Chapter 809 - The Falcon’s Beacon (IV) (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

The next morning.

The alliance advanced toward the Falcon Peak and launched their violent attacks on the Undead Creatures. The Undead Creatures defended strongly with their terrain advantage. This was a critical battle for both sides and neither had the intention of giving up.

It was the same for Rhode too.

“It seems like the battle is rather intense.”

Rhode twitched his brows at the loud explosions that echoed throughout the valleys. Even though there were no guns, armored vehicles, and airplane support in this world, the clash between magical and spiritual powers were still as exhilarating.

However, this wasn’t what Rhode was concerned about. He swept a glance at his group.

“Let’s continue.”

Of course, Rhode wasn’t leading them into the chaotic battle happening on the Falcon Peak. Moreover, the Eastern Plains didn’t have favorable impressions on outsiders like them unless they could be their saviors from crises. If not, Rhode knew that they would be snubbed despite showing good intentions. Furthermore… He had the intentions of letting this happen in the first place.

Why did Rhode get Marlene to deliver the Holy Maiden Statues to the Eastern Plains much earlier than planned after receiving this mission? It was for the sake of decreasing the battle pressure on the Eastern Plains and lowering the risks that they would face. As long as they could ease the dangers in the battlefront, it didn’t matter who were the ones dealing with the Undead Army because his group would ultimately be benefiting.

And now, it was time for him to recoup his investments.

Rhode didn’t choose to enter the Falcon Peak from the front because it wasn’t necessary. The Battle Mage Group had operated in the Falcon Peak for years, so they naturally held secrets of their own, ones Rhode was aware of. Even though there were tons of secrets in the Eastern Plains, the players accomplished lots of missions for them. Rhode had once gone on a mission for the Battle Mage Group, which explained why he understood how powerful they were. Not only that, but he also knew about their core secret…

The Cloud Walkway was located on the side of the Falcon Peak. It was a plank walkway built with wooden sticks and constructed along the steep mountain wall. The whistling cold gales blew and beneath them was the dark bottomless pit. This plank walkway was only a meter wide without railings. They could only use the wall as support and one could possibly fall if one wasn’t careful.

This was one of their secrets. After losing the ancient inheritance, this was their only heritage—Cloud Walkway.

Only the strongest in the Battle Mage Group held the rights to pass through, head into the deep sacred land, and accept the test and baptism of the spiritual path. Even though they had lost the inheritance, they kept this tradition for the sake of regaining it one day. It seemed like this persistence was right. Of course, this plank walkway wasn’t too challenging for the others with Lize, Nell, and Anne clearing it easily. To Rhode’s surprise, even Christie wasn’t frightened at all as she followed Anne nimbly…

“Just ahead.”

Sovann pointed at the cave that was connected to the end of the walkway. He recalled the first time when he stepped onto this Cloud Walkway. Back then, he was still a passionate young man who desired to be like his seniors who brought the Battle Mage Group to glory. But now… He had already passed that age. He looked at the dispirited manner that he was in now and let out a hopeless sigh. But shortly after, he gathered his focus and stepped forward in big strides.

The pitch-black cave was oddly quiet. However, Sovann didn’t seem mindful about it. He stepped into the cave…

At this moment, something happened.

———!

A glaring blade ray erupted from the darkness and slashed toward him!

Sovann was shocked, but he leapt back swiftly to dodge the ambush. Then, he extended his arms and magical runes emerged above them. The magical radiance weaved across to form a solid shield before him. At the same time, another dazzling radiance burst out from the darkness.

Clang!

The dazzling blade ray struck heavily on his magical shield and scattered into dust. Sovann sulked and focused his attention forward. Then, everyone saw the ambusher’s true identity.

“What is that?”

Lize exclaimed in horror while Anne widened her eyes curiously at the ‘enemies’.

They appeared to be strange, translucent figures clad in armor that resembled Specters. However, the appearance of the Specters in the Country of Darkness was much blurrier like water vapor with an indistinct shape of human. Moreover, the Specters usually served as scouts, so they were rarely seen together.

However, these ‘Specters’ were entirely different.

They seemed like living humans, at least judging from their faces and the folds in their clothes, which was extremely rare to find in Specters. This was because even though the Specters were basically dead, they were presences that were reluctant to leave this mundane world. However, most of them had already lost most of their spiritual energy after they died and survived mainly on their obsession to stay in this world. Despite the obsession, they couldn’t remember their names or looks and this explained why they mostly appeared blurry. Although high-level Specters could appear as silhouettes of humans, they were presences restricted by magic like wild beasts… They didn’t have any sense of consciousness at all.

And now, not only were the shape of these ‘Specters’ distinct, but they obviously also had consciousness! If it weren’t for their translucent appearance, perhaps they would be mistaken for Specters.

“They are the Guardian Spirits of this spiritual tunnel.”

Sovann heaved a sigh of relief and hurriedly stopped Anne and the others from attacking.

“They are our ancestors. The generations of guardians in the Battle Mage Group are allowed to rest their souls here after they pass away and test if their heirs are capable of inheriting their entirety….”

Sovann took half a step forward, retrieved the staff on his back, and raised it high. It was an ordinary-looking staff made by black wood. On its tip was a sharp pike instead of a shimmering gem that everyone expected. However, several mystical blue gems were embedded in a certain trajectory from the staff body to its tip, shaping into a mysterious rune.

“I seek your approval and hope that you can return to your eternal resting place and make way for us!”

“…”

The Guardian Spirits didn’t seem to have any intentions of moving away. Instead, they closed in while several other Guardian Spirits walked out from the walls simultaneously with weapons in hand.