Chapter 285: Day of the Final Battle

Late in the night, the Wolfgar's surprise attack descended without warning.

Soaring flames dyed the night sky red, and the camp quickly fell into chaos.

Ansu and Freya pushed through the panicked crowd, hurrying toward the reinforced walls.

Climbing the walls, they saw that the enemy's assault was even more fierce than the last time. Undead creatures were naturally fearless of death, and the Wolfgar warriors charged with bloodshot eyes, throwing their lives away as wave after wave of the offensive surged forward.

“Lord Ansu, watch out!”

Freya keenly sensed a hint of killing intent. She suddenly pulled Ansu close, shielding him with her body without hesitation.

A sniper shot whistled through the air, but her Holy Shield formed instantly, steadily blocking the bullet.

But the killing intent did not stop there. Several more sniper shots were fired from all directions, one after another, all of which were blocked by Freya.

Immediately following that...

An alchemical shell, as if it had eyes, actually curved in the sky, chasing after Ansu as it plummeted toward him.

Freya stared at the sky with wide eyes.

Ansu was even more speechless; had Gulzan invented missiles?

“Let me handle it!”

He didn't hesitate to use his magic items. Various high-level shield scrolls were activated in succession, layer upon layer of magic barriers protecting the two of them.

Amidst the flickering blue light, all lethal attacks were completely blocked.

Ansu and Freya quickly reached the top of the wall.

The Staya commander looked at him in surprise. Before he could even speak, he heard Ansu shout:

“Come over here! It's safe here!”

The commander froze for a moment. Seeing the density of gunfire and shelling around them suddenly skyrocket, he was so frightened that he scrambled into the barrier's range.

Ansu then began to converse with the commander.

This middle-aged Staya man, with a scar across his face, had once been a formidable mercenary leader who roamed the North. Hearing that his homeland was in trouble, he had dropped everything to return and help.

He was an experienced combatant and had commanded the previous defensive battle quite well.

“Mr. Morris!” The commander looked north, his expression anxious. “Something has happened on the snow mountain side as well, which was supposed to be the safest! The reconnaissance team discovered traces of the enemy. Elite wargs are flanking us by crossing the mountains. We're about to be attacked from both sides!”

He paused, his gaze urgent. “By the way, where is Mr. Leon? Where on earth has he been these past few days? The camp cannot be without a Chosen One!”

Ansu understood the reason for his urgency. With a Chosen One present, morale would remain high; everyone could firmly believe that the gods were on their side.

“There have been many rumors lately. Many people are saying that Leon is seriously injured and can't get up...” The commander's brow furrowed, his worry deepening. “If something has really happened to him, how can we fight this battle?”

“He's fine.” Ansu shook his head immediately. “Don't worry, Leon will be here soon.”

“Really?” The commander's face lit up with joy.

As they were talking, Leon's voice came from below the wall:

“Sorry, everyone, I'm late!”

Leon arrived just in time with the hero party. The moment he appeared, Ansu clearly sensed that the killing intent directed at him had lessened significantly.

It seemed that with Leon present, Gulzan didn't dare to launch a large-scale fire coverage anymore.

While Leon swung his sword to deflect arrows, he looked at Ansu in confusion. “Why do I feel like... the enemy was focusing all their fire on you just now?”

Ansu shook his head. “I'm not sure either.”

Leon frowned and thought for a moment before coming to a realization. “It seems they want to get rid of you, their core mage. After all, your magic posed too great a threat to them in the last battle.”

“Perhaps.” Ansu looked at him, his tone solemn. “Leon, we only have one chance left now.”

“Whether it's for you or the entire Staya Tribe, only by taking down Gulzan can we end this once and for all.”

Leon's gaze sharpened. “I understand.”

Only by finding Gulzan could he resolve all his doubts and continue on his savior road.

Ansu smiled. “Face your destiny. Perhaps this is the final chapter of this farce.”

“I think so too.” Leon nodded, clearly not understanding Ansu's underlying meaning.

The two of them were already prepared for the final battle and immediately finalized their plan—to strike directly at Gulzan's lair.

To assemble an elite force capable of defeating that powerful black mage, Leon mobilized the strongest combat power he could: the entire hero party, Ansu and Freya, as well as Archbishop Paul and his skilled attendant.

In addition, the commander assigned a dozen of the Staya Tribe's bravest warriors to follow them.

These people were the strongest lineup the entire Staya camp could muster.

Once the team was urgently assembled, Ansu took out a teleportation magic tool.

When he left last time, he had left a magic coordinate in a hidden spot near the cave entrance. The situation was dire, and every second counted.

...

Deep magic light enveloped everyone, the space distorted slightly, and the group vanished instantly. In the blink of an eye, they were teleported near the cave that exuded the aura of death.

Standing at the entrance, Ansu looked at the wary group and warned in a low voice:

“This is Gulzan's lair. The terrain inside is rugged, and there are a large number of undead creatures.”

“Furthermore, we will ultimately have to face Gulzan himself. He is a top-tier necromancer, so please be careful!”

“Would I be afraid of him?” A Staya warrior cursed in anger. “It's because of that piece of scum that we've been displaced! This time, I'm going to twist his head off and use it as a chamber pot!”

“Right! Kill that son of a bitch high priest!”

“Kill him!!”

The crowd was indignant, their fighting spirit soaring.

Ansu nodded in approval. “Good, quite spirited!”

A Staya warrior suddenly asked, “Are our captured kin also being held here?”

Freya nodded with a solemn expression. “They are right here.”

“Let's do this! Even if I die, I'll save my family!” The warrior roared, gritting his teeth.

Leon took over, his voice firm and powerful. “That's a certainty! We've come here not only to kill Gulzan but also to save those innocent Staya people! To save Talin, and even the entire North!”

Ansu said no more and led the team straight into the cave.

With the memories from his previous simulation, he already knew the correct route, saving them the trouble of getting lost in the karst caves' crossroads.

Undead creatures appeared one after another along the way, and four necromancers followed them like shadows, hiding in the dark to launch sneak attacks with insidious magic.

Fortunately, the team itself possessed formidable combat power, and they swept through everything in their path, heading straight for the underground plaza.

The moment they stepped into the plaza, everyone was stunned by the sight before them.

Countless bone cages were densely arranged, holding an uncountable number of demihuman captives. Among them were many Stayans, their faces haggard, their bodies covered in wounds, and their eyes dull and hopeless. Clearly, they had been imprisoned and tortured for a very long time...

Seeing their kin treated this way, the Staya warriors' rage was instantly ignited.

Ansu glanced at Freya beside him, giving her a look.

Freya understood instantly.

At this moment, Leon's mind was focused on flushing out Gulzan. He was carefully investigating the alchemy table, having no time for anything else. Freya stepped forward slowly, raising her hand to channel the power of holy light, and several sturdy bone cages shattered at the sound.

She first released the three tribal chiefs of the Feiyu tribe, the Ogor tribe, and the Draconian tribe.

The three chiefs were already gaunt from torture. The moment they regained their freedom, they were somewhat incredulous, staring blankly at the pink-haired girl enveloped in holy light.

“By the Dragon God...” The Draconian chief's voice trembled with the feeling of having survived a disaster, his bloodshot eyes wide. “I'm not dreaming, am I... You! You've come to save me?”

The Ogor chief was in slightly better condition. He patted the bull horns on his forehead, his booming voice full of excitement. “Warrior! Thank you, warrior, for saving me! Old Bull has finally seen the light of day again!”

The Feiyu chief gathered his tattered wings and said with equal gratitude, “Truly, thank you all! As long as the Feiyu tribe exists, we will treat you with the highest hospitality and never forget this kindness!”

Freya revealed a faint smile, surrounded by pure white holy light, looking like a Divine Maiden who had descended to the world.

“I am Freya, daughter of Isera and granddaughter of the Staya tribal chief. I have come on behalf of the Staya Tribe. May all our demihuman tribes unite as one to rescue our suffering kin here together.”

“As it should be, we must unite!” The Feiyu chief looked at Freya, who was bathed in holy light, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

“Freya, is it... Actually the granddaughter of that old fellow? I didn't expect that old man, who hasn't been very capable his whole life, would have such a promising granddaughter!”

“You flatter me.” Freya gestured to the accompanying Staya warriors, her tone steady and decisive. “Let's continue. Break open all the bone cages and save everyone.”

“Yes!” The warriors responded in unison and immediately began smashing the remaining cages.

One bone cage after another shattered. The soft holy light illuminated the darkness beneath the altar and dispelled the despair accumulated in the demihumans' eyes.

Finally saved!

And at this moment...

Freya, calmly commanding the situation while bathed in the pure white holy light, truly seemed like a Divine Maiden to everyone.

Taking advantage of the moment when everyone was busy, Freya quietly looked up at Ansu, who was not far away.

I wonder how I did...

Ansu was also looking at her. He discreetly winked his left eye at her, a hint of a smile hidden in his gaze.

‘Great job, good acting!’

Although Freya still maintained a solemn expression, she couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth curl up slightly.