"What’s going on, my knights have lost contact?!"
Before the Obelisk, Sebastian, waiting for the stone tablets to be unsealed, cried out in shock. Not only had he lost contact with the carefully cultivated knights, but even the summoned Skeleton Soldiers had all ceased to respond.
Had they suffered a devastating blow, leading to the annihilation of the entire army?
To destroy three Skeleton Knights at once, one could only imagine the strength of the magic power fluctuations. There couldn’t be absolutely no disturbance.
Sebastian hurriedly switched perspectives, looking through a white skull.
The Skeleton Soldiers were expendable; leeks could be cut endlessly, but Skeleton Knights were the works of his heart and soul. He couldn’t let them be sacrificed so senselessly.
In the sky, the white skull slowly lowered its head, and the scene of the grand Skeleton parade came into Sebastian’s view.
Leading the way were three Skeleton Knights, the Skeleton Soldiers marching in unison, forming orderly square formations, moving towards the Obelisk’s location in a slow and unhurried pace.
The knight at the center rode an Undead Warhorse, clad in black armor, his tattered gray cloak moving without wind, as if sensing his gaze, slowly looked his way.
Sebastian became even more astonished.
If it was the Death Knight, it certainly had the power to snatch control of the Skeleton Legion. What he found surprising was why the Death Knight was at Silent Ridge, why at the ruins, and why go through the extra step of ordering him to find the tablets?
"Could something unexpected have happened?"
Sebastian was greatly puzzled and hastened toward the formation.
"Great Death Knight, Sebastian greets you."
Sebastian approached the formation, placing one hand on his chest as a sign of respect, not harboring any resentment even though his Legion was taken.
"Sebastian, have the seals on the tablets been broken?"
Wayne’s voice emerged ghostly, his gaze directed toward the Obelisk, where the rich elemental fluctuations made him drool with envy. If he had not lost his salivary glands after transforming, saliva would be dripping down.
"Reporting to Knight Lord, I have just finished the preparations, and we need to wait a little longer."
"Hmm, you did well, saving me quite some time," Wayne remarked with profound meaning.
"Sebastian dares not take credit. It is all thanks to your excellent leadership. You pinpointed the location of the tablets and provided the Elemental Ring; I am merely carrying out the mission."
"Well said. I have seen your loyalty to the Goddess, and after our success, I will personally recommend you to her. There will be a place for you in the Divine Nation," Wayne promised breezily.
"Thank you for your generosity. These are my duties."
Sebastian was deeply touched and moved to tears. He lifted his sleeve to wipe away the tears, taking the opportunity to glance at the Death Knight.
The conversation felt strange, as if today’s Knight was different from before.
No visible differences in appearance; the Undead Warhorse, the Divine Artifact Shadowmare, were all in order. It was just the tone and voice of the speech...
Had the Death Knight changed his voice again?
Sebastian had seen the Death Knight twice in the Paris Underground Great Tomb. The first time, the Death Knight appeared in full gear, leaving an extremely deep impression with his majestic presence, which sparked inspiration in Sebastian to imitate his style.
The second time, the Death Knight summoned Sebastian to task him with finding the stone tablets. He did not see the true face of the Death Knight, and during the mission briefing, a thick barrier separated them.
The voice was different each time!
The first was resolute and commanding, with an irresistible aura of authority. The second was muffled and hoarse, chilling to the core with dread.
Now for the third time, it had changed again. While still lofty, it was noticeably more affable.
With a hint of levity, it became a bit more human.
Sebastian preferred the present Death Knight. In the past, he had been untouchably imposing. Sebastian had been as timid as an underling, fearful even to offer flattery in case it landed on hooves instead.
He led the way in front of the formation to greet the grand arrival of the Death Knight; the busy miners also stepped forward to show their respects.
"Sebastian, don’t waste time. Quickly break the Obelisk’s seal," Wayne commanded, ignoring the fawning crowd, his eyes locked on the Obelisk, where energy slots on all sides flickered with different lights, constantly imbuing the Four Elements.
The more he looked, the more sci-fi it seemed. It was almost as if, upon complete energy accumulation, a beam would shoot down the moonlight.
"Understood, my lord," Sebastian barked, instructing the people below to speed up, to set up a few more Magic Arrays, making use of all the elements within the ruins.
Sebastian stood beside the Undead Warhorse and glanced at the two skeletons amongst the Skeleton Soldiers, his brows furrowing sharply.
"Knight Lord, Oscar and Mana are elites cultivated by The Church for many years, and they have also received the favor of the Proxy. Why would they offend you?"
"I said I was the Death Knight, they didn’t believe me, so I showed them," replied Wayne.
Sebastian’s mouth twitched. With such a massive Great Undead Sword, even the blind could see. There was nothing to prove.
He dared not accuse the Death Knight of killing the loyal and good unfairly, surmising that Oscar and Mana had brought this upon themselves by speaking out of turn.
"Knight Lord, there are two little rats to the west, one of them is a heretic of Naturalism..."
"By the Goddess’s Divine Decree, a sacred war is about to begin, and the tablets are prepared for this. I’ve come to Windsor to dismantle the Naturalism Church from within," bluffed Wayne, trying to glean more information from Sebastian.
He was curious about the true Death Knight’s current situation; according to the Thousand-Eyed Demon, he was already under the control of the Hell Demon Lord, earning the Goddess’s pay while working for someone else.
At Dragonheart Island, Wayne attempted to summon the Shadowmare and failed. The Death Knight interfered and demonstrated the ability to take the Shadowmare back at any moment.