Lord of Caldera - Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Chapter 72
However, Toby and Ray weren’t so easily convinced. As they neared the city gates, their expressions only grew more serious.

Finally, as they approached the gates, Ray spoke up, his tone grim. “Something’s wrong.”

“What do you mean? The walls and gate are intact,” one of the knights said, puzzled.

“There are no people,” Ray replied flatly.

“What are you talking about? There are guards standing right there,” the knight pointed toward the sentries.

“But nowhere else,” Toby chimed in, scowling as he scanned the city walls. “There’s no one patrolling the walls, and I don’t see anyone out in the open between the city and the horizon. I may not know Valtor well, but for a bustling city like this, we should have seen at least some people coming and going by now.”

“…!” The knights finally realized the oddity. While the city’s walls and gates appeared untouched, there were no signs of life. No travelers, no merchants, no movement—nothing.

“Damn it, something’s definitely wrong,” Ulrich muttered under his breath.

“What should we do, my lord? Do we retreat?” the knights asked, all eyes turning to Ulrich. As the next heir of the family, Ulrich was the one with the authority to make decisions in such a situation.

After a brief hesitation, Ulrich gritted his teeth and stared at the gate. “We go in.”

“Are you sure?” one knight asked.

“We can’t turn tail now. We’ve come too far, and we need to know what’s going on. Running away just because things feel strange will ruin my reputation,” Ulrich said, knowing that leaving without investigating would make him a laughingstock.

Nodding in agreement, the group advanced toward the gate. One of the knights approached the two guards standing at the gate.

“Hey, you there! Guards!” the knight called out.

“…” No response.

“Guards! Answer me!” the knight shouted louder. Still, the guards didn’t move. Just as the knight was about to shout again, the guards grinned.

—You’re quick to notice, one of them hissed in a voice like scraping metal.

“W-What the—?!” The knights recoiled in shock. The voices weren’t human, and the guards began to snicker in unison like twins.

—But even though you noticed, you still came in. Brave, or just foolish? they taunted, their voices like nails on a chalkboard.

“Demons!” the knight shouted, immediately drawing his sword and striking at one of the guards. But as soon as the blade touched the guard’s body, it crumbled into a pile of squirming maggots.

Disgusted, the knight stumbled back, the rest of the group recoiling in horror.

“Ugh! What vile trickery is this?!”

“Fall back!” Ulrich shouted, but it was too late.

—It’s too late, a deep voice echoed around them. Black, writhing tendrils of mist began creeping toward them from all directions, twisting like living creatures.

“What… what is that?!” one of the knights shouted.

“I don’t know, but it’s dangerous! Fall back!” the group tried to retreat, but one knight wasn’t fast enough. The dark mist touched his arm and his horse’s side.

“Aaaaahhh!!!” the knight screamed, his voice echoing in agony, as if his flesh were being torn off in layers.

—Kiiiiii!!! The horse’s screech followed, both human and beast caught in the mist’s torment.

Toby, acting quickly, rode up and grabbed the knight by his right arm, pulling him away from the mist with his immense strength. The feat was something only Toby could manage.

“Hey, snap out of it! What happened?!” Toby barked, shaking the knight.

“I-I just saw… my eyes… my eyes were torn out…!” the knight stammered in shock.

“What are you talking about? Your eyes are still right where they should be!” Toby snapped.

The knight, trembling, reached up to feel his eyes, only to find that they were indeed intact. Slowly, he regained his composure.

“Damn it! Is this some kind of illusion?!” Toby muttered, his face tense.

“Stay away from that black mist! Everyone, fall back!” Ulrich commanded.

“But there’s nowhere to fall back to!” one of the knights shouted.

Just then, with a heavy creak, the gates of Valtor swung open. Whether by coincidence or trap, the only path left open to them was through the city gate.

“Charge inside!” Ulrich ordered.

At his signal, they rushed through the gate, but the moment they passed through, everything changed.

“What… the sky!” one knight gasped.

“Damn it…!” another cursed.

The sky above was now a sickly purple, and the ground itself writhed like rotting flesh. Even worse, the black mist that had been creeping up on them was now everywhere, giving them no room to maneuver. It moved slowly, like a predator herding its prey.

“This is bad…!” Toby muttered, beads of sweat forming on his brow.

“I knew I shouldn’t have come!” Max groaned, his face a picture of despair. It was a moment of sheer hopelessness.

Just then, Sylas dismounted from his horse and walked forward.

“Lord Sylas?!”

“Where are you going?!” Ulrich demanded.

Ignoring their calls, Sylas drew his cursed sword. Even in this nightmarish world, the blade glowed with an eerie, radiant light.

“Even if this evil cannot be cut by any ordinary blade, there is nothing this sword cannot cleave!” Sylas declared.

—Heh… What a fool, the cursed sword sneered.

—Why would I help you? This is where you meet your end…

The cursed sword couldn’t help but feel triumphant. Finally, it would be free of Sylas. The demon would torment and kill him, and the cursed sword would no longer be bound to its current wielder.

“This sword’s blue flames will purify even the darkest of evils!” Sylas shouted dramatically.

—How amusing… Is that all? the sword laughed mockingly.

Ignoring the sword’s jeers, Sylas thrust it into the heart of the black mist.

Suddenly, the sword trembled violently.

—Aaaargh! Pain! It hurts! Why does it hurt so much?! the cursed sword screamed.

“Ah! This wicked aura…! It’s suppressing the sword’s power!” Sylas groaned theatrically, his hands trembling as if struggling to control the blade. He then leaned closer and whispered to the sword.

“Of course it hurts, you idiot. This mist replicates pain. As long as something can feel and think, it’ll experience pain.”

—Whaaaaat?! Aaaagh! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! the sword howled.

“Unlike more complex emotions like desire, this mist focuses purely on recreating pain. It doesn’t care if you’re an animal, a person, or even a sentient sword.”

Even though the sword had no physical senses, the mist drew from the suffering of other beings and forced the sensation onto it.

“And the stronger you are, the more the mist is drawn to you. Look, the mist isn’t coming near me because it’s all focused on you,” Sylas added with a smirk.

—Ugh! Aaagh!

“If you want to stop the pain, use your flames. Your fire should burn this mist away.”

—Why didn’t you say so sooner, you bastard?! the sword shrieked.

The moment Sylas finished speaking, blue flames erupted from the blade, instantly burning away part of the mist.

“Oooh! The demon’s power is fading!” one of the knights exclaimed.

“Truly, Lord Sylas has been chosen by the holy sword!” another shouted.

“Chosen? I told you that wasn’t true, Oscar, you idiot!” someone else muttered.

Ignoring the chaos behind him, Sylas pressed forward, cutting through the mist with his flaming sword.

“Follow me! I’ll lead the way and clear the path!” Sylas called out.

—Stop it! Aaagh! Don’t shove me into that mist again! the cursed sword wailed.

“Burn, flames! Awaken to your master’s call and purify the demon’s aura!” Sylas proclaimed loudly.

—This crazy bastard! Aaaagh!

“Lord Sylas, follow him!” the knights cheered, emboldened by his display.

With the cursed sword unleashing its flames, Sylas hacked through the mist, clearing the way. The sword, writhing in agony, had no choice but to obey, its flames blazing even more fiercely. The knights, filled with newfound courage, followed closely behind their “hero,” ready to face whatever came next.