Chapter 142: The Rendezvous
“Shean Medea, now is not the time to discuss duty. Our men have suffered heavy casualties. The Northern March Fortress no longer exists. A visible Demon Lair is right there, and the Abyssal Projection is terrifying. We need to survive!” Anhel, the soldier with the red-tasseled helmet, threw his long spear heavily onto the ground and shouted.
Shean Medea, a scion of the Medea Royal Family, looked at the surrounding soldiers and the few remaining Pseudo-Heroes. He finally remained silent.
Except for him, the others were Divine Descendants from foreign city-states. He couldn’t force them to continue hunting Devil worshipers right now. Survival was paramount.
“Then, should we head straight for the Larr Mountains? Anhel, do you have a plan already?” another Pseudo-Hero asked.
“A plan,” Anhel said with a grim smile. “The mountains are full of barbarian tribes. We will conquer them, establish a base, and then head to the east coast to force those barbarian slaves to fell trees and build boats. We will return to the Royal City along the coast.”
The others generally agreed that the plan was sound. They eventually decided to follow Anhel’s leadership and head north together.
“There is one problem: if the Devil worshipers find us, will they launch a sneak attack?” Shean asked reluctantly.
In truth, what he was thinking was: Why is Anhel leading everyone, and why not me?
As a Royal Scion, he always held himself in high regard, which was why he had consistently tried to challenge Anhel’s authority throughout the journey.
Anhel looked at the handsome Royal Scion. He felt a hint of scorn but managed to speak amicably: “Although the Devil worshipers are secretive like rats, their strength is limited. They are merely a group of desecrators who stole the Authority granted to us by the gods through their worship of the Devil.”
“Except for the Iron Face woman leading them, the rest are negligible. Even the Iron Face woman, judging by her few attacks, has only barely reached the Pseudo-Hero level at most. They are no match for us.”
Anhel stared directly at Shean and continued: “If they truly dare to attack, the six of us Pseudo-Heroes are enough to wipe them out completely!”
Ace listened quietly, observing them. As the few Pseudo-Heroes led the squad north, he quietly used Advanced Magical Trickery to mark several ordinary soldiers.
Subsequently, Ace waited for them to move far away, transformed into an eagle, and flew up into the sky.
Meanwhile, the black cat Bayen, following the mirror image Ace’s instructions, guided the group forward. They were getting closer and closer to the cave where the Enchanted Wizard Apprentices were hiding.
Arno, with Xavier in tow, was speaking to the weathered knight Ancestar.
“Xavier, I know your intention. A true Knight would not refuse anyone who sincerely desires the path of the Knight. But!”
Ancestar paused. Xavier, hearing the first half of the sentence, felt his anxiety subside. Hearing the “but,” his heart leaped back into his throat.
“To become a true Knight, you must demonstrate your virtuous qualities. Xavier, if you are willing, you can become my squire and follow me to learn the Knight’s Path.” Ancestar said solemnly to Xavier.
Xavier nodded vigorously. Ancestar gathered the group’s luggage, placing a large pack on Xavier’s back, and said, “The first lesson of a squire is learning to carry weight.”
Arno watched Xavier struggling with the burden and whispered to Ancestar, “Melancholy Uncle, why didn’t you make me your squire?”
Ancestar glanced at Arno and smiled. “You are too clumsy. You are not suited.”
Arno’s cheeks immediately puffed out, and he sulked, falling back in the line.
Ancestar, meanwhile, was thinking that Arno’s qualities were too similar to a certain person—a true Knight.
Just as Ancestar was lost in thought, a beautiful young woman suddenly approached him.
The young woman’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes twinkling with desire. She looked at Ancestar with a hint of infatuation, wringing her hands, wanting to speak but holding back.
Just then, the loud mechanical grinding and roaring of steam approached. Betty, driving the Apprentice Model 1, stopped right in front of Ancestar, looking down at him.
“Although he’s old, he’s quite handsome. Are you the Melancholy Knight Ancestar that Donna speaks so highly of? I am Betty, Donna’s best sister.”
Betty, driving the Apprentice Model 1, spoke in a somewhat loud tone: “Our Donna likes you very much. I came to see you for myself. You look strong. We should spar sometime.”
Donna’s face was completely flushed. She had no idea why she was suddenly so shy, having been so bold in expressing her affection before. She covered her burning cheeks, secretly glancing at the handsome, melancholy Ancestar.
Just then, the cave was clearly visible ahead.
Daina led the group of Enchanted Wizard Apprentices out, waiting and guarding.
Black cat Bayen made a few nimble leaps and reached Iron Face Daina. He greeted her like a person, spat out Anazir’s Dice, and, after grabbing it with his paw, bowed slightly, speaking in a hoarse voice: “Hello, Iron Face Leader. I am Wizard Apprentice Bayen.”
The familiar voice surprised Daina. She was momentarily taken back to her carefree days of studying mathematics, when she used to play with her younger brother, the only daughter in her family, spoiled by everyone.
She yearned for that happy home, her gentle mother, and her honest father. But she dared not return. Although she hadn’t been exposed, being missing was better than returning.
Supernatural beings born among mortals were destined to be fiercely suppressed and crushed by the Divine Descendants. There was no other way but to go into deep dormancy, accumulate power, and wait for the chance to fight back.
Daina’s eyes showed remembrance. She slightly tore off her mask, removed the iron mask, and bowed slightly to the black cat Bayen, speaking in a hoarse voice: “Long time no see, Scholar Bayen.”
“It is indeed you, Daina Steel Fist. I should have realized it. It’s a good thing the covenant protects us. The captured apprentices couldn’t reveal the information on the Grimoire!” Bayen said to Daina.
A loud eagle cry sounded. The mirror image Ace, transformed into an eagle, grew from a small dot to a large one in the sky. The eagle circled the area above the cave. Seeing the Wizard Apprentices gathered, it landed on a slightly elevated boulder, transforming back into Ace.
Ace stood on the boulder. His black hooded robe flapped in the wind. Excluding their family and friends, there were nearly a hundred people who had a covenant connection with him.
“Respected Torch-Bearer, you are the pioneer of the path of Magic, the only light in the long night, and the guide of all Wizards. Emissary Bayen salutes you!”
Black cat Bayen was very adept at flattery. He was the first to stand in a human-like posture and bow 90 degrees to Ace.
Following black cat Bayen’s action, the Wizard Apprentices who had walked out of the fortress also bowed 90 degrees to Ace.
Daina looked at the scene before her and suddenly felt a distance growing between her and Ace. She followed black cat Bayen, leading the Enchanted Wizard Apprentices in a collective bow to Ace.
“My apprentices, the remnants of the legion have gone north. They are attempting to escape this Demon-infested land through the Larr Mountains. They massacred hundreds of our apprentices, and now they try to run away! We cannot let them go!”
Ace surveyed the Wizard Apprentices. He activated a quasi-Suggestion effect, speaking in a low, resonant voice.
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