Salvation Through Delusion C85

Chapter 85

Solongo received the news while still at the inn.

With two people already missing, she had decided to stay another day, just to avoid raising suspicion from their watchers. She’d planned to remain indoors, keeping her head down and giving no one a reason to pry.

But it seemed she no longer had to worry about Zab’s scrutiny.

“Lady Solongo, this came through the merchant guild’s upper portal.”

The head of the local branch personally delivered the letter. The inn was located right next to the guild building, and since the inn itself belonged to Adeye, it was secretly connected to the guild’s network—an ideal setup for evading surveillance.

Still, even that wasn’t what irritated her most at the moment.

Damn it! Why are we wasting another day here?!

From the next room, Ennya’s voice rose again, shrill with frustration.

If she kept screaming like that, Solongo thought grimly, she might have to knock her out just to keep her quiet. With that pleasant idea in mind, she unfolded the letter—only for her eyes to widen.

What… what is this?

The contents forced her to change plans immediately. And for once, it was a change even Ennya would be happy about.

“Get ready. We’re heading for Borhumi Castle. Where’s the nearest portal that connects directly?”

The branch head blinked in shock before replying, “There’s one in the major city half a day from here. But… Borhumi won’t allow any outside portals right now.”

“I don’t care.”

Solongo rose from her seat, gripping the letter tightly.

“You’ll find out soon enough. Right now, the Duke of Borhumi is in no position to stop us, even if we marched straight through his gates.”

If the letter’s contents were true, Zab had lost the power of the Divine Beast.

A contractor losing divine power—such a thing had never happened since the Beasts first descended upon this land.

The shriek of a monster was something I would never get used to.

The sound wasn’t heard with the ears—it resounded inside the skull, echoing directly through the mind. That made it impossible to pinpoint direction.

But I could sense distance—and right now, it was close.

I spun, scanning the area, but there was no sign of a monster. Instead, something else caught my eye.

Huh? The mist was gone.

That meant the black magic concealing the lake had been dispelled. There were no signs of a magical rupture, so Dorugo must have lifted the spell himself. I had no idea why, but I didn’t have time to wonder—because right in front of me, Tyroc and Dorugo stood locked in battle.

Tyroc was drenched in blood, swaying, his body moments away from collapsing. He had pushed his strength far past its limit, dragging up power he could no longer safely wield. The sight made my stomach twist.

How on earth was he still fighting Dorugo?

Without aura, he should’ve been reduced to mere swordplay—and yet, his sheer willpower was staggering.

My shock only deepened when I saw Dorugo.

He was missing an arm.

He actually managed to land a hit in that condition?

But the enemy was far from defeated. Dorugo’s expression didn’t even flicker. With unnerving calm, he raised his remaining hand, a faint magic circle glowing at his fingertips.

“Your Grace!”

Haas’s cry split the air as he ran forward, incanting under his breath.

A violent explosion of energy followed—the two powers clashing midair.

Whhh-rrr!

The blast sent fragments flying in all directions. I ducked instinctively, arms over my head as stones and dust pelted my back.

When the debris finally settled, I lifted my head.

The scene hadn’t changed much. Tyroc and Dorugo still stood face-to-face—but now, Haas lay crumpled near Tyroc’s feet. His shield spell had either failed or he’d sacrificed it to protect the Duke. He wasn’t moving, but thank the stars—he was still breathing.

My relief lasted only seconds.

Dragging his sword along the ground, Tyroc took a step toward Dorugo. He looked like a corpse walking. Panic seized me, and I ran to his side, grabbing his arm.

“Please, stop! If you keep fighting, you’ll die first!”

He didn’t even seem to hear me. His eyes were fixed only on Dorugo.

Desperate, I whispered, “Will you use the power of the Borhumi Divine Beast?”

He didn’t hesitate. With a single, sharp motion, he tore his arm free of my grasp.

“I don’t need it.”

Then he charged again.

That stubborn man.

Barely holding his sword, bleeding from head to toe—and still refusing to stop.

But I had no time to scold him, because Dorugo had recovered as well. He staggered slightly from the backlash but quickly lifted his hand again.

I scanned the ground, searching for anything I could use—and my fingers brushed against a black stone in my pocket. Perfect.

I flung it into the air and swung my club.

Crack!

The black stone shot forward like a bullet, aimed straight at Dorugo’s head.

But Dorugo wasn’t fooled a second time. With a casual wave, he cast a defense spell midair, freezing the stone in place.

Damn it. Failed again.

Or so I thought—until the stone exploded.

BOOM!

Light flared like fireworks. I stumbled back, blinking—and then I saw Dorugo’s hand.

Blood dripped from his fingers. Several of them were missing.

He stared at the wound in disbelief, then turned that murderous gaze on me.

I couldn’t help but grin.

So black stones could hurt him. Good to know.

Feeling a rush of adrenaline, I grabbed another.

Dorugo backed away, dodging Tyroc’s next swing, but his eyes flicked toward me. Now I had his full attention.

Fine, let’s give him a show.

I tossed the next black stone skyward. Mo instantly calculated the angle.

[Trajectory adjusted. Target locked.]

I swung the club.

Whoosh!

The stone arced perfectly, dropping right above Dorugo’s head.

He looked up, startled, raising his hand again—but this time, he had two enemies.

Tyroc was already in front of him.

BOOM!

Then—

KRRAAANG!

A second, deeper explosion followed, shaking the ground. I froze mid-step, staring.

Dorugo was down.

He’d fallen to his knees, Tyroc’s sword buried in his shoulder.

Finally. We’d gotten him.

Relief hit me first—then confusion.

Why wasn’t it over?

Tyroc stood motionless above him, the blade still lodged deep. Dorugo, though pinned, wore the same eerie, doll-like calm. For a moment, I thought he hadn’t even felt it.

Tyroc, on the other hand, was gasping for air, blood dripping from his chin onto Dorugo’s face.

“The curse on Koon,” Tyroc said, voice low and ice-cold. “It was your doing, wasn’t it?”

The fury in his tone sent a chill down my spine.

Dorugo’s lips twisted into a grin. It was the first expression he’d shown—and it was awful, more mechanical than human.

“Yes,” he said softly. “We did.”

We?

But Tyroc didn’t have time to ask. Dorugo’s lips moved again, whispering a spell.

In an instant, his skin flushed red and his body swelled grotesquely.

Wait—!

“Get back!” I screamed.

Tyroc leapt backward—but not fast enough. Dorugo’s body erupted.

The explosion ripped through the clearing. I was thrown off my feet, tumbling across the ground until the world stopped spinning.

“Ugh—damn it…”

I spat dirt, dragging myself upright. But when I looked toward Tyroc—he wasn’t moving.

He lay sprawled, utterly still.

My heart stopped.

No… no, no, no. He can’t be—

“Unbelievable!!!” I shouted, voice breaking. “How can my hope just die like that?!”