The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound
chapter-91

Chapter 91: Ancestral Spirits (2)

Ku Woo-uk… Ku Guk…

The corpses of monkeys began to move.

Although it hadn’t been long since they died, their skin was already turning pale green, and bones were visible in various places.

In truth, all living beings emerge from nature and return to nature. In other words, the bodies of living creatures belong to nature by default.

Returning from nature to nature is a grand order, a kind of contract to be recognized as part of the ecosystem, according to the contract of life.

However.

There are some beings who refuse to return their bodies to nature even after their lives have ended and the period for doing so has passed.

The undead.

Despite originally coming from nature, they do not return to it.

It’s like a tenant who keeps occupying a house even after the lease has ended.

According to the order, the spirits forcibly occupy the bodies that should have already been returned to nature, and that’s why nature takes action to reclaim the bodies.

Following the order, everything returns to dust.

To retrieve the body from the spirits, nature accelerates the decay of the flesh by rapidly turning the wheels of fate, causing the undead to always have rotting, foul-smelling flesh and exposed bones.

This is why typical undead are decayed or only have bones left.

…However.

Some spirits who once possessed noble powers during their lifetime could resist the order of nature with even stronger powers.

They are beings who directly oppose the order of nature with bodies and strength that are relatively intact compared to when they were alive.

Wooduk! Wuduk! Ppuduk!

The undead emerging from the dragon’s tomb right now are such beings.

“…This can’t be!”

Aiyen’s mouth fell open.

Emerging from the stone and dirt graves in the valley were beings with only skin and bones left, wearing robes made of black leopard skin, and black voids typical of skeletons flowed from their eyes.

They were the once-great warriors and leaders of Ballak from a long time ago.

Bows, spears, swords, axes… they carried the weapons buried with them and came toward this side together.

Danger Level: A ~ S

Size: ?

Discovery Location: ?

Also known as ‘Knights of Death.’

Corrupted beings who, upon reaching the highest level of life, have fallen and transformed. The dark mana that holds their souls and bodies as collateral does not stop until all the muscles and blood vessels in their bodies burst.

Most of them lose their morality in life and only express empty hatred and blind anger.

However, occasionally, there are Death Knights with reason, and it is said that such individuals have appeared in human history only seven times.

Usually, Death Knights are fierce and aggressive, so they tend to wear heavy armor all over their bodies to compensate for this.

But the resurrected ancestors of Ballak were approaching at a speed like the wind, with only one robe fluttering in the dark current.

Responding to Aheuman’s frenzy of hatred.

Finally, Chief Aquila spoke.

“Everyone, prepare for battle!”

Without delay, Aiyen grabbed her bow.

It was aimed at Aheuman, who was struggling on the ground.

However, one of the rapidly approaching Death Knights fired an arrow before Aiyen.

Pew! Pew! Pew! Bang!

Arrows with tremendous power began to fly, guarding Aheuman.

“Hu-hu-hu-hu! Everyone die! Disappear!”

Hidden behind the Death Knights, Aheuman was rapidly aging.

He was pushing his life force beyond its limits to control the Death Knights.

Before long, Death Knights with only face skin left on their skeletons blocked the path of Ballak’s warriors, holding swords and spears.

Warriors of ancient times faced warriors of the new era.

“It’s time to show the heroes of the past what these kids are capable of!”

Aiyen was the first to shoot her arrow.

Ping-

Her arrow carried a strong silver aura.

However, surprisingly, the Death Knight in front caught the arrow with his bare hand.

…Crack!

The arrow was stopped, but since he had caught the arrow with his bare hand that had the aura, it couldn’t be in one piece.

The Death Knight looked at his hand, which had turned into dust after catching the arrow, and tilted his head.

In his former life, he could have caught it easily.

But now, due to decay, his body had weakened, so he hadn’t adapted to the deteriorated flesh.

At that moment.

Thunk!

A Death Knight from behind swung the sword in his hand.

A sudden attack soared, tearing apart everything in its path.

Faster than expected, Aiyen was taken aback.

…Ching!

Someone deflected the Death Knight’s attack. It was Vikir.

Finally, Vikir reached out his hand toward the two charging Death Knights.

Instantly, white particles from Vikir’s hand got stuck to the Death Knight’s face.

Sizzle-

Soon, along with the sound of burning skin, smoke rose.

The Death Knights grimaced in pain and stepped back.

“Be careful. Each one of them is a named monster.”

Hearing Vikir’s advice, Aiyen smirked.

She bent her waist, pushed her hips back, and patted Vikir’s thigh playfully.

“You’re still the only man I can trust to cover my back.”

“……”

“Oh, of course, I mean to protect the rear during battle. No misunderstandings.”

Even in this urgent moment, Aiyen found joy in teasing Vikir.

But to be honest, it wasn’t the time for such banter.

The attacks from the flying Death Knights were getting stronger and sharper.

Aiyen, with a stern expression, asked, “Vikir! How did you deal with them earlier?”

She was asking about the method Vikir used to chase away the two Death Knights just moments ago.

Vikir answered readily, “Salt. Undead are weak to salt.”

It was as simple as that. Salt was the best way to purify the unholy.

Vikir sprinkled the Death Knights with a handful of salt spread like white sand on the outskirts of the battlefield of Illiad, next to the flowing waterfall.

Immediately, the white salt burned the death knights and made a loud noise.

As the salt touched their bodies, the Death Knights recoiled, and that was the right moment for a counterattack.

Pew! Pew!

Vikir grabbed the hesitating Death Knight touched by salt, and soon, he created a hole in their windpipe with his Beelzebub.

The Ballak warriors who had been struggling to defend against the Death Knights also found their way with arrows.

“It’s salt! Follow Vikir!”

“It’s true! It works!”

The Ballak warriors, who were already hesitant to harm their ancestors’ bodies, at least engaged in minimal combat to sprinkle salt by the riverside.

Moreover, as Aheuman’s Glare-Back technique reached its peak, the Death Knights began to crumble one by one.

Chief Aquila chuckled, “Our ancestors aren’t the type to be manipulated by the likes of you.”

It was a mocking remark aimed at the dying Aheuman.

In an instant, Aheuman laughed darkly.

He smeared his blood on his face and began drawing a complex spell circle. He started drawing upon a life force that exceeded his lifespan.

Even his soul would struggle in eternal agony after death.

However, despite everything, Aheuman persisted in using this forbidden spell.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

The Death Knights surrounding him began to collapse one by one.

But still, Aheuman kept muttering something with his eyes closed.

“…I found it! I had to find it! Deep in the darkest abyss, sleeping alone without even a tomb! Oh, yes, indeed, He truly exists in that place!”

Dark mana surged violently around him.

While the other Ballak warriors struggled to maintain their balance in the chaotic situation.

“…Now it’s time to end everything.”

Only Night Fox, Chief Aquila, stood tall, gazing at Aheuman.

Soon, her arrow aimed at Aheuman’s forehead.

Pew!

A silvery arrow streaked through the darkness, piercing straight toward Aheuman’s head.

But.

Thunk-

To everyone’s astonishment, Aquila’s arrow stopped midway.

At this moment, the strongest among the black mountain’s, Aquila’s arrow, which no one could stop, was caught by someone’s hand.

“……!?”

All of Ballak’s warriors were astonished and looked in one direction.

The man who had caught the arrow with his bare hands was a gaunt figure.

A man dressed in tattered clothing.

His face, with only bones and skin remaining, lacked lips, exposing his gums and teeth.

The tattered clothing he wore was made in a style from a very long time ago.

Thick bones, a robust physique, and the incredible strength to catch Chief Aquila’s arrow with bare hands.

No one could have guessed the identity of this ancient ancestor from so long ago.

Except for one person. Aquila.

“……!”

Aquila looked at the Undead man in front of her with trembling eyes.

From a young age, she had always been confident, even when hearing the legends of all the previous Ballak chiefs and heroes.

She thought she could handle that level of skill herself.

Blessed potential, endless possibilities, talent that might only appear once every few hundred years.

Aquila was actually rated as one of the most competent chiefs in the history of Ballak, so she never felt inferior even when comparing herself to legendary warriors of the past.

…Except for just one individual.

A hero who had declared war on the Empire in a single message, received their surrender, subjugated all the tribes of the Flood, led Ballak to its greatest heyday, and achieved all these immense feats.

A figure that even the arrogant Aquila could only truly admire.

The eternal legend of Ballak, the Spiritual Supreme.

The Strongest archer ‘Adonai’.