"Demon God, do you mean Agares Dagon?"
Mika was skeptical. He was an Aran native and had no memories of Old Aran. He grew up under the Emperor’s rule. A dozen years ago, when Aran was not yet the continent’s boss, don’t expect the military and police to handle law and order cases. Those were resolved by the priests and nuns of the sect, and his impression of them was still quite good.
Now you tell me those nuns are Undead Clan?
"Damn... as expected of a Black Sail Officer, so knowledgeable. The legends and deeds of the Demon Gods have historical gaps. There are records only from the Ancient Era. What is known now is limited to a few remaining members of the Secret Sect Cult, or by some great coincidence, you have come to know about them.
But that is not Dagon. I have learned many interesting things from that Priest. Dagon is the Demon God of destruction, transformation, revolution, energy, and ambition, embodying ultimate violence and terror.
There are many Demon Gods, and they are closely connected to the Western Continent. But due to the turmoil before Emperor Xiluo’s conquest, the documents related to Demon Gods from the Ancient Era were lost."
The leader was difficult to express his excitement while uncovering layers of historical truth.
Freedom is higher than life and love, but there is something even beyond freedom, that is the pursuit of knowledge. For the sake of knowledge, people willingly bind themselves to cages.
Mika’s head was buzzing. Although this person spoke like that, the leader himself might not fully believe it, treating it as a historical anecdote.
But Mika knew for sure that Dagon truly existed, and the former Black Sail officer, Haywood, was Dagon’s Sentinel. He might be performing some ritual to welcome the Dragon King back now!
This adventure group is searching for treasure, some Dark Demon Scripture related to the Demon Gods. What’s the use if they even find the real thing? In the Western Continent, nobody would be celebrating New Year come the sixteenth month, they would all be dead.
"Which other Demon Gods are there? Which one are you going after in that relic?"
Mika understood that these singers, they were all real gods.
"A lot, perhaps even more than the Holy Spirit. I don’t know, only recalling a few the Priest mentioned.
Do you know the Werewolves on the Highland? They have ancestor worship, right? But actually, their ancestors are influenced by the Demon Gods, the Demon Princes.
Helcin, the god of hunting, competition, and pursuit. There is a legend among the Werewolves that the valiant ones will enter the Endless Hunt after death, which is Helcin’s Annihilation Domain.
The northern Beastman are similar, their ancestors follow the Demon God Marakes, guardian of exile, wandering, dark curses, and oaths.
The Thief Guild’s dark sides, their corporate culture, and faith are also brought in by Diaz, the Night Goddess, the Shadow Lady, and the unknowable one, Demon God Nocturne.
There is also the knowledge Demon God, Hermes, dealing with astrology, prophecies, and peering into past and future. And the completely chaotic, motive-unknown Mad God, Shergrar.
These are just what the Priest said, don’t know if they’re true or not."
The leader just wanted to see if the Dark Demon Scripture in the relic was real. He was willing to serve the Demon God for power, even if there were no gods, they could trade some treasure for resources.
"Damn, epic gods are fighting."
Mika didn’t quite understand the events from nine hundred or eighteen hundred years ago. Anyway, he heard that every nine hundred years there is a catastrophe. Folks in the Western Continent treated it as a joke, but it seemed real, damn it. "So, the relic you guys are going to, which god is that? And who do those eternal sect Undead Clan worship?"
Mika had a terrifying deduction. It wasn’t that demons no longer existed, but upon seeing one, they must be captured. Due to the cutoff from the world, all the demons left on the Western Continent were disguised, taking over nests, and lurking in every sect or human power.
"I don’t know, just know there’s a Dark Demon Scripture, which contains immense unknown power. The text alone can pull people into the Annihilation Domain or grant some unimaginable blessings or curses. This thing is insanely valuable! Even a superstar like Qili at the Continent Martial Arts Competition would want a piece of it!"
The leader spoke vividly.
Mika’s newly built resolve started to crack, reminded of the damned gorgeous and wanton beauty, Qili, dreaming back to the Immortal Ancient.
The leader saw that Mika had eaten and rested enough. He checked his mechanical watch and spoke to a companion: "It’s three in the afternoon, let’s check our location."
His companion used a sextant to measure the angle between a red celestial body in the sky and the horizon, determining their position.
"As expected, we are in the southwest of the Boneyard, heading east for another day, we’ll reach the relic marked on the map."
"Alright, no time to lose. Mulong is in a mess with fighting now, let’s finish this, and we’re counting on you, Doctor!"
The leader patted Mika’s shoulder.
"With your brother Liszt’s power, selling to him is no problem, besides, mate, we saved your life."
The leader said pitifully, but not being a professional actor, it appeared somewhat fake, making Mika extremely embarrassed.
"No, I have things to do..."
Mika wanted to refuse.
The leader used a strategic approach. Mika had to follow them this time.
He indicated that Mika could leave anytime, and they would even give him a map and a sextant for good luck.
Only, the Boneyard was full of dangers, rampant sandstorms, and Magic Beasts, a misstep could cost their lives.
They had to go to the relic.
Mika looked at the map and sextant in his hand, realizing the Chiliarch was right, he was too reckless. For now, he had to follow this absurdly risky adventure group to that relic.
But it was also a hassle, if the leader sold to Black Sail, they would make a fortune, while the black market’s default rule is a beheading price. Chapters first released on noᴠelfire.net
Stuff he couldn’t protect, getting fifty percent was a blessing, more often it’s forty percent or even thirty percent.
"Glad you figured it out. Let’s get going, we’ll reach it tomorrow, barring it being buried by sands. The coordinates are correct."
The leader rubbed his hands in anticipation, eager to see what this Dark Demon Scripture related to the Demon Gods was. How thrilling.
The group packed their belongings, folded and stored the camp tents, and carried them on their backs.
In the Boneyard, horses were useless, and would die in a sandstorm, so these adventurers walked on foot.
Mika had no other choice but to follow them, each step sinking deeply into the dunes under the scorching sun.
The vast desert sea, grains of sand stinging the eyes under the harsh reflections, this desolate ghost place whispered ancient terrifying tales, and the shadows of history haunted the mind.
Mika could only wrap his headscarf against the sun and keep walking.
"Will there be any dangers in the relic?"
"Who knows, maybe there are Undead Clan, just hope others haven’t gotten there first. Even if there is a fight, don’t worry, we’re well-armed. I even hired a Heroic Level adventurer for this mission, that tough guy leading us. Relax, you’ll know tomorrow."
The leader laughed heartily.
Despite the leader’s words, Mika remained uneasy, hoping not to encounter Haywood’s kind or anything else. Ideally, someone else had already taken the prize, and they could safely return empty-handed.