Chapter 647: Breakthrough
A chilling aura swept through the air, making everyone instinctively tense up, their bodies momentarily rigid no matter who they were.
Across from them, the Dark Warrior—also an undead—shuddered violently in response.
In the world of the undead, hierarchy is absolute—not just by rank, but by type. Even those of equal rank, like Skeleton Soldiers, would never dare raise a hand against a Skeleton General.
The aura Barris revealed was the genuine Sky Rank undead’s presence. That single whisper in the Dark Warrior’s ear was like a thousand thunders, making his Soul Fire tremble violently.
The Dark Warrior trembled and knelt to the ground. Anderson and the others seized the opportunity; even Hubert, mouth full of blood, swung his weapon with savage glee, hammering away at the Dark Warrior’s skull.
With his Soul Fire quaking and unable to muster any battle energy, the Dark Warrior was left kneeling, waiting for death—his only advantage was a thicker hide, no threat at all.
Without the protection of battle energy, a barrage of fire spells rained down, completely incinerating the skin of the Level 39 Dark Warrior.
Leon, pale-faced, raised the Doombringer Staff and chanted another spell. Before him, a crimson vortex formed, and a golden-red spear slowly emerged from its center.
The moment the spear, etched with golden runes, appeared, it drew in a torrent of fire elements. Gradually, a blinding radiance bloomed along its shaft.
As the golden spear fully emerged from the vortex, it was as if a god had hurled it—leaving a golden trail in the air, piercing straight through Grom’s neck. The force was so immense that Grom’s head exploded off his shoulders.
The battle was over...
Everyone collapsed to the ground, utterly spent.
Even Hubert’s terrifying physique was now covered in wounds; he lay on the ground, on the verge of tears.
Anderson wore a mournful expression, while Lord Shaun looked ready to give up on life, sprawled out across the floor.
Reina sat on the ground, her face pale as a ghost.
Leon stowed away the Death Tome. Death Knight Ragulin immediately lunged forward, joining Belton in devouring every last trace of the Dark Knight’s Soul Fire.
Leon casually tossed a Soul Mana Crystal to Lord Shaun and took one for himself to restore his mana.
Finally, they’d found a room where mana could be absorbed. With nearly all their magical energy spent, no one even mentioned leaving right away.
At least, for now, this place was safe.
While recovering his mana, Leon began to recall what he’d witnessed earlier.
Emperor Norlick’s legendary mount—Nobrus!
Originally a Level 39 entity, Nobrus was revered by the Blazeforge Orcs as the 'Fallen Divine Messenger.'
Back when Emperor Norlick conquered the Blazeforge Realm, he faced an Abyssal Lord—one step away from transcendence. It was the most terrifying foe Emperor Norlick ever encountered.
That battle saw Nobrus and Emperor Norlick fighting side by side, utterly annihilating the Abyssal Lord, though Nobrus paid a steep price.
To withstand the Abyssal Lord’s dying counterattack, Nobrus nearly perished.
Though Emperor Norlick saved Nobrus after the battle, two massive, crossed scars remained forever etched on Nobrus’s back.
If not for those terrible wounds lowering its rank, that fake Hubert wouldn’t have just fled—he would’ve slaughtered Leon’s entire group right here.
Nobrus’s appearance had completely caught Leon off guard.
It made no sense for Nobrus to be here. Emperor Norlick slumbers in the Flameflow Mountains, and as his mount, Nobrus should either be resting alongside his master or guarding the emperor’s resting place. How could he show up in this plane—let alone aboard the USS Dauntless?
The difference is staggering...
Could it be...
Is Emperor Norlick himself aboard the USS Dauntless?
Even Leon was startled by this deduction.
Historically, both Emperor Norlick and the Spellbook of Ages were said to rest in the Flameflow Mountains of the Blazeforge Realm. But now, clues suggest Emperor Norlick might actually be on the USS Dauntless.
So, could the Spellbook of Ages be aboard the USS Dauntless as well?
Just thinking about it made Leon’s heart race.
Even though he knew that, according to future history, Emperor Norlick’s remains and the Spellbook of Ages would eventually be found in the Flameflow Mountains, their discovery wouldn’t happen for another ten thousand years.
That’s a gap of ten millennia from now!
There’s no clear historical record of those ten thousand years—who knows what might have happened in all that time...