Duke Pendragon

In the most remote and barren place located deep in Ancona Forest, a place where neither orc warriors nor centaurs roamed.

Kuwuuuughhh…!

The sound of the wind passing through the forest resonated deep in the valley, where only the cries of mountain birds could be heard occasionally.

Flap!

A flock of surprised birds flapped their wings at the same time, rising into the sky and obscuring the deepening sunset.

Boom! Boom!

Soon, the forest became filled with a loud noise, which was accompanied by the trembling of the earth.

Then…

Kieeeeeehk! Kiyaaaahk!

Along with an evil roar, ghouls and skeletons poured out of deep valleys and caves. Other monsters joined in the fray as well. The monsters had gone into hiding from the Ancona Orcs and the centaurs after Soldrake made a contract with Raven, but they were finally making an appearance.

Kwaaaaah!

The quiet, peaceful forest was suddenly filled with the roar of thousands of monsters, and chaos quickly descended. Even trees that lasted hundreds of years could not overcome the energy of death and the evil monsters, quickly drying up like rotten straws.

A road of black appeared on one side of the forest, which was once luscious and green. No, rather, it was a wave. It was a tsunami of death created from numerous monsters.

Kuwuooooo…

The monsters were almost equal in number to the great armies of the Troll King in the South, and they crossed Ancona Forest while spewing evil energy. At the forefront, a figure stood on the shoulders of a 30 feet tall giant swamp ogre, a gray robe fluttering around his body. It was the Nameless Necromancer.

“The time has come for the advent. The Queen of Dragons, her companion… They will both return to their original place. So the world will finally find its place.”

Reciting the hymn of gloomy death, the Nameless Necromancer gazed at the sunset with eyes as deep as the dark abyss. At the same time, the corner of his mouth curled up into a small smile.

***

Boom!

The large gate was closed shut by an invisible force.

“…..!”

Nevertheless, no one present in Fort Bellint could take any action, regardless of their race and association. They could only gaze with shock.

At this moment, all of them knew instinctively.

Kwaaaaaa…!

The woman was smiling brightly while observing everyone around her. She was adorned in a dark green, which was not frightening but rather enchanting. She was not an existence of this world.

Paaassssss!

The strange spirit she emitted caused the roots to rot instantly as soon as they made contact, quickly dissolving into rotted water. In addition, the trees that stood firm only a moment ago dried up and turned jet-black as if they were burned.

“W, witch…!”

A single word caused the forces of Alice and Pendragon to flinch and to start stumbling backwards. The witch was located right in the center, and everyone’s instincts were desperately warning them of the witch. The same was true of the orc warriors and centaurs.

It was hard to believe that they had been engaged in a life-and-death war just a few moments ago, but their current attitude was a natural reaction. Any living being, regardless of race, would have no choice but to feel fear in face of the evil, unnatural energy that was being emitted from the witch.

“How wonderful! Ah! How fulfilling!”

Her lips were so blue, that they looked almost purple. Slowly licking her lips with her red tongue, she looked around her surroundings with bizarre eyes filled with greed.

“…..!”

Everyone who met the witch’s gaze felt the strength draining out of their bodies, as well as a chill run down their spine. Everyone noticed at the same time – the true significance of the greed in her eyes as she gazed at them.

It was ‘gluttony’.

The witch bathed in the dark green flame considered everyone present as prey.

“Uahh…”

Like a frightened mouse in front of a cat, no one moved a muscle. It was as if an invisible noose was holding them in place. They knew intuitively as living creatures. They knew that they could not escape death no matter what they did.

“Now, then…”

The witch slowly spread her arms with an alluring smile.

Kwaaaaaahhk!!!

The dark green flame wrapped around her expanded as if it had been waiting. The flames engulfed the space like wildfire and soon transformed into a pair of large wings wrapped around the entirety of Fort Bellint.

A terrible coagulation of screams suddenly burst out of the ominously wriggling wings..

Kiyaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!

The ghastly wails transformed the square into a festival of the dead, a banquet for the dead to feast on the living.

Kiyahahahahaha! Kiehehahahehehehe!

“Hiek!”

Soldiers fell backwards after soiling their pants. Hundreds of thousands of evil spirits were reaching out to them while howling with resentment and jealousy toward the living.

Kwaaaaahhh!

The faint figures residing in the green, tent-like wings leaped forward all at once.

Kyaaaaahhh!!!

“Huaaghh!”

“S, save me!”

Soldiers of the Great Territory of Alice rushed toward the gate. They were already out of their minds from fear.

Pupuck! Puck!

“Kuagh!”

Some died after being pushed and trampled on by their colleagues. However, the remaining soldiers were already consumed with fear. Their sense of reason had long disappeared, and they hammered the door with the desire to live.

“Open up!”

“Let me live!”

Their pathetic cries resonated, but the tightly shut gate remained closed.

“Hiek!”

The soldiers standing on the wall saw their colleagues flocking to the gate, evil spirits rushing towards them like waves. They were filled with fear as the evil spirits neared them as well, and jumped down the wall.

But none of them lived.

Kiheeeek! Kiehehehehe!

With a malignant laugh, the evil spirits passed through the bodies of the living soldiers.

“Kuagh!”

The soldiers who were held by the evil spirits melted in an instant. Their muscles, organs, and blood vessels – everything melted into a thick, green liquid.

“Heeu…”

A soldier fell to his knees and groaned with disbelief even as his mouth melted, and his eyeball fell from an empty socket. Then a green light filled the empty sockets that once held his eyes. At first, dozens of soldiers were inflicted. But soon, hundreds of soldiers of Alice were held to the same fate.

“Ahhh! Ahhh…!”

As the number of melting soldiers increased and the evil spirits expanded their influence, the witch’s expression became increasingly ecstatic. Her entire body was trembling. It was as if she had given herself up to her lover’s touch, or as if she had been intoxicated with a pleasure incomparably greater than anything that existed in the world.

As if sympathizing with the witch’s behavior, the evil spirits attacked the soldiers and knights of Alice with renewed vigor and madness.

***

“Keheuheu! It is done.”

A strange smiled appeared on Count Louvre’s lips when he saw the gate of Fort Bellint shut tightly after his flags replaced the Pendragon Duchy’s flags. The fort was filled with black smoke.

“Let us go.”

“Advance! Forward!”

The remaining knights and soldiers began moving. For the first time since the expedition began, Count Louvre headed to the forefront and led the troops toward the gate.

“Hmm?”

He was riding his horse with a wide grin, but he soon frowned. Something was weird. The fortress, which had been engulfed in noise until a moment ago, was suddenly as quiet as a mouse.

But he soon regained his smile. The knight of Pendragon had probably surrendered to his knights and soldiers.

“Finally…”

Kwaaaaahhhh!

He started to speak, but his following words were deafened by a terrifying roar.

Booooom!

“What?”

The loud explosion came as a shock to Count Louvre, as well as the accompanying troops.

“Heup…!”

They could suddenly see. Inside the fortress, a strange wave of dark green light was rising towards the sky…

Neiiiigh!

The horses became startled and cried out.

“H, hey!”

The knights attempted to calm the horses, but it was of no use. Their warhorses maintained composure even in the middle of a battlefield. It was the first time they had ever acted in such a fashion.

Meanwhile, the waves of light pulsating in the fortress became stronger.

“M, my lord, something is strange.”

As the knight spoke...

Kiyaaaaaahhk!

A loud, chill-inducing wail broke out from the fortress. Even from a far distance, the terrifying sound could be clearly heard.

***

“…..!”

Sir Jade’s eyes filled with shock as hell descended right in front of his eyes. He could see dozens of evil spirits flying in his direction.

“Ugh…!”

The soldiers stood fixated in place, trembling with fear. As soon as he saw them frozen as if they were under a spell, he came to his senses.

“Everyone, come to your senses!!!”

Fwoooosh!

A fierce spirit erupted from his body along with his cry. It was unknown whether he was speaking to himself or to his subordinates.

Kuwuuuugh!

Simultaneously, the orc warriors erupted their Orc Fear.

Kieeeehh!

Perhaps due to their fierce spirits, the evil spirits became startled and changed directions, swirling around them instead.

“Get into formation! Do not leave the ranks!”

Sir Jade shouted at the top of his voice and raised his longsword. It was a precious heirloom given to him by his father, who received the blade from the previous duke, Gordon Pendragon.

The few remaining knights also straightened their weapons and joined him, squeezing out every last bit of their spirits.

Fwooooosh!

The spirits of Sir Jade, the knights of Pendragon, and the orc warriors soared like flames above the few remaining troops.

Kieeeee…!

The evil spirits slowly backed down. Then, the witch slowly turned around.

“Keugh!”

Sir Jade clenched his teeth when he came to face her dark green eyes. Just meeting her gaze conveyed immeasurable fear. Both of his legs started trembling, and strength was sapped from his body. He felt a growing desire to abandon his sword and run with all his might.

“Kueeugh!”

But he had to overcome it. He was a knight of Pendragon.

“Hooh?”

A mysterious light appeared in the eyes of the witch. The troops of the Pendragon Duchy were forming a solid barrier centered around the knight, in one mind and body. However, a deep smile appeared around her mouth as she slowly walked forward.

“You are a little different from others, perhaps because you are humans of Pendragon. That’s right. It was the same with the children from the castle. Rare children who are able to overcome fear. Humans with great courage. However…”

Her smile quickly expanded into a huge grin.

“Kiyahahahahahaha! That’s what makes ones like you the tastiest! The greater the courage, the greater the despair and fear!”

Fwoooosh!!!

Kieeeeehhh!!!

In an instant, the green flames grew larger and denser, and the evil spirits began charging towards the troops of the Pendragon Duchy with renewed energy.

Kuwuuuugh!

Sir Jade and the knights squeezed out every last drop of their spirit, and the orc warriors and centaurs howled to counter the fear of death.

The wave of evil spirits was about to collide with the group. Then,

“…..!”

The witch’s eyes trembled as her expression froze. Simultaneously, the thousands of evil spirits suddenly stopped in place.

“Ah…”

The witch was acting like a person who was caught stealing. She slowly turned her head while trembling. Her mouth, which had been stretched into a large grin, had returned to its original state.

“Ahhh, ahhhhhh!”

She moaned with a heartbreaking voice while looking in a certain direction. Everyone who was still alive, including Sir Jade, turned their eyes towards her gaze. Something could be seen in the far sky where the last rays of red sun colored the world.

“N, no. Nooooooo!”

Kiyaaaaahhkk!

The witch screamed vehemently, and the evil spirits reflected her scream.

Kwaaaaaahh…!

Hundreds of griffons were flying to Fort Bellint while escorting their master. The silver-white dragon flew towards the fort with mighty flaps of her wings, through the red sky.