Chapter 195: Loyalty, Cults, and Nolan on the Offensive

“Aura of pressure?”

Nolan’s thoughts stirred; so that was what it was.

What Leus described matched the hidden effect noted by the system, the ability granted by Dragon Blood’s Oath known as Dragon’s Might. When soldiers who had consumed the potion gathered together, their heightened mental states resonated on a subconscious level, forming an area-wide aura that imposed an instinctive terror upon their enemies.

The others were astonished to learn that the potion carried such an effect. 

Nolan, however, was not particularly surprised. “I’ve noticed it as well. It should be a rare phenomenon triggered by bloodline activation, uncommon but not unheard of.” 

“I see, so you’ve already perceived it, my lord. But I’ve discovered something even more remarkable.” Leus adjusted his glasses, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. “They seem to develop an additional, almost instinctive trust and loyalty toward the source of their bloodline. That source… is you, my lord.” 

Every gaze in the room snapped toward Nolan.

“What?”

Even Nolan was taken aback. This was an unexpected delight.

His core companions already possessed unwavering loyalty, so he had never felt anything unusual. As for the current Black Armored Legion, most of them had witnessed him rise from nothing and create miracles. More than sixty to seventy percent had enlisted out of admiration for him personally, while the rest respected him deeply.

“So that’s it…” Rehanna parted her lips slightly. As she looked at Nolan, there was a trace of heat in her eyes that even she herself did not notice. “Now that I think about it, whenever I’m near you, my lord, I feel… closer, and more at ease.”

Her words were immediately met with widespread agreement.

Hank grew visibly excited. “Then this effect will have the greatest impact on the future expansion of the Black Armored Legion. The enhancement from Dragon Blood’s Oath is obvious, and I was worried that expanding too quickly might introduce instability. It seems that concern has already been resolved.”

A force absolutely loyal, fearless in the face of death, and capable of projecting an overwhelming aura of morale was a treasure any commander could only dream of.

They exchanged glances, imagining the future, and the room filled with rising excitement.

Not everyone, however, felt only excitement.

Vivi glanced at Rehanna, whose gaze had nearly taken on substance, then at Renee, who was blushing yet equally bright-eyed. Her small ears twitched uneasily. As for Anna and Ailindel, their feelings had long been obvious.

She unconsciously tightened her grip on the tail she had been idly playing with.

Something was off. Very off.

Why did it feel as though her rivals were multiplying?

“Ahem.” Nolan cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention back. “Good. Does anyone else have something to report?”

Vivi seized the opportunity at once, unwilling to let others take all the spotlight. “Nolan, I have something to report.”

She rose, her clear voice ringing through the chamber, and quickly recounted her encounter on the Somme River battlefield with the strange man named Kost.

As she described his bizarre transformation, his monstrous companion, and his obsession with a certain “ring,” Nolan’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

Brother…

As expected, their presence was hidden beside Archduke Demont.

Before Nolan could speak, Hank, who had been listening, suddenly recalled something.

A transforming freak, a two-person team, and a ring.

His gaze fell upon his left hand, where he wore the magic ring with four charges of “Dimensional Banishment.” A memory surfaced from not long ago.

“My lord,” Hank said in a low, dangerous tone, “people from the Nihility Cult?”

Nolan nodded, his expression grave. “That’s right.” He swept his gaze across the room and spoke in a steady voice. “The situation was urgent before, so I didn’t have time to explain in detail. What Vivi encountered were elite operatives of the Nihility Cult, those responsible for acting in the secular world. The lower ranks of this cult consist of brainwashed ordinary believers, while these mid-level members carry out their various plans. Kost is a ‘Guide,’ and the one capable of transforming into a monster is an ‘Apostle.’”

A cult.

There were many kinds of cults, but without exception, none brought anything good. The very word made everyone realize the severity of the situation.

“No one knows how many of these damned cultists there are,” Nolan continued, undisguised disgust in his voice. “Like a virus, they have deeply infiltrated all walks of life, and most of them remain dormant. Guides are typically veteran members responsible for preaching and executing missions. Apostles are either deceived or willingly undergo transformation in pursuit of extreme power. Only the upper echelons of the Nihility Cult know the methods behind such transformations. From what we do know, they likely involve the blood of magical creatures, a twisted abuse of alchemy.”

He paused, then revealed something even more alarming.

“Above the Guides are the Overseers who control entire regions. There are six of them, known as the Six Pillars. As far as I know, at least two are active within the Elfin Kingdom. Rosm, the Patriarch of Decay, and Jinx, the Blackblood Hornblower.”

Silence fell over the room.

None of them had ever even heard of this organization, much less its internal structure. Yet nothing seemed beyond their lord’s knowledge.

This was a vast and malevolent force lurking in the shadows of the kingdom.

“Hank and I encountered a pair of them by chance in Veli Province before,” Nolan said, pointing to the crossbow in Vivi’s hand. “That weapon was taken as spoils from that battle. As for the ring Kost mentioned, it’s the one Hank is wearing now.”

Hank clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking faintly.

Nolan continued, “It’s simply a magic ring with decent enchantments. Expensive, yes, but nothing particularly special. Why they want it back remains unclear.”

“Nihility Cult…” Kayan murmured, his usually gentle expression now heavy with concern. “When I served at the Temple of the Mother Goddess, I once heard the former archbishop mention this name. But whenever I pressed further, he immediately changed the subject, as if it were a taboo.”

“Even the temple itself cannot claim to be free of their infiltration,” Nolan said, stroking his chin. “The archbishop likely feared being overheard.”

Kayan raised his head and met Nolan’s gaze. “My lord, what is their ultimate goal?”

“Their goal?” Nolan let out a cold laugh. “They stir unrest everywhere, sow hatred in secret, incite riots, and ignite wars. They never appear in the public eye, so it’s normal that you haven’t heard of them. In fact, very few in the entire kingdom truly know of their existence. War is not their goal, only their means. Chaos itself is their purpose.”

There was a trace of gritted anger in Nolan’s voice, and the others were somewhat surprised. It sounded as though he harbored a personal grudge.

“They worship the Formless God, an embodiment of the Will of Chaos. They seek to shatter all existing order in the world to please that dark deity, hoping to receive its so-called divine favor and enter an illusory eternal paradise.”

What Nolan spoke of was the background lore from his previous life, the truth of the matter.

Yet to the others, it carried a very different weight.

No one understood, but he did.

Kayan’s heart pounded as an ancient tale resurfaced in his mind, the legend of the Omniscient One who walked among mortals. Ailindel, meanwhile, recalled a line from the prophecy of the end: “In his eyes, there are no secrets; beneath his feet, there is no fate.”

Unaware of their thoughts, Nolan continued and laid out his next plan.

“Since this has come up…” He stood, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. “I’ll need to leave Coldsteel City for a while. I’m going to fulfill my agreement with the Wood Elves and help them resolve the corruption of the Foundation of Life. This is not merely a simple act of mutual aid.” His tone grew solemn. “The Nihility Cult is like cockroaches in the gutter. If you find one in a place, it means there’s a nest nearby. Kost’s appearance on the Somme River battlefield was no coincidence. It suggests that the Nihility Cult is likely plotting something in Demont Province, perhaps even within the Borderlands Forest. Whatever they are planning, it won’t be anything good, and it’s something I intend to stop.”

There was a sharp edge in Nolan’s voice.

“This period, before we fully equip ourselves with the ‘Raven Type’ black armor and launch a general offensive, is our window. If we can secure the support of the Wood Elves during this time, it will greatly aid our future exploitation of the forest’s rare resources and strengthen our position against Archduke Demont. At the same time, we may be able to prevent a looming disaster. Two birds with one stone, therefore, I will make another trip to the Borderlands Forest.”

“And what will you do there, my lord?” Anna asked.

“To fulfill a promise.”