History was quietly reflected in the starry night sky. Those dazzling new stars were said to be the heroes of the past. They looked down on the earth from the heavens, using the eyes of history to observe the world of today. The wind above the pine forest never stopped, but it wasn't strong. Instead, it gently moved the needles with an invisible hand, causing them to sway neatly and rustle softly.
It was like a dream, narrating the forest's past.
The edge of the world collapsed as the dream progressed. The forest seemed to be swallowed by endless fog, but only this small world was left in the void. The mountain wind blew through the forest, the meadow, the carriage, the assassinated Elven girl, and Brando's group formed this still picture.
Moonlight spread over the mountains. Time flowed quietly with the stars. The bright moon was like a hook, rising in the west and setting in the east.
To everyone, this was the end of the dream, but it wasn't a line. Brando looked up at the entire forest. His gaze passed through the layers of tree trunks and landed on the dark carriage. He shouted, "Cauldell, I know you're here. Come out and let me see your tricks."
There was a moment of silence, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
A pale figure appeared in the carriage. The figure swayed slightly like a ghost, glowing as if it was shrouded in a pale phosphorescent fire. He was dressed in neat noble clothing and had an Elven longsword at his waist. However, he had no face. Only a pair of sparkling eyes remained on his flat face, like a slate.
Without a mouth, they couldn't communicate. The Miirnas said that language was the bridge between people, but the nameless had long escaped into their own dreams and were forever lost. Therefore, other than using their eyes to "suspect," they didn't need ears or mouths.
The pale ghost appeared at the door of the carriage and silently stared at Brando. It didn't say a word, and neither did Brando.
After what seemed like a long time, the ghost slowly said, "Why did you challenge me?"
Even though it didn't have a mouth, its voice seemed to echo through the entire forest like thunder rolling from the horizon. Haruz's little face was pale with fright, and he could not help but shrink behind his sister. But the princess and her entourage did not seem to hear him. They looked blankly in the direction of Brando's conversation, as if there was nothing there.
"You should know what you have to do, and what you have to protect here is just an illusion that doesn't exist. You should return to the world that belongs to you, and not waste time here. Otherwise, you will be lost in a dream-like dream and never wake up, "Viscount Cauldell said slowly. "But you came here and let me see your weak choice. You chose to stay here forever and wallow in the illusion of the past?"
Since he couldn't threaten him, he decided to 'guide him patiently'? Brando sneered, drew his sword, and pointed at the pale shadow. "What is weaker than weakness? You're just an incomplete personality. Hatred and jealousy have long since obliterated your mind. In the experience of wandering in the forest for so long, paranoia has long swallowed up your humanity. How can something like you understand what salvation is? "
He exhaled and showed his shiny teeth. "What you've forgotten is not only your reputation. You've forgotten something more important. It has long been lost on the long road behind you. Viscount Cauldell, the beginning of everything, the source of regret, is hidden under the layers of wounds, but I will find it and show it to you … "
"Humans learn to cry to protect their pain, and you've long forgotten that. Because you can no longer be called human. "
The blade of Halran Gaia, as dark as a dream, pointed straight ahead, at the pale shadow's chest. But it was also like a dividing line in the forest, separating this world from the other.
Anger appeared on the ghost's face.
In the next moment, a spark of fire appeared in the depths of Haruz's silver eyes. The fire burned from the carriage behind Viscount Cauldell. The fire spread behind Viscount Cauldell, turning the forest into a sea of fire in the blink of an eye. Viscount Cauldell's eyes sparkled. He waved his hand coldly and let out a shrill voice. "Fine, I'll see how long you can be stubborn for …"
"In your heart, the so-called persistence is nothing more than weakness."
"The human heart is illusory."
The pale ghost reached out his left hand. His fingers had become sharp claws. A crack suddenly split open on his featureless face. It was like a mouth that was silently mocking everyone.
Then the sea of fire enveloped the entire forest. In the light of the fire, a thick fog rose. The scenery around them changed again. Brando could still feel the burning flames beside him. But when he looked around, the pine forest was long gone. What appeared in his field of vision was a straight corridor. On one side of the corridor was a large arched window. Outside the arched window, the manor and palace rose and fell, extending into the brilliant lights in the distance.
But this bright pearl that sat on the plains was now covered in dust. The entire city was burning fiercely. Flames rose everywhere. Brando and the little prince beside him saw the fire spread along the palace, burning all the way to their feet. Everywhere they looked was a sea of fire.
The glass of the arched window shattered under the high temperature. Then, countless skeleton soldiers poured in from the outside. These skeletons wobbled and raised their Nether Steel longswords. The phosphorescence in their eyes was either bright or dark as they surrounded the area.
On the pitch black longswords, the Roman rose in full bloom was so dazzling. It was like a sharp thorn, piercing Brando's pupils until they contracted.
It was such a familiar scene. The spirits of the dead appeared in the sea of fire. The palace burned, the city collapsed. The army of the dead swept across their homeland. Everywhere they passed, only scorched earth was left.
Erouine's glorious flag finally turned to ash that night. That was the last night on the battlefield. The sad song in the hearts of Erouine players reappeared in his memory.
The last battle in Monsterlos —
Viscount Cauldell's sharp laughter echoed in the air. But there was jealousy in it. "You think it's so easy to make a choice? But reality will always force you. You will face a desperate situation. Life or death. You must choose one of the two. What are mortals in front of the power of fate? "
But Brando ignored him. He felt his own power. It was still only at the peak of the Silver level. He immediately turned his head and said to Haruze beside him, "Take your sister and retreat into Kinten Palace. Find a way to get to White Rose Castle. You should know that there is a secret passage there that leads to the underground river."
"But what about you, Teacher?" Haruze's hand was held tightly by Princess Gryphine. He couldn't help but look up and ask worriedly.
"Of course I'm retreating with you. What are you thinking?" Brando replied irritably. "But I have to deal with these skeletons. You can't expect me to keep holding your sister's hand, can you?"
Princess Gryphine started slightly. Only then did she notice that Brando had been holding her wrist. She blushed and struggled to free her hand. "I know that secret passage. It's under the bed in the room where the Queen stayed. Come with me," she replied, pretending to be calm.
Haruze stuck out his tongue and hurriedly covered his sister as they retreated into the corridor behind Brando. Even though the skeletons were slow, they were still closing in on him. He knew that there would be no end to fighting with these low-level undead creatures. He raised his head and looked at the structure of the corridor. He raised his sword and swung it twice, cutting down a row of pillars on both sides of the corridor. The corridor that lost its support collapsed with a loud bang, crushing the wobbling undead underneath.
There were still two or three that escaped. Brando kicked them back into the ruins, then put away his sword, turned around, and ran.
Kinten Palace had been completely engulfed in flames, but at least it was similar to what happened in his memory. The corridor leading to the inner court was built with a large number of stone buildings, so it was well preserved in the sea of fire. They passed through this road to White Rose Castle. It didn't take long for the outline of the Cruz -style castle to appear in the night.
White Rose Castle was built before the Year of the Golden Hoof. Its earliest owners were actually the Cruz people, but after coming over, it was assigned to the former king and his subjects along with this land. After the Year of Revelation, the castle was destroyed in a fire and was later rebuilt together with Kinten Palace. What Brando saw now was this rebuilt castle.
This castle was the last stronghold of the Monsteros palace. It was also the last stronghold to fall during the Third War of the Black Rose.
"The castle's drawbridge must have been pulled up. Now we can only go through the back door from the kitchen," Her Highness reminded him as she ran.
Brando nodded. This was similar to what he had expected. There was no way to go through the kitchen, but there was a passage to transport food. As long as they entered the inner city, there would be a way to escape Kinten Palace. But as for where to go after leaving the inner city, he didn't think too much about it.
Now was the time to put everything on the line.
They had just rushed into the small forest in the courtyard in front of the castle when suddenly a group of Knights in black clothes and black armor appeared in front of them. Brando saw the Knights in full armor with green phosphorescence under their steel masks and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.
Black Knight.
He almost groaned inwardly. In this era, these should be the elite Knight in Madara's army of the dead. If he still had his original strength, it would be easy to deal with them. But now, to break through their defense line would undoubtedly be a battle to the death.
Because of Viscount Cauldell's control, the Black Knight also discovered the princess's group almost immediately. They turned their undead warhorses around and charged in their direction, raising the pitch-black long swords in their hands as they charged forward. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to qidian.com to vote for me. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
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