block them!”
The Red Lion knights following Abel drew their swords and blocked the path.
If they were delayed here, the Special Forces and Abel would catch up.
Zeke shouted to Boris.
“When I clear the path, escape from here with the prince!”
Zeke placed the prince on Boris’s horse.
As Boris rode his horse to escape outside the hotel, Zeke drew his sword.
Woooong!
Elemental power gathered in Zeke’s sword.
He concentrated the power of wind.
Whoooosh!
Soon a massive storm arose around Zeke, and he swung his storm sword toward the Red Lion knights.
KWAKWAKWAKWA!
The knights couldn’t maintain visibility due to the tremendous gust.
Boris, carrying Carus, rushed forward along the wind path that Zeke had cleared.
Zeke followed behind while swinging his sword at the disoriented Red Lion knights.
BANG!
The knights who clashed with Zeke’s sword imbued with wind power were sent flying.
“Arghhhh!”
Zeke took out the Deep Breath of the Fire Giant potion from his inventory.
WHISK!
As soon as he threw the potion, white flames erupted, creating a massive wall of fire in front of the hotel.
The knights panicked and scattered, unable to cross the wall of fire.
“Damn it! Deploy the Aura Blade!”
The blue knights gathered forward to try to contain the flames with their Aura Blade.
However, the ancient Deep Breath of the Fire Giant potion couldn’t be extinguished so easily.
The knights hesitated to advance further, feeling like their whole bodies would turn to charcoal if they got too close to the flames.
That’s when it happened.
WHOOOOSH!
Suddenly Abel leaped through the air toward the flames.
Simultaneously, he swung his sword at the Deep Breath of the Fire Giant.
KWAKWAKWAKWA!
The wall of flames split apart like a waterfall being parted.
Abel stood in front of the split wall of fire and shouted to the knights.
“Split the Red Lion knights in two. One group comes with me to the terminal and port! The other group pursues the attackers with the Special Forces!”
* * *
DUDUDUDU!
Zeke and Boris galloped into the forest, evading their pursuers.
When the glamorous city view was no longer visible, Zeke asked Boris.
“Is there a way to cross directly to the Central Continent from here?”
Boris shook his head at the question.
“It’s difficult to find a direct route while avoiding Abel Draker and the Imperial Special Forces.”
“Are there other routes?”
Boris contemplated before slowly speaking.
“There are two options. The first is to go north through the kingdom, cross the Central Sea, and detour through the Northern Continent. However, this method requires following the coastline, which has a high risk of being detected by enemies.”
“And the other method?”
“Going through the Beast Forest to the kingdom’s south, crossing the Sea of Death to reach the Southern Continent. From the Southern Continent, we can enter the Central Continent through a portal. However, this method involves threats from magical beasts.”
“We’ll go south.”
Zeke chose to enter the Beast Forest without hesitation.
He judged that dealing with magical beasts would be better than facing the knights.
Boris let out a low groan but nodded.
“Understood.”
He turned his horse to guide Zeke toward the Beast Forest.
Carus, sitting behind Boris, remained silent with a pale face.
Zeke approached Carus and handed him a potion.
“Please drink this. It will warm your body.”
Carus accepted the potion with trembling hands and drank it all.
Color returned to Carus’s face after drinking the health recovery potion.
“…This is much better than before. Thank you, Sir Zeke.”
Zeke was startled by Carus’s words.
“How did you know I was Zeke Draker?”
Carus spoke while steadying his breathing.
“I never forget something I’ve seen once. Your voice and distinct accent can’t be hidden no matter how you try.”
‘Did he follow along willingly because he knew I was Zeke Draker?’
He had thought Carus was just a dissolute prince, but it seemed that wasn’t entirely true.
Zeke said to Carus.
“Your Highness is in quite a dangerous situation.”
Carus nodded at Zeke’s words.
“Yes, if Julius and Abel are both after me, I should consider the entire Central Continent my enemy.”
Zeke shook his head at those words.
“Not necessarily. If we go to Midland and enter Kali Draker’s territory, we can guarantee your safety.”
“Kali Draker. The Silver Knight, you mean. Is she helping me?”
“Kali Draker is the one who sent me here.”
“If it’s the Silver Knight, I can trust her. Sir Zeke, can you safely take me there?”
Zeke nodded.
“I’ll do my best. Though it will be difficult for Your Highness, you must follow my instructions well.”
That’s when something caught Zeke’s senses.
“Stay back with His Highness. I’ll take the front.”
Zeke moved forward with his sword drawn.
Then something dropped from the trees.
“Kaaaaaak!”
A magical beast that looked like a giant flying squirrel lunged at Zeke.
Zeke swung his sword and cut down the flying squirrel.
[You have defeated a creature infected by magical energy.]
[You have gained 10 Karma Points.]
As Zeke expected, he could gain Karma Points by defeating magical beasts.
‘Good. I can secure some points here.’
Boris said to Zeke.
“Boss, we can’t ride horses from here on.”
Zeke decided to dismount and walk deeper into the forest as Boris suggested.
KYAAAAK!
The deeper they went into the forest, the more magical beasts attacked.
Zeke struck down all the beasts lunging from the trees as they headed beyond the forest.
Since it would take at least two days of walking, managing stamina was important.
Zeke distributed food and water from his inventory to Boris and Carus while sustaining himself by absorbing the defeated beasts with Gluttony.
Then an ominous sound echoed across the forest canopy.
KYAAAAAAK!
A flock of sinister-looking birds circled above the forest, letting out screams like tearing flesh.
“Something’s changed in the forest’s atmosphere.”
Boris responded to those words.
“It seems our pursuers have followed us into the forest.”
The knights appeared to be noisily searching the forest for Carus.
Boris’s expression darkened further after speaking.
“Boss, we should pass through the forest quickly. It’ll be trouble if the Master of the Swamp appears.”
“Master of the Swamp?”
At that moment, a massive roar echoed from deep in the forest.
Gooooooooo!
The roar seemed to shake the entire forest.
Boris’s face turned pale.
“I-it’s the Master of the Swamp. The Dortans never venture deep into the Beast Forest for fear of angering the Master of the Swamp.”
From Boris’s reaction, this was no ordinary magical beast.
Zeke nodded.
“Boris, take His Highness deeper inside first. I’ll lure the pursuers elsewhere.”
“Understood.”
* * *
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Row Jiemens, one of the Red Lion Knights’ commanders, spoke sharply to the Special Forces member.
The agent replied to Row.
“I said it would be safer to take a detour than cross this forest.”
Row said to the agent.
“If they reach there first and escape by smuggling ship, will the Special Forces take responsibility?”
The agent couldn’t give a proper response to Row’s words.
He snapped at the Special Forces agent.
“If you don’t want to report to the regent that Carus escaped, we should pursue them quickly.”
Hearing Row’s words, the Special Forces agents reluctantly looked for a way into the Beast Forest, grinding their teeth.
Since the incident occurred before handing Carus over to Abel’s side, the responsibility still lay with the Empire.
Because of this, even though the Red Lion Knights were being rigid, the Special Forces agents had no choice but to follow their instructions.
‘Damn it. Of all places, the Beast Forest.’
While the Beast Forest wasn’t as well-known as the Central Continent’s forbidden area ‘Forest of the Forgotten,’ it was no less dangerous.
As an intelligence organization, the Information Bureau conducted surveys of areas before missions, so they knew well how terrifying the Beast Forest was.
Unlike the cautiously moving Special Forces agents, the Red Lion Knights led by Row were advancing recklessly through the forest.
Though the Special Forces agents were anxious about possibly waking the Master of the Swamp, they couldn’t stop the Red Lion Knights’ actions.
Then magical beasts appeared before the pursuit team.
KRUUUUUR!
It was a massive beast that looked like a bear but definitely couldn’t be called one.
“It’s a Devil Bear! Spread out and engage!”
The Special Forces agents tried to maintain distance while facing the Devil Bear.
However, the Red Lion Knights drew their swords without hesitation and stabbed them into the Devil Bear’s body.
The Devil Bear fell instantly.
Watching this, the Special Forces team leader broke into a cold sweat.
‘To handle a Devil Bear so easily. The Draker knights are truly frightening.’
They continued deeper into the forest while slaying magical beasts.
Then at some point.
GOOOOOOOOO!
A roar echoed from far away. The Special Forces team leader’s face turned pale.
“D-damn. The Master of the Swamp has awakened.”
Row asked the team leader in response.
“Being so afraid of mere beasts, the Special Forces’ reputation seems undeserved.”
Row ignored the team leader’s warning and ventured deeper inside.
However, strangely, the deeper they went, the fewer attacking magical beasts appeared.
The Special Forces team leader sensed something was wrong.
‘The forest shouldn’t be this quiet.’
Then one of the knights triggered a planted scroll.
KWAKWAKWANG!
The explosion scroll detonated, sending vibrations throughout the forest.
Row shouted in surprise to the knights.
“Prepare for ambush!”
From within the smoke, Zeke attacked while stealthed, slicing the knights’ ankles with his dagger.
“Arghh!”
The unsuspecting knights were helpless against Zeke’s attack.
Row shouted.
“Fall back and secure visibility!”
But it was already too late.
Zeke’s sword moved even faster.
Slash!
His sword beheaded the knights.
Row gritted his teeth and raised his Aura Blade.
“Haaah!”
Zeke threw a dagger imbued with Aura at Row.
Clang!
After deflecting the heavy dagger, Row charged straight at Zeke.
Zeke deployed a field of water power against Row.
Elemental Sword
Water Field
Wave Blade
Zeke’s sword strikes surged like a tidal wave, deflecting Row’s sword and creating massive shockwaves that pushed Row back.
KWAKWAKWA!
The repelled Row crashed into a tree. The forest caught in the shockwave was swept away.
“Kuhak!”
Row coughed blood from the massive impact and couldn’t maintain his balance.
The Special Forces agents keeping their distance behind threw chains at Zeke.
CHWARRRRK!
Having succeeded in wrapping chains around his limbs, the Special Forces agents pulled from all directions to try to restrict his movement.
But when Zeke enveloped his body in Aura, they could no longer restrain him with chains.
Instead, when Zeke pulled the chains, the Special Forces agents were nearly dragged along.
“Ugh! What insane strength….,!”
Just as Zeke quickly subdued all the Red Lion knights and Special Forces agents.
Suddenly something strange happened to the forest floor.
SSSSSSS!
The normal ground transformed into a swamp.
The Special Forces team leader shouted in surprise.
“Get up in the trees immediately!”
The Special Forces agents who realized the situation quickly regained their senses and climbed the trees, but the Red Lion Knights couldn’t.
“AAAAAGH!”
Most of them floundered and sank into the swamp.
“S-save me!”
The knights trapped in the muddy swamp tried to escape using Aura, but it was useless.
The more they struggled, the stronger the swamp’s force pulled the knights down.
“Aaaaagh!”
Finally, all the knights who couldn’t climb the trees disappeared beneath the swamp.
Row, who had been leaning against a tree, regained his senses and barely managed to climb up a nearby tree.
He broke into a cold sweat seeing all his subordinates swallowed by the swamp.
“W-what is this?”
The Special Forces team leader shouted while clenching his teeth.
“Damn it, the Master of the Swamp has appeared! We need to get out of here quickly!”
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The sound of something massive approaching could be heard from the other side of the forest.
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