Opportunity

Young Master Havent, who had been chased all over the place by the ghouls, was sprawled across the Knight Captain's back, urging him to run faster.

In an instant, he was reminded of those Korean movies from his previous life—the classic combination: a screaming woman, a troublemaking child, and a dog that lured monsters over.

"Ah!!!! Run! Run faster! Taren, it's about to grab my ass!!"

Hearing his young master's shrill voice, the Knight Captain hurriedly turned around. The nearest ghoul was still more than ten meters away.

"Young Master? It isn't?"

Havent coughed.

"Ah... you wouldn't understand. It's art! Art needs dramatic buildup."

Art again? Young Master's taste is truly strange!

Taren shook his head, throwing the strange thoughts from his mind, and focused on running.

Along the way, they happened to encounter several White Lion Knights who had been blown away by the shockwave. Taren silently counted them—sixteen men. Barring accidents, he could bring his young master back safely.

"Wow!!!!!!!! Awesome!!!!

Wait! Turn around, we're going back!"

Hearing his young master's voice, Taren let out a helpless sigh. He stopped and turned to look at the boy.

"What is it, Young Master?"

Havent climbed down from the Knight Captain's back and stretched his limbs. He no longer felt quite so dizzy.

"We did it. That dragon flew back and started attacking the ghouls. We're going back—going back to surround them!"

"Young Master, what does 'surround them' mean? Also, I believe we should retreat first. The situation remains unclear. For safety's sake, we should return first."

"Surround them means... ah, forget it, I can't explain it to you. Send the old man the signal and have him attack. Opportunities don't wait!"

With that, he ran toward the area lit by dragonfire.

Watching his young master charge toward the pursuing ghouls, Taren helplessly shook his head. He pulled a small hand crossbow from his belt pouch and fired it toward Baiman City.

The southern wall of Baiman City

"My heavens, that Demon Dragon is actually alive."

Supporting himself against a guard, Solis clutched his chest as he made his way to Kevin's side.

Count Havent looked at Solis's pale face and asked with concern,

"Are you all right, Solis?"

The high-ranking mage shook his head, then said with a sigh,

"I'm fine. We all underestimated these heretics' resolve. They wanted to wipe us out tonight. If Havent hadn't insisted..."

"My lord, look!!!"

Hearing the soldier's shout, the two men who had been conversing immediately stopped and turned to look.

A glowing white projectile shot into the air hundreds of meters above them, then burst at its highest point, forming a simple white lion's head.

"That is?"

Count Havent hesitated for a moment before immediately realizing that his son must have succeeded in his sneak attack and now needed his aid.

"White Lions, assemble! Everyone, charge out with me!"

After giving the order, Count Havent turned to Count Mori at his side.

"Hadawei, I've gotta go meet up with little Havent. I'm leaving the city to you."

Count Mori nodded and patted his old comrade's shoulder, signaling for him not to worry. The high-ranking mage at the side followed behind Kevin, intending to go with them.

"Solis, get some rest. It's fine. I'll take some men to meet up with little Havent. We'll be back soon."

Seeing Kevin insist, Solis did not press further. He took several bottles of potions from the magical pouch at his waist and handed them over.

"These are Lion Potions, along with several healing potions. Take them, just in case."

Kevin nodded and quickly descended the wall.

Elsewhere, under Taren and the others' desperate fighting, the group finally charged up the earthen slope. Before them lay a huge crater fifty meters across, with the motionless dragon lying within it.

The black-robed man stretched out a claw-like hand glowing dark green, about to touch the dragon's head.

Havent formed a spell with both hands while shouting at the lecherous old man.

Alan, who had been about to enslave the dragon again, heard a voice from behind him and turned around.

A white-haired child in dark gold armor was shouting at him, while a pale red ball of energy rapidly gathered.

With a whoosh,

a fireball the size of a melon flew toward the black-robed elder.

Alan stared darkly at Havent more than ten meters away. He extended his left hand, and a magical shield appeared out of thin air.

The fireball struck the shield and exploded at once, scattering sparks before vanishing.

Havent was stunned by the black-robed elder's move and awkwardly swallowed.

"Lord Alan!

It was this group that destroyed the magic array!"

On the other side, the black-robed man with one arm broken had caught up as well.

With the array destroyed, he had not known how to explain himself to Lord Alan. He had not expected these heretics to dare return.

The black-robed man glared viciously at Havent. This child with his mouth full of evil words—once he became a ghoul, he would ride on his head every day and make him repent for his sins for all eternity.

"Hehehe~

Interesting! What is your name? You actually dared infiltrate our rear and destroy the magic array.

Give up resisting, and I'll grant you a quick death. Death shall guide you."

Watching the black-robed elder slowly approach, Havent could not help shivering at the cold, sinister aura he gave off.

"Wait! Wait a second! I have something to say!"

As the old man drew closer and closer, Havent hurriedly raised a hand to stop the creepy old man from approaching a youthful boy.

Hearing Havent's words, the black-robed elder actually stopped. He studied the boy before him with interest, like an old cat toying with a mouse not yet a month old.

"I have a question! Why do you want every living thing to die?"

The black-robed elder was somewhat surprised by Havent's question. He had thought the child would beg for mercy or curse at him. He had not expected him to be asking so earnestly.

"Death is the end of all things. No one can escape death, and we are merely guiding all living beings onto the proper path.

Great Narak will cleanse every soul in his divine kingdom.

Then, under Narak's guidance, this world will return to its proper course.

Praise death..."

Watching the elder grow excited, Havent knew rationally that he should let him continue without interrupting him. That would buy more time.

But a voice deep within him kept tempting him. Go on, refute him, argue with him. Every word is a flaw—attack him.

In the end, unable to resist the desire deep in his heart, Havent interrupted him.

"Um, um, sorry. I'm really sorry for interrupting you when you were at your most excited.

But I have a few questions that I simply must ask.

Since all living things will die eventually, why not let them wither away naturally?

Of course, that isn't important. Even if you succeed in killing every living thing, what do you gain from it?

Hiss... how shallow of me. Maybe it's an ideal.

Then tell me, after you've diligently finished your work and there are no living things left, won't you be unemployed in your old age?"

The black-robed elder was left standing there in a daze by Havent's string of questions.