"What are we going to do now?"
Simon looked at Frank with concern. His eyes trembled, revealing his anxiety, as he glanced around. They had now entered long, narrow corridors instead of the giant hall.
Frank appeared more relaxed than Simon. He surveyed his surroundings calmly, looking as if there was no trouble at all. He glanced at Simon out of the corner of his eye and said calmly, "What are we going to do? Idiot, we’ll just move forward and crush whatever comes our way."
"That’s easy to say, but what if something like a Dragon shows up again?"
"Look around," Frank said calmly. His eyes wandered. "No Dragon could fit in here. Only skeletons or small but powerful monsters can be here."
Simon shook his head, then focused on his surroundings as Frank began to move forward. He felt more anxious but was also vigilant. He had to be alert for any potential traps.
After a while, when the duo passed through an iron door, Simon’s eyes widened at the sight of four dead wolves, and he quickly pointed his sword forward.
Meanwhile, Frank gripped his staff coldly and looked at Simon. "As long as we’re careful, there won’t be any trouble, Simon. Don’t be anxious. Relax and keep your thoughts only on the enemies."
"I understand," Simon replied, nodding. As the deadly gazes of the wolves fell upon them, Simon made a quick leap and delivered a swipe that tore apart the first wolf.
As the sword pierced the wolf made of bone and shredded flesh, Frank swung his staff and smashed it against the head of another wolf with brutal force.
First wolves were already dead.
As the others quickly lunged at them, Simon went for one while Frank targeted another. Frank swung his staff from above, causing the wolf to crash into the ground and crack it, while Simon drove his sword into the wolf’s belly.
Then he pulled back and shot a look of appreciation at Frank. "You cracked the ground, really."
Frank laughed and swung his staff. "I told you. I may be over 200 years old, but I’m still strong and as good as new."
"Let’s go; there’s no need to wait any longer. Emily and George must be worried."
"Yes," Simon said, and without waiting, they continued to move forward. After a while, what greeted them was not the wolves but goblins. Undead goblins.
Unlike skeletons, their flesh was still on their bodies, but instead of natural green skin, they had black and grotesque-looking skin.
Simon laughed when he saw the goblins’ ears and looked at Frank. "Frank, these goblins look like you."
Frank shot him a quick, stern look, and Simon fell silent, focusing on the enemy. "Stop talking so much, kid; focus. Save your jokes for later."
"I just wanted to make a joke."
Before Simon could say more, seven goblins rushed forward, armed with different weapons: daggers, clubs, and swords.
With a swift move, Simon sliced off the hand of the first goblin attacking him with a dagger, then decapitated it to kill it. Thankfully, goblins were a slow race. Their only advantage was their numbers, but there were only seven goblins here.
"Die!"
With a roar, Simon cut down another goblin, while Frank’s fist smashed into a goblin’s face, causing it to writhe on the ground in pain and scream in a high-pitched voice, while Frank stomped on its head mercilessly, causing it to explode.
"Is this real? What are my eyes seeing!?"
Simon could only watch in shock, mouth agape; how could an old man inflict pain on something twice his size with his fists? It was unbelievable and strange.
Frank delivered a hard kick to the Knight’s knee, which bent in an unbelievable way, causing the Knight to start falling backward. Without stopping, Frank advanced quickly and kicked the Knight hard in the abdomen, knocking him to the ground.
As the Knight’s hefty body fell, Frank stepped on his stomach, his eyes mocking. "Is that it? I guess I shouldn’t expect much."
The Knight, in pain, tried to lift his head; despite being immortal, he wasn’t like an ordinary skeleton. He had willpower but was forcibly controlled by the Lich for vile and dishonorable actions.
The brutal punches delivered by Frank had caused the Lich’s will to wane from his mind for a time.
The Knight looked at Frank with his last strength. "Kill-me-kill-me-kill"
The raspy voice surprised Frank, then his eyes narrowed in understanding, and he sighed. He looked at the Knight. "I pray for your soul to find peace..."
Then Frank channeled his mana into his arm. As his fist glowed with a green and red aura, Frank gazed at the Knight with ruthless eyes.
"Ahhh!" With a roar, Frank’s punch easily shattered the Knight’s powerful and durable core, striking the Knight’s head and cracking the entire ground beneath them.
"This—" As the ground cracked, the ceiling and walls trembled with fury. It looked like they could collapse at any moment. Simon, however, didn’t say a word. His eyes could only try to comprehend what was happening.
"Is your admiration over, son?"
Frank said as he stepped down from the Knight’s body, which was slowly turning to dust. Seeing Simon still in shock, he looked at him sternly before smiling. "This old man has some hidden features."
Simon laughed, feeling the tension ease within him. He then approached Frank and looked at the Knight, who was gradually turning to dust on the ground. "Remind me to get an autograph from you when we get out of here."
Frank smiled, then put his clothes back on, which he had taken off to a corner, and retrieved his stick. He then returned to a hunched position as if nothing had happened. "Let’s move on."
"Frank, why do you still act hunched over when you can stand straight?"
"You fool," Frank scolded in a harsh tone. "Do you think an enemy would take a hunchback seriously?"
Simon understood what Frank was doing, and his eyes lit up. "Did you really think this far ahead?"
Frank shook his head. "In battle, you have to do everything you can to win, or you’ll always lose. Life isn’t all sweet like honey; it’s a rogue, a templar, or a demon; it doesn’t matter. An enemy can come at you at any moment."
"Well said, old man." Simon said as a thin smile settled on his lips. Frank was about to leave stopped.
Frank’s eyes went to the Knight’s slowly fading body one last time before leaving; he clasped his hands and slightly bowed his head. "Your name, your fame, and what you fought for may be forgotten, but your will, honor, and pride still exist. That is commendable. I hope you have finally found peace..."
"What are you doing?" Simon asked curiously. Frank lifted his head and calmly replied, "I am praying for his peace. The soul and will are sacred. Maintaining that even after death is a commendable and honorable thing."
"Now that you say that, I actually feel sorry for the Knight..." Simon said. Frank shook his head. "Anyway, there’s no point in thinking about it anymore. Let’s go."
Then, without waiting any longer, they quickened their pace.