Chapter 190: The Fury of the Lake Fairy
The former Grail Knight named Onore-de-Lys peacefully left this world, his soul finally able to rest.
However, Ryan's face was marked by an unshakable seriousness. Without much conversation, he immediately said to Veronica, "There's an emergency. We won't rest tonight. We must return to the territory immediately!"
"Okay!" The witch Garon always understood the gravity of situations. Although she had many private words to share with Ryan, she immediately agreed, "So we're leaving now?"
"Yes, right now!" Ryan promptly mounted his horse and helped the witch onto the back of the horse as well.
The pure-blooded elven warhorse was remarkably capable. Ryan, with Veronica, first returned to Legi Village to inform the Blood Knights of their foe's defeat, then they rode through the night, hurrying to his barony in Jean.
Over three hours later, they reached the upper reaches of the Shinon River. Under the dark sky, Ryan, holding his warhammer and guided by the light of his psychic energy, hastened his pace and finally reached the town of Jean.
It was around four or five in the morning. The winter sun of Brittany was still far from rising. The gates of the Baron's castle were tightly shut. Ryan had no choice but to call out for entry.
"My Baron?!" A few minutes later, Carsonberg appeared on the castle tower, still in his linen pajamas and wearing a nightcap. Even though it was very dark, with only faint moonlight, the psychic light from Ryan was very bright. He raised his warhammer, signaling Carsonberg to quickly open the gates.
"Open the gate!" Recognizing Ryan's identity, armor, and appearance, which were quite distinctive and easy to recognize, Carsonberg still asked a few more details before loudly instructing the soldiers to open the gates.
"Open the gay!" shouted the soldiers with their heavy local accents (?). The heavy iron grates and wooden doors were opened, and Ryan rode in on his exhausted horse Grape, holding Veronica. Veronica's mount, just an ordinary pack horse, was already exhausted and had been left behind.
It was November, winter. Carsonberg's breaths were visible as white mist in the cold air. The loyal steward stood upright and asked, "My Baron, why the rush to return? Has something happened?"
"Nothing specific. I defeated the Blood Knight, but I learned something shocking... Servants, take Grape to the stable. It's cold, add more straw and feed, especially more carrots and black beans!" Ryan handed the reins to a soldier, who nodded repeatedly.
Grape was very tired, carrying the fully armed Ryan and Veronica. The pure-blooded elven warhorse was covered in sweat. Hearing Ryan's words, Grape nodded, neighed, and then followed the soldier.
The intelligence and capabilities of pure-blooded elven warhorses were amazing. They could understand human speech, and elves even had a way to converse with them. Though Ryan didn't know this method, he could communicate with Grape through psychic energy.
"Veronica, rest in my room. The existence of the Black Grail Knight, I must report to the lady immediately. You go rest," Ryan said, striding into his castle, and heading to the third floor. He indicated for Veronica to rest in his room, then he opened the door to his prayer room.
The witch Garon opened the door to the main bedroom and said somewhat irritably, "You want me to share a bed with your dark elf maid?"
On the large bed in the main bedroom, the dark elf Olica was asleep.
"...There's another bed on the other side of the room." Ryan glanced at the witch, took Veronica into his arms, and gently kissed her lips, "Good night, my great witch."
"Good night, my great knight." Veronica was just complaining. She quickly went to rest.
Ryan then closed the door to the prayer room. In the small room, there were only a few chairs and a shrine to the Lake Fairy. The Grail Knight quickly changed out of his psychic precision power armor and then knelt to pray: "My lady?"
Almost the instant Ryan started praying, the prayer room was filled with light, and the Lake Fairy, dressed in a pink and white chiffon dress, immediately appeared, looking far more serious than her usual half-smiling demeanor. She raised her hand, signaling Ryan to rise, and then said immediately, "I already know, my champion. Someone has desecrated the graves of the Grail Knights, using foul magic to awaken them and create the Black Grail Knights."
"That's exactly what I wanted to tell you, my lady. This matter is very unusual. Even if one can summon the souls of the Grail Knights, how difficult would it be to control them? Why was the soul of Onore-de-Lys summoned and transformed into a Blood Knight?" Ryan asked eagerly, expecting the Lake Fairy to provide answers.
Unexpectedly, the Lake Fairy's eyes were filled with hesitation. Her waterfall-like golden hair flowed down to her ankles, and her stunningly beautiful face showed indecision. She seemed hesitant to reveal the secret to Ryan.
Feeling somewhat disappointed, Ryan didn't press her: "If you don't wish to tell me, that's okay, my lady. But we must find a way to deal with the Black Grail Knights, otherwise, if this goes on for too long, the foundation of our nation will be shaken!"
"...My champion, this matter is very complicated. Please, let me explain slowly," the Lake Fairy sighed softly. "The Red Duke of Musilon was the last Duke of Aquitaine. He knew the burial places of many Grail Knights. My champion, although I am a deity, I cannot repeatedly intervene in mortal affairs, and moreover, our opponent's strength is not inferior to mine. You know of Nagash, the Lord of the Dead. You must also know of the Battle of the Rick River, right?"
"Yes," Ryan nodded. He was aware of the Battle of the Rick River, where Nagash, the Lord of the Dead, and Emperor Charlemagne fought at the Rick River. Charlemagne used his divine hammer, Ghal Maraz, to blow Nagash's head off, defeating the Lord of the Dead, but that battle was perilously close.
"As everyone knows, Nagash lost his physical body in that battle, becoming a wisp of soul. But his powerful spirit did not die. After more than a thousand years, Nagash awoke again from the Black Pyramid, plotting his return," the Lake Fairy continued, sitting next to Ryan and sighing softly. "Nagash's power is beyond your imagination. His weakness lies in his lack of close combat skills, but I am also not good at it. In such a situation, neither of us can do much to the other."
Ryan felt very strange hearing this. It seemed like the Lake Fairy didn't want to be an enemy of Nagash. Was she deciding to indulge and nurture this evil, letting the undead who desecrated the graves and souls of the Grail Knights run rampant?
"My lady?" Ryan's voice was filled with wavering and dissatisfaction, but the Lake Fairy immediately placed her slender hand on his face, signaling him to calm down. "I once had a plan, my champion. How much of their original strength do you think the Grail Knights maintain after being resurrected as undead?"
"Maybe seventy to eighty percent, but that's not important. What's important is, my lady, apart from facing Chaos or the Greenskins, I don't want to fight alongside the dead," Ryan shook his head vehemently, but then he suddenly understood the Lake Fairy's idea: "Wait, my lady, do you mean that when a formidable enemy appears, you plan to use the resurrected souls of the Grail Knights as a last resort?"
The Lake Fairy nodded repeatedly: "I once thought so. Otherwise, how can mortals face the armies of Chaos?"
"I think it's not a good idea! My lady!" Ryan frowned and objected, but he soon paused.
The Lake Fairy gently hugged his arm and whispered a series of words in his ear, then said sharply, "For this reason, I've changed my mind. Since that's the case, those undead who desecrate the graves and souls of the Grail Knights must be severely punished!"
"I'm very happy we agree, my lady."
"So am I, my champion." The Lake Fairy smiled charmingly, lightly touched Ryan's hand, and continued, "I will instruct Morgiana to gather the Grail Knights and move those remains for safekeeping. As for dealing with Musilon's undead... My champion, tomorrow, I will unleash my fury! I will need to borrow a great deal of your power."
"Okay!" Ryan nodded in agreement.
The Lake Fairy then reached out her hand to Ryan: "Then I must go prepare, my champion. See you tomorrow!"
"See you tomorrow!" Ryan gently kissed the back of the Lake Fairy's hand.
After settling the plan, Ryan, who had been awake for a whole day and night, also felt extremely tired. Coming out of the prayer room, it was already broad daylight. Outside the prayer room, Olica, dressed in a black and white maid's outfit, and Sulia, wearing a winter coat, were waiting. Upon seeing Ryan, both the maid and the Duke's daughter spoke almost simultaneously.
"Master!" "Ryan? Why rush back overnight?"
Ryan's expression eased a bit, and he said solemnly, "I've dealt with the Blood Knight, but I've discovered an astonishing secret. I've prayed to the lady and received her response. I won't talk about this matter for now, and you don't need to ask. After tomorrow, you will know the answer."
The Duke's daughter, being very sensible, didn't press further upon seeing Ryan's reluctance to talk. After confirming that Ryan was safe, Sulia excused herself, "Then I'll return to Helensheld. Ryan, feel free to visit me anytime."
"I will, goodbye, dear Sulia." Ryan bid farewell to the Duke's daughter and her maid. Even Amelia reluctantly followed the female Marquis back to Helensheld—the academy classes were not over yet, only ending two weeks before the winter solstice in early December.
"Master." The sound of high heels approached, and the dark elf Olica came up behind Ryan, "I've prepared hot water. Master, after your return from battle, please take a good bath and rest."
"Okay!"
The next day, in Brittany, the Duchy of Connaught.
This was a cursed place. Surrounding the entire Duchy were a large number of Brittany's troops, outposts, and cavalry, who strictly guarded the borders of the Duchy year-round, whether in the coldest winters or the hottest, driest summers. They rarely launched offensives. Besides the fact that the armies of the various dukes were not subordinate to each other and difficult to command uniformly, the solid defense of the undead army was also a reason.
However, today was slightly different.
Under the gloomy sky, thick clouds gathered, and thunder rumbled. The guards were whispering to each other.
"It's rare to see such a thunderstorm in the middle of winter."
"Yes, what's going on?"
"Maybe the lady is angry and wants to punish these undead scum?"
As the guards chattered, the river originating from the Yaden Forest, the Grismerie River, suddenly began to show a terrifying change.
In winter, the already dry river began to become turbulent and raging. Then, accompanying the gloomy weather, a torrential rain poured down from the sky, drenching and battering this cursed land.
The Grismerie River began to flood.
The fury of nature, the vast river water hit the banks, causing the trees to make way. The water level rose continuously until it overflowed the riverbed, breaking the dam, and disregarding all natural laws, the clear river water turned into a torrential flow, with large bubbles rising into the sky.
It was the power of the lady!
The riverbank collapsed, the dam shattered, and the terrifying flood swept through the entire downstream area of the Grismerie River. Even the hardest boulders were broken by the flood, and the indescribable deluge erupted, covering the earth and rolling towards Musilon.
The flood entered the Duchy of Connaught, breaking out of the forest and heading towards the crisscrossed fields. Countless farmlands were washed away, innumerable houses were swept away instantly, the villages established by the fleeing slaves, the outposts defended by the undead, the rich trading stations, and various villages, were all completely submerged. Even the sturdiest houses were crushed into debris, and the solid stone towers collapsed thunderously. The sky-filled flood turned decades or even centuries of achievements of the undead and humans into history, completely destroying everything painstakingly built by the Red Duke.
The rising water level churned and rolled over the shattered land, filled with the Lake Fairy's green energy pouring crazily. The land, corrupted by the vampires, sizzled and scorched upon contact with the clear floodwaters. This was the divine power of the Lake Fairy clashing with the nobles of the night. The graveyards and tombs inhabited by numerous undead were completely destroyed by the raging floodwaters, and any undead that touched the water were burned to ashes, leaving nothing behind.
The water level rose higher and higher, even the tallest ghouls were swept away by the flood. The undead screamed and scattered in all directions.
The flood passed by the outposts of Brittany's army without harming them in the slightest. All the knights and infantry knelt, singing the name of the Lake Fairy, praising her greatness and supremacy.
The flood stopped only when it reached the giant walls of Musilon. Even such a terrifying flood could not affect the cursed city's walls, but almost the entire Duchy of Connaught, except for this city, was completely submerged.
In the air, a sharp and crazed laughter from a woman lingered, haunting the hearts of humans and undead alike for a long time.
Updated! The Lake Fairy occasionally needs to show her prowess.
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