Wolves of Hader

21 ghost knights.

They stood atop the rooftops, silently watching us. A black energy radiated from them.

It was different from the aura of darkness. Something thick and black, like smoke, curled up from their bodies. Although the aura of darkness was a type of divinity, this looked more like the magic power of darkness.

"Should we go in?"

"Will the power of darkness be alright?"

"We have a holy sword, so we'll be fine."

Everyone moved carefully down the stairs. The Noggs who had been wandering around the ancient ruin scattered and hid in alleyways when they saw us descending.

We finally reached the ground after a while.

There were waterways running here and there, but the water was surprisingly clean. Maybe it was groundwater from the central mountains.

"Young lord. There are more over there."

I looked in the direction Hans indicated.

Ghost knights were on the rooftops of other buildings as well. Not only that, but they began appearing one by one along the path.

Whether they were ghosts or living corpses, it was hard to tell. Their forms were no different from humans. Only, their worn armor was excessively rusted, and their cloaks were tattered.

We walked through buildings that looked about to collapse at any moment. The ghost knights lined up across the road we were taking.

― Go back.

It was an eerie echo.

An ancient tongue.

"Who are you?"

― We are the king's knights.

"Who is your king?"

― The great king of Laksia.

I had never heard of it.

"Where is Laksia?"

― It is the first kingdom of the continent. You have trespassed upon the great king's tomb. Go back at once!

The first kingdom of the continent, huh.

Did Laksia take its name from Rac?

"Are you alive, or dead?"

― We are immortal knights.

"Why did you die?"

― We did not die. We only carry out the will of our great king. Go back.

The ghosts' voices echoed in my head.

No faces were visible inside their helmets—they were pitch-black all over. They didn't seem to be either living corpses or skeletons.

"Why do you guard the king?"

― We block intruders. Only the Demon King will resurrect our king.

"You are devils, then."

― We are not devils!

― Go back! Living ones!

The ghost knights steadily approached.

Even though the holy sword's light touched them, they didn't burn away. Were they really not devils?

"What will happen if your king is revived?"

― Laksia will be rebuilt.

"Is that a devil's kingdom?"

― We are not devils!

"So, you're ghosts?"

― We are not dead!

― We are immortal knights!

Shuuu— ting—

A coal-black arrow flew at us.

I deflected it, and the ghost knights charged. Our squad moved ahead to block them.

Tukang— chaechaechaeng—

Blades clashed. But the ghost knights didn't yield. Their movements were clumsy, but their magic power was considerable.

Pung— charrr—

Ghost knights were knocked back, sliding across the stone floor. But they stood up again soon after.

Donnie shouted.

"Their magic power and strength are considerable!"

"Is it the power of darkness?"

"I think it's something else!"

Again the ghost knights charged.

The squad used Amir's dual swords to parry and counter their assaults.

Again, though the ghost knights were beaten back, they suffered no harm and charged again. The squad kept knocking them down, but it was to no avail.

"They don't seem to have any vital points."

"I don't know where to hit! No internal injury at all! I can't see any gaps in their armor, either!"

"We're the ones sustaining internal injuries instead!"

No matter how much we struck and knocked them down, the ghost knights kept attacking. Meanwhile, those on the rooftops fired arrows at me and Tuji's brother.

These arrows weren't physical. Like Lok's light arrows, they were made of dark power. And they were quite strong— easily piercing armor plate.

"There's no end to this, is there?"

"What level is their magic power?"

"On par with Captain Donnie!"

The ghost knights moved slowly, but their attack power was immense. Their defense was nearly invincible. It was only natural, since they weren't really alive.

Eventually, our squad began to fall back.

Everyone grew flustered. We had fought as warriors in many battles, but never in a situation like this.

Physical attacks didn't work. They took no internal injury. Instead, the defenders accumulated internal injuries. Their slow movement was offset by overwhelming strength.

What on earth were they?

They looked like ghosts, yet had substance; claimed to await the Demon King, yet weren't devils.

"Everyone, fall back."

The squad withdrew at once.

The ghost knights cautiously drew closer.

"Donnie! Take everyone and run!"

"Yes!"

I immediately charged at the ghost knights.

Shiiik—

A huge two-handed sword nearly cleaved me in two. I dodged it and slipped behind the attacking ghost knight, then grabbed hold of him from behind and tried to take off his helmet.

A pitch-black form!

There was only the shadow of a head-like shape. I struck at that shadowy head, but, to my surprise, my fist went straight through.

The guy reached to shake me off. I pulled off his glove. The hand was the same— how could something without substance be so strong?

The shadowy hand, now bare, tried to grab me, but he couldn't do it— we couldn't physically grasp one another.

Was their armor magical equipment?

They could only exert strength when wearing armor. Once their armor was removed, neither they nor we could grab each other. I didn't feel any magic power coming from their armor, though.

While I lured the ghost knights away, my companions dashed to the far side of the road. Some ghosts fired arrows, but the squad could handle them with ease.

I ran, attracting the ghost knights behind me. They couldn't run fast, merely converging on me at a brisk walk.

After gathering about thirty ghost knights around me, I bolted for my companions. But new ghost knights blocked their way ahead.

"To the right!"

The group cut into the right alley. About ten ghost knights were there, and they followed the group to the right.

"Going up!"

My companions climbed to the top of a building— aiming to move across the rooftops. Donnie carried Yuri while the others climbed up using bursts of magic power.

I ran to the end of the road.

Where were all these ghost knights coming from? Their numbers kept increasing, with more chasing from behind.

― Living ones are forbidden entry!

― You may go no further!

Now, from the end of the road, about twenty more ghost knights appeared, blocking the way with shields and swords. Just then— thunk!— Allen landed among them.

"Try my hammer for size!"

Kwa-bam—

At Allen's swing, a ghost knight went flying, his helmet coming off. That was the start of Allen's rampage. With a single blow, the knight's armor warped massively.

"They're nothing special!"

"Be careful!"

Three greatswords came crashing down toward Allen's head. He sneered, rolled, and avoided the attack, then bashed a ghost knight's leg with his hammer.

Wham—

The knight collapsed, his leg bent. Allen then hammered the downed knight's head again. The ghost knight thrashed and couldn't stand back up immediately.

The ghost knight wasn't really injured. It was just momentarily immobilized because the helmet's shape had been distorted. Soon, though, the knight struggled to his feet again.

"What the heck! Is it really a ghost?"

"Allen! Go for the head only!"

"Got it!"

When the helmet was damaged, the shadow head inside lost its shape, though it soon reformed in a new way— sometimes matching the damaged helmet's shape. The same was true of other body parts.

"Everyone, come down!"

"Yes!"

Dodging the charging ghost knights, I began pulling hammers from my magic bag. Amir's dual swords were too thin to dent the armor effectively.

When I tossed out hammers, the squad picked up their weapons and counterattacked. Everyone targeted only the head, and this proved effective.

When the helmet was battered and caved in, the knight crumpled. Even when they got up again, those with bent leg armor limped badly.

It wasn't that their legs were injured— it was because they walked with twisted armor plates. This made these ghost knights invincible. There was no way to kill them.

The squad swung big hammers, knocking over ghost knights quickly. We should have used hammers sooner. Even though the fallen ones got back up eventually.

"Move down!"

With nearly sixty ghost knights knocked down, we rushed downward— it wasn't stairs this time, just a sloping path. The city grew larger below.

Ghost knights were still massing, numbering at least fifty. At the end of the road in the distance, it looked like the path sloped further down.

"Meet at the end of the road!"

"Yes, sir!"

The squad scattered and ran. We hammered down any ghost knight who tried to stop us. Though ghost knights were slow, being cornered could be deadly.

So we split up to avoid letting the ghost knights mass on one side. Meanwhile, Tuji's brothers and I guarded Eilin and Yuri as we advanced.

The Tuji brothers used hammers to drive back the approaching ghost knights. While strength was somewhat lacking, arrows would be a waste, and aiming between helmet eye-slits was too hard.

In this way, breaking through the zombie-like ghost knights, we reached the second downhill path. Looking down, I was surprised— there was a waterfall and a bridge below.

"Everyone, come down!"

We took the stairs first.

The stairs led directly to the bridge, with sheer cliffs on both sides. Water from the waterfall flowed beneath the bridge.

On the opposite side of the bridge stood the castle gate.

Before it, massive figures stood with spears and axes— likely the gatekeepers of the king's tomb.

As we finished descending the steps—

The squad followed, knocking off a couple of ghost knights and sending them tumbling under the bridge.

"Mont! Hold off on knocking them down."

"Yes, Captain!"

That was Donnie's call.

We might need the ghost knights on our side. If we throw them off, we'll have fewer 'subordinates.'

The squad held the rear, while Eilin, Yuri, and the Tuji brothers took the middle. I took the front with Donnie. That was when the statuesque gatekeepers began to move.

Krrrr— thunk—

The hulking figures raised their enormous weapons, then smashed them onto the bridge before charging us.

Thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk—

Those giants thundering down the narrow bridge were terrifying— no good place to dodge!

"Draw them off up front!"

Donnie and Allen leaped at the giant. The giant's spear tracked Allen, who had leaped first.

Tang—

"Uwaah! Help me!"

Allen was struck by the spear and flung away. The armor saved him from being skewered, but he fell under the bridge. At that moment, the giant's axe came crashing down at me.

There was no choice.

I had to survive first.

Dodging the descending axe, I shoved the giant hard, sending it tumbling over the bridge rail and into the abyss.

The spear-wielding giant targeted me— I dodged the thrust and rammed into him with my whole body, sending him over the railing as well.

Immediately, I looked down below.

The two giants hit the water and were swept off. Allen wasn't visible— he must have been washed away already.

"Allen!"

No answer.

He hates water— will he be okay?

Donnie peered down and said,

"He'll be alive."

"He'd better be."

We were at the edge of the central mountains— quite high up. The mountain groundwater here would flow into the river, and from there, southwest to the sea.

The problem was that Allen not only feared water, he couldn't swim— he might drown. Though he was tough, so he'd probably find a way.

The squad kept the ghost knights back while some stood before the castle gate. The gate was firmly shut. There seemed to be no mechanism to open it.

Everyone searched for pulleys or a latch. Eilin stepped up to help— that was when it happened.

Krrr—

The firmly closed castle gate opened on its own.

The holy nature of the holy sword was the key. Even though the ghost knights seemed to be made by devils, why did they react to holiness?

Inside was a circular space about ten paces across. Geometric symbols were engraved on the floor, and the area was enclosed by walls and had a low ceiling. But then—

Thud—

Suddenly, the floor dropped! The circular floor began to lower. Charr— the rattling sound of chains and pulleys could be heard.

We descended a vertical shaft, and suddenly a vast open space appeared below. At that moment, countless monsters surged toward us— their bodies on fire.

Kweeeh—

The elevator platform kept descending. The vertical shaft continued, but now monsters began to pour down from above.

"Defensive formation!"

The squad and I struck down the falling monsters all at once. It was like molten lava falling on us. While we frantically repelled the monsters of flame, I was startled to see—

Yuri's body was in flames.

She was absorbing the monsters' fire.