Chapter 26 - Old Empire (3)

Reter was relentlessly cutting through the dark spawns as we made our way to the plaza of the old capital.

"Eerie…" Jane remarked as she walked beside me, her gaze scanning the shadows lurking at the edges of our path.

The plaza itself was a haunting sight. Crumbling stone arches jutted out like broken teeth, remnants of a once-majestic structure now lost to time. The cobblestones were slick with age, each step echoing tales of battles fought and lost. Scorch marks and deep gouges marred the ground, evidence of past attempts to raid this stronghold—a futile endeavor against the creeping darkness that now threatened us.

As we ventured further into the capital, the dark spawns grew stronger, their presence palpable in the thickening miasma.

Suddenly, a grotesque figure emerged—a Darkness Incarnate that loomed above us like a twisted nightmare. Its form was amorphous, a writhing mass of shadow and malice.

The figure kicked him to the building.

"Argh…!" Peter cried as he knelt down, clutching the side of his stomach. "Stop acting like a baby; it's just a scratch," Jane retorted, her eyes narrowing at him.

His expression betrayed him, looking like a child who just lost his favorite toy. With a flick of my fingers, a bright white light enveloped him, erasing his fatigue in an instant.

The spawns of darkness crawled toward us, surrounding us like a horde of hungry wolves. Peter got back on his feet, determination etched on his face, and Jane sprang into action.

"There's no end to this!" Peter shouted as they fought back.

Peter swung his sword with precision, slashing through the dark forms as Jane dodged and weaved between their attacks, her agility reminiscent of a dancer in a deadly ballet. They fought with fierce determination, taking down one after another, but we were constantly bombarded from all sides.

"Looks like I have to act…" I muttered, gathering my magic.

As I unleashed Holy Nova, a brilliant explosion of light erupted from my core, cascading outward in a radiant wave.

The brilliance was blinding, searing through the darkness like a scorching sun rising in the dead of night. The dark spawns screamed in agony as the light consumed them, disintegrating their twisted forms in an instant. The plaza transformed into a canvas of luminescence, each flicker of light a defiance against the encroaching shadows.

The remnants of darkness evaporated like smoke, leaving behind a tranquil silence in the aftermath.

After the initial chaos, the plaza fell silent. The aftermath was surreal; remnants of dark shadows smoldered in the air as a faint glow illuminated the area.

"Oi. I didn't bring you guys here to act pathetically." They frowned at my response, their expressions a mix of disappointment and shame. I sighed, running a hand through my hair, and looked at them disapprovingly.

They both avoided my gaze, unable to find words as I scouted around. Golden light glowed in my eyes as a magic circle inscribed itself on the ground.

"Maybe I should have done this from the start," I mused, preparing to unleash Sanctuary.

The radiant barrier pulsed outward, pushing back the miasma that suffocated the air, and for a moment, the plaza felt safe.

Suddenly, a notification chimed in my mind:

[A new quest has been created!]

Investigate the origin of the miasma and defeat the dark spawns.

"Even the gods don't know their origins?! It's definitely strange how they seem out of this world."

[As we've said, their origins predate the Old Empire after all.]

I continued towards the royal palace, which loomed ahead, dark and foreboding.

"What the hell are you still doing?" I turned around to see my companions lagging behind, exhausted and panting on the ground.

"I have no time for deadweights." I felt the urgency to delve deeper into the capital. Though I was in a hurry, I wasn't overly flustered—after all, I was joking when I said that to them.

If this novel were a game, the old capital would be considered endgame content, only unlocked after the main story.

As I quickened my pace, my companions struggled to keep up.

"The history of the old capital is long gone. No records survive to explain its downfall; only tales of grandeur and might remain."

As I spoke, we approached the inner districts where the miasma thickened. Suddenly, a massive shadow loomed ahead.

"There he is—the Darkness Incarnate."

It was a grotesque, Lovecraftian monstrosity, its body twisting in unnatural angles, eyes glowing with malice.

With my current divinity, defeating it should have been easy, but…

"Good timing." A throne materialized behind me, and I casually sat upon it.

"God, why the hell did it really appear? I was just imagining that damn skill of Maple, Throne of Heavens—"

[Your Unique Skill: 'Blessing of the Magic God: Hecatia' allows you to materialize anything] a voice interrupted.

'Argh! This isn't a [Great Sage] from that series, right?!'

[I'm trying, you damn—]

'Yeah, I got it, so shut up.'

"Okay, you two." I ordered them both. "This is good training material—defeat that… thing."

The Darkness Incarnate roared, the miasma spreading like a dark veil around us.

"Lady! We can't defeat that—" Peter began, but before he could finish, the creature lunged forward, its fist aimed directly at me.

In a flash, Peter stepped in, deflecting the blow with his sword. "Urgh…" He grunted as the force of the impact sent him stumbling back, but he quickly regained his footing.

The Darkness Incarnate turned its attention to Jane, who nimbly dodged its attack, using the nearby buildings for cover. Peter swung his sword again, attempting to land a hit, but was met with a powerful kick that sent him flying.

"Haiz… you guys never learn, huh?" I said, watching the chaotic scene unfold.

But to my surprise, neither Peter nor Jane seemed hurt.

"My skill doesn't allow anyone to take damage in my range; instead, it gets transferred to me." I explained, angelic wings spreading from my back as a halo appeared above my head, shining brightly in the dim atmosphere.