Chapter 364: Maelstrom
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Rain was pouring down while a light column as bright as a light tower rose up from Beinz Blood Lake. Hao Ren heard the pressing sound of the bell and he instinctively thought of something as he shouted, "Are the rock monsters coming?"
He thought the bell was an alarm for a monster attack.
But, Ophra glanced through the window and her face suddenly turned grim. "No, it's the alarm from the Sacred Lake Chapel. Something's happening!"
Everyone, including Lily who lay yawning a while ago became nervous. Hao Ren and his team were not familiar with the meaning and category of the alarm. But, judging from the expression on Ophra's face, he knew it was something big. Before he could ask, someone knocked on the door in a pressing manner. Ophra quickly sensed who was behind the door. She glanced over and the door swung open in an instant. Cold wind saturated with rain blew in and a knight, who was completely soaked stood at the doorway. "Marshal, there's an emergency at the sacred lake. The chapel has been swallowed by the lake!"
"What?!" Ophra was stunned. It felt like all the powers and abilities she possessed were useless at this point. "Have you confirmed it?"
"It's been confirmed. A father, who managed to escape sent word theurgically. Bishop Gelton is sending his knights to Beinz Blood Lake as we speak."
Ophra adjusted her light armour and said, "Gather all the elite forces. We're going too."
"Wait, wait a second. Count us in." Hao Ren quickly volunteered his group. "We're experts—"
Ophra looked at Hao Ren with a strange look on her face. "What experts?"
"Let's not delve into the details. We're truly experts in times like this." Hao Ren did not really know what he was saying. He just wanted to go and have a look. He waved his hands frantically as Ophra questioned him. "We just want to serve the country..."
Ophra nodded. "If I don't buy your story, you're gonna make up another excuse?"
Hao Ren choked, but Ophra did not waste time on the topic. She made her decision and quickly said, "You can come with us if you don't mind the weather. After all, you were the ones who found the Orb, so I'm not worried that you're going to harm the sacred grounds. But, don't expect me to take care of you guys."
Then, Ophra glanced at Nangong Wuyue and said to her, "Miss, please lead my men into the mountain. I'm worried the cult followers may take advantage of the situation."
Ophra had not forgotten about the cult in the mountain. Nangong Wuyue did not mind at all. She said, "No problem."
So, they followed Marshal Ophra out and departed to the knights' base camp. Out in the open, Hao Ren could now experience the true face of the storm: the sky and the land had merged into one; it was greyish-white everywhere he looked as if the world was submerged in a pool of dye. The chilling rain was carried by a freezing whirlwind and there was so much water in the sky. It was as though the ocean had turned upside down and pouring its water back to Earth. There were no pedestrians on the streets; only groups of soldiers running hurriedly in the storm. They were all completely soaked.
Only mages or higher-level warriors had a shielding ability to protect them from the rain. Most ordinary soldiers, though relatively strong were just ordinary in other aspects.
Fortunately, Hao Ren and his team were never short of strange gadgets. They had neck rings with shielding functions, which they once used in space to stay alive. Now, they were using them to block out the rain. Meanwhile, Nangong Wuyue had a much simpler way: raindrops on her body disappeared just as fast as they fell. It seemed like they were being absorbed by her body. Plus, she was riding on the water under her feet as if she was surfing in a half-walking, half-sliding movement; sometimes, it looked like she was skating. She really enjoyed this weather.
Rain could not touch Ophra within two-metre radius from her. She glanced at them, looking surprised. "Your 'magic shields' are very unique. I've never seen anything like them before."
Hao Ren waved his hands frantically. "Because, we're professionals..."
Vivian gave Hao Ren the side-eye, thinking that the most expert part this chap was his shrewd mouth.
Before long, they arrived at the knights' base camp. Nangong Wuyue followed a team of shielded elite warriors as they departed to the mountain range, while Ophra led another team of elite forces to Beinz Blood Lake.
When they reached the defense post at the Gnarled Grove, a group of knights in white robes were standing in their way. The leading knight was a pious-looking, middle-aged man—a father. The father stood in front of Ophra and said, "Marshal, Bishop Gelton has gone to the sacred lake with his own men. You can rest assured that the matter will be in the good hands of the Church Knights."
Hao Ren was appalled by the pedantic clerics who still rigidly clung to bureaucracy at a time like this. But still riding on her horse, the no-nonsense Ophra pointed her sword at the cleric and scoffed, "Move! You are disrupting the Royal Knights from carrying out their duty."
The female marshal's face was stern as she spoke. She was being straightforward and an invisible air of pressure was radiating from her. The marshal was undoubtedly determined to run over these pedantic clerics if they decided not to give way.
The father clenched his jaw. Perhaps, he realised that it was not the right time to play hard ball, so he let Ophra pass. "May the goddess bless you."
"May she bless you too," Ophra said before leading her team and cutting straight through the Gnarled Grove.
The brigade rushed through the rain on their horses like a sheath of wind. But somehow, Hao Ren found that something was not quite right. "Are we going to run in like this? I mean the horses would be drained out before we even get there!"
Opra did not say a word. She waved to the knights behind her. "Everyone, get ready to form a straight line and attack!"
Immediately, all the knights merged into a single straight line formation and they ducked in an attacking position. The horses that Hao Ren and his company were riding on had also been trained by the knights. So, they merged into the formation on their own. Ophra led the brigade and charged forward like the head of an arrow.
Just as the knights began to charge forward in their attacking position, Hao Ren sensed his surroundings turning strange.
The ferocious wind and rain became isolated, like they were disappearing. Their surroundings started to fade like a black and white photograph, and everything became monotonous as well as abstract. The towering old trees and sceneries in the Gnarled Grove suddenly became semi-transparent. The brigade was shooting ahead like an arrow piercing through a black and white world!
The towering trees were no obstacle; the same was for the rocks and the valley. Everything before their eyes was just an illusion; the only real entities were the knights themselves. They were shooting through the Gnarled Grove, away from the main path on the shortest route towards the Blood Lake.
Their speed had exceeded that of their horses and their surroundings turned into beams of light flying past them. Based on a rough estimate, Hao Ren figured that they were moving at a speed of at least 200 clicks an hour.
Becky gripped the reins tightly and followed Ophra closely behind. She was ecstatic. "It's Marshal's Assault! Marshal's Assault! The world's only military-based magic! A long time ago, Lady Ophra penetrated the so-called 'Impenetrable Seven Defenses' of the rebels in the south with just one thousand elite forces in this way. She captured the Southern Grand Duke's whole family even before the war at the frontlines began! The rebellion was suppressed in just one day!"
Hao Ren was in awe, but Ophra turned around and corrected her. "That's just a rumour. Only four defenses were penetrated. I was thinking about attacking one of their fortresses, but little did I expect to see the Southern Grand Duke touring the area with his trusted aides. Frankly, we were both surprised. However, he was clearly slower than me."
Hao Ren was still in awe, thinking that she was truly a legendary heroine. Even her skill tree was specially made!
With the help of Marshal's Assault, the brigade arrived at the lakeside in just under an hour. The blood-red lake was still a scene to behold despite the storm.
Because, the dang lake was really red.
They walked along the lakeside onto higher ground and as Hao Ren looked down, his jaw completely dropped to the ground.
A maelstrom was in the middle of the Blood Lake. Everything near the maelstrom, including the isle in the middle of the lake was gone.