Bear School Astartes

Chapter 918 - 900: King’s Courtyard

The path leading to King Ausloes’ Courtyard is not difficult, because in terms of distance, the courtyard isn’t far from the church.

And Lann looked at Priestess Emma’s expression...

"You don’t seem like you’re just pointing the way for me."

"You’re right."

Priestess Emma whispered to Lann imperceptibly.

"Compared to Lorenzo who took office at the last moment, I actually... know a little more. After all, the church is one of the main planners of the Fire Transmission Ceremony."

"And what I want to tell you is an unexpected situation not suitable for loud announcement."

Priestess Emma turned her head to Lann, still lowering her head; the hood casting a dense shadow over the upper half of her face.

"Is King Ausloes’ situation... not well?"

Lann guessed, after all the world had collapsed to this extent, and a person praised as ’Saint King’ locked himself up, which seemed odd.

"The fact that His Majesty is having issues is beyond doubt now."

Priestess Emma’s words were explosive news, yet her tone was calm, making Lann find it somewhat absurd.

"I’m worried about a more serious problem."

"Such as?"

"For example... there are issues with the Fire Transmission Altar. Logically, even if the Cinder Lords who sustain the world during the convergence period haven’t arrived, that captured hero should have. But as you see, the world has become like this."

Lann slightly narrowed his eyes.

"It sounds rather complicated inside... tell me what I can do?"

"Being straightforward is a good quality during this crisis." Priestess Emma first praised Lann’s decisiveness, then leaned closer to him, lowering her voice further.

"Deep within King Ausloes’ Courtyard, there’s actually a... secret passage."

"That passage leads to the other side of this mountain, behind Losric City. And there lies the Fire Transmission Altar."

"I hope you not only meet His Majesty, explaining the external problems to him, but also go to the Fire Transmission Altar through that passage, to check its status."

"If not a single Cinder Lord has arrived, and that captured hero hasn’t arrived either..."

"Then I need you to ring the great bell on the altar’s bell tower once again."

"Ringing the bell a second time?"

Lann pondered.

"Can you tell me what this means?"

The first time the bell rang, though not loud, it seemed to have spread throughout the world.

The bell woke those Cinder Lords who were supposed to sustain the world during the convergence period.

And the second time...

"The bell will awaken the ash remnants, who have burned alongside the Cinder Lords throughout history but have been unable to become lords themselves."

Priestess Emma paused briefly and spoke in a deep, profound tone. Even the candlelight in the church began to flicker, with shadows trembling along.

"That is the final measure of Losric’s fire transmission process... awakening those ash heroes who are unable to become lords yet are deeply longing for the flame."

"If the Cinder Lords are unwilling to transmit fire, unwilling to sustain the world... then these flame-chasing ashes will ’make’ them willing."

During the transmission of fire, the Cinder Lords are accompanied by a large group of Losric Knights and other warriors.

This serves as both support and surveillance at the last moments, preventing the Cinder Lords from causing any issues at the First Kiln.

And those warriors who burn alongside the Cinder Lords yet cannot be called Cinder Lords, are the ’ash remnants.’

"I understand."

Lann nodded.

"If the situation is really that bad, I will ring the bell."

After reaching the innermost part of the church at the priestess’ seat, Priestess Emma signaled Lann to move the chair away. Then she took out a basin-like ritual instrument and placed it in front of the statue behind the original seating.

The statue was common in Losric: depicting a knight holding a sword while kneeling, rubbing his neck against the blade.

Symbolizing the sacrificial spirit of Losric Knights.

After the basin was placed, the stone statue seemed to come to life, actually pressing the blade against its neck with a grinding ’gulu’ of stone blocks.

Blood flowed down from under the helmet at the neck along the blade, gathering in the ritual basin.

Then, a ladder appeared as if conditions were met, descending from the upper level of the church.

Priestess Emma and Lann gazed at each other, the priestess pointing towards the ladder.

-----------------

Lann climbed up the ladder with an odd expression, then took the ladder away.

From this height, he could even see Priestess Emma’s face below.

Really... if it was just this high, why bother—I could have climbed here directly, couldn’t I?

Lann joked to himself, it seemed rare to find warriors in this world primarily focused on elegance.

Most were solid and practical, then cunning with timing and releasing [war skills]... as if this small height made it seem difficult.

While joking, Lann organized his thoughts, steeling himself as he headed to the King’s Courtyard.

"After going up the ladder, head left..."

Lann muttered to himself as he started moving.

Mentos also marked the information on his retina.

Not long after walking, he emerged from beneath the church dome, standing outside the building.

Although the location was high, there were still some tall trees whose crowns extended beside the road.

Because of the lack of sunlight during this period, the leaves on the tree canopy have all turned a decaying yellow.

Seeing no one left or right, Lann began to rub the ring on his hand.

Soon, a furtive sound of hooves came from below.

The Demon Hunter leaned his head over the railing and looked down, where the Qilin was carrying Rong Buqiu and looking up at the same time.

"Ha, I knew you guys were clever."

The Demon Hunter and Elu Cat exchanged thumbs-ups.

Rong Buqiu was holding a torch, which appeared to be homemade.

The Three-Floral Kitten stuck the torch into the seam of armor on the Qilin’s magic harness, then climbed up the wall seam itself, diving straight into Lann’s chest.

"It’s great, Boss Meow! You’re okay too!"

"Luckily you told us to act ordinary, Meow, it was scary when the knights in the city were fighting each other! Luckily for us, they just saw the Qilin as a normal horse and didn’t bother to chop at us."

Rong Buqiu purred as Lann rubbed its head, recounting its and the Qilin’s experience.

Those rebellious knights wanted to kill people, but didn’t need to kill horses.

So, under Lann’s instructions, the obedient Qilin with Rong Buqiu beneath its wide rune cloth went unnoticed, not causing trouble for anyone during the most dangerous part of the upheaval.

They hid easily and safely.

Later, in this increasingly dangerous city, they dared not act rashly. They just dismantled the stable and used the wood to light fires, driving away the darkness.

Now, through the magic horse harness’s connection, they confirmed Lann’s location and immediately came over.

Removing Rong Buqiu from his chest and placing it beside him, Lann leaned down again and released the transformation [Yakxi Rune].

’Qilin, stand by below.’

"Neigh! (Why! It’s scary here! I don’t want to be alone!)"

’Don’t worry... The place I’m going might be darker than the outside.’

The Saint King of Losric locked himself away and hasn’t appeared since.

Lann couldn’t believe there wasn’t a problem, and something that could trouble the so-called ’most ancient, most powerful’ Divine Race...

Tsk, just thinking about it makes one’s scalp tingle.

Sure enough, as soon as Lann said this, the Qilin, lacking any challenge spirit in the face of difficulties, immediately lowered its head. As if it were strolling nearby, it began to wander around, not looking up anymore.

This made Lann feel a bit guilty... This creature is so cowardly, what if something really happens and I can’t call for help?

But after Lann fiercely pointed down twice, the Qilin reluctantly snorted, indicating he was standing by.

Seeing his ’Speed Moving Device’ operating normally, Lann led Rong Buqiu onward along the path to the King’s Courtyard.

"Take these."

As they walked, Lann pulled out a stack of red sandpaper-like items from the alchemy pouch on his lower back and handed them to Rong Buqiu.

"Meow?"

Rong Buqiu’s small paws took them, puzzled.

"This is a tool that can add flames to the weapon in your hand, a gift I obtained during my previous adventures, called [Fire Paper]."

Lann demonstrated how to use it with his hands as he explained.

He himself has the [Igni Rune], and with the technique of the [Qi Flow Blade], he can easily enwrap his blade in fire. So he’s never had the chance to use this hunting tool, which originates from Yan’an.

Now it’s just right for Rong Buqiu.

"Just rub it on the striking end of the weapon. Recently, a special monster has appeared in Losric City, its entire body is like a mass of pitch. They’re like mad dogs, strong and chaotic, but especially afraid of fire."

"Got it, Meow!"

Elu Cat’s optimistic nature, even in this cruel world, provided Lann a bit of relief.

He felt somewhat grateful that he signed a contract with Rong Buqiu back in the New Continent.

Witnessing a world slowly progressing towards death and decay... it’s a considerable psychological shock.

At the end of this path was an elevator, still using a technique that bewildered Lann.

The complex highs and lows of the Mountain City terrain necessitated frequent use of steep staircases, escalators, and even elevators to connect the buildings in Losric.

On the elevator, Lann’s hand was on the knife’s hilt at his waist.

Internally, he had become cautious.

So far, their journey had been easy and smooth.

If a King’s means of sealing himself in was this simple, it would be quite surprising.

The Prince School and Fire Transmission School fought this much, yet no one disturbed the King... That’s no matter what, something doesn’t seem right.

But, even though Lann was prepared for some bizarre, even potentially dangerous situations.

When the elevator stopped, the scene in front of him still made his eyes widen unconsciously.

"This is..."

A hesitant voice came from Lann’s thin lips.

In the courtyard, there seemed to be traces of meticulously planned vegetation and Gothic architectural style.

Just like the outdoor environment, the air here was also filled with those sheet-like ashes.

But the size of the sheet-like ashes was bigger than those outside. The density was greater too.

In fact, within this courtyard, these sheet-like ashes had accumulated.

Completely turning the formerly fertile, flower-planted ground into a gray-white expanse!

So numerous and densely packed, Lann couldn’t help but harbor doubt.

Those wafting around Losric City, transforming residents into plant-like beings... could they all have spread from here?