CHAPTER 177: CHAPTER 154: THE HEIR

The corpses kept accumulating; even the seasoned Kingdom Army was stunned by the sights they encountered along the way, with severed limbs and occasionally the bodies of giant creatures jointly slain by adventurers scattered all over the ground.

Abaddon felt increasingly uneasy. Logically, giant creatures should not be formidable foes; even if the adventurers from the Hunter’s Guild were a ragtag bunch, such severe casualties were unexpected. He couldn’t help but suspect some connection between the Knight Lord’s relic and the sudden appearance of giant creatures.

In the Empire’s history, the appearance of the Holy Sword has often been accompanied by disaster.

Though the heroic deeds of Henry VI in dragon slaying are widely celebrated, the dragons at the border destroyed several villages and inflicted widespread damage on significant cities within the Empire.

Moreover, perhaps due to psychological reasons, Abaddon felt the snow was getting heavier.

"It seems there’s some commotion ahead."

He signaled the Knight Order, and the army halted. They felt the earth quaver, with the tremors moving closer and closer to them. The screams of adventurers had ceased for a while deep within the snowstorm.

The priests collectively cast magic to build a barrier that protected the troops from the snowstorm, and they illuminated the path as best as possible, enabling the group to see farther. Along the way, they also encountered several giant creatures. Curiously, these monsters did not attack but retreated into the depths of the snowstorm, leaving only the gruesome corpses of adventurers.

Abaddon looked to the sky; something was closing in on them.

As the approaching object started to take shape, the knights quickly invoked the Holy Seal, working together to help the priests fortify the barrier—this was a snowball descending from the sky, several times the size of the boulder that had crushed the hunters earlier.

Upon contact with the snowball, the golden barrier instantly cracked in numerous places, and the knights within the barrier were knocked down by the impact. However, the assault did not cease. Just as the priests decided to reinforce the barrier, the shattered snowball suddenly transformed into countless spreading ice spikes penetrating through the cracks.

Two priests, unprepared, were pierced by the ice spikes.

"This is some kind of elemental manipulation magic!"

Abaddon immediately shouted, stunned, stopping the priests from attempting to rescue their companions. "Quick, continue strengthening the barrier!"

He could hear that more snowballs were coming towards them from the depths of the snowstorm.

How could a group of giant creatures know elemental manipulation magic?

Abaddon almost instantly thought of the Fallen War from two years ago, though they, mere mortals, could not intervene in that war, which once made the imperial capital a stage for Saints’ conflict.

Many rumors suggested that person was still alive; if true, they would inevitably seek vengeance on the imperial capital.

Could this be the Witch’s plot?

The descending snowballs did not allow Abaddon any chance to catch his breath; he witnessed a scene of despair.

One, two, three...

Massive ice magic spells slammed down one after another, nearly obscuring the sky with snowballs. The barrier shattered upon the descent of the second snowball; the knights had no choice but to use their blessed bodies to protect the priests in the center. Abaddon gritted his teeth and drew his sword to face the snowball, yet just as he attempted to tear through it, his consciousness briefly went blank.

His body was flung through the air, and in his blurred vision, sharp ice spikes spread among the crowd, forming a cacophony of screams. The blessing and the knight’s armor were unable to withstand the power of the ice spikes; instantly, dozens of high-tier knights were severely injured.

Excited roars echoed from the depths of the snowstorm.

Abaddon had never experienced such a skirmish; they suffered heavy losses even before seeing the appearance of the caster.

This is a trap!

He suddenly realized; the rumors of the relic were a trap from the beginning to end, luring them to the depths of this northern region.

"Scatter, retreat!"

Abaddon immediately ordered. There was no time to care for the injured; they must return to the imperial capital before a new wave of elemental magic descends.

Someone is manipulating the giant creatures, and he had to bring this crucial news back.

Enduring the pain, Abaddon used his sword to prop himself up from the snow, yet the sound of footsteps coming from behind threw his mood into the abyss—the path from which they came was blocked by the sudden arrival of giant creatures. Those previously acting in small groups were now gathered together, forming an impenetrable encirclement. As far as he could see, at least twenty-something monsters formed a wall.

He was increasingly convinced this was a planned massacre; these simple-minded, physically strong monsters had even learned the art of baiting the enemy.

"Hold them off!"

Abaddon was chilled to the bone, issuing orders; the knights and priests who could still move immediately formed tactical squads. Looking at the knights fighting tooth and nail against the creatures, he decided not to fight alongside these men until the last moment this time.

Only the living can enjoy glory, yes, he had a more important mission—to inform the imperial capital of everything happening here, which was far more significant than a pointless sacrifice.

He seized the moment and used one of the tactical squads’ distraction to tear open a gap.

Abaddon ran desperately forward, leaving the cries for help and screams behind, repeating mechanical movements without knowing how long he had run, pain continuously tormenting him.