X
Join our Discord server and get release updates for every novel you follow.
Join the ServerGern was dumbfounded, staring at the scene before her. She instinctively swallowed. She felt that when Lilia had hit her in her previous life, Lilia hadn’t used any real strength. If this blow had landed on her, Gern wouldn’t even know how she died, let alone being tormented.
Beside her, Rex’s expression was no less astonished than Gern’s. It was his first time witnessing magic that could use Chaos power as fuel. ‘If she were to fully mature, she would become even more formidable,’ he thought. His eyes welled up slightly, for he had glimpsed the hope of defeating the God of Chaos.
“What are you two… standing there for?” Lilia asked, turning back to glance at them with a puzzled expression. “Come in quickly.”
She waved them over.
Only then did Gern and Rex snap out of their daze. They followed Lilia into the secret realm.
The trio passed through what felt like a cold, viscous membrane of water. A strong sensation of spatial distortion immediately assailed them. After a brief spell of dizziness and weightlessness, they stepped into an entirely new world.
However, the landscape that greeted their eyes was no different from what they had seen before. It was still a pitch-black sky looming over a desolate, silent land. The only distinction was the absence of the numerous grotesque Chaos creatures.
Judging by the lingering traces, this place was once a lush jungle. Now, however, it lay utterly ravaged: trees had withered, flora had wilted, and numerous large craters scarred the earth. These craters marked the spots where trees had been transformed into monsters by Chaos power.
The three advanced cautiously, their eyes scanning their surroundings for any signs of danger. Lilia, still somewhat weakened from her earlier exertion, had to temporarily entrust the task of leading the way to Rex.
As a seasoned veteran, Rex was perfectly suited for this role. Before long, he discovered human footprints on the ground.
“Black! It’s Black and his men!” Rex exclaimed, his voice laced with excitement. He searched the surrounding area for a few more moments, examining the traces of human activity on the ground. Only then did he definitively confirm the presence of something he had only ever heard of in legends.
Yet, his joy did not cloud Rex’s judgment. He turned to Gern and Lilia, contemplating how these two had saved his life, and how he couldn’t be so ungrateful, so utterly useless, so… shameful. ‘No, no, that won’t do,’ he thought.
“My two benefactors, what is your plan from here?”
Lilia and Gern exchanged a glance upon hearing him. “Mr. Rex,” Lilia then asked with a smile, “may we ask what your purpose in coming here is?”
Upon hearing their question, Rex immediately understood. “My two benefactors, I know this might seem a bit rude, but I must ask: would you two be willing to join our operation?”
“Of course.”
Gern nodded, recognizing that the Kindling was not the immediate priority. The Kindling could be sought at any time; moreover, according to the Witch Guild, it was indestructible. Even Chaos power could not erode it, so the pressing matter was to resolve the threat of Chaos power itself.
Seeing their affirmative nods, Rex broke into a smile. He then tossed something into Lilia’s hand. Lilia looked down to find a charm emanating a faint glow.
A look of confusion crossed Lilia’s face. “What is this?” she asked.
“It’s a Holy Light Charm, the Olga Kingdom’s latest research achievement,” Rex explained. “It can ward off Chaos power and any negative effects.”
“Its internal energy can also be replenished with Holy Water, which is much more efficient than directly consuming Holy Water yourself.”
Lilia understood after hearing Rex’s explanation. “Alright, thanks,” she replied curtly.
She then silently returned to Gern’s side. Rex cast an envious glance at Gern. He had to admit, this young woman’s appearance was truly exceptional, and he wondered what incredible luck she had stumbled upon to find such a companion.
If Gern were to know Rex’s thoughts, she would likely be exasperated to the point of laughter. In her previous life, she had indeed been incredibly lucky for half her existence, and even in this life, fate hadn’t let her off the hook. ‘Well… not letting her off the hook in a different sense,’ she mused.
“By the way, Gern, my friend, what exactly happened to you?” Rex asked.
The three conversed as they walked, their chatter the only sign of life in the desolate world.
Upon hearing the question, Gern recounted the excuse she had long prepared. “Well, my friend, due to various circumstances, I was forced to join the Heretic God Cult,” she began. “These cultivation methods were taught to me by an old senior.”
“He was also dissatisfied with the Heretic God Cult’s ways,” Gern continued. “So, he taught me all the cult’s cultivation methods he knew, which, strangely enough, created an opportunity for me to escape. That’s how I managed to get away.”
As she spoke, Gern even dabbed at her eyes, feigning two tears. She looked genuinely distressed, as if the story were entirely true.
Rex nodded, hearing her tale, and felt it would be impolite to press further. Seeing that she had successfully bluffed her way through, Gern slowly let out a breath of relief. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder, and a small head popped up from behind her.
“Hmm? Is everything you just said true?” Lilia’s voice whispered into her ear. Gern’s body trembled in surprise. “O-of course it’s true,” she stammered, a hint of guilt in her tone.
“Hmm… alright,” Lilia replied. She sensed something was amiss but decided it wasn’t the time to dwell on it.
They continued onward for an unknown duration. Finally, they spotted a human squad encamped within a valley. Rex pulled out his binoculars, observing the resting soldiers in the valley. Their combat uniforms were unmistakably those of the Olga Kingdom.
“We found them!” Rex exclaimed, visibly delighted by the number of personnel remaining. He hadn’t expected so many to have survived. He surmised that they hadn’t engaged in many battles since entering the secret realm, which allowed them to preserve their numbers.
The trio cautiously approached the valley, wary that patrolling soldiers might mistake them for enemies and open fire. Before long, they reached the outskirts of the valley. The guards outside the camp were initially perplexed, wondering how humans could appear within this secret realm.
However, once they recognized Rex’s face, their expressions instantly transformed into overwhelming joy. “Captain! The Captain is back!” a sentry’s shout reverberated, startling the entire camp.
The once somber camp erupted into a flurry of activity. “Captain! The Captain is back!?” Soon, every soldier emerged from their tents, led by the squad’s vice-captain, Black.
Upon seeing Rex, Black’s eyes immediately reddened. He excitedly slammed his fist onto Rex’s shoulder. “You’re alive! That’s wonderful!”
Rex grunted in pain. His body was already exhausted from successive battles, and Black’s punch nearly overwhelmed him. “Cough, take it easy,” Rex wheezed. “I didn’t die at the hands of Chaos creatures, but I’m about to be killed by you, you brute.”
“My apologies, my apologies, I was just too excited,” Black said apologetically. He then looked behind Rex. “And who might these individuals be?”
“Oh, I owe my survival and my ability to rejoin you all to these two,” Rex replied. He then briefly recounted his earlier ordeal. Black’s expression darkened, and he nodded in silent understanding.
Black looked at both of them, his gaze lingering on Gern for a moment. He seemed to detect a faint, unusual aura about her, yet he asked no further questions. Instead, he bowed respectfully. “Thank you both for your assistance. The Olga Kingdom will remember this kindness.”
“It’s no trouble,” Gern replied. “We are merely doing our part to curb the spread of Chaos power.”
Black nodded, a hint of respect entering his eyes. “May the Divine King protect you both, our benefactors.”
The adventure continues! If you loved this chapter, Crow's Golden Fragment is a must-read. Click here to start!
Read : Crow's Golden Fragment
