The retreat of the Knights of the Holy Sword was proceeding dullly and quickly, almost everyone was in a state of trance, and even the powerful flapping of the wings of the storm griffins could not dispel the deathly silence. The collapse of the city of flames and Uther's death, all of these were like invisible chains wrapped around the hearts of the knights, causing the feeling of suffocation to penetrate into the deepest part of their will.
The collapsing ruins and the tundra engulfing the green land were quickly left behind on the horizon. At the same time, the main force of the alliance lined up—the 400,000 troops with the Knights of the Holy Grail and the Knights of the Holy Chain as the core—is on the way. into the eyes of Mathis. He stopped and glanced at the few people who came to greet him, and then rushed towards one of them.
"Kadar~!" The paladin roared, broke through the obstruction of several colleagues, and picked up the mage at once, "What are you doing, why didn't you come earlier? Now open your eyes and see for yourself, What has become of the Fortress of Flames?"
The mage didn't make any rebuttals, nor did he avoid the burning eyes. He just silently endured the other party's anger until another crisp voice sounded.
"Stop, Methis, what the hell are you doing? Have you lost your mind~!" Dilicia rushed between the two, trying to stop her colleagues, even though she was the only one of the six leaders of the Paladins Feminine, but there is an irresistible majesty in every move. Mysis, who was awakened by reason, finally let go of Kadar, and then sat on the ground staggeringly like drunk.
"In order to stop the pursuit of the undead, Master Usel has no way to come back to us..." He tucked his head between his arms, talking to himself as if no one else was there.
"Mysis~!"
"He's right. It's all my responsibility. If I could have guessed the ambush set by the other party earlier, those ice dragons and gargoyles would not be able to stop the army." Kadar just shook his head, indicating Dilicia stopped arguing, "If something happens to the Guide of Light, I'm willing to take the blame for it, but... time is running out now, and our priority is to defeat the undead army."
"For Lord Uther's bitter duel and for the future of the alliance, we must win the war and drive the undead out of the land of Lorendan. This is the best way to pay homage to the dead, I think so." There was an indescribable determination in the solemn and serious tone, "The goddess Luvis has sent down a new prophecy, Mysis, if you plan to avenge Lord Uther, you'd better cheer yourself up."
Those words made the paladin raise his head, and happened to meet Kadar's resolute and clear gaze. The moment the four eyes met, the noise suddenly froze.
"Is there a chance to avenge Lord Usel~!?" The other party repeated tremblingly.
"That's right." The mage nodded affirmatively, "Come on, you can't escape the battle."
The original plan of the undead was to occupy the fortress for defense. However, after the huge damage brought by the contract of fire, this idea burst like soap bubbles. Facing the alliance's 400,000 elites advancing, the ghouls built on the ruins. The rudimentary defenses erected are useless, and even the death knights cannot guarantee that they can defend the Hoshimi Canyon.
Although there is no such thing as morale in the undead army, Roland felt somewhat relieved seeing the ice dragon hovering in the air to warn the enemies in the distance. Richard, who noticed this, couldn't help laughing.
"Do you remember? When you decided to conquer the Northern Continent first, you were very opposed to it. Look at it now. If you don't consolidate the rear, the whole situation will collapse when there is a crisis."
"You should correct your problem of preaching." Roland frowned, and purposely raised his head to observe the flying dragons to end the topic. These noble creatures come from the White Dragon Clan in the north. There are a total of 87 heads. They are powerful warriors who surrendered to Ishutori and gained the power of the Netherworld. In essence, they are exactly the same as the death knights.
"However, I always feel that too many troops have been mobilized, and the defensive power of the Ice Crown has been weakened unprecedentedly." Suddenly thinking of this, Roland, who had always been indifferent, couldn't help showing a worried expression naturally.
"I understand, but we don't have any choice. The opponent's army is the country's elite headed by the two holy knight orders, and because of the existence of the storm griffin, we can't even expect the dragons and gargoyles to provide extra power in the battle. The only way to help me is to fight head-on...or do you expect me to have some crooked tactics?" Lich didn't forget to add a sarcasm.
"There is no way to choose a battle, so it's more worry-free." Ignoring the glitches in the suggestion as usual, Roland lowered his head, "The alliance probably won't launch an attack immediately these days, I want to leave for a while, everything I leave the business to you, Richard."
"I can probably guess where you're going. It's the Mist Forest, right? Although our strategy doesn't involve that area, they are allies of the Alliance and our enemies. How can an undead break in alone?" Could it be seen as a friendly gesture?" The Lich asked back, his squinted pupils radiating a strange ice-blue color.
"I won't conflict with them there." Roland replied firmly.
"Whatever you want, I'm just discussing a certain possibility. The army of the alliance is on the opposite side, and it's hard to guarantee that nothing will happen. If the head of the knight group plans to go out, I think one day is the limit, how about it?" Wu The demon's gesture was clearly intended to end the conversation.
"It's almost exactly a round trip. I'm quite familiar with that land." The death knight's tone was a bit bitter.
"That's it, please be careful on the road."
Roland replied absently, then turned his head and looked at the emerald green horizon in the distance. Has it been nine years? Will it become unrecognizable there, or will it still coincide with my memory? Jiu Yuan... I really want to see you sooner...
When night fell, the death knight left the camp quietly under the cover of darkness, let alone the monitors of the alliance, and even most of the colleagues were unaware of the leader's actions. Under the subtle manipulation of its master, the powerful Nightmare bypassed the enemy's sentries, crossed the mountains and rivers at the speed of chasing the wind, penetrated deep into the alliance territory, and drove the rider towards the forest of mist in the north of the Naga Mountains.
Water droplets converge on the edges of the bright green leaves, giving off a crystal clear luster. The morning sun in summer reflects a pleasant golden color through the mist, and draws the slender outlines of the green trees. The forest of mist is always a bright pearl on the continent of Lorentan, and the elves who have lived here for generations are also the same, with the mystery and beauty that humans will never be able to match.
The death knight tried his best to restrain the cold breath that was incompatible with the environment, and walked through the forest carefully. Relying on the power of Youjie, Nightmare's steps are completely free from gravity. Wherever it passes, it won't even pick up a fallen leaf or break a dead branch, and even the densest branches and leaves can't stop the black figure. As if going back in time, the scenery on both sides was rapidly regressing with vague afterimages. The sound of gurgling water in the woods was increasing rapidly at this moment, and finally turned into a huge roar.
"It's almost there..." Roland stopped the nightmare's movement, whispered and stared at the magnificent nature in front of him.
As the largest branch of the Nilu River, the Ganges possesses not only emerald-like clear water and a lively and arrogant personality, but it is also of great significance to the Luvis Alliance and the Elven Kingdom—once this With the silver and blue bright line across the forest, the laws and beliefs of human beings are no longer valid, replaced by the laws of nature believed by the elves.
The green field in the eyes of the undead is called the kingdom of elves, a country with a history of 500 years—Brainas.
What are you still hesitating and afraid of? There is nothing worthy of nostalgia and redemption here. The death knight exists for only one reason. I was born for revenge, Roland told himself. Then he shook his head vigorously, as if trying to shake off a recurring memory.
Then, the deceased pulled the rein, and the nightmare under him immediately jumped into the rapids of the Ganges without hesitation, and passed over the slightly exposed rocks with incredible speed and precision. In the blink of an eye, the wide river surface was left behind by the undead, and the black shadow quickly disappeared into the layers of green.
Beside the quiet emerald lake, large tracts of pure white flowers with complex and slender structures - moonflowers - are in full bloom. Driven by the lingering air current among the trees, the crystal petals dance to the whisper of the summer wind. And from the depths of the white flower sea, the words that touched the heartstrings came out vaguely.
Where are you taking me
Rest assured, the strongest prayer will be here to protect you~!
It's just... just a little concerned.
Thanks.
Please live on...
"Go and rest elsewhere." Roland patted the horse's neck lightly, and then walked forward in the vast expanse of flowers, walking carefully and cautiously. Crystal clear snow-like fragments fluttered beside him, as if they were alive, stroking the undead's long gray hair blown by the wind from time to time.
When the simple mound of clothes came into the eyes of the death knight, Roland felt his frozen blood flow again, and he could clearly feel the warm blood flowing all over his body. And in those water-colored pupils, the cold flame disappeared without a trace, replaced by a gentle look that only appeared when facing a lover.
"Jiu Yuan, I'm back..."
Roland's tightly pursed lips opened uncontrollably, and a voice full of nostalgia and melancholy was calling the name with beautiful syllables.
When the wind stroked the long gray hair again, shiny ice crystals scattered from it, and the death knight who was immersed in the past even forgot to hide his aura. However, the large sea of flowers at the feet of the undead did not show any signs of withering. On the contrary, when the white moon flowers accepted the cold breath of death, they suddenly made a rustling sound under the rhythm of the wind, as if expressing comfort. The words are average.
Yes, I can understand and understand those feelings. The hatred, remorse, confusion contained in the helplessness of death... as well as love and longing...
The sea of flowers resonating in this way lighted up faintly, and the orange light ignited on the blooming flowers, together with the petals flying under the blue sky, constructed a world full of warm lights. That is the place of worship for the dead, the sea of the moon, the realm created by the fusion of the present world and the sea of Ying. Even the sleepless fire of the soul will become peaceful and sad here.
Memories of the past are like thunder and lightning in the night sky, with a huge whistling, instantly illuminating the tomb in front of him. The ocean of memory gradually roared, as if countless irresistible emotions were swarming in like a tsunami. Confusion, loneliness, solitude, happiness, ecstasy, sadness, and hatred... It's not just a flame of a single color, but a huge emotional vortex that contains everything.
Those days of bonfires and stars from more than ten years ago have been awakened and floated up in an instant. The light bubbles reflecting the flames are like bright lights, stroking the turbulent waves of the sea of memories, calming the painful owner.
After a common test of life and death, the dwarf Muradin's eerie smile and bitter sarcasm reflecting the campfire gradually became friendly, and the sledgehammer and wisdom of the orc shaman Astaros were the source of surprise. Thinking of this, Roland's body would tremble involuntarily, as if he had returned to their side again, during the adventure ten years ago.
The petals jumping in front of his eyes were dotted with the arduous journey to find the Star City. Roland blushed and tried to order the mercenaries of the two old gods. Only when night fell did the young paladin realize that he could not even light a fire. But at this moment, the other party's ridicule had already given him the urge to draw his sword.
But when faced with a powerful enemy, the back that made the youth angry and helpless last night was the most powerful support. The moment the monsters fell, a tacit understanding was taking root in the hearts of the three.
The dim fireworks illuminate those hellhounds and Balrogs hiding in the darkness and waiting for their prey. The return journey is extremely long due to the extremely difficult and numerous battles along the way. , Roland could even feel the vibration of the sharp blade buried in the demon's body.
And beyond all the memories, the eyes of the deceased are following the slim figure shuttling through all these, the hair fluttering in the wind and the melodious silver bell-like laughter filled his mind, and the gentle The expression and considerate heart once again made the already frozen heart feel a kind of familiar warmth.
That is a memory that will never fade no matter how many years wash away, and to the Death Knight, it represents everything about him.
This is... a dream? Is it a dream? Melancholy eyes soon replaced the short-lived joy born of memories. The death knight closed his eyes slowly, as if he wanted to keep the scene imprinted in his mind forever.
It doesn't matter even if it's a dream, if you can choose to continue forever? If you never wake up, that can be considered... happiness, right? Saying this to himself, Roland couldn't help showing a gentle smile. He stared at the tomb, subconsciously stroking the necklace on his chest.
Time passed quickly, the moonlight covered the earth with a cool veil, the wind had already stopped, and the Emerald Lake, which only reflected the bright moon, was extraordinarily broad and quiet after the emeralds of flying petals were erased. At some point, the sound of the long skirt dragging among the flowers broke the tranquility of the deceased, and the cold fire immediately returned to the death knight's eyes. The statue-like undead turned around and stared at the petite intruder silently.
"Sometimes I really envy the person lying under the Moon Flower, because no matter how the world changes, someone always remembers her." A nostalgic elf language slowly floated across the sleeping lake, and spread to the soul of the dead. ears.
The owner of the words is a beautiful elf girl. She has skin fairer than snow and long hair as blue as sea water. She looks like a beauty that only exists in fairy tales. However, what is buried in those spring-like eyes is a sadness that is incompatible with fairy tales.
"Oluha?" Roland's tongue rolled over the familiar name, he subconsciously took a step forward, the white petals perched on his shoulders fell one after another, and disappeared into the flowers along the black cloak in an instant.
"Roland..." The elf girl lowered her head at this moment, avoiding the flame's eyes.
"How do you know I'm here?"
"I'm a magician, have you forgotten? Although the guards didn't notice, I will never mistake Roland's aura." The other party showed a lonely smile for a moment, "I guess the purpose of your coming here must be It was to see her, so I came here... As expected... "
"Sure enough, I still can't hide it from the singer of Blainas." Roland paused, as if recalling the past nine years ago, "I want to thank you, the moon flowers here are very beautiful, making people forget to leave. "
"Well, I planted it because I knew that Roland would definitely come back. I believe that Miss Jiuyuan will also like it?" When the name was mentioned, the two fell silent, and when Oluha's voice When it rang again, it was filled with sadness that could no longer be concealed, "But, I didn't expect Roland to come back in this posture..."
"You don't understand." Roland's voice gradually stiffened.
"Yeah, I don't understand...why be an undead? Why be an invader?"
"This is a choice I made myself. Because of human desires and the indifference of the Holy See, I have long been deprived of everything. Now I have nothing to lose."
"Even so, does it matter? Except for the Moon Flower, which is also known as the spiritual lamp, this forest will not accept you anymore~! Even if you hide your own breath, the green will still wither when it touches you. If that's the case ..." Unknowingly, the girl's words were filled with tears.
"That just means that the properties of the body are opposite to the power of life... Undead are not a symbol of evil, we are neither thirsty for blood nor bloodthirsty." Roland shrugged coldly, "I don't deny that this is a war of aggression, But Luvis has done the same thing before, she is not qualified to question all of this.
"I'm not interested in the war between the undead and humans, I just want to ask you alone, Roland." Oluha suddenly raised his head and stared straight at the death knight, "Why did you abandon everything else for revenge? Even... even at the expense of killing the person who raised him, Uther, the guide of light?"
"How do you know~!?" The question rushed out of Roland's mouth involuntarily.
"So it's true? You really killed him~!" Oluha screamed, and couldn't help covering her lips with her hands, "This morning, the sage Kadar visited the court of Brainus, When he used the death knight's crimes to persuade His Majesty the King to fight with the Luvis Alliance, I thought it was just a side talk of human beings... Roland...why?"
The deceased under the questioning did not say a word, but unconsciously avoided the elf girl's sight.
"Are you still the person I remember? Roland should be very gentle, why did he become so unscrupulous?" The elf girl deliberately suppressed her trembling tone, but crystal tears ran across her face.
"It's fate. Master and I can't accommodate each other, so we can only fight to the end for our respective beliefs." Roland replied in a bitter voice, "In the Shura field where swords are used to talk, there is no way for a sword to be chopped off. There is a way to take it back, even if you regret it now, it is too late... "
"Really?" Oluha stared into the eyes that were burning with cold fire again, as if to see the truth in the other person's heart, "Then, what if it's me?"
"What the hell are you talking about~!?" This straightforward question was so abrupt that even Roland couldn't help getting excited, and he immediately retorted loudly, "Death knights will never draw their swords for unreasonable battles .We remain here because of our obsession, become the contractor of Ishutori, and gain great power. But if a person is too obsessed with power and forgets his obsession, it will cause his own demise~!"
"What if it's someone who prevents you from fulfilling your wish? Blainas may soon have to fight with the Alliance... At that time, as the singer of Blainas, the only one who can use the 'li magic' How should I face Roland?" The girl said, wiping her tears subconsciously with her hands, and repeated with helpless confusion, "What will Roland do? What should I do?"
"Just do it according to your own will." The death knight replied, even he couldn't ignore the indifference and strangeness in his tone.
"'Just do it according to your own will'... It's really an irresponsible answer." Oluha subconsciously stroked her chest with her hand, showing a painful expression, "A long time ago, it was Roland who made me never The gentle Roland who broke free from the cage made of gold made me free and learned to be strong, but now... when I want to help the people in disaster with my own will, I find that you are standing opposite me , how did it become like this?"
"..." The undead whose name was called again and again lowered his head helplessly.
"Can't it be restored to the way it was before? Can you abandon the fetters of the world to you just for the simple act of destruction? I will never like you like you... Absolutely..." The elf girl finally sobbed uncontrollably, and she stretched out suddenly. He wanted to touch the black shadow in front of him, but before that, the death knight quickly jumped away.
"Stop, doing this will only hurt you. There is a gap between life and death between us, and that is a distance that can never be bridged." Roland's face appeared on Roland's face, which was the opposite of the indifferent tone of sad expression, "Everything is just an irresistible fate. Maybe as you said, I ignored many things and only focused on the destruction without a future, but... for the undead in front of you, this avenger born of Roland's obsession , only the death of Windham can bring him peace."
Without the support of the wind, the heavy white petals quickly fell to the ground, and the night permeated with the smell of death gradually diffused, making the distance between the living and the dead as far away as a world away.
"In any case, I can't turn back, I can only continue to fight until the wish is fulfilled..." The indifference once again covered the death knight's expression, he walked slowly but firmly to the girl, hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice He opened his mouth in a low voice.
"I'm sorry, Oluha..."
Before the other party had time to answer, that ghostly figure had already disappeared into the darkness.
"I won't like you for a long time... Absolutely..." Oluha's murmured sobs echoed in Roland's ears. Even when the permafrost that spread like a plague came into view, the death knight's thoughts still remained. Can't calm down.
Soon, two familiar figures appeared in front of him. "The focus now is to defeat the alliance army." Roland told himself, shaking his head subconsciously, as if to shake off the confusion in his heart.
"He looks strange." Arthas commented in a low voice.
"The confused expression, probably because you met someone you cared about during the memorial service?" Richard showed a sly smile, "That's fine, if I'm really lost in the karma of revenge, I'm afraid Ishutori It will be very sad." As he spoke, the lich's joking voice gradually became lower, he said the last sentence softly, and then walked straight towards the galloping death knight.
"You're late, Roland." Alsace greeted first.
"Sorry, because something unexpected happened..." When he came to the two of them, Roland had already recovered and was focusing his attention on the silent battlefield in the distance.
"As the leader of the Knights, it's really leisurely to go out for a walk before the battle." Richard interrupted the opponent's argument maliciously. The grasp of the battle made the eyes burning with ice-blue flames also smeared with anxiety.
"If you wait until before the battle to think about tactics, it will be too late. There is no time to discuss these now." Roland replied indifferently, "You should have scouted while I was away, how is the opponent's situation?"
"Impeccable, the number of Storm Griffons is as expected - five thousand, even with the help of the undead dragons, we can't get air supremacy. Their ground defenses are also impeccable, and the mages have deployed a lot of them everywhere. Detecting magic, intrigue is useless. The only way is to fight head-on, and spider warriors can play a role in plain warfare, but they are still too fragile." Arthas still maintained his usual relaxed attitude.
"And so far, the concentration of magic here has not reached the level where we can use the magic gathering tower again..." Richard added to the report of his colleagues, without concealing his worries.
"Even for the tireless undead, isn't this kind of continuous combat too much?" Roland frowned, and subconsciously tightened the reins in his hands, "Besides, the movements of the Blainas elves are also very fast. Unclear... They may take some action in the near future. However, since we have come here, we must be undefeated, and we must at least defend the city of flames."
The other two agreed tacitly.
"Then come on, for Ishutori, and for ourselves, let's fight~!" Saying so, the death knight's eyes burning with fighting intent swept across the battle line in the sky, and the dazzling banners of the human army were whimpering in the wind Waiting quietly for the upcoming blood sacrifice.