The Guardian gods

Chapter 291: 291

"But we found ourselves in a world occupied by the pioneers of knowledge. The mages may have gone wrong with their experiments, but before we do anything or make contact, we should at least understand what experiment has been carried out."

Extending his hand toward Keles’ face, Ikenga asked, "May I?" Keles nodded as Ikenga reached forward and tapped her forehead.

As he did so, Ikenga explained, "I should have done this earlier, but we were too close to Zarvok, and he may have noticed something. So, I kept it to myself."

Ikenga shared his vision of the events on the phantom side, as well as the small bits of information gathered from ordinary goblins.

Looking at his sister, Ikenga said, "Whatever those mages did, somehow turned a mediocre race into something remarkable. The surprise in Malzor’s voice when the goblin used a complete spell should show you how serious this matter is."

"Zarvok’s expression didn’t reveal much, but we can’t conclude that goblins using a complete spell is something usual," Ikenga added as he gazed out the carriage window.

Keles absorbed the vision her brother had shared, her expression growing more contemplative.

"The goblins..." Keles murmured, her eyes narrowing as she considered the implications. "If they’ve harnessed magic to this degree, there’s no telling what other creatures may have been affected or what else might have changed in this world."

Ikenga nodded to Keles’ words. "That is exactly the problem, sister. We know nothing. The ogres we saw leading a charge toward the demon army—we know nothing about where they came from. Are they connected with the goblins, or were they also part of the mages’ experiment?"

Hearing about the ogres, Keles’ expression shifted. "It seems to me, brother, that compared to the goblins, the ogres have shown nothing exceptional. From their previous actions, they seem to prefer force over intelligence. Maybe we should start with them."

Ikenga shook his head at her suggestion. "I understand why you might think that, but because of the first impression we got from a few thousand ogres fighting for their survival, we can’t conclude from their actions that they are not intellectually capable."

"They seem to be a small, thriving village. It’s reasonable that they know nothing about demons, so their previous actions were correct—they attacked and defended against something they believed was an invasion of their village and land."

"We also have to consider that knowledge of demons and invasions isn’t something everyone is aware of. This is all based on the assumption that they aren’t part of the mages’ experiment."

"If we assume they are part of the experiment, then seeing them as you do would be wrong. Considering they are living in a village, they might not even be aware of what they are capable of. They may not even know they were part of an experiment, as it may be something of the past to the current residents of this world."

Keles listened intently to Ikenga’s reasoning, her initial skepticism giving way to deeper contemplation. The world they had entered was far from ordinary, and the implications of the mages’ experiments were becoming increasingly unsettling.

"You’re right, Ikenga," Keles admitted. "We can’t afford to underestimate any of the creatures here. The goblins have already shown an unexpected level of magical proficiency. If the ogres have also been enhanced in some way, we need to find out how."

Keles’ agreement with Ikenga was interrupted by the sudden awareness that they were being watched. Both siblings, ever perceptive, instantly sensed the intrusive gaze. Without hesitation, they severed the connection to the prying eyes.

Ikenga’s hand glowed with a dark, ominous purple light as he inscribed a complex curse into the carriage wall. It was the same protection spell he had once used to guard his house in the Abyss.

As the curse took hold, Ikenga could feel the frustrated gaze of their unseen observer struggling to relocate them, but the carriage had vanished from their sight entirely. Ikenga let out a breath, his tense posture relaxing slightly, though his mind remained sharp.

Elsewhere, far from where Ikenga and Keles traveled, a female goblin draped in regal attire stared at the orb before her with a puzzled expression. She had been watching the carriage, curious about the strange power it emitted, but now it had simply disappeared. The last thing she remembered was a goblin-like figure driving the carriage. "Which mage was in that carriage?" she mused, her thoughts turning over the possibilities.

Her thoughts darkened as she considered the implications. "This must be reported to His Majesty immediately. If one of our mages has had contact with the Abyss, it could mean trouble for us all." She stood up, her mind already forming the report she would deliver to the goblin king. The Abyss was a place of dark power, and any connection to it was a matter of grave concern.

Back in the carriage, Ikenga and Keles exchanged a knowing glance. They had narrowly avoided discovery, but they knew their presence would not go unnoticed for long. The goblins, or perhaps something else, were already onto them.

"I think it’s time we contact Phantom," Ikenga suggested, his tone serious. "We need him to do what he did with the gargoyles—to infiltrate the ranks of the goblins or the ogres, whichever proves most beneficial."

Keles nodded in agreement. "No matter what the mages did to these races, they couldn’t alter the fundamental nature of sentient beings. Their emotions, their hierarchies, their biases—these are the very things that define a civilization, but also its greatest weaknesses."

Ikenga’s eyes darkened with intent. "Exactly. If we can exploit these divisions, we can destabilize their society from within. But to do that, we need information—Phantom can provide that. He’s skilled at blending in, manipulating, and gathering intelligence. We’ll need him to uncover the fractures in their society, the places where we can apply pressure."

Keles chuckled, a cold, deadly aura looming inside the carriage. "Once we understand their weaknesses, we’ll be able to bring this world to its knees. The goblins, the ogres, even whatever remnants of the mages’ experiments remain—they will all fall before us."

With their course of action decided, Ikenga prepared to reach out to Phantom. Phantom was still in the Abyss, and though the wisdom occasionally leaked by Malzor was tempting to Ikenga, his current need for Phantom outweighed his greed for knowledge.

Phantom, standing before the portal, received Ikenga’s instructions. Without hesitation, he stepped through, vanishing into the swirling vortex. On the other side, Ikenga, still seated within the carriage, immediately sensed Phantom’s location. Instinctively, he waved his hand, attempting to open a portal to bring Phantom closer, but instead, he was met with heavy resistance. The fabric of this world was denser, and something was pushing back.

Ikenga caught himself, his brow furrowing as he looked at his hand in frustration. With a deep sigh, he realized the enormity of the challenge before them. "This world is far larger than I anticipated," he muttered. The distance between Phantom and their current location would take two to three months to cover at the pace of their carriage. Even with Phantom moving in tandem, it would be risky.

"If Phantom moves alongside us, he’ll be exposed," Ikenga reasoned, speaking aloud more to himself than to Keles. "He’ll be under constant pressure from this world’s repulsion, not to mention the watchful eyes that lurk in the distance."

Sighing again, Ikenga shifted his plans. "Phantom will remain with Malzor for now. Let him gather information, observe the flow of things from the Abyss. We’ll keep moving; there has to be something we can exploit."

Ikenga tapped the wall of the carriage. "Take us to the nearest gathering of life forms."

Vaegur, seated at the front of the carriage, nodded upon receiving the message. He adjusted the reins, steering their mount toward a new destination.

By the time the carriage reached its destination, it was nighttime. As the carriage came to a halt at a safe distance from the city, Ikenga and Keles peered out at the scene before them. The city was much larger than the village they had passed earlier, fortified with towering stone walls and bustling with activity despite the late hour. It was clear that the inhabitants were on high alert—whether due to external threats or internal tensions was hard to say just yet.

Ikenga narrowed his eyes, studying the movements of the guards. "They’re expecting something," he murmured, his gaze shifting toward the lamp towers, which flashed beams of light into the distance every few moments. "Something significant like us?"

Keles leaned closer to the window, her expression thoughtful. "They’re clearly well-organized, not like the goblins or ogres we’ve encountered. This level of vigilance suggests either a long-standing threat."

Keles paused as she finished her sentence. "They’ve already been informed of the invasion, or maybe our disappearance from their sight has put them on high alert."

Ikenga studied the guards again, noting the disciplined way they moved, each patrol synchronized as though they were prepared for an immediate threat. "They’re not just waiting for something. They’re prepared, expecting a confrontation."