Chapter 125: Along the Way

At the border, Ardis spotted a rising mist in the distance, where two powerful essences clashed, stirring a dense haze ahead.

This heavy fog obscured the view, making it impossible to see the path clearly.

“Is this... a seal formed by the world’s power?” Ardis murmured to himself as he took in the scene before him.

In his vision, beyond the reach of ordinary mortals, a seal was indeed present, formed by strands of the world’s power that coalesced to lock this stretch of land away. Yet within this seal, a deep, immortal demonic essence was slowly spreading, breaking through the world’s confinement and creeping outward.

This signaled a strange transformation within the land itself—some of its fundamental laws were forcibly altered, seemingly influenced by an overwhelmingly powerful entity. Ardis frowned, sensing something amiss.

“The corrosive and infectious force is formidable,” he thought, watching the darkening magical aura intensify in the distance.

To Ardis, the most troublesome aspect of this otherworldly demonic essence was its resilience and terrifying contagiousness.

Once it spreads within the world, it continuously infects living beings, gradually eroding the fabric of reality itself. This nature, combined with its near-indestructibility, meant that although it was constantly suppressed by the world, it never fully vanished, always clinging to existence.

“Your Majesty, as we approach this area, the number of corrupted beasts steadily increases,” a familiar voice spoke by Ardis’s side.

Looking down at the terrain ahead, Ardis saw that the once-flat and unremarkable land now teemed with the twisted forms of corrupted beasts. Their bodies dripped with fresh blood, exuding a foul stench, their grotesque shapes and overwhelming presence inspiring dread in any onlooker.

Seeing these beasts, Ardis frowned again. “We haven’t reached the border yet, have we?”

“No, Your Majesty,” Bill replied, catching up. “It’s still several days’ journey along this main road to the border.”

“Also, there are several villages here, formed by local tribes who settled and organized themselves. They usually oversee this area.”

Bill’s tone darkened as he spoke.

This was because the number of corrupted beasts ahead was growing, many bearing bloodstains, signs of recent battle and slaughter.

Watching this, Ardis lifted his gaze forward.

Under the operation of divine power, a faint crimson force began to shimmer on the beasts’ scales, suffused with blood energy that slowly nurtured their bodies. This combined with the core demonic essence within them, strengthening their power.

Feeling the scene unfold, Ardis’s lips twitched slightly; he knew the nearby villages were likely doomed.

“After experiencing slaughter, the strength of these corrupted beasts increases. Is this the essence of that demon god?” A thought suddenly occurred to him.

“It is destruction and plunder. Every life lost means the world’s power diminishes. Along the way, some of that power is intercepted and absorbed by the enemy to augment itself.”

His mind raced, attempting to fathom the nature of this foe.

But in the next moment, the group of corrupted beasts ahead seemed to sense Ardis and his companions. Their scales gleamed with a faint bloody light, and one by one they charged forward, their eyes glowing red with rage.

“Impertinent!” the knights shouted, some sneering coldly.

“Priesthood, prepare the divine arts!” Bill’s voice cut through the chaos, rallying the surrounding priests.

At his command, countless fireballs streaked forward, blazing with intense heat, illuminating the area brilliantly.

Then, waves of arrows rained down ceaselessly, as if their supply was endless.

When the bombardment of divine arts and arrows ended, the ground ahead was pockmarked and devastated, strewn with countless fallen corrupted beasts, their flesh torn and bloodied, their life force fading.

Ardis scanned the scene. Despite the brutal assault, most of the beasts still clung to life, their bodies shattered but their eyes blazing red as they limped forward.

This tenacity shocked everyone present; it was almost unbelievable.

“Press on,” Ardis whispered.

The bombardment continued until, after some time, the remaining corrupted beasts were finally wiped out, leaving only a scarred and uneven wasteland.

“Indeed, their power has grown significantly,” Ardis observed the remains carefully, his expression growing grave as he confirmed his suspicions.

Later, Ardis left a contingent behind to clear the battlefield, retrieve arrows, and gather the dead corrupted beasts for burning.

These creatures, infected by demonic essence, possessed contagious properties themselves. Without proper disposal, they would gradually infect the surroundings, assimilating other living beings.

Therefore, the best way to handle these demonic creatures was to burn them with divine arts, purifying their essence with holy power to prevent further spread.

Once this was done, the group resumed their journey.

As Ardis expected, the once-standing villages ahead were now little more than ruins, scattered with corpses, causing Bill and the priests accompanying them to look grim.

“Damn it!” one priest growled, sending a shard of ice slicing through a corrupted rat feasting on a corpse, splitting it in two.

But in the shadows, countless crimson eyes suddenly flickered to life. A horde of corrupted rats swarmed forward, their shrill squeaks filling the air.

Everyone frowned at this sight.

A faint ripple of divine power emanated as Bill stepped forward.

Now a High Priest of the third rank, the divine arts he wielded were formidable. A natural domain enveloped the area, purifying countless corrupted beasts instantly. Only a few stragglers remained, scurrying about before being swiftly dispatched by the priests’ magic.

As they passed through this area, the next leg of their journey was no different—dense swarms of corrupted beasts appeared continuously, sending chills down their spines. After one wave was slain, another would emerge, as if the land itself was wholly corrupted.

An overwhelming fear took root deep within them.

Their pace was severely hampered; what should have been a journey of several days stretched on for nearly half a month. Only by carving a bloody path through this demonic tide did they finally reach their destination.