Chapter 442: Interlude – Spill


    <strong>442. Interlude - Spill</strong>


    Why do we have to be the ones to investigate it?


    An annoying voice groaned. Darwyn craned his neck back, facing the source of the whining. As usual, it was Jared. That youngd was going to be the death of Darwyn. Alwaysining never wanting to put in any work to get things done.


    That was the problem with kids these days. Sure, Darwyn himself was not much older. He was in his mid thirties, but unlike Jared who was wasting away in his prime years, Darwyn had put in the work early on. Now, the senior soldier was equal in strength to a tinum Rank adventurer. As a Level 77 [Warrior], he was very much considered one of the best fighter in his brigade. Even stronger than the captain who was only in his low Level 70s.


    Meanwhile, Jared was still equivalent to a Silver Ranked adventurer even at twenty years old. Ridiculous.


    Shut it, kid. Quitining or Ill force you to investigate this fist upside your ass.


    Darwyn snapped as Jared just sighed. The group of soldiersughed, continuing trudging along down the road.


    Thats enough, Darwyn. Youre scaring the kid.


    Castor patted Darwyn on the back with a soft chuckle. Jared flushed as his toonmates continued to take jabs at him.


    Im just saying cant we get adventurers or something to check it out? This doesnt seem like a job for us, dont you think?


    Too bad. We aint got any high-leveled adventurers left in the city after those idiots from the Remembered Order Company snagged em off. We gotta deal with it ourselves.


    Darwyn scoffed at Jareds idea.


    Thats annoying


    Jared sighed. Truth be told, Darwyn himself could somewhat sympathize with the young mansints. After all, this whole investigation seemed pointless. A bunch of [Farmers] saw a sh of red light in the night sky, and now they were sending a <em>thousand </em>soldiers to check it out. That hardly seemed necessary. A single toon was more than enough to find out what was going on.


    But the higher-ups ordered it. Perhaps it was because they thought these shing red lights were a sign of an incursion from the Inoria Empire. They had been quite quiettely. They used to frequently kick up quite the fuss along their border with Wisha. But since Wisha was a member of the Eastern Kingdom Alliance, the Inoria Empire never actually took direct military action against them. And that wasnt going to change now.


    It really was probably just going to be a [Mage] practicing some light spell. Nothing more.


    Doesnt matter if its annoying. We go where were ordered to go, simple as that.


    Darwyn spoke simply as he marched forward, turning away from the young man. A sea of metal helmets streamed down the little gravel pathway. Armored figures each adorning the crest of the Wisha Kingdom. The westernmost nation in the Eastern Kingdoms Alliance.


    <em>Its probably just a waste of time </em>Darwyn thought as he took a step forward, metal boots blinking against the gravel ground. Still, even if it was an annoyance, he just had to grit his teeth and deal with it. That was how life worked.


    --


    Alright, were here. Now wheres the trouble?


    Darwyn ced his hands on his hips as the brigade of soldiers overlooked the sprawling farnds. A small towny waiting in the center. It looked like it could fit maybe a thousand people? Slightly more? At most.


    This was the source of theints. Now what was there to investigate? Darwyn didnt know. He didnt care. He found it more frustrating that there wasnt actually any obvious threats looming over the town. But as usual, Jared felt the need to pipe up.


    <em>Thats odd</em>


    What are you yapping about this time, kid?


    Castor rolled his eyes. Darwyn nced over at the two of them as they fussed over the vige.


    I dont see anyone working the fields. Its midday shouldnt there be a bunch of [Farmers] out at work right now?


    Jared narrowed his eyes. Darwyn shook his head.


    Are you daft? These [Farmers] probably have Skills at work. No [Farmer] below Level 40 needs to spend all day out in the fields.


    City kids.


    Castor grinned. Darwyn snorted, and Jared flushed. But still the older man had to admit that something about this whole situation seemed off. However, if he had to choose between mocking Jared or admitting Jared was right, Darwyn would always do the former.


    A susurration broke out up front where captain Helmut stood with a spyss directed towards the town. He said something to his second-inmand, before an order spread throughout the brigade.


    <em>Stay on guard! We march into town!</em>


    I told you guys something is wrong.


    Jared muttered. But neither Castor nor Darwyn acknowledged him for that. They trudged along and eventually reached the vige.


    --


    Its a ghost town. Where did everybody go?


    Jareds voice was the only audible sound in the silent and empty town. Even with a thousand soldiers gathered here, there was barely a clink of the metallic boots or armor from their fidgeting. Everyone was on guard.


    The entire town had been deserted.


    Hush, kid. You talk too much.


    Darwyn shushed the annoying boy. Jared Drew back meekly.


    S-sorry. Im just a little nervous.


    Youre always nervous. Now shut it.


    Castor scoffed. Darwyn scanned his surroundings as he furrowed his brows. He bent over and touched the dirt where a footprint was left behind.


    Bare feet. No sandals.


    He muttered. Captain Helmuts voice drew the soldiers attention a second after.


    toons 1 to 12, search the town. Scour every nook and cranny of this damn ce until you figure out what happened. toons 13 to 24, fan out over the fields. Darwyn! Youre in charge of that lot.


    Yes, captain!


    Darwyn and the others saluted the man before taking off.


    -


    It makes no sense


    Darwyn gritted his teeth. He couldnt help but agree with Jareds assessment. Something was clearly amiss.


    No tracks. No trails. Nothing. The vigers didnt leave their town. Something happened to them while they were <em>inside </em>the vige.


    Jared shivered as Darwyn finished. The young man clutched his shoulders as his metal armor trembled.


    I told you something is wrong! This this


    Just shut your trap already, boy.


    Castor snarled, but Darwyn didnt react or say anything. The older man was a veteran. He was rarely ever scared or afraid of anything. But this this sent a prickle down his spine. He bit his lower lip as he continued forward, wading through the rice fields with his muddy boots.


    He looked around at the other soldiers traversing the paddy fields. There were hundreds of them fanning out over the farnds if anything happened, theyd alle rushing to his side. But still he was on edge. Darwyn didnt exactly have a Skill like [Danger Sense]. Maybe he would if he had gone down the path of a [Rogue]. But he hadmon sense. Andmon sense was telling him to get out of this damn ce before whatever happened to the [Farmers] and vigers happened to him as well.


    He jolted back when a sharp voice called out to him.


    <em>Darwyn! Over here!</em>


    He nearly staggered back onto Jared. The boy caught him, and Darwyn quickly shrugged him off.


    Whats going on?


    They rushed over to the source of the shouting. A dozen soldiers were gathered around a small crater. A figurey slumped over there. Darwyn frown.


    What is this? A body?


    Yes, sir. But its


    The men shifted back as Darwyns eyes widened. Jared stumbled back and puked. Even Castor couldnt help but grimace.


    A desated husk of a corpsey there. A Human man, face twisted in pain. Contorted in a way like he was letting out a silent scream. Even though his body was dried up to barely resemble a person, the pain in his eyes was still clearly evident.


    What do you think did this?


    One of the soldiers asked. Darwyn tried to work his jaw. He looked towards the uneasy soldiers before turning back to the corpse.


    I


    He hesitated. He didnt know. Of course not. But he couldnt just admit it to them. That would ruin morale. He shook his head.


    All we know is this mustve happened a while ago. We just need to figure out what did this


    And a scream cut him off before he could finish. A high-pitched screech of pain. The sound of someone dying. Like they were being eaten alive. Darwyn raised his head and faced the source of the scream. He saw a toon of soldiers running through the paddy fields. One of them tripped on <em>something </em>before vanishing under the water over the wet ground.


    Darwyn rushed forward everyone rushed towards the running toons side. But before they could get there, thest of the soldiers were yanked into the water. Their bodies werepletely gone. The water surface was still. It didnt even look like there had been people there just moments earlier.


    What just happened?


    Jared asked breathlessly. Castor took a step back with his trembling boots.


    This is


    And he screamed. Darwyn spun around, drawing his sword as Castor was yanked by a pair of little hands into the water. For a moment, there was a thrashing on the surface. Jared lunged forward to pull Castor out. But there was a final ssh of water and nothing.


    Castor was gone.


    Its something in the water!


    Darwyn yelled as he backed away from the muddy ground. He pulled Jared up to his feet and spun around.


    We


    He started, but another soldier was immediately pulled into the water. Darwyn turned around as soldier after soldier vanished with a cut scream. The veteran [Warrior] clicked his tongue.


    Regroup back at the vige! Go!


    He screamed and made a break for it. Dozens of soldiers vanished by the minute. Darwyn couldve ran ahead of them, but he stayed behind so that as many of them could escape as possible.


    Movie


    He started, when the water beneath his feet sshed out. A little green hand grabbed at his ankles. He looked down to see a scaled face. A pair of glistening red eyes. A monstrous smile. A reflection in the water. One which he couldnt identify because it wasnt actually there.


    You get off of me!


    He kicked down hard. And the thing actually recoiled and vanished. Darwyn stumbled forward until he was away from the rice paddies. Away from the water. He stood on proper ground as what was left of toons 13 to 24 gathered together at the edge of the vige. Too many of them were lost and left behind. But that didnt matter.


    Find captain Helmut! We need to tell him about what happened there!


    Darwyn pushed past the soldiers as he headed to the center of the vige. He turned a corner and paused. He looked down as he saw a glinting from the floor. A swordy at his feet. A body copsed next to it. The crest of the Wisha Kingdom on his chest.


    Thats Seth from toon 4


    Jared sputtered. Darwyn himself barely noticed that. Instead he saw the desated corpse. The dried body. It hadnt been more than two hours since the toons split up. A body couldnt dry up this fast.


    And that was when the screams began to break out from inside the vige. Darwyn snapped his head up and dashed forward.


    Captain Helmut! Captain


    Darwyn yelled out as he sprinted down the streets to the vige center. And that was where he saw the fighting. Bodiesy copsed all around him. Each of them desated. Drained of blood and water. Their skin king and dry.


    Darwyn!


    Helmuts gruff voice cut through the chaos and fighting. The captain stabbed out with his spear and impaled a little green creature. It almost looked like a [Goblin] mixed with a fish. Except, somehow, far more ugly too. Darwyn rushed forward with wide eyes.


    What is that?


    His question was answered a secondter as Helmut pulled his spear back and ck blood sprayed all over the floor.


    Demons theyre everywhere. I dont know how, but they were somehow hiding in the water. We need to get out of here.


    Demons? What are Demons


    Darwyn started, but a shriek interrupted him. He turned around and looked towards the edge of the vige. Dozens of the little green creatures flopped out of the rice fields. They looked up with their deformed fish-like heads and smiled with terrible impish grins. They made sounds that sounded likeughter, before rushing forward and wing apart a toon of soldiers in an instant.


    <em>[Kappa - Lvl. 59]</em>


    <em>[Kappa - Lvl. 63]</em>


    <em>[Kappa - Lvl. 57]</em>


    <em></em>


    Jared screamed as he backed away, raising his shield in terror.


    Theres so many of them!


    One of the [Kappa]s leapt forward, tearing through half a dozen soldiers beforending before the boy. His eyes widened in fear as the [Kappa] pointed at him. The blood from the corpses behind the Demonnced out like a spear and wouldve impaled him if Darwyn didnt jump in the way.


    [Sunder sh]!


    The Level 77 [Warrior] cut down the blood-spear with ease. The [Kappa] blinked in confusion, and he rushed forward.


    [Tank Charge]!


    The Demon swiped out with its ws but he simply tackled it to the ground. It was only Level 61. He shouldve been able to kill it with ease. But somehow it managed to fight back. It held up against him despite their level difference. After a moments struggle, he eventually put it down, but then he turned to the other [Kappas], and he watched them ughter the soldiers.


    Why are they so strong? They shouldnt be this strong!


    Captain Helmut shouted over him as the soldiers began to flee.


    <em>Retreat!</em>


    The remaining toons rushed out of the city. Back where they came from. Darwyn scowled and followed suit, dragging Jared along so he wouldnt get left behind.


    But right as they reached the road leading away from the vige, they came to a halt. A giant figure barred their path. One that was just like the [Kappas] leaping out of the water, but farrger. At least ten foot in height.


    <em>[Soucouyant Kappa - Lvl. 121]</em>


    What?


    Darwyns jaw dropped at the sight of the creature. Captain Helmut yelled as he backed up.


    Back away! Back


    And he paused. The man froze as the [Soucouyant Kappa] pointed at him. His entire body tensed up as Darwyn narrowed his eyes.


    Whats going on?


    And captain Helmuts body twisted. It contorted and grew bloated. Darwyn recoiled, knowing what came next before the body exploded into a puddle of blood. There were gasps. But the Archdemon didnt stop there. It pointed at a toon of soldiers, and all of them grew bloated before bursting as well.


    Darwyn backed up, then he heard the giggling. He turned around and saw the swarm of [Kappas]ing at him from behind. He looked back towards the giant [Kappa] and knew it was over. The [Soucouyant Kappa] slowly brought its finger over him.


    This is it


    He muttered.


    And then there was a sh. A streak of golden light shot through the sky and sted apart the [Soucouyant Kappa]. In an instant, the Archdemon exploded.


    Jared blinked as Darwyn looked up. A figure descended from the sky, unleashing arrows down at the [Kappas] encroaching on the soldiers. A flurry of explosions swept over the monsters, wiping them out in an instant.


    Darwyn watched as the figurended. A man with dark blue hair holding a glistening bow. THe veteran soldiers recognized him immediately.


    Y-youre Tyrian the Brightsbane Archer! From the Remembered Order Company!


    I am. And are you the one in charge of this brigade?


    Tyrian asked as he lowered his bow. Behind him, from the road ahead, Darwyn could hear the rumbling of footfalls. Like an army was approaching.


    I am now.


    Darwyn said as he nced over at where captain Helmut had been.


    Whats going on?


    He asked. Tyrian didnt give an immediate reply. Instead he cast his gaze over the dead Demons and murmured.


    Seems like were starting earlier than we thought we would.


    The Elite Ranked adventurer shook his head and turned around. And behind him, an army revealed itself. Tens of thousands of adventurers marched down the road, heeding hismand.


    Adventurers! Sweep the area! Ensure that no Demon escapes! Wipe them out till the veryst!


    They roared a reply as Darwyn blinked. He stared on in confusion, and the army of adventurers poured into the vige, hunting down the screaming Demons. Theirughter turned from gleeful to that of fear.


    Whats going on? Why is this happening?


    Darwyn asked again. This time. Tyrian turned to him and answered.


    The ritual has begun.


    What?


    Darwyn stared on, confused. And Jared vocalized that confusion.


    What does that mean?


    Tyrian sighed.


    Im not sure. But from what I was told, it seems that the nes are merging. Throughout the Inoria Empire, thend is turning white. The sky is turning red. Demons are pouring out and spilling into neighboringnds.


    Darwyn dropped his sword, finally understanding what was going on.


    Oh.


    The Elite Ranked adventurer started forward as he finished.


    If the ritual is not stopped, soon the Netherworld and the Mortal Realm will be one.