Act 2: World Beyond - Chapter 409: The Catacombs of Ashflame City

Act 2: World Beyond - Chapter 409: The Catacombs of Ashflame City

"Not spoil the joy you're all feeling, but there is one slight item left on the list," Adam said, apology laden in his tone. He glanced at Oscar and the others, sighing and patting Tort's shell, indicating for them to sit.

"Explain. You just said earlier, in your own words, congratulations. The Burning Valley is ours. What else do we need to do?" Oscar's eyes twitched, and he reigned in the urge to shout to not worry or scare the men with an outburst. A suffocating sensation crept into his throat, an invisible grip of stress holding him tight.

Adam paused and placed a hand on Oscar's shoulder with a different slight smile brimming with comfort and empathy. This action from Adam affected Oscar, who breathed in normally, surprised at Adam's sudden display of kindness. It welled him with assurance, a warmth filling his heart.

"First, while you all rest, let me tell you about what happened when Elder and I arrived at the Summit of Flames." Adam made himself comfortable, stretching his legs forward. He opened his mouth and closed it again, giving an unsure look. "Well, it's hard to start. So much happened at once. Firstly...."

Adam recounted the events that unfolded during the Summit of Flames. Sevon hid nearby while he led the others into the outdoor grand pavilion. Inside there were the three lords of the Burning Valley, the Lord of Ashflame, the Lord of Scorchlight, and the Lord of Magmafury. Their faces were the picture of caution and wary, but not completely lost, as though they still had something left under their sleeves.

The conversations started as typical for a gathering of Lords. They derailed the discussions with useless tangents about the proper division and allocation of tributes, territories, and the meaning of leadership. Adam scoffed, saying a baby could tell they were trying to waste time, but the mystery remained in the reason.

Adam resisted the urge to kill them so many times during their snide remarks and inside jokes. However, he kept the lords occupied here for the plan's sake, tuning out their nagging. Then, they mentioned the battle and how they planned an ambush with the help of some interested people against the army, against Oscar and Avril. Knowing this, Adam no longer held back. Since they decided to deal the first blow, he responded in kind with the order to attack.

Unsurprisingly, the lords had many New Dawn members among their entourage, high-level combatants. Adam went all out and fought the lords alone. His forces were outnumbered by the coalition of the lords, putting the situation into the dumps. Sevon appeared at this time and tried to fight, but an executive of New Dawn interrupted to hold Sevon back. This executive possessed a potent Reis core and fought madly.

The two Greater Marshal Exalts fought each other, forcing everyone away from the battle. The battle was fierce. However, Sevon, a master of Reis, a scion of the Volten Clan, had no issue bringing down the executive. All the executive had was a collection of power without all the intricate masteries, nothing but a plaything for Sevon, who directed all the Reis back into him.

"So the battle was won. Even though I injured them severely, the three lords died at the Elder's hands." Adam scowled. "Those should have been my kills. In any case, I took a grade-three healing elixir and made my way straight to you all."

"How many casualties?" Oscar asked solemnly. He couldn't imagine a battle of the highest tier of Knight Exalts in progression and combat ability.

"Don't worry about them. Most of them were traitors from the former Lord of Brightburn. They didn't join with good intentions from the start and surely would have caused trouble in the future. This battle was a good excuse to cull their numbers and the elites of the other lords." Adam flicked Oscar's forehead. "They never had the best of hopes for you. They were never allies, so don't feel down."

Adam leaped off Tort and beckoned Oscar and Avril to follow him. Oscar rode on Erden with Avril, keeping pace with Adam. Fenu, the division captains, and other elites followed him inside the Lord's palace on his orders. He trusted the mission would be more bearable with more people.

The halls of the Lord's palace were similar to the ones in Brightburn City. The air inside was nice and cold, chilled to a refreshing cool by the mechanisms inside. The palace's grandeur expressed itself through the bright chandeliers of red crystals and floors of black marble, reflecting their figures in fine detail.

Oscar followed Adam down into the palace's basement, but Adam did not open the way further into the secret chambers. After a short wait, Sevon arrived downstairs and greeted everyone.

"Excuse my lateness. I had to go through the other two cities and clear them out before coming here. Now I know for certain this is it." Sevon brushed past Adam and Oscar. He retrieved a severed hand from his space pocket and placed its palm on a certain brick. "Let the way be opened."

Runes circled the severed hand, changing in strokes and lines every second until light outlined the shape of a rectangular gate. A click echoed from behind the seemingly ordinary brick wall, which parted to show a large tunnel with three paths.

"I sense something off in the middle path. I will go alone. We can cover more ground if we split. Moving all at once will impede our progress." Sevon turned to the rest, and Oscar could see the concern on the old man's face.

He stepped up and said, "Good luck, Elder, and good luck to everyone else. Fenu and the others will go right. I will go left with Avril and Adam."

"Spoken like a leader. Haha. The time on the throne has steeled you well." Sevon grasped Oscar's shoulder firmly with a single nod and smiled at Avril. He smoked a final pipe and faced the darkness hiding behind the tunnels. "Good luck to the rest of you. May we all meet back on the surface." He vanished inside the middle tunnel.

Fenu and the others bowed to Oscar before heading toward the right path: their steely faces, the apex of hardened warriors. Oscar lowered his head in gratitude for their bravery and loyalty. He glanced at Avril, Adam, and Erden.

"Tort is digging underneath to access the place from below and provide potential escape paths." Adam stepped before the boundary between the door and the tunnel.

Oscar lifted Avril on Erden and got on. Erden's hooves crunched on the pebbles, the only sound he could hear besides Adam's steps. They walked and entered the tunnel in silence, and a rush of heightened alert crawled over Oscar's skin. Forcing out the fears through sheer willpower, Oscar descended into the unknown.