QTMWSFC Chapter 55.1

On this day, Lant and Freya continued making their way toward Alterg as usual, helping people along the way.

By chance, they ran into Dick and Old Ghost, as well as Lant’s former neighbor, Aunt Satian and her husband Steve.

Ever since Lant expressed his doubts about the early selection tournament, Aunt Satian had been paying close attention to various news. She was among the first to hear the rumors. So she kept packing their belongings, just in case.

Dick was also quick to react. He knew Lant was extremely strong. Under Lant’s protection, even if Freya died, there was no way she would have drowned simply by falling off a boat. Sensing something amiss, he and Old Ghost discussed it and decisively resigned from the Knight Order, returning to life as adventurers.

Time proved they had made the right choice. Serorida was destroyed, the Otherworld Demons were on the verge of breaking free, and people were suffering. Getting out early saved their lives.

When they heard that Freya and Lant were the chosen Saintess and Hero, everyone enthusiastically offered to help. But Aunt Satian calmly analyzed that they would probably just slow them down. Running far away and not making the two worry was what they ought to do now.

Dick and Old Ghost were a bit disappointed that they couldn’t help, but they took Satian’s advice and gave the couple some encouragement.

After a brief chat with old friends and saying goodbye, Lant and Freya continued on their way.

Although it was daytime, the sky grew darker and darker. The magic in the air became increasingly chaotic. Plants wilted, and some animals even died on the spot.

The earth shook violently, cracking open. From the cracks, unidentified wriggling creatures flew out, carrying a pungent stench of decay and burning.

The two hurried towards Alterg without rest, traveling from day into night. Along the way, signs of human habitation grew sparser.

The sky darkened. In this technologically underdeveloped world, with no streetlights and no moonlight, the night became so dark they could barely see their hands in front of their faces.

To avoid getting separated, they held hands tightly and ran at the same pace.

“A blood… blood moon!”

People fleeing around them pointed in terror at a red moon rising in the sky, shouting and panicking as they ran.

“Is it coming?” Freya asked Lant for confirmation.

Lant stared grimly at the rising blood moon. “I’m afraid so.”

The rising of the blood moon was the sign that the Otherworld Demons were breaking free of their seal.

The plot had long since changed from the original. Even the unsealing of the Otherworld Demons had come early!

“Freya. I think we need to move faster.” Lant scooped her up and used teleportation magic as much as he could.

To minimize casualties, the best approach was to defeat the Otherworld Demon while it was at its weakest, just after breaking the seal.

Standing on the Solnak Plains, the two watched from a distance as the blood moon rose higher. An earth-shattering roar burst from beneath the former Serorida castle. Following this, the demons that had broken through the seal soared into the sky.

The leading Otherworld Demon had no fixed shape. It resembled a massive, writhing mass of shredded flesh that could transform into various states. It carried a putrid and rotting stench. Wherever it passed, all life withered. It was the embodiment of the world’s evil thoughts, a collective entity that fed on all malicious thoughts to fuel its magic.

Looking at the place where she had once lived now reduced to ruins, Freya felt really sad and heartbroken. Her homeland was completely gone…

The king of Alterg fled towards the outskirts of the city under the protection of his knights. He kept looking back every few steps.

He could not accept this! This was his territory! How could he bear to give it up?

He even lost his proudest eldest son while attacking the Serorida!

Now, abandoning everything was simply like carving out his own flesh!

Hate! How he hated!

Regret! How he regretted!

Ah… the scent of food!

The Otherworld Demon quickly fixed its sight on the fleeing king of Alterg. The smell of him was simply irresistible! Such resentment! Such hatred! The finest nutrients!

In a flash, before the knights’ horrified cries, the king of Alterg was absorbed by a blob of viscous matter that fell from the sky. Not even bones remained.

Freya and Lant could not make it in time. They watched the scene from afar.

“Lant, it’s too strong. I…” Freya could not help doubting her own abilities. She had never faced such a powerful enemy, and her combat experience was still not enough!

“Don’t be afraid. Just focus on purifying and sealing it. Leave the fighting to me. I will protect you,” Lant said, his expression resolute as he drew the demon-subduing Holy Sword from his space.

“Lazy bones, time to get to work!”

The thin, sharp blade shone brilliantly as it was unsheathed, shining brightly.

“Hey! I’ve been wanting to stretch my limbs for ages! It’s you, Master, who kept me locked up!” the Holy Sword complained noisily.

Lately, out of sheer boredom, it had found amusement inside the space. It passed the time by cutting up ingredients Lant had stored there. That way, whenever Lant took them out, they were ready to cook.

Freya saw Lant draw the legendary demon-subduing Holy Sword for the first time. Her eyes sparkled with admiration. “It’s beautiful!”

Even in the blood-red darkness, the blade remained uniquely clean and bright.

“Freya, get ready. We’re going in.”

“Yes! I’m ready!”

Freya gripped her staff tightly and followed close behind Lant. The two sped toward the direction of the Otherworld Demons.

“Hmm?” The demon keenly sensed the unusual magical movement behind it and began writhing rapidly. “Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle…”

A sound like drooling or a hungry stomach continuously emanated from the main body atop the royal castle.

“Blaze…”

Lant raised his hand slightly, his fingers loosely pinched.

The demon looked puzzled.

The next second, countless fireballs fell from the sky, slamming vertically into its main body.

“Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle!” The demon writhed violently, as if trying to devour the fireballs.

“Detonate!”

The fireballs exploded simultaneously, blasting the rotting, blood-colored unidentified matter away.

The single strike destroyed nearly a third of the demon’s main body.

The demon could not understand. It had only been two thousand years. When did you, a mere swordsman, get so good at magic?

It had just broken free from the seal and wanted to roam for a while. It hadn’t even properly eaten its first meal yet! And here you come hitting it!

That’s not how it used to be!!

“Purify!”

Freya did not waste the opportunity. She immediately cast her magic.

The Holy Staff emitted a white light that struck the demon directly, piercing through it and radiating outwards.

“Ahhhh—”

The demon twisted in agony and was thoroughly enraged. “Damnable Saintess and Hero!”

Sticky, pasty unidentified matter fell from the sky like a bloody rain, clump by clump. Anything it touched corroded instantly.

“Protect!”

Freya quickly cast a protective barrier.

Lant swiftly picked her up and dodged the attack.