As they passed the scattered remains of towers dotting the hillside, Hyked said, "We call this place the Dark Fairy Tower."
Even with only a few floors still standing, the collapsed structure was massive—large enough to have once served as a small lord's castle.
They moved beyond the crumbling outer walls, which encircled the tower like a low fortress, and stepped through an arched entrance stripped of its doors.
"This definitely looks like fairy architecture," Lucia murmured, glancing around the busy interior where the Wolves moved about.
The first floor had likely once been a gathering hall. It was a wide, circular space, with a broken statue—only the ankles remaining—rising from a low platform at the center. Shattered flagstones lay scattered across the ground, and faint traces of decorative carvings still clung to the pillars lining the perimeter.
There are lots of cracks. Hope it's stable enough.
As Ian idly wondered, Hyked—having let go of his warhorse—spoke again. "Follow it, and it'll lead you to where the horses are kept."
Ian glanced across the space, watching Hyked's warhorse walk off on its own. Beyond the Wolves unloading supplies stood a partition wall, hastily assembled from blackened wooden planks nailed together. A faint, unpleasant smell drifted from behind it.
"Where did you get the materials for that?" Lucia asked, as Ian handed Moro's reins to Diana.
Hyked looked back at her with a smile. "We used whatever was left here. The servants of Inaskurgl had built a lair—there were a bunch of wooden huts scattered around."
"Ah, of course. In war, even enemy supplies are fair game," said Lucia.
With Lucia nodding, Ian chimed in, "So—where exactly are you taking us?"
"Upstairs," Hyked replied, raising a finger toward the ceiling.
Ian, Lucia, and even Diana—who was loosely holding Moro's reins by the bridle—lifted their heads almost in unison. Each floor of the tower spiraled around the outer wall, leaving the center hollow.
It must've looked like a spiral shell once.
The space narrowed the higher it rose, but the center, for now, remained wide open, with dark blue shadows stirring above.
"There's no need to worry about being spotted," Hyked added casually.
Ian gave a short nod and turned to Diana. "Once you're done with your part, take a break. Get some rest if you can."
"Sir Gwellrod will show you where to go," said Hyked.
"Understood," Diana replied softly, bowing her head before trudging off. Moro growled low but followed at her side, matching her pace.
Then Hyked turned to Ian, nodding toward the nearby staircase. "Shall we?" seaʀᴄh thё NovelZone.fun website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Ian and Lucia followed close behind as he began to ascend. The stairs curled upward along the outer wall in a wide spiral, stretching all the way to the top of the tower. Sections of the railing and stone steps had crumbled in places, but neither Ian nor Lucia gave them a second glance.
He doesn't feel like a demon at all.
Ian's gaze stayed fixed on Hyked's back as they climbed—his dark armor heavy and dulled in the shadows. A small leather pouch, fastened just behind his belt, caught Ian's eye.
Is he... someone like me?
He tilted his head slightly but let the thought pass. He'd find out eventually, just by sticking close.
"This way." At last, they reached the top floor. Hyked stepped off the stairs and into a corridor. The staircase itself ended just a few meters above, broken clean through.
Yeah, this place looks like a death trap.
Still, Ian followed him into the corridor, glancing up as he did. There was no roof—just an open sky. Along the walls, rooms extended outward, many of them partially collapsed and laid bare. The tower's outer walls weren't much better—crumbling and hollowed in places.
"A fitting space, don't you think? For a land like this one?" Hyked asked cheerfully, stepping into what must once have been a room.
The corridor ahead had collapsed entirely, leaving this as the only path forward. The walls and even the floor were riddled with holes, but Hyked moved through them with ease, clearly familiar with every step. He walked along the outer edge of the tower, feet steady even on the fractured stone.
"It's not often we have a reason to climb this high. Reminds me of the spires in the Imperial Capital," he went on. "The view from there, overlooking the city—it was breathtaking. This place... feels like a fragment of that memory."
Well, aren't you an optimist?
Ian clicked his tongue silently, then hopped over a fallen wall and stepped around a hole in the floor to follow.
Lucia, on the other hand, looked genuinely delighted—like she was exploring the ruins of some ancient temple.
"When I heard Inaskurgl had taken the Shadowed Forest, I knew I'd turn this place into our outpost," Striding forward as he spoke, Hyked finally slowed his steps. They were now at the exact opposite end of the corridor they had entered.
"It took a long time to make that decision a reality, though," he added with a soft laugh.
The outer wall ahead had completely crumbled, leaving only scattered bricks and chunks of stone on the floor. But the view was wide open. The tower's remaining outer rim barely reached up to the knee.
"And this," Hyked said, spreading his arms as he approached the edge, his helmet swinging lightly from his left hand, "this is my favorite spot in the whole outpost."
He stopped before the broken edge and turned to Ian and Lucia. "Come, have a look."
Without hesitation, Ian and Lucia stepped up beside him. The landscape stretched out in every direction.
"That forest out there... is that the Shadowed Forest?" Lucia asked, her gaze sweeping across the horizon.
Hyked nodded without looking away. "It is. A cursed place, yes—but from up here, there's something oddly beautiful about it, isn't there?"
Ian shrugged, expression indifferent, as he looked out at the scene. Below the tower, the blackened hills were littered with ruins, and a thick gray mist pooled like a lake at their base. Beyond that, the dense, shadowy woods stretched endlessly, veiled in an eerie, bluish haze. It felt like standing above a swamp at dawn.
"Looks like a good spot to plan out the route," Ian murmured at last. He raised an arm, pointing toward the mist-covered expanse beyond. "That must be Inaskurgl's nest."
Beyond the dark forest, veiled in a layer of gray mist, faint outlines emerged—unnatural shapes that resembled the shadow of a city. At a glance, it looked almost like the remnants of an ancient ruin built deep within the woods.
"You're sharp as ever, Agent of the Saint," Hyked replied with a smile. He cast his gaze across the terrain as if to confirm it for himself. "There is a map of the region, but it's not very accurate. That's part of why I wanted to observe the terrain myself, with my own eyes."
"So that's why you brought us up here."
It made sense—showing it in person was far more effective than trying to explain it secondhand.
At Ian's flat observation, Hyked finally looked back at him with a sheepish grin. "Guess there's no pulling tricks in front of you, Agent of the Saint. But really, I did want to show you the view from here. If we succeed, this land will be ours again. Not that killing it will solve everything, of course, but..."
He trailed off, then turned fully to Ian with a slightly apologetic smile. "Almost forgot the proper order of things. I should be thanking and rewarding you first."
"I've already accepted your thanks. No need to repeat it." Ian faced him calmly, and Lucia naturally stepped back to stand beside him.
"The truth is, I'm a bit lost right now," Hyked admitted, glancing between the two of them with a faint, embarrassed smile. "I had planned to present you with a title and weapon, but I get the feeling neither would mean much to you two. And the equipment you're wearing already looks quite fine."
Ian exchanged a brief glance with Lucia, then shrugged.
"Difficult guests, I see... Hmm..." Hyked scratched the bridge of his nose, then seemed to reach a decision. He set his helmet down at his feet and reached behind his back, rummaging through the leather pouch at his belt.
"Of everything I have on me, this is the only thing that might be worthy of a proper gift." He pulled out a small silver case, no larger than his palm.
It was slimmer and smaller than Ian's cigarette case,but its surface was lavishly adorned with intricate gold detailing. At the center of the lid was a large golden circle, the unmistakable symbol of Lu Solar.
Ian tilted his head. "What's inside?"
"See for yourself." Hyked held the case out.
Ian took it without hesitation and unlatched the clasp. The lid opened upward, revealing the contents within.
Ian's eyes narrowed slightly. "What is this?"
Inside lay a metallic shard, no larger than his thumb. It was impossible to tell what kind of material it was—twisted and jagged, as if molten metal had cooled mid-flow. Yet its surface shimmered faintly with a rainbow sheen, and more than anything, it radiated divine energy.
"How?" Lucia, who had sensed the holiness of it, let out a breath of awe.
Ian silently lowered the box so she could see inside. Staring at it, she asked, "What is this?"
"It is the sacred blood of the First Emperor, blessed by all seven goddesses," Hyked replied.
Meeting their stunned gazes, he calmly spread both hands and continued, "They say it trickled from his lips the moment he passed, and as it fell, it split into eight fragments. That is one of them."
"The sacred blood of the First Emperor? Lu Solar, my goodness." Lucia gasped, her voice caught between awe and disbelief. She turned toward Ian, fumbling for words. "Th-that's an Imperial treasure, Sir Ian!"
Yeah. It's pretty insane.
Ian simply gave a small nod. The reason he didn't show much of a reaction was because he had already checked the item's info window.
The Fragment of Sacred Blood—a legendary-grade talisman. Just possessing it granted a few resistance and the ability to slowly restore the divine energy of relics and stigmata. Even in places untouched by a god's presence, it would still regenerate enough divinity over time to use holy skills again.
He clicked his tongue quietly, because its effect only applied to active skills.
So it doesn't work on Blessing of Battle.
It wasn't surprising. Karha wasn't one of the seven goddesses. He'd once been human—just one who'd ascended to godhood. Most likely, this had been designed as an item for knights or acolytes in the game.
Closing the status window, Ian looked up at Hyked with a faint curl of his lip. "You really just carried this around so carelessly?"
"Well, I did keep it on me, didn't I?" Hyked replied with a casual shrug.
As Ian let out a soft laugh, Lucia stumbled to find her voice. "Still, are you really sure it's okay to just hand over a national treasure like that?"
"It's the only way to truly express my sincerity, don't you think?" Hyked replied with a bright smile. Then, glancing down at her, he added lightly, "Besides, it doesn't really mean anything to me anymore."
Lucia's expression dimmed slightly.
So that's how it is, Ian thought.
Just as he moved to close the box, she blurted out, "Is it because you've accepted the chaos?"
Ian froze and turned toward her.
Hyked blinked, momentarily caught off guard—but Lucia's gaze didn't waver.
"Your Highness, have you truly turned your back on the gods? Do you intend to become the new god of this place?"
She really just came out and said it.
Ian narrowed his eyes slightly, while Hyked let out a soft laugh. "My word... Priestess, you're quite something. I did ask for a candid conversation, but I didn't expect it to go quite this far."
Shaking his head with a wry smile, he met her gaze again. "But it's not a question I can't answer. I've never dared to think such a thing, Priestess. I accepted chaos for one reason only: to protect my people."
Ian watched him quietly.
As if only momentarily caught off guard, that familiar boyish smile returned to Hyked's lips. "I didn't have another way. Not with the power I lacked. And if someone had to get their hands dirty, then it should be me, shouldn't it?"
Fair enough.
Maybe Hyked had been waiting for someone to bring this up—waiting for a moment where he could say it plainly.
Lucia, however, tilted her head slightly in thought. "Then why does the sacred blood mean nothing to you? If you haven't forsaken the gods..." She trailed off.
Her eyes widened slightly, as though something had clicked.
Then, looking back up at Hyked, she asked in a low voice, "It's not the gods you've turned away from. It's their servants. The Great Church. You couldn't forgive them... could you?