NOVPUB
Chapter 79: 79:Running Away
When Ariana entered and started attacking, he knew he was done for. Despite being fat and useless, from the way she moved and held the sword, Altross could tell that she was proficient.
He might be a bit arrogant and egoistic but not naive and conceited enough to disregard this. Using the opportunity when Kael and Ariana was preoccupied, he decided to run away and find the dark mage.
Baron Altross ran as fast as he could, his breath heavy with anger. His fists clenched, and he spat on the ground, cursing under his breath.
"Damn it! Why the hell is that bastard so strong?" he growled, his mind racing.
He was Level 53 with base stats close to 50 and ranked C-. Kael’s mana rank was unreadable, but from his movements, his stats looked to be around 20-30, which was only D-rank. That kind of gap was impossible to overcome.
A few points in stats made a difference, but twenty points? That was bullshit! It didn’t make sense.
It was totally unethical. Moreover, he felt like getting cheated for getting beaten by such a guy.
Then, a thought struck him.
"If he really is Kael... how the fuck did he change this much in a month?" The last time he heard about him, Kael was just a worthless fool, trying to molest his fiancée. Now, he was tearing through knights like a monster.
Altross gritted his teeth. He couldn’t fight this. He needed help.
"The Dark Mage... Only he can fix this," he muttered. He turned sharply, heading toward the forest behind the town.
By the time he reached the hill, his chest burned from exhaustion, but he didn’t dare stop. He had to keep moving. His eyes scanned the area until he found the hidden entrance surrounded by a barrier.
A magical barrier surrounded the place, designed to repel trespassers with a minor memory curse. But as he stepped forward, the tattoo on his shoulder glowed.
The magic recognized him, and a passage opened through the barrier. He walked inside.
In an instant, the world around him changed.
As Baron Altross stepped through the barrier, the air around him shifted. The dark, damp scent of the forest was replaced by a thick, unnatural chill. The sky above was no longer visible—only an eerie red glow pulsed from twisted, blackened trees. The ground beneath his feet felt wrong, as if it were breathing.
He swallowed hard and moved forward. The deeper he went, the heavier the air became, pressing against his skin like unseen hands. The silence was deafening, broken only by his own footsteps.
Then, a voice echoed from the darkness.
"You look troubled, Baron."
Altross froze, his muscles tensing. A shadowy figure stepped out from the gloom, its form shifting unnaturally, as if it wasn’t entirely solid. Two glowing red eyes pierced through the darkness.
"You said you wouldn’t come unless it was urgent," the figure continued, its voice like a whisper slithering into his ears. "So tell me... why have you been running like a scared dog?"
Altross clenched his fists, his rage boiling over. "That fucking brat Kael is ruining everything!" He took a step forward, his voice dripping with fury. "I need your help. Kill him and I’ll pay whatever price it takes!"
The Dark Mage chuckled, the sound unnatural and twisted. "Oh, Baron... you don’t even know what you’ve invited into your own home, do you?"
Altross stiffened. "What the hell are you talking about?"
The Dark Mage tilted his head, amusement flashing in his glowing eyes. "Kael... is not the same man you knew."
Altross’s heart pounded. "Then what is he?"
The Dark Mage took a slow step forward, his shadow stretching unnaturally toward Altross. His voice dropped into a whisper.
"Something far, far worse."
"What do you mean by that? Just spill the beans Marconi"Baron Altross spoke, looking ahead at the man walking out of the shadows. n𝚘𝚟𝚙𝚞𝚋.𝚌o𝚖
"He had an aura of a sinister being inside him. I don’t know what it is but that guy is troublesome.
Marconi stood tall, his thin, frail body wrapped in a tattered black cloak. His face was a nightmare—deep wrinkles carved into pale, almost rotting skin. His hollowed eyes burned with an eerie glow, and his lips twisted into a cruel smile. He gripped his crooked staff, the wood cracked and pulsing with a sickly green light.
"Sacrifice the townsfolk to call upon the undead rampage and get the blessing of the Gods."
Baron Altross swallowed hard, still fuming. "Undead Rampage? Are you serious?"
His voice was a mix of anger and desperation but after a moment he didn’t cared. "I don’t care what Lord you serve—just kill that fucking bastard Kael already!" He ran a hand through his hair, his face contorted with frustration.
"And that fat, useless bitch—how the hell is she even moving like that? None of this makes sense!"
"But is your God strong enough to kill them."
Marconi sighed, shaking his head. "You simple-minded fool. The Lord’s will is absolute. Those who oppose us will be wiped from existence."
His voice was a rasping whisper, like dry bones scraping together. "Kael is a mistake. He was fated to die, yet he still walks. Something is wrong. This world needs to be corrected." His lips stretched into a chilling grin. "And if I must drown this town in the dead to fix it, so be it."
Baron Altross narrowed his eyes. "So, what’s the plan?"
Marconi’s grin widened. "We unleash the Lord’s legion." He raised his staff, a dark mist swirling around him. "The dead will rise, and all who stand in our way will suffer. Even if that means killing a Grand Duke’s son, a Grand Duke himself, everyone will be purged!"
"Kekekwk!"
His laughter echoed, twisted and demented, filling the cursed space.
"HEHEHEH!What a wonderful plan."
CLAP!CLAP!
But then another laugh cut through the air followed by a clap. A sharp, mocking cackle.
Marconi’s laughter stopped. Baron Altross froze. Their heads snapped toward the entrance.
A figure leaned against the doorway, grinning like a lunatic. His eyes gleamed with madness, his messy greyish hair dripping with blood. His lips curled into a wide, feral smirk.
Kael tilted his head.
"Hah! That’s a great joke, old man."
Marconi’s face twitched. "What...?"
Baron Altross’s eyes went wide in horror. "What the fuck?!"
Kael stepped forward, his boots crunching against the cursed ground. His sword rested lazily on his shoulder, and his eyes burned with wild amusement.
"You two were planning a party, and you didn’t even invite me?" He grinned wider, a crazed glint in his eyes. "Tsk, tsk... how rude."
