Chapter 198: Your Circle is Truly Chaotic

Under the warm sunlight, a spring breeze brushed past the emerald canopy. The vast, boundless sea of trees swayed, rippling in faint waves as five streaks of light flashed across the blue sky and halted above a section of the forest.

Five figures in varying attire hovered in midair.

A gaunt man with two daggers strapped to his waist unrolled a magical map. He checked the red dot on it and compared it to the terrain below.

"Boss, this is the place."

"Let's go! Head down!"

The captain, carrying a greatsword on his back, waved a heavy hand. The five-person legendary squad descended, landing on a grassy clearing in the forest.

Within moments, the group found the Scorpion's cave that the White Dragon had encountered in the past.

The greatsword-bearing captain took the lead, guiding the rest toward the cavern.

As they drew near, a foul stench of decay drifted out. The party's two female members immediately pinched their noses and staggered back several steps.

The female mage gripped her staff and rapidly chanted, casting an air purification spell on herself and the female priest. Only then did they feel a bit better.

The male members were melee combatants accustomed to licking blood from a blade. Their nerves had long since been forged into steel. They chose to ignore the foul stench and strode straight into the entrance.

Roar!

A roar echoed from within. A black tiger suddenly lunged out of the darkness, tearing through the air as it snapped its jaws toward the legendary squad's captain.

The Legendary Rank Warrior didn't panic in the slightest. He even had the leisure to joke with his teammates.

Right as the tiger's claws loomed over his head, the captain's hanging arm shot out like lightning, seizing the beast by the throat.

Crack!

With a crisp snap, the throat of this Creature Level 9 shadow tiger was crushed.

The captain casually tossed the dead tiger, its eyes already glazed over, to the side. Standing by the cave entrance, he smiled and nodded at the female priest behind him.

The group tightened their grip on their weapons. The female priest, dressed in a pristine white robe, stepped to the front of the formation. She opened the Sacred Scripture in her hands and chanted a hymn-like prayer.

The prayer rang out like the tolling bells of the Holy Sanctuary, cleansing the soul.

Dense holy light poured from the open Sacred Scripture, washing into the modest-sized cavern.

Suddenly, as the holy energy reached the end of the cave, it collided with the hidden demonic abyssal aura. Like ice striking a red-hot iron brand, a violent energy reaction erupted.

'There really is a problem!'

Seeing the obvious energy reaction, the warrior captain shouted.

"Assume combat formation!"

The party advanced into the cave in combat formation. Upon drawing closer, they discovered that the demonic aura was seeping out from a small hole—one only wide enough for a snake the thickness of a bamboo pole to squeeze through.

"This..."

They glanced at each other in dismay, unsure of what to do next.

After a brief moment of hesitation, the female priest stepped forward. She stared at the pitch-black hole exuding the abyssal aura, her expression grave, and rapidly began to chant.

Holy Flame Spell!

A cluster of golden fire fell toward the opening.

The moment the abyssal aura in the hole met the golden flame, it ignited instantly like natural gas. Within the long, winding tunnel, the golden fire surged rapidly downward, rushing along the passage like a lit fuse.

In an underground chamber several hundred meters below the surface, a horde of demonized creatures sensed the repulsive energy descending from above. They tilted their heads back and unleashed furious roars.

The Demon Cultists tasked with guarding these beasts hastily acted to snuff out the descending golden flames.

Hearing the beastly roars from below and feeling the sudden disappearance of her holy energy, the female priest spoke coldly.

"There are people down there! And a lot of demonized beasts!"

"Let me handle it!"

The female mage gripped the head of her staff with both hands and slammed its butt into the ground. A stream of profound, arcane incantations tumbled rapidly from her lips.

A minute later, the lengthy chant finally concluded.

Legendary magic—Earthquake Spell!

The power of magic seeped into the earth. The ground began to sway and stagger, lurching from side to side like a drunkard.

"Hurry! The cave is collapsing! Get out!"

The cavern wasn't particularly deep, and the legendary squad swiftly sprinted out.

Below ground, however, the Demon Cultists scrambled desperately for their lives like fleeing rats. The rock above their heads fractured continuously, sending down a rain of boulders that crushed the slower demonized beasts into an indescribable bloody pulp.

...

Night fell, and the silver moon hung high in the sky.

An ancient castle stood silently upon the land, looming like a crouching beast.

The soldiers on the night watch patrolled back and forth along the walls with torches in hand. Hidden in the dark, numerous sentries kept a close eye on the open grounds within the fortress.

Suddenly, a small squad of cavalry charged out of the darkness, making straight for the castle.

Up on the wall, the captain in charge of defense spotted the incoming riders and shouted.

"Halt! This is Count Bilando's castle! Who are you people?! How dare you trespass on a noble's estate!"

"Open the gates! We bear a verbal decree from His Majesty! We are here to invite Count Bilando to the palace to discuss matters of state!"

By the light of the torches, the guard captain clearly saw the Royal Guard armor worn by the riders. If the Royal Guard had come personally to deliver a summons, it was certainly no trivial matter. He quickly yelled down to the soldiers guarding the gates.

"Open the gates!"

The Royal Guards spurred their horses and charged in through the widening gap in the gates.

Inside the castle, a pale, fat man in disheveled lavish clothing scrambled out of bed upon receiving the news and hurried to the main hall.

"Commander Morsend, sir. For His Majesty to summon me so late in the night, I wonder what the matter could be?"

Clad in his magnificent armor, Morsend smiled.

"I wouldn't know either. I simply received the sudden order. It isn't just you, Count Bilando; several other members of the nobility are also on the summon list. His Majesty is quite anxious, so let us set off immediately."

"Very well. We must not keep His Majesty waiting."

Count Bilando straightened his clothes as he walked. Reaching the outdoors, he climbed into a carriage that had already been prepared.

Under the "protection" of the Royal Guard, Count Bilando hastened toward the royal capital.

Inside the carriage, Count Bilando mulled over the reason for the king's late-night summons.

'Could it be that we're going to war with the barbarians again?!'

Shortly after entering the capital's gates, Count Bilando suddenly heard the distinct sound of the Royal Guards drawing their swords. A jolt ran through his heart, accompanied by a terrible premonition.

"What are you doing? Ouch!"

Count Bilando heard his driver being violently kicked away, and cold sweat immediately beaded on his forehead.

A moment later, the carriage curtains were thrown open, and the Royal Guards roughly dragged the obese Count Bilando out.

"What are you doing?! I am a Count!"

Commander Morsend sneered.

"You used to be. Not anymore!"

"Count Bilando! You are suspected of colluding with Demons. By verbal decree of His Majesty, you are under arrest!"

Hearing this, Count Bilando collapsed to the ground.

'It's over. They found out.'

The Royal Guards slapped shackles on Count Bilando and dragged him away toward the prison.

Such scenes were playing out in kingdoms all across Nordhill.

Overnight, countless high and mighty members of the nobility—both great lords and minor nobles alike—were arrested and reduced to prisoners.

...

The Overseas Archipelago.

The White Dragon Lord reviewed the reports from across the world passed on by the Council.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Your circle is truly chaotic."