Chapter 322
After finishing the Synchro with Reynolds Spencer, Theodore was continuously busy . He conducted the migration of the ents with Mitra and taught some human military strategies to the elves . However, the hardest task was probably making artifacts against the undead .
The elementals, that used purely the power of nature, were natural enemies for the undead, but it was too inefficient to solely rely on that . There was no limit to the stamina of the undead . A more efficient means was needed to combat the undead legions that didn’t care about injuries .
. . . And Theodore found the answer to that in an unexpected field .
“Om . ” His fingers twisted in a strange form as he sang a strange chant .
Simultaneously, a brilliant gleam of light struck the pile of arrows in front of Theodore . It was the most famous shaman system in the East Continent, the esoteric Buddhist mantra . As a more powerful type of shamanism than exorcism, the esoteric Buddhist mantra annihilated all evil and blocked the source .
It didn’t have enough power, but it was like gunpowder when used against undead of the lower levels .
‘This isn’t enough . Damn, the idea is good, but I can’t make enough alone . It would be lucky if I could make half of the 300,000 I originally planned for . ’
Theodore sighed as he looked at the completed arrows . Of course, it wasn’t a good idea to give up on the rest of his tasks to concentrate only on making the arrows . He wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked at the stacked up arrows . It was nice to find something that was more efficient than elementals, but it wasn’t an amount that he could do alone .
However, the problem was that this method involved a magic of an unfamiliar system, and the consumption of magic power was faster than normal . Arrows that destroyed evil, talismans that blocked the undead, and wards that weakened poison and curses needed to be made .
This meant Theodore had a mountain of work to do . So, it was inevitable that his physical and mental state would reach their limits .
‘ . . . Well, that’s it for today . ’
It was good to be prepared for the battle, but it wasn’t meaningful if he was exhausted in the fight against Jerem . Theodore took care of a few more tasks before leaving the warehouse . The chill air of the deep forest cooled Theodore’s sweat and entered his lungs .
This was a very brief respite that couldn’t even be called a break .
“Ah! Theodore, I was looking for you . ”
Theodore had only taken a few deep breaths when an elf approached him . She was an elf with rare black hair and dressed in white bear fur clothing . It was the high elf, Titania . As always, she had a large bow at her waist as she spoke without hesitation, “This is the placement of the archers that you taught me last time… I think this configuration is more efficient . ”
“Show me . . . ”
Titania drew a map on the ground . The workmanship was poor, but it was a strategy chart that anyone with some skill could recognize . Theodore had only taught her for a few days, but it was evident that she had understood Theodore’s instructions and improved them .
She had lived as a hunter for many years, which meant she was more qualified than anyone else to develop strategies regarding this forest . Titania was slightly inferior to Alfred, but she was definitely a genius .
‘Indeed, this is very good . ’
Theodore couldn’t find anything to point out and told her, “Um, isn’t this very good? Did you put your hands and feet together?” (TL: Working together)
“I told them your opinions . It isn’t that difficult to cooperate with the other tribes who train together . ”
“Okay, let's do that . If you see any improvement in the future, please tell me . I don’t know about the strengths or weaknesses of the different tribes, so I will only believe in Titania . ”
“What? O-Only believe in me . . . ”
Was it a burden? Theodore was confused by Titania’s attitude and soon realized the reason . It might seem like he was dumping responsibilities on her . Titania might be a genius, but she was a beginner who didn’t have previous experience in commanding . He blamed himself for being irresponsible and opened his mouth to encourage her, “If you are burdened . . . ”
“No, no! Believe in me!”
“Eh?”
Theodore was stunned by her unexpected reaction, and Titania slightly turned red .
“E-Ellenoa is waiting for you . The rocks and trees have been moved according to your instructions, and the training of the elementalists has finished . ”
“Oh, isn’t it faster than I thought?”
“Then I will go . I’ll see you later . ”
Theodore didn’t have a chance to reply as Titania disappeared into the trees . Perhaps she was going to do some training . At first, he felt a little uneasy because of her stiff attitude . However, after a while, he realized that she was very sincere . Her stiff expression and voice became softer, and the discomfort from their first meeting was no longer present .
[Oh, my . Oh, my . Oh, my!]
As Theodore took a few steps, a light and voice came from the silver ring on his right hand . It was the fragment of Lemegeton, the prohibited book—Goetia .
[You really are the master of this Geotia, sinful man!]
“What?”
[Making an elusive high elf blush . I feel like I am seeing my creator again!]
“You are the one thinking that on your own . ” Theodore looked down at the ring with a slightly flushed expression .
He didn’t know how to feel about being compared to King Solomon when it came to women, not magic abilities . However, Goetia didn’t care about Theodore’s feelings .
[Hey, is this Ellenoa a high elf?]
“Ugh . ” Theodore reflexively stopped moving . He had forgotten about the situation due to the crisis of the world tree . However, Goetia’s words revived old memories . The words of confession that he had previously received in Mana-vil . . . As a matter of fact, he had been prepared to give her an answer, but the warlock who couldn’t read the mood messed up the schedule .
Knock, knock . Theodore knocked at a familiar door and spoke in a soft voice, “Ellenoa, it is Theodore . ”
“Ah, come in . ”
At the reply, Theodore turned the doorknob and saw something white . It was the familiar he had brought to this place .
Yiiip? The three-tailed fox made a pleased sound from Ellenoa’s arms . It was Tres, the three-tailed fox that Theodore had brought back from the East Continent .
“Tres?”
Yip!
Until now, the fox hadn’t given his heart to anyone, making it strange to see Tres in Ellenoa’s arms . Was it because the high elves were the closest to the origin of nature and were unique among the elves? Noticing the relationship between Theodore and Tres, Ellenoa spoke with a surprised expression, “Theodore, did you bring this child? It is the first time I’ve seen a three-tailed fox . ”
“I accidentally found him in the East Continent . I brought him because he doesn’t have a mother to take care of him . He seems to like the forest and Ellenoa though . ”
“Ah… I see . Poor little thing . ” Ellenoa’s eyes shone with compassion as she stroked Tres’ belly, causing him to cry out with pleasure .
Maybe it would be better to leave Tres in Elvenheim after this fight was over . The spirits in the East Continent also wanted an environment where they could live away from humans . It wasn’t a problem to worry about now . However, Theodore engraved it deeply in his mind so that he wouldn’t forget .
“Theodore, your hand . ”
“Ah, yes . ”
Ellenoa grabbed both of Theodore’s hands with a warm smile . The high elves had the ability to soothe tired minds and bodies . It wasn’t just treatment of wounds, as the consumption of mental power could be restored to some extent as well . Surrounded by a green light, they stood in silence .
‘Indeed, I feel comfortable with Ellenoa . . . ’
It wasn’t a matter of stamina or magic power . This sense of relief melted the boundaries of the body and the mind . Then at that moment . . .
Kiiing! A sharp headache pierced him like an arrow . The light that tied Theodore and Ellenoa together was broken, and Theodore stared out of the cabin with a grim expression . He gained an ominous feeling that was on a different level from before! This was like looking up at the night sky without any starlight or staring into a pit where no sound was returned .
“It is close . I can detect it . . . !”
Theodore struggled with the hostile voice that he heard as he looked toward the south of Elvenheim . A tremendous number of deaths were approaching .
* * *
The Red Plateau was a landscape full of red sands where weeds didn’t grow . The water channels had dried up a long time ago . It was a land of death where rain clouds hadn’t appeared for years . There was no concept of people living in this barren land where life couldn’t survive .
. . . At least, until today . As the water had dried up a long time ago, there was no flora or fauna to be used as food . The cloudless sky meant only intense sunlight burned down . If there weren’t any living creatures here, who were the residents of this dead land?
Krruk . . . kuruuk . . . kuruk . . .
Ka . . . haaa . . . ku . . . kuheok . . .
Woo . . . oo . . . uhhhh . . . .
Death moved forward . Those with rotting flesh or just bones were the undead, an army of dead people who hadn’t been able to find rest after death . Today, the name of this land wasn’t the Red Plateau . The procession of the dead meant this neglected land was filled with the stench of dead bodies .
There was a terrible number of at least 100,000 . It was impossible to count them even if they were measured in units of thousands . The undead crossing the Red Plateau was a major threat to the entire continent . The intense sunlight, lack of water, and non-existence wildlife couldn’t even grab the ankles of the undead to hold them back . They moved closer to the world tree without taking a break .
‘Damn, he did it properly . ’
In the sky, a crow was watching the undead with sharp eyes . It was Hugin, a pet Theodore had inherited from Satomer . Theodore’s development meant his range was now at over 100 kilometers . He used this method to spy on Jerem and the Four Horsemen without them noticing .
As he looked at the undead army with Hugin’s eyes, some questions came into Theodore’s mind .
‘There are a lot of them, and the quality is also considerable . How on earth did he make so many undead?’
It was strange . The entire Lairon Kingdom might’ve been turned into undead, but they hadn’t been created in the proper way and were relatively inferior in quality . The same was true for the quantity . A hand plow made of good steel was still a hand plow, a sword was still a sword . However, the power of the undead was limited if the correct production method wasn’t used .
Yet, what about this huge army of undead? Low-level undead like zombies and ghouls were almost invisible . The army mostly consisted of intermediate-level undead . Lich, doom knights, and senior undead could also be seen . It was a number that would’ve required the killing of everyone in the Central Continent, not just the Lairon Church . He felt a sense of incongruity . The swords and armor the undead were holding . . .
Then at that moment . . .
-A rat-like person is spying .
From the far rear end of the undead legion beyond the horizon, an unexplored shape soared high in the sky . No, it wasn’t something that could be recognized from Hugin’s perspective . The gap between Hugin and the opponent was so large that Theodore couldn’t see it . However, he didn’t need to see the shape to realize the identity . He would be a fool if he didn’t know .
It was Nastrond’s demon king, Nídhöggur . Within a vortex of darkness, he called out to Theodore in a voice that seemed to tear the sky and earth apart .
-Hoh, it is you . The thief who devoured the soul that belonged to me, not knowing who you are going against . . .
Theodore couldn’t say anything . Fear froze his spine, and he had a hunch that speaking would give Nídhöggur a pretext to do something . On the other hand, Nídhöggur didn’t restrain himself from talking as a red light gleamed in the darkness .
-Don’t beg for your life . I will surely kill you . Don’t beg for mercy . I will chew on your body and soul for hundreds of years . Your future has been decided at this moment .
Nídhöggur sentenced Theodore to death, and two beams of light shot out from the demon king . The beams of light aimed for Hugin .
-Get lost .
Shortly after that, Theodore’s conscious was bounced out of Hugin’s body .
“Uwaaah!”
“Theodore!”
Blood filled Theodore’s throat, pouring out as he fell and barely grabbed the table . It was the price he paid for facing the monster called Nídhöggur through Hugin’s eyes . Disregarding Theodore’s blood-stained clothing, Ellenoa hugged him and used her healing power . Not long afterward, the blood stopped pouring out, and Theodore barely managed to open his mouth to speak . “ . . . I took one blow . That damn lizard . ”
This was like a greeting for Nídhöggur . The telepathic attack didn’t contain any will to kill . Being able to damage an 8th circle magician with just that . . . this opponent was a monster that a mortal couldn’t go against . However, Theodore and the others had their own means .
“Ellenoa, how long until the summoning of the divine creature?”
“Yesterday, I heard that it would take four days . ”
“So, it will be in three days . Based on the enemy’s marching speed, they will arrive in two days . We have to hold on with our own strengths for one day . ”
The normal undead would be greatly weakened in the daytime . However, these undead were probably beyond common sense . It meant the battle needed to be maintained for at least 24 hours . They had to fight the undead, who didn’t know fatigue and craved the blood of the living . It was a great battle that anyone would feel afraid of .
Theodore rose from his spot .
‘He will chew on me?’
Haha . He laughed wildly at Nídhöggur’s declaration .
‘You are the dumb one who doesn’t know who you are going against . I will teach you properly . ’
Theodore didn’t shrink back from Nídhöggur’s declaration of war .
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