Chapter 754: 754
To reach the ancient castle, they had to pass through the central cemetery of the manor.
As the team sprinted through the enormous cemetery, they distinctly felt something deep beneath their feet watching them.
It seemed as if a monstrous brain was hiding deep within the graveyard.
Unlike the demons the team had faced before, this brainâs mental coverage spanned the entire manor, monitoring all movements within⊠it belonged to a particularly difficult to deal with psychic species.
Moreover, it seemed that there were countless terrifying lives hidden deep underground. Just getting close to the tombstones here, one could hear the grinding teeth sounds of the ghouls.
âThere are demons below this too?! Whatâs going on⊠isnât this area managed by the Steam Knights?â
The four of them were drenched in cold sweat.
However, an even more terrifying [Corpse Keeper] was not too far behind them.
Given the situation, the ancient castle was their only option.
At this point, team leader Eugene made a decision and said solemnly:
âIf this is still a trap set by the Corpse Keeper,
When the time comes, I will use all my energy, create an illusionary space centered on me, which should hold for at least three hours.
You help Ivy restrain the source of her fallen state and then find a way to quickly return to the city.
If you manage to notify the Holy City in time, perhaps I can be savedâŠâ
âYesâŠâ
Knights who had grown step-by-step to this stage, except for exceptions like Han Dong, had all experienced life and death separations.
Every knight, at the beginning of their knight education, the first page of the book wrote the most important point of the knightâs spirit, which was the most fundamental point.
âSacrifice is the cornerstone of the Holy City.â
âŠ
The ancient, sinister castle was right before their eyes.
Boom!
[Conan Turner], the Hell Knight running at the very front, used his brute force and slammed open the unlocked castle gate.
Cold, black flames were burning on the pillars.
Deep in the dark and spacious hall.
A mysterious figure, wearing a crow mask and shrouded in a black robe, sat in the old lordâs chair, his gaze filled with death, staring at these outsiders who had brought danger.
A deep, laughter-filled voice echoed in Han Dongâs mind.
âTake your friends and leave through the [side door]. There will be Crowmen to guide you to the rest room.
You will also be provided with a new âanti-stress drugâ⊠If your friend does not control the pressure in his body, he might fall completely at any moment.
I wonât be offering any help when that happens.â
Having said thatâŠ
The iron door at the side of the hall opened.
âGo!â
Without much hesitation, the group left from the side.
A blue-feathered Crowman Elder was waiting for them, showing no hostility. With a friendly appearance, he led the group to a âquiet roomâ.
Actually, it was the auxiliary laboratory set up by the Swollen Doctor inside the castle.
Yes.
These people brought trouble to the manor, and Han Dong would not just offer them help for no reason.
He hadnât been able to sell the âanti-stress drugâ in the Holy City. This could be an opportunity to test the drug on this deeply polluted knight, who could fall at any moment. And Han Dong planned to record the entire process, before and after taking the drug.
Of course, a more pressing concern was dealing with this Corpse Keeper, who was even stronger than the Count.
âCaw⊠Lord! Do you need our help?â The Crowman Elders transmitted in the dark.
âThe opponent is a Mature Body⊠and itâs at the later stage, with extremely strong individual combat power, of the corpse type.
Itâs even harder to deal with than the Scarlet Count.â
âYou should focus on your self-cultivation, and strive to achieve the [Mature Body] before the Big Expedition. Thereâs no need for casualties here.â
âMy Lord, what if youâre in danger?â
âDonât worry⊠Even if I canât handle it, the doctor will provide assistance in secret.
With the aid of the âold kingâs remainsâ embedded in his brain, the doctorâs brain system has fully matured and has become the first Mature Body-Demon in the manor.
You all need to work harder.â
âCawâŠâ
The Crowman Elders are also under a lot of pressure. After all, the realization of a mature body requires an âopportunityâ. Itâs challenging to break through by self-cultivation within the manor⊠They need to leave the Gaine Forest, looking for the âopportunityâ, either the Old Kingâs blessing, powerful demon remains, or the chaotic treasure buried deep in the cave.
If none of the crows can achieve a mature body, the balance of the manor will tilt, and from then the Swollen Doctor will be given sole power.
While Han Dong was having casual conversations with the Crowman Elders.
CreakâŠ
The main hall dorr of the old castle was slowly pushed open.
The infamous Corpse Holder had arrived.
Standing about two meters tall.
Aged, shriveled dark skin pitted with strange âcross nailsâ, which suppressed the squirming creatures within, ensuring his human form.
A blood-stained white cloth wraps around his eyes, abandoning vision and adopting a unique way to catch his prey, and perhaps some other function.
Carrying a huge coffin on his back, equivalent to his height. Itâs purpose is still unknown.
Both his wrists and ankles wear shackles, as though this Corpse Holder was once a prisoner, who fell into this special kind of demon for some reason.
âIs this⊠a demon that has completely fallen from humanity?â
Han Dong was suspicious when observing through the crowsâ vision.
As mentioned in previous chapters, lower-order life-forms outside the city can be broadly classified into three types: âEvilâ, âMonstersâ, âHereticsâ⊠The former two often develop into demons.
For instance, the Crowman Elders belong to the advanced form of monsters, as does the Stone Demon absorbed by Cass.
The Scarlet Count belongs to an advanced form of Evil (The origin of the Count is a special kind of Fresh Blood, which developed self-consciousness one day and became an independent Evil Blood. It mostly takes the form of a [Dog].)
However, the transition from âHereticâ to âDemonâ is relatively less common.
The reason for this is not that the human lower-order life forms canât become demons, but more about âmanagementâ problems.
Due to the âhigh intellectâ exhibited by humans, demons on the outskirts of the city like to cultivate humans into their heretics, who can help them accomplish complex tasks that other evil beings or monsters couldnât do. They also provide unique faith and sacrificial powers.
Once a Heretic grows into a Demon, according to the âregulationsâ outside the city, they gain freedom and can choose to continue following their original master or start anew.
Therefore, most demons are unwilling to lose their free labor and effectively suppress their heretics, denying them the opportunity to become demons.
The Swollen Doctor is a prime example.
Once employed by the Great Lord Stuart, he was just the leader among heretics.
Now, following Han Dong and no longer restrained, the doctor even got the old kingâs remains in ruins, accumulated over time and achieved the level of Mature Deviant Demon in a few years.
The doctor wouldnât ask for freedom, following Han Dong has been his greatest dream.
On the level or technological front, Han Dong is stronger⊠Staying in the basement laboratory of the manor, the doctor has access to any material for his research. He is deeply indulged in his study, sees Han Dong as the benefactor of his life, willing to offer everything he has.
The current [Corpse Keeper] is also the same, originated from a special human.
After breaking into the main hall of the old castle.
He ignored Han Dong who was sitting in the Lordâs seat, following the scent of his target, heading towards the side door of the main hall.
WhooshâŠ
With a wave of Han Dongâs hand.
From the eerie hall jumped out an agitated blood-hound. Only the head structure remains, opening a maw of two meters in diameter, it bit at the target.
Ding!
However,
The tentacled dog teeth, which had always been able to easily tear any hard object, clashed with difficulty.
The cross nails fixed on the surface of the Corpse Holderâs body were turning slightly, generating a kind of invisible barrier.