Chapter 1353: Everlasting Camp, Middle Domain, and Decision II
Chapter 1353: Everlasting Camp, Middle Domain, and Decision II
"Hmph! You dare bare your fangs at me?!"
A voice filled with immense power resounded through the forest.
The old man turned his gaze toward Henry, who was standing at the front of the group. To his surprise, Henry remained completely unfazed by the overwhelming pressure released by the monster.
"As a Third Stage creature, you should possess some intelligence. I suggest you turn around and leave."
Henry spoke in a language that the old man and the other villagers couldn’t understand. However, the monster, which had yet to reveal itself, didn’t understand a single word either.
Henry sighed before drawing his sword from its scabbard and slashing through the air.
Swoosh!!
That single slash appeared to contain boundless energy in the old man’s eyes.
The sword energy tore through the trees, traveling hundreds of meters in the blink of an eye. Everything in its path was completely obliterated.
By the time the old man regained his senses, the terrifying pressure released by the monster had already disappeared.
Henry glanced at everyone and said, "Stand up. Let’s continue. If we waste too much time here, there’s a chance we’ll encounter another monster."
Dead?
A Third Stage monster had been killed just like that?
From beginning to end, the monster hadn’t even revealed its appearance.
The old man felt an immense pressure weighing on his heart. Only now did he realize that Henry could do whatever he wanted to their village, and none of them would have the strength to stop him.
’So strong...!!’
Was he already in a Realm beyond Mana Pool Solidification?
The old man felt utterly insignificant standing before Henry.
The other villagers were equally shocked. The pressure Henry had released just now was far more terrifying than the monster’s. Even though it hadn’t been directed at them and had only lasted for a split second, they felt as if they were standing at death’s door.
The group continued their journey.
Feber, the Village Chief’s son, couldn’t calm himself down. The strength Henry had demonstrated was far beyond his imagination. He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of place this so-called Everlasting Camp was.
Henry was addressed as Captain, which meant there had to be someone even stronger than him in that camp.
A camp...?
The group advanced slowly because there were elderly people and children among them. Not everyone was capable of walking for several hours without rest, and Henry’s squad understood this. They occasionally stopped to let everyone catch their breath before continuing their journey.
By the following day, the group was still making their way through the forest.
Some of the elderly villagers were already exhausted from the lack of proper rest. Their bodies were struggling to keep up with the journey, but they had no choice but to press onward.
Before long, Feber noticed Henry stop and turn his gaze in another direction.
He understood why when another group of people emerged from the woods.
"Henry! Hahahaha!" A man clad in silver-colored armor glanced at the villagers behind him. "That’s quite a haul, huh? Over a hundred people... That’s a lot of contribution points."
Henry smiled at the man’s words and laughed. "You’re flattering me! I just got lucky. I heard your squad joined the frontline. You must have earned quite a lot of contribution points too."
"Compared to what you’re doing, that’s a lot more work. We also spent a good portion of our contribution points buying potions."
"The frontline, huh...? That’s risky business. It’s slowly turning into a meat grinder."
"That’s true..."
"Enough about that. I’ll join this escort, so we can return to camp together."
"Let’s go."
Henry and the newly arrived squad continued chatting as they walked. The man in silver armor had six subordinates accompanying him. Their armor was battered, covered in dents, cracks, and dried bloodstains. It was obvious that they had recently been through a fierce battle.
Feber listened to their conversation but couldn’t understand a single word. They were speaking a completely different language from the one Henry had used with the villagers. Still, he could guess that the man in silver armor was probably on the same level as Henry.
He glanced back at his fellow villagers and noticed that several of them were trembling. The newly arrived squad was unconsciously releasing an oppressive bloodlust that made their scalps tingle and their bodies go cold. It felt as though invisible blades were pressed against their throats, ready to slice them open at the slightest movement.
A few hours passed.
With the help of the other squad, the group finally arrived at Everlasting Camp.
"We’re here, everyone!" Henry’s voice rang out, loud enough for every villager to hear.
After passing through the dense trees, Feber, the village chief, and the other villagers caught sight of an enormous structure in the distance.
It was a colossal castle, rising nearly two hundred meters into the sky. Its towering walls stretched across the landscape, while massive towers and imposing battlements loomed above them. The enormous castle gate stood open, allowing a steady stream of people to enter and leave. Even from a distance, the structure looked less like a building and more like a fortress built to withstand the end of the world.
How could something like this exist?
The castle was so enormous that they should have been able to see it from miles away. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, it had remained hidden from their sight until they were barely a kilometer away.
Feber and the other villagers stood frozen.
Their eyes widened as they stared at the towering castle. Some instinctively took a step backward, while others craned their necks so far that they nearly lost their balance. A few could only gape at the sight, their mouths hanging open. The sheer scale of the structure made them feel like tiny insects standing before an insurmountable mountain.
They had never seen anything like it in their entire lives.
The castle’s walls were so high that they seemed to scrape the heavens. Its dark stone surfaces were lined with countless defensive structures, and the enormous gate looked large enough to swallow dozens of people at once. The sight alone was enough to make the villagers feel as though they were standing before an entirely different world.
They had spent their entire lives deep within the forest, occasionally encountering travelers who passed through their village. Most had never even set foot beyond the boundaries of Ironwood Ridge, much less seen a settlement on this scale. They didn’t even know the full extent of the forest they called home.
And now, before their very eyes, stood a castle that dwarfed everything they had ever known.
"Welcome to Everlasting Camp. Stay close and follow me. We’ll get everyone registered. As long as you’re with me, no one will harm you."
Henry spoke with a proud smile.
He was proud to be one of the people of Everlasting.
"Sir Henry...? What is this place?" The village chief was still in shock, his gaze fixed on the enormous castle.
Henry simply smiled without offering an explanation. He figured it would be better to let the villagers experience the place for themselves while he explained the workings of Everlasting Camp. After all, seeing it firsthand would leave a much stronger impression than merely hearing about it.
Before long, the group arrived in front of the castle gate.
"I see you’ve brought over a hundred locals! You must treat me to a drink later!"
"Hahaha! It’s nothing!"
The guards chatted casually with Henry and the man in silver armor. They then inspected the villagers one by one before giving each of them a stamp bearing the emblem of a massive island surrounded by flames.
After they passed through the castle gate, Henry explained the importance of the stamps.
"Make sure you don’t lose them. These stamps serve as proof that you’re registered here. Without one, you won’t be allowed to stay inside the camp."
As they toured the castle grounds, Henry began explaining how Everlasting Camp operated.
The place wasn’t populated by soldiers and knights alone. There were also ordinary people living within its walls, many of whom were locals from Ironwood Ridge. Just like Feber and the others, they had once lived in the surrounding forests before joining Everlasting and becoming part of its growing population.
"This entire place is a military camp established by His Highness, the Prince and Light Oracle Angus, alongside His Majesty, the King and Dark Oracle Tasman. They used their Dream Power to shape this land and construct this enormous castle."
Henry gestured toward the towering walls around them.
"This camp was established to help more people and gradually bring them into our kingdom. The Great Realm Lord once said that there are all sorts of talents in this world, and we shouldn’t underestimate anyone. Who knows? A talent capable of making a great contribution to our kingdom might be born among the locals living in these forests."
Henry’s voice carried unmistakable admiration. There was also a hint of longing in his expression as he spoke of the extraordinary power required to create such a place.
Feber glanced at him curiously.
"The Prince? The King?"
He didn’t quite understand what those titles meant.