ch 12: Sanctuary of the Dead (1)
Morning began at the Academy like any other day.
Elias walked toward the lecture hall with steady steps, ignoring the gazes that followed him. He sat in his usual seat in the back, and the lesson began.
While the professor spoke about the "History of Magical Wars," Elias's mind drifted away, reviewing the chessboard he had drawn in his mind.
I hired "The Shadow of the Moon" to assassinate Jakov Lariska in Bernadio's home.
The Goal: To create an unquenchable conflict between the two families.
Elias smiled faintly, staring into space.
But assassination alone isn't enough. I had to pour oil on the fire.
A forged letter in Jakov's name, summoning his family's knights to save him from a "trap." And since Jakov was fornicating with Bernadio's daughter, his knights' arrival and seeing their master's corpse in such a shameful position drove them mad. They killed the girl to "wash away the shame" and for revenge.
Now, the probability of avoiding war is zero.
Elias analyzed the political repercussions coldly:
Once the war ignites, Princess Celine will find herself in a weak position, because Duke Ignis will enter the battle supporting the First Prince.
And when things reach the brink of the abyss... I will offer her my help.
Then, my "value" will soar.
He remembered his previous attempts to attract her attention: the calculated bullying of Cedric, and his performance in the flag training.
I must seem like a baffling puzzle to her now... and that is exactly what I want.
"Class dismissed!"
The professor's voice brought Elias back to reality.
He stood up, gathered his things, and left the hall.
He didn't head to his room or the cafeteria. He walked toward the abandoned back garden of the Academy, ensuring the place was empty.
(Deal?)
Elias whispered in his mind.
Instant teleportation to the borders of the 'Mountains of the Thunder Lord'. And return immediately when I ask.
The reply came in his head in a sarcastic, slimy voice:
(Hehehehe... a long trip, partner. It will cost you a lot.)
Elias frowned. What do you want?
(Memories of last month... plus the sight of one of your eyes.)
No. Take something else.
(Fine... 70 Platinum Coins.)
Elias exhaled in annoyance. You know very well I only have 68 Platinum Coins and 500 Gold left from selling the potion. Stop the games and name a reasonable price.
The entity sighed with mock boredom. (Tsk... boring as always. You'll never get married with that dry personality...)
Elias ignored the sarcasm and waited.
(Fine. 65 Platinum Coins... plus the senses of smell and taste for 24 hours.)
Elias nodded without hesitation. Agreed.
In an instant, the world disappeared around him.
The noise of the Academy and the smell of grass vanished, replaced by cold, dry air and absolute silence.
Elias opened his eyes.
Before him stood the "Mountains of the Thunder Lord."
A towering black mountain range that looked like fangs gnawing at the sky. Above their peaks, a giant vortex of dense purple clouds swirled, illuminated by silent lightning now and then, like a sleeping beast waiting for a signal to swallow the world.
The entity spoke in his head: (You didn't specify the location precisely, so I threw you on the border. Excellent delivery service, right?)
Elias replied as he adjusted his clothes, "Doesn't matter."
(Are you here to meet "that crow"?)
"No. Not yet."
(Then what is a weakling like you doing in a place like this?)
"If you don't shut up, I'll cut the connection."
(Tsk, my previous comment must have hit a sen—)
Elias cut the mental connection in annoyance. "Chatterbox."
He began walking toward the foot of the mountain. The land was barren, black volcanic rocks and gray soil where not a single blade of grass grew.
Traces of lightning strikes were etched everywhere, as if the sky had been stoning the earth here since eternity.
After hours of walking, the sun began to set, turning the sky into a bloody canvas.
Elias muttered, "Where is that damn cave?"
He stopped and looked around. Darkness was falling, and searching randomly in this terrain was suicide.
"It seems there is no other choice. I intended to save money, but time is more precious."
He reactivated the connection.
(Did you miss me already? I was so sad you hung up on me~)
Cut the crap. I want an area scan technique to find the cave.
(Price?)
10 Gold Coins.
(Do you think me a fool? You don't even know how far it is. Scanning costs in this area are high due to magnetic interference.)
Tsk... I was sure you'd say that.
(......)
30 Gold Coins. That's my final offer. No discussion.
The entity was silent for a moment, then the reply came in a satisfied tone: (Agreed.)
A small bag of coins vanished from Elias's spatial ring.
Suddenly, Elias's perception expanded. He felt as if his mind stretched to cover kilometers of rocky mountains. He saw every crack, every stone, every burrow.
And seconds later, he picked up something. Strange energy emitting from a hidden opening.
He opened his eyes and looked toward the northeast. "Found you."
Elias walked for several kilometers until he arrived in front of a dark opening in the mountain that looked like a monster's mouth.
He entered without hesitation.
The further he went inside, the colder and heavier the air became.
At the end of the tunnel, a massive iron gate covered in rust and ancient engravings appeared before him.
The "Dungeon" Gate.
Elias touched the gate, and it flashed with a faint blue light, then pulled him inside.
He found himself in another world.
An endless graveyard under a gloomy gray sky. Broken tombstones, twisted dead trees, and fog creeping along the ground.
"Dungeon: Sanctuary of the Dead..." Elias muttered.
He took a single step forward.
BOOOM!
Something fell from the sky with unimaginable speed and struck the ground in front of him, creating a massive crater and scattering dirt.
Elias stood still, unblinking.
The dust cleared slowly, revealing the figure that had landed.
A giant knight wearing rusty, battered armor. In his right hand, a massive sword the size of a grown man, and in his left hand... he held his severed head.
The Headless Knight. The Dungeon Guardian.
The knight raised his head with his left hand, and the head opened its eyes, which glowed with crimson light.
He rested the sword on his shoulder and bowed slightly in an ancient, terrifying knightly salute.
Then the head spoke in a raspy voice, a voice coming from the bottom of a grave:
"What is a living creature doing in the Sanctuary of the Dead?"
Elias replied calmly, "I am not here to disturb the rest of the dead. I am here for one purpose, I will take it and leave in peace."
The head laughed a light, dry laugh. "The Sanctuary of the Dead is a place created by the 'Beast Lord' to honor his fallen army. And I am its eternal guardian. Leave, living one, before I consider you a defilement of the place and add your corpse to these graves."
"That is impossible. I still have work here."
"Then... face your fate."
Elias raised his sword, taking a combat stance.
The knight advanced slowly, one step... two steps... then vanished.
Whoosh!
He appeared suddenly in front of Elias, his sword falling like a guillotine.
Elias raised his sword to block at the last moment.
CLANG!
The sound of metal hitting metal rang out.
Elias slid back several meters, his feet digging a trench in the ground from the force of the blow. His arms were numb.
"Oh... blocked it?" the knight said with slight admiration. "Unexpected."
He didn't give him respite. He appeared again by his side. "But your speed is still slow."
BAM!
A strike with the flat of the sword knocked Elias away like a doll, smashing him into a tombstone and shattering it.
Elias coughed blood and spat a small piece of flesh from his mouth.
Too strong... fighting him alone is suicide.
I must use the Store...
The knight appeared in front of him again, sword raised to finish him. "Is your focus scattered in the presence of death?"
Elias tried to land a quick stab, but the knight blocked it lazily with the back of his armored hand.
"Your physical strength is decent, but your sword techniques? Pathetic. You aren't fit to be a swordsman."
Elias retreated backward, panting. "I know that already."
"Pity... this is your end."
The giant sword descended to cleave Elias in two.
(Deal!) Elias screamed in his mind.
(Single Strike Enhancement. 10 Gold Coins!)
(Done!)
Massive energy surged into Elias's arm.
Instead of blocking or fleeing, Elias swung his sword to meet the knight's blade.
CRAAAASH!
The collision created a shockwave that blew away the dust.
The giant knight staggered and retreated several steps back, in disbelief.
"This strength... impossible..." the severed head muttered.
Elias seized the moment of the knight's astonishment.
He threw his sword aside and raised his open hand toward the knight's exposed chest.
"I told you... I am not a swordsman."
Glowing red energy gathered in his palm.
"I am a Mage."
(Fire Explosion Magic. Close Range. 30 Gold Coins!)
"Burn!"
BOOOOOOM!
A massive fiery explosion swallowed the knight and Elias together.
Elias flew backward from the force of the blast, rolling on the ground, his body full of burns and cuts, his clothes torn.
He stood up with difficulty, trembling from pain, and looked through the smoke.
The Headless Knight was lying on his back. His armor completely shattered, his chest charred.
Elias approached cautiously.
The head lying beside the body opened its eyes.
"As expected... I wasn't wrong..."
The head began to laugh in a broken voice. "Hahaha... living one... you defeated me, the Guardian of the Dead. Go... take what you want. I won't stop you... Hahahaha."
Elias looked at the knight who seemed to have lost his mind, or perhaps found something funny in his defeat.
He nodded in respect to his opponent and turned to leave toward the depths of the graveyard.
"Living one!" the knight called out in a fading voice. "What is your name?"
Elias stopped without turning back.
"Elias... Elias Reinhardt."
He continued his way and disappeared into the darkness.
Behind him, the knight muttered, a strange smile on his distorted face:
"I see... Elias Reinhardt... Hahaha. It was truly worth the wait... Haha."
