Chapter 198. Buried Secrets

Walking inside the clearing, the Necromancer kept pondering Lilith's choice of words. 

For her to call this place 'wretched lands' must have meaning. As much as she hated Inarius, she created this world herself; she loved and protected it. Otherwise, Lilith wouldn't have created the Altars.

The Sanctuary itself was proof of this, as even when he kept following Lilith's trail of destruction, the words used to describe her or her actions weren't negative at all.

'I've been chasing her trail for a while now, and even as I watched the destruction she caused everywhere, the Quests I got from the Sanctuary didn't use any negative words to describe her. Is her purpose more noble than we can realize? Or is her end goal aligned with the Sanctuary's intentions, therefore it cannot find fault with her?

There's no doubt that the demoness is evil. I mean, leaving everything else aside, she cut a man in half, strung him with vines on a tree, and placed a curse that continuously drained blood from him to the point where she dyed the whole forest red.'

A loud demonic growl similar to Fiorban's made the entire clearing tremble.

[ Amalgam of Rage Gestation (Boss) - Level 54 ]

The introduction of a Boss made Michael wince. Furthermore, its name was grayed out, signifying invulnerability.

But in the clearing, there was nothing else except him, Fiorban, and the Amalgam of Rage. Then he noticed something odd.

"The Life Points... they're empty and slowly filling. Shit! How do I undo the..."

*HOWL*

The howls of more than twenty creatures in the form of Werewolves, Volkdaks, and other types of Worgen pounced on Michael and his minions. 

Fortunately, with Fiorban's help, they were quickly killed and were now littering the clearing's floor with their corpses. But this wasn't the end...

"Motherfucker! Their blood... it's flowing toward the center."

Like in a horror movie where you can't do anything but wait - and that was after using a couple of Corpse Explosions to verify if it was the case - Michael watched as the Boss's Life Points began increasing and a three-headed beast formed from all the blood pooled. 

It was about four meters tall, and its body was at least eight to nine long. As for its heads, they looked more like dogs instead of wolves.

"...isn't this a fucking Cerberus!? What the fuck does such a mythical creature has to do with... Oh... Hell... right..."

Watching Fiorban lunging at the Cerberus, Michael's heart almost stopped. Scared, he immediately cast Decrepify plus Corpse Tendrils at the Boss and also used Quarterback's taunt to distract it.

Then, he detonated all the Corpses left by the Worgen behind, dealing massive continuous damage to the creature. 

"Fiorban! Fall back!"

Unfortunately, the wolf didn't listen, and the Boss smacked it away, draining more than 25% of its total Life Points with that attack.

But it simply got up and charged forward again. 

Annoyed, Michael decided to use it as bait, but the Cerberus had other plans. It pounced at the Necromancer, ignoring everything else near or around it. 

Without being able to use Evade to get away, he could only cast Blood Mist, hoping he could put enough distance between himself and the creature before the three seconds passed.

'What a fucking surprise! I can't get away in time!'

Annoyed at the Boss recklessly chasing him even as he was taking massive damage from his minions and the Corpse Explosion miasma, the Necromancer didn't have any other choice but to use Bone Storm.

It proved effective, as the creature's immense paw only took 200 or so Life Points from him and a subsequent 50 after smashing him into a tree.

But the minions and Fiorban didn't laze around, especially the wolf, which did almost as much damage to the Boss as Michael.

The change happened when its Life Points reached 25%. It stopped, and all three of its heads looked in a particular direction. Then, a most seductive voice whispered from between the trees.

[Come to me, spawn of Hatred. We have tender meat to hunt.](Lilith)

With her words, the Amalgam of Rage ignored all the attacks and the Golem's taunt as it launched itself into a leap. Seeing it almost fly above the treeline, followed by an earthquake from its landing, Michael knew he couldn't follow it.

"Damn it! Wounded but not yet dead... Where did Lilith call it? Fiorban, let's hurry back to your master. We need to know what the demoness did here before we make more plans."

The wolf was faster than he was, as it was already rushing back. 

[ Main Quest complete - Fangs of Corruption

Reward 1: 62,974 experience points

Reward 2: 3,500 gold coins. ]

[ Main Quest issued - Stemming the Flow

Objective: Return to Nafain

Description: You must return to Nafain and tell him of the monster you found feeding and growing on the corruption flowing into the Untamed Thicket. ]

Fortunately, most of the corrupted wildlife in the forest seemed to recover somewhat, and nothing stood in the man and wolf's path as they returned to the tree where the Druid was strung upon.

Seeing Nafain again, Michael momentarily didn't know what to say.

[*Raspy breathing* Did you stop her?](Nafain)

"No. She was already gone, and I fear she has taken a piece of you with her—a beast born from your blood and other creatures from this forest."

[*Sigh* It's my fault.](Nafain)

As he heard those words, Michael's face darkened. Did this Druid also cave in?

"What part did you have in this?"

[A pact with Lilith... to help me destroy the Knights Penitent...](Nafain)

Michael's blood froze, and he found it hard to breathe momentarily. What sort of hatred did this man have with the church to go to such ridiculous lengths?

Finally exhaling, the Necromancer tried gathering his bearings and attempted to collect as much intel as possible.

"In return for what?"

[I told her... where Astaroth is hidden... *ragged breath* Eldahime.](Nafain)

"Fuck! She'll kill everyone there! Not only the Knights but the innocent glenfolk also! How could you do something so stupid!?"

[In her presence... I lost control. Rage consumed me *Gasp* Only one thing to do now. End the corruption.](Nafain)

Hearing the Druid's words, which sounded like nothing more than excuses, Michael tried very hard to mask the contempt on his face.

Because of a personal vendetta, this foolish man condemned hundreds of people to death. Ignoring him, Michael used his Ring of Communication and contacted Celeste.

[What happened now? Don't tell me there's another place starv...](Celeste)

"Hurry up and send all the capable people you can to Eldahime Keep! Lilith is probably attacking the place as we speak! We must stop her, or the entire keep's population will be erased!"

[...got it!](Celeste)

Still worried immensely, Michael looked at the Druid, hoping it would hurry the fuck up and tell him how to stop this shitty blood from destroying the lands.

Now, he finally understood why the crops in Tirmir, the wildlife, and the fish in their lake couldn't be consumed. They were infested by the corruption Lilith created.

As he was pondering, a branch fell from the tree above, planting itself at the Necromancer's feet. 

Rather than calling it a branch, a spear was a more apt description.

[Hurry. Put an end to my suffering...](Nafain)

Grabbing the spear and yanking it from the soil, Michael sneered at the man. Even now, he doesn't regret or understand the consequences of his actions.

Approaching Nafain, who could barely maintain consciousness, he stabbed at the man's heart, forcing a pained grunt from the man and a whine from Fiorban.

The Druid's eyes clouded over, and they permanently closed. With his death, the blood also stopped flowing. 

'I will have to ask the girls how to cleanse this corruption, else fuck knows what other troubles might pop up. I should...'

*HOWL*

Hearing the wolf's desolate howl, Michael turned and looked at it. Pain and loneliness were apparent in its eyes as it slowly walked forward and stood under his master's body.

Sighing, the Necromancer summoned his minions and had them dig a grave under a more blood-free patch of dirt, burying the Druid there. Then, approaching Fiorban, Michael used a Cleaning Marble and restored the wolf's silvery appearance. 

"I'll leave another two Marbles here. You only need to put some energy into them. I know you can since your attacks were infused with the air element. I'll leave them here by your master's grave. After dealing with Lilith, I'll come visit you again."

Opening a portal, he quickly traveled back to Kyovashad and took the Waypoint to the Firebreak Mannor. 

From there, he summoned his mount and rushed to Eldahime Keep after asking the Steward to gather up all the Knights and rush to the keep as fast as they could since Donan might be in danger of death.

[ Main Quest complete - Stemming the Flow

Reward 1: 44,082 experience points

Reward 2: 3,000 gold coins

Reward 3: Quietus of Nafain (Rare dagger). ]

Reading the item's description as he rushed to the keep, Michael felt slightly disgusted.

[ Description: The tip of the spear used to Kill Nafain, now fashioned into a crude dagger. His corrupted blood still stains its edge. ]

On his way there, he found the Druid Moreg turned into a giant bear, fighting over ten Blood Clan goatmen. Michael helped him by throwing a Decrepify, followed by Corpse Tendrils and some Corpse Explosions.

"I'll rush to the keep. Follow behind as soon as you can, please!"

[*GROWL* Got it!](Moreg)

With the keep's walls in sight, Michale dismounted and summoned his minions. Just as he was about to storm the gates, he saw traces of blood, as well as a trail showing something being dragged.

"That place... Halwerth, the begging soldier. Fuck!"

[ Main Quest issued - Buried Secrets

Objective: Return to Eldhaime's Keep. ]

The sound of fighting was prevalent, and the smell of burning wood and flesh disgusted the Necromancer. 

With his minions charging forward, he mowed down swathes of goatmen as he made his way inside.

It was a total mess. Corpses were everywhere, and Knights, as well as other Wanderers, engaged the monsters.

'Celeste said she'd send Level 50 to 55 Wanderers to ensure my Quest doesn't get derailed. But it seems that they arrived too late.'

Rushing as much as he could, he used the Corpses on the ground continuously, detonating them to clear the path forward. 

"I am Michael Corbett! Where the fuck is Donan!?"

[Necromancer!? Go to the Training Grounds! The Knights are still holding strong there, but the walls have already been taken, and the entrance to the Great Hall is barred! Donan should be inside!](?)

"Got it! I'll leave the rest to you!"

Activating Bone Storm to clear the way and stop the goatmen from blocking his path, Michael rushed past the execution platform, which was now filled with strange racks made of spears that impaled Knights and villagers alike.

He saw the two 'regulars' among the dead. Gritting his teeth, he moved forward, trampling the Blood Clan members standing in front.

[Wanderer! Over here!](?)

Moving to the source of the voice, he watched as five Knights rushed forward and cleared a path for him. Then, they barred the passage with wooden barricades and sat heavily on the ground.

They were obviously exhausted and covered in wounds.

Among them, one of the women Knights he saw during his first visit beckoned him. There was a large wound from her right clavicle to her waist, showing the bone.

"You're the Commander..."

[Antje.](Antje)

"Where is Donan?"

[The horned woman. The beast. Nothing could stop them. Not our steel. Not our prayers. *Sigh*](Antje)

"We don't have time for that. Listen to me, please! Where is Donan!? I must find him!"

[He's somewhere inside. Dead like the rest, for all I know. The Light has forsaken us.](Antje)

He didn't know if it was because of the wound, the blood loss, or her shaken faith, but Michael didn't have time to waste with her. 

Grabbing one of the knights on the ground and asking for an alternative path to the Great Hall, the man pointed at the door behind them. 

[It leads to the walls and the watchtowers. You can travel through it and reach the Great Hall. The walls on both sides connect it.](Knight)

Hearing the sound of fighting intensify outside, Michael knew that either Moreg or the Knights from Firebreak Manor should've arrived.

Without wasting more time, he entered through the door leading to the walls, and he felt like he passed through a thin film.

[ Main Quest complete - Buried Secrets

Reward 1: 25,189 experience points

Reward 2: 2,500 gold coins. ]

[ Main Quest issued - In Ruins

Objective: Enter Eldhaime Ruins

Description: You discovered Lilith had arrived at Eldhaime before you or the reinforcements could. The keep is in ruins, but Donan was inside during the attack and may still be alive. ]

Cursing mentally, as the walls and the Great Halls turned into a temporary Dungeon, Michael rushed forward, searching for the pudgy Horadrim.