Realm of Myths and Legends

"There's something protecting the coffin. Compared to the life seal on the corridor, it's leagues ahead. We won't be able to use the same method to break through it." Izroth commented as he carefully surveyed the area.

"My thoughts are the same. That being said, our goal is right in front of us. To give up after coming this far—I'm sure the idea hasn't crossed your mind." Lances stated.

He sighed and continued, "Of course, we don't have much time to sit around and come up with an in-depth plan. Now that we've entered this area, I'm sure skounae reinforcements are on their way. And since we've managed to make it past a Duke of Zareign's caliber, they won't be half-hearted reinforcements."

"Then, we'll just have to find a way to interrupt the revival process before the reinforcements reach this place," Izroth said as he began to walk toward the coffin at the area's center.

Lances followed next to him and said, "I'll be honest, I have no idea where to begin this time around. I've never seen this kind of protective barrier before. It doesn't seem to be the work of a magic formation. It employs a shielding concept that's completely foreign to me. Even the energy it's emitting feels off. It doesn't remind me of mana or any other common energy source at all."

"Your analysis isn't too surprising. The energy being used to power this protective formation shouldn't exist in the Mortal Realm." Izroth responded casually.

"What? Are you saying that you know the identity of the energy source being used?" Lances said as his brows rose in surprise.

'How can I not? This energy... It's the same as the one I felt from him.'

The Envoy of the Netherworld, Nekrostalmenos—this was the existence Izroth became reminded of when he first detected the energy contained within the coffin's shielding.

It was an oppressive and suffocating death-like energy that made one feel as though their life was slowly fading away just by standing in its vicinity.

However, given the ties between the skounae and the Netherworld, Izroth did not find the discovery too shocking. Needless to say, it was only natural that Lances had no clue as to the origins of that energy. After all, even if he was a part of the Pride Clan, the chances of him having ever encountered a person from the Netherworld were incredibly slim.

As for Izroth, he had been marked by a curse from Nekrostalmenos as a result of severing his arm. Because of this, after the incident concluded, he already had two run-ins with creatures from the Netherworld.

'Hm?'

Out of nowhere, as Izroth moved closer to the coffin, numerous spikes of energy erupted from several locations throughout the area.

'It's returned.'

The shadahi aura that Izroth detected earlier while manipulating the strands on the corridor had revealed itself once more.

Izroth halted his steps as he swept over the open chamber with his gaze.

Seeing Izroth come to an abrupt stop, Lances also paused his steps as an inquisitive look formed on his face. But, not even half a breath later, Lances' expression changed as he seemed to have noticed something. At the same time, he also started to look around the area.

"Can you feel it as well—those chaotic forces?" Lances asked in a serious manner.

"Yes. It's hard to tell because of how chaotic it is, but there are at least twenty of them." Izroth replied nonchalantly as he unsheathed his Sword of the Storm.

He then warned, "Everyone, prepare yourselves. It would seem that we have some company.

"Commander?" One of the 5th Unit members called out with a perplexed look on his face.

"Do it." Lances said without delay.

Izroth and Lances were the only two capable of perceiving the chaotic forces. Therefore, while those of the 9th Division immediately moved to prepare themselves, besides Halls and Guan Yu, who knew personally knew Izroth, the rest of the 5th Unit seemed hesitant to follow his orders.

Of course, this was not because he was a Captain of the GSU. Rather, their respect and consideration for Lances were simply that high. Not to mention, even after witnessing his strength firsthand, those of the 5th Unit did not have the same trust in Izroth's judgment as Halls and Guan Yu. After all, just because one possessed a great deal of strength did not mean that they would automatically make for a good leader.

"Hah, these guys—are they looking down on our brother? Did they really have to wait for Commander Lances to speak up?" Guan Yu frowned.

Halls sigh as he shook his head and said, "It can't be helped. They don't understand our brother like we do. If we were in their shoes, we probably would have done the same."

"I know that, but still..." Guan Yu grumbled under his breath.

Meanwhile, the 9th Division and 5th Unit readied themselves for whatever awaited them.

Although there were still no visible enemies in sight, if Izroth and Lances were the ones telling them to prepare, then there had to be something out there.

Roooooooragh...

A faint noise that sounded like the mix of a low roar and eerie growl echoed throughout the chambers.

Not long after the first sound emerged, many others followed after it.

"There," Izroth said, calling attention to a specific area located a few meters away from the coffin near its back side.

Right as he pointed out that area, a strange spatial fluctuation appeared and affected the physical realm to the point that even those without the Spatial Awareness skill could see it.

Several similar spatial fluctuations emerged in different spots within the chamber until there were twenty-six such phenomena.

'How is this possible?'

Out of nowhere, a single dark red arm with sharp claws in place of fingernails stuck out from one of the spatial fluctuations. However, even before seeing that arm, Izroth knew exactly what was within those spatial fluctuations as he instantly recognized that faint battle cry.

The following moment, a creature stepped out of the spatial fluctuation as a chaotic aura quickly spread within the vicinity.

Rooooooooooooooragh!

The creature unleashed an ear-piercing battle roar as the chaotic energy in the atmosphere skyrocketed.

"What the... That—what is that thing doing here..?!" Halls said as his eyes widened in shock.

"Huh? You've seen that monster before?" Guan Yu asked curiously.

"Yeah. But if I'm being honest, I'd rather not fight those things again." Halls answered as he furrowed his brows with a troubled face.

Back then, Guan Yu had still not yet met him and Izroth; therefore, Halls was not surprised that he had never seen those creatures before now. After all, they were not even supposed to be in this place!

For Halls, however, that time was an unforgettable experience forever etched into his mind.

Dark red skin with piercing crimson eyes, sharp teeth that filled their mouth with row upon row, claws that looked as deadly as a bladed weapon, and a towering height that stretched over two meters tall.

'I was hoping what I detected earlier was just my imagination, but... It seems that the aura I felt belonged to one of them after all—a shadahi.'

Name: Lesser Shadahi Patroller(Unique Elite)

Level: ???

HP: ??? (100%)

One by one, more Lesser Shadahi Patrollers emerged from the spatial fluctuations.

"That appearance, don't tell me...!" Lances narrowed his eyes as his voice contained a tinge of concern.

That's because the creatures fit the physical description of the same entity who wreaked havoc in the Demilitarization Belt not that long ago.

A creature said to be virtually unkillable and, excluding Tempest, an existence that the kingdoms of the Mortal Realm tried to avoid at all costs.

"So, that's a shadahi, huh? It's no wonder I was unable to pinpoint the origin of that chaotic energy. What an unnerving existence." Lances commented.

He glanced over at Izroth and asked, "Seeing as how you recognized its origins beforehand, you must have seen the one in the Demilitarization Belt."

"Well, something like that," Izroth replied nonchalantly.

Not only did Izroth see Commander Ekquilore, the shadahi that roamed the Demilitarization Belt, but he even fought him inside the Shadahi Realm!

Of course, during that time, Ekquilore's powers were suppressed due to the restrictions placed upon the shadahi within the Shadahi Realm. However, even at that time, he was not an easy foe to overcome because of the unique nature that surrounded his existence, as well as that of all other shadahis.

"Watch out for their flames and charging skill! Those of you who are confident in your defense, if you see a dark purple aura appear around the creature's hand, prepare to intercept the claw of energy it fires! Those it targets with that claw of energy will be unable to resist being pulled directly in front of the creature who used it! Also, try not to use the same skill against them more than once, or it'll become useless!" Izroth warned.