Chapter 84: Conspiracy, Pawn or Player?
The First Hero had been killed in front of all ten members of the Hero Squad. Why hadn’t they collected his soul fragments when his soul was shattered?
And how had they survived?
Qin Chu had fought Nagath personally. He knew the Demon King’s terrifying power. He was the strongest opponent he had ever faced. If not for Shaye’s near-immortality, Nagath would have been even more dangerous.
The Hero Squad members, though skilled, were no match for Nagath. Their combined strength wouldn’t have been enough to overcome the vast difference in power.
Ekaterina, confronted with his questions, faltered, her pace slowing slightly.
She had never considered this before.
“Soul fragments… at the time… we were… shocked… We didn’t think about them…”
She paused, searching her memories. “We saw him… torn apart… We were enraged. We attacked Nagath…”
“But our attacks couldn’t even pierce his defenses.”
“But strangely… he didn’t kill us. He simply endured our attacks, then retreated, vanishing into the abyss.”
She tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. “Perhaps… he was injured during his battle with the First Hero.”
That was her explanation, but Qin Chu wasn’t convinced.
Nagath wasn’t easily injured. Even weakened, he could have easily eliminated the Hero Squad.
The clues were too few, too fragmented.
Based on Ekaterina’s account, the First Hero had been a selfless hero, sacrificing himself to protect humanity. What a noble spirit!
It was understandable that he would be revered. But this was the Heavenly Continent, where heroes were disposable. He, Qin Chu, had dedicated his life to this world, and how had they repaid him?
He hadn’t forgotten his public execution.
The Hero Squad’s devotion to the First Hero was unsettling…
And why, surrounded by so many beautiful women, had he remained celibate? Was he truly that virtuous? Or was there something preventing him from… indulging…?
And his death, at Nagath’s hands, it felt staged… as if he had deliberately sought it out.
The mystery deepened.
Qin Chu took a deep breath, calming his racing thoughts.
“Where did you get the scroll containing the resurrection ritual?” he asked.
“Loseweisse said she received it from someone.”
Who was this mysterious benefactor?
And the scroll itself… it was suspicious.
A scroll containing a resurrection spell, capable of reviving anyone… that was plausible.
But this scroll was specifically designed to resurrect the First Hero.
It felt as if he had been caught in a web of intrigue from the moment he arrived in this world, his very summoning orchestrated by an unseen hand.
Loseweisse, who believed herself to be the mastermind, was merely a pawn, perhaps even the smallest, most insignificant piece on the board.
Ekaterina, unsure if her answers satisfied him, fidgeted nervously. Her memories were fragmented, incomplete.
Qin Chu, noticing her unease, smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Ekaterina, I’m satisfied with your answers.”
She relaxed, her pace quickening.
He mentally summoned Shaye, asking if she had witnessed the First Hero’s death.
Her answer was the same as before. She hadn’t seen him die. She had only seen his soul shattered by Nagath, the fragments scattering.
This was another anomaly. Why hadn’t Nagath consumed his soul?
Lower-ranking Demons feasted on flesh and blood, but powerful Demons craved souls.
Was Ekaterina’s explanation correct? Had Nagath been injured, too weak to pursue the Hero Squad, too weak to consume the soul fragments?
If so, it would explain the Demons’ inactivity, their lack of aggression. Their leader was wounded, giving the Second Hero time to grow stronger.
Theories, countless theories, swirled in his mind, but he couldn’t make sense of it all. Perhaps only by acquiring a soul fragment, by accessing the memories within, could he unravel the mystery.
Their speed increased, the scenery blurring. The capital, now far behind them, had vanished from view. They had traveled at least two or three hundred kilometers.
As darkness descended, Ekaterina and Loseweisse showed no signs of slowing down. They were heading towards a specific destination, their path unwavering.
Natia, her brow furrowed, her patience finally exhausted, acted.
She summoned a whirlwind, her speed increasing dramatically, her form intercepting Ekaterina.
The Valkyrie, forced to stop abruptly, skidded to a halt.
An entire day of sustained, high-speed travel would have exhausted most people, but Ekaterina’s face was flushed, her energy seemingly boundless, her Battle Qi still potent.
Loseweisse, sensing the commotion, quickened her pace.
Her breathing was labored, beads of sweat dotting her forehead. But was this genuine exertion, or was she merely pretending?
Natia, her expression stern, her gaze sharp, looked at them, her voice laced with disapproval. “Where are you taking the Hero?”
If they were simply searching for Demons, they could have found them closer to the capital. They didn’t need to travel so far. Natia should have noticed their unusual route earlier, but she had been… distracted…
She had been contemplating a very important question: was she truly in love with Qin Chu?
According to Louisa, her reaction to his touch, her racing heart, her desire for more contact, her persistent thoughts about him… these were signs of love.
But why had his rejection left her unfazed? She hadn’t felt sadness, hadn’t felt pain. It had been… underwhelming…
She was a master of multitasking, her magical control exceptional.
She had managed to maintain her high-speed flight while simultaneously contemplating matters of the heart. Unfortunately, after an entire day of deliberation, she had reached no conclusions. She had given up.
And then she had realized that night had fallen! She might be indifferent to most things, but she couldn’t allow the Hero to be placed in danger. His safety was paramount, his existence crucial to the Heavenly Continent’s survival.
Even Loseweisse, Ekaterina, and Qin Chu were surprised by her… delayed reaction… Was she truly that oblivious?
Loseweisse, however, was prepared.
“Lady Natia, please don’t be angry. We mean the Hero no harm. We’re simply taking him to… encounter… a truly powerful Demon, to show him the… realities… of this world. He needs to be prepared. His first battle could be dangerous…” she explained, her voice calm and reassuring.
No need, I’ve already experienced the worst this world has to offer.
Natia, her skepticism evident, raised an eyebrow. “A truly powerful Demon?”
“Lomond, Nagath’s seventh son.”
“We received intel that he’s been sighted in the Cavanyas Mountains.”
Natia’s eyes widened, her usual composure cracking. She glared at them, her voice laced with anger. “Lomond? Are you insane?”
“The Hero is no match for him…”
Lomond was a high-ranking Demon, his power exceeding level eighty, stronger than most Hero Squad members. Were these two madwomen taking the Hero to his death?
“I know…” Loseweisse said, her voice calm, her smile unwavering. “But that’s why we have Lady Natia with us. I’m sure she’ll protect him.”
“And besides, Ekaterina and I will be there, along with another Hero Squad member, our Immovable Shield, Benson! He’s already in the Cavanyas Mountains.”
“The four of us are more than enough to handle Lomond… perhaps even defeat him…”
“As you know, Lady Natia, the Demons haven’t launched a full-scale invasion, but the human armies are losing ground. We need a victory. The Hero, defeating the Demon King’s son… it would boost morale.”
“And it would give the Hero some valuable experience…”
Her explanation, though seemingly reasonable, felt contrived. Natia was about to argue when Qin Chu spoke, his voice laced with amusement. “I’m actually quite curious to see what a powerful Demon looks like… but…”
“Could someone tell me what those are?”
He pointed towards the horizon.
A vast, desolate plain stretched before them.
In the silver moonlight, countless dots of green light, like a field of stars, shimmered in the distance.
The three women, their gazes following his finger, gasped, their eyes widening in horror. The ground trembled as the green lights approached, their numbers overwhelming.
A stench, foul and oppressive, filled the air, accompanied by guttural roars that rumbled across the plains.
As the lights drew closer, their forms became clear.
The plains were teeming with Minotaurs… tens of thousands of them, their massive forms a terrifying sight.
…
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