Chapter 233: Past Incarnation

The moment Valeon spoke that name, Regaleon’s heart skipped several beats.

For an instant, he wondered whether the Etheryeans within the pavilion had somehow detected his existence and, because of that realization, Regaleon was suddenly alarmed.

Subconsciously, he almost tried to hold his breath, as though doing so would somehow prevent his presence from being given away.

Then he remembered something critical. He was not in his physical body; rather, he was merely a spiritual form so there was no way that holding his breath could accomplish anything.

In fact, had he been in his physical body, Regaleon was certain that he would have broken into a copious perspiration. Yet the benefits of retaining his spiritual form apparently included absolute immunity to physical reactions such as sweating, fatigue, and even the involuntary responses brought about by fear.

Still, that did little to prevent the initial panic.

Regaleon stared toward Valeon, waiting for the bulky knight to turn his head in his direction.

But fortunately, he did not. Instead, Valeon was looking toward the head of the table.

Only then did Regaleon realize that the knight had not been addressing him at all. He had been addressing the person seated at the head of the table.

Meanwhile, the Regaleon in question closed several of the parchments he had been examining before slowly raising his head to look at the other Etheryeans.

The moment his face came into view, Regaleon himself received another shock despite supposedly using every ounce of shock in his reserve since he started this experience.

He could hardly believe what he was seeing. And that was strange, considering that he was quite literally viewing the sight through his own golden eyes.

The Regaleon seated at the head of the table was actually... Him.

Not him in the exact sense because it was not as though he were looking at a perfect doppelgänger, but still, the resemblance was unmistakable.

For several moments, Regaleon simply stared to the extent that he almost began doubting whether he truly had no twin.

He was well aware that everything he was experiencing was a memory of events that had occurred centuries, perhaps even aeons, ago. Yet knowing that did little to alleviate the disquiet he was feeling.

If anything, it only added to the uncertainty, to the extent that Regaleon was beginning to question the veracity and authenticity of what he was witnessing.

The man seated before him was too similar, too familiar and surprisingly... Too much like him.

However, although the Regaleon seated at the head of the table resembled him closely, there were subtle differences in their physical appearances.

For instance, Regaleon himself appeared to be the younger version, while the other Regaleon looked like an older incarnation.

If he did not know better, he might have thought that he had somehow projected his consciousness into the future and was now observing how he would look after several more years.

But that interpretation was false because be was not looking at a future version of himself; instead, he was looking at a version of himself from the past.

A person who had existed long before him and whose existence had somehow been preserved within this memory.

And once again, that was what made this entire ordeal so disconcerting. Or perhaps...

Perhaps he himself was the incarnation of this Regaleon.

The thought lingered for a moment that Regaleon was almost considering it but in the next instant, he snuffed it out before it could take root.

Actually, there was no way for him to know who this Regaleon was. But whatever the case might be, the silver-haired Knight simply accepted the uncertainty and continued observing.

The other Regaleon possessed the same golden eyes and silver hair that were peculiar to the other Etheryeans seated around the table.

Just like Regaleon himself, his body was well-built and lean, yet athletic and powerful.

His face was chiseled and sharp, carrying an expression even more stoic than the most serious expression Regaleon himself could muster.

Yet despite their similarities, there were subtle physical disparities between them. Fine creases and lines of maturity traced portions of the older Regaleon’s face, giving him an appearance that was older, more disciplined, and more seasoned than the Forgotten Knight.

There was also something else and that was his aura. It possessed greater depth and magnitude than Regaleon’s own.

Whether that was because this incarnation was a higher-ranking Etheryean or because the passing of time had simply deepened his foundation, Regaleon could not determine.

But there was no denying the difference.

The man seated before him carried himself with the quiet authority of someone who had already experienced countless battles and burdens.

This Regaleon lifted his head.

His sharp eyes swept across the Etheryeans seated around the table before stopping upon the parchment still held by the silver-haired Knight who had spoken second.

He studied it for a moment before shifting his gaze away and address the others.

"There is only one reason for Sir Talen to send a letter this urgently, and because of this, we must treat it with the same urgency with which he sent it."

His voice was deep, calm, and composed. Yet it carried such authority that several of the more relaxed silver-haired knights immediately sat straighter.

The pavilion became quieter.

The older Regaleon leaned back into his chair and tapped one finger against the table in a measured rhythm.

"However, just as Cecileon said earlier, we have to proceed meticulously and ensure that we do not become rash with our decisions."

His finger stopped.

"After all, the fate of the world literally rests upon our shoulders."

The moment he uttered those final words, the atmosphere within the pavilion changed.

The tension became almost tangible and the Knights who had previously shifted casually in their seats now became rigid, their expressions turning grave.

Even Valeon, who had been the most outspoken among them, remained silent.

Meanwhile, Regaleon furrowed his brows.

The fate of the world?

From the manner and severity with which this incarnation of himself spoke, Regaleon could discern that the world seemed to be facing some kind of catastrophe.

And judging from his choice of words, the people gathered within this pavilion appeared to be among the few standing between that catastrophe and the destruction it threatened to bring.

So their presence here was not random neither was this garrison merely an ordinary military encampment.

They were involved in some kind of existential war and if Regaleon had to guess, those Devils they had mentioned earlier were their enemies.

As Regaleon descended into a silence of contemplation, the other Regaleon continued speaking.

He turned toward Cecileon and asked. "Cecileon, tell me. How is the Third Battalion holding up in the West?"

Immediately after receiving the question, Cecileon straightened in her seat.

"Based on the reports that arrived earlier this morning from Sir Jofferey, he and his soldiers have managed to successfully push back the Horde of Devils attempting to break through."

She paused.

"However, that victory may not last."

Regaleon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"According to Sir Jofferey’s report, there appear to be even more Devils being produced by the Pits."

The atmosphere tightened.

"And that has placed them in a dire predicament."

"The Pits?" Valeon immediately raised his brows as he asked. "I thought they had managed to destroy them previously. How do they still exist despite their supposed destruction?"

Cecileon nodded as she answered. "You’re right. Sir Jofferey and his men did manage to destroy a Pit."

Then her expression darkened. "However, accomplishing that task alone resulted in disastrous casualties within his army."

She paused briefly before continuing.

"As it turns out, that Pit was nothing more than a false construct, deliberately created to lure them into an ambush."

Several expressions around the table hardened.

"It seems that after suffering several losses, the Devils have already begun changing their strategy. They are willing to employ deceptive means in this war."

Whenever Cecileon spoke the word Devils, it was usually through gritted teeth.

The contempt was unmistakable such that even Regaleon noticed it immediately from where he stood. He could not determine what the Devils had done to inspire such animosity within her, but whatever the reason, it was clearly not insignificant.

The other Regaleon remained silent for a moment after hearing her report. Then he released a soft hum, his expression remaining composed.

He turned toward another silver-haired Knight.

"Tell me, Maraleon. What about the battle on the northern front? How is Sir Draughr handling it?"

The woman called Maraleon immediately adjusted her position. She was the Knight who possessed that amazonian physique.

"Well, there have not been any major hiccups in their operations since they arrived there."

Her tone was considerably calmer than Cecileon’s.

"As a matter of fact, the last report I received from Sir Draughr stated that there was nothing to worry about."

She glanced briefly at the other people around the table before continuing. "It seems that the Pits and the Devils there are not as formidable as those on the other frontiers."

The older Regaleon listened without interrupting while Maraleon continued.

"Sir Draughr believes that the northern front can hold for the time being. Their forces have encountered resistance, but nothing comparable to what Sir Jofferey’s battalion is experiencing in the west."

However, her calm expression soon became serious as she added with folded arms. "The problem is that this situation of theirs could change at any moment..."

Immediately they heard her words, the pavilion descended into an eerie silence...