C478
Cale was headed to Midisi.
As he passed, the members of the Grey Tree clan, along with the troops of the territory and the Demon Kingdom, stared at him.
Cale stopped for a moment.
*Whooosh—*
The rain was falling heavily.
The sky foreshadowed that it would get worse.
"Raon."
"*Understood!*"
Cale's voice, amplified by Raon's magic, echoed in the air:
"The end of the ritual will be a joint celebration."
That was what he had promised.
That was why, although awkwardly, the Grey Tree clan had prepared festivities.
Despite the rain and bad weather, the happiness they had obtained was enough to celebrate under the downpour.
"But the ritual is not over yet."
The expressions of those present changed.
"I will continue purifying all night."
Cale declared it without hesitation.
The purification had not concluded.
And he would continue.
"There are too many to save."
Because many clan members still needed to be healed.
The faces of the warriors hardened.
Troops from the Demon Kingdom, soldiers from the territory, and the expert archers of the clan.
A peculiar energy united them: unwavering determination.
"The celebration will be after everything is finished."
Until then...
"Let's stay together."
That was enough.
The warriors' morale transformed.
Cale signaled to General Mol.
*Boom!*
Mol stood in the center of the clearing.
"From now on, the troops will enter a state of high alert!"
While listening, Cale turned toward Midisi.
*Tap. Tap.*
Hong followed him closely.
*Tap. Tap.*
The feline was running faster than ever.
"Cale—"
"Eruhaben, go to Mikashi."
"Understood."
Eruhaben moved away toward where Choi Han was.
"......"
Cale confirmed that Clopeh was following him...
"...!"
"......"
...along with the Wanderers Cho and Ryeon, who stopped when their eyes met his.
Cho looked dazed, as if in a dream.
Ryeon, on the other hand, spoke immediately:
"The water snake... is power of the Third Emperor."
She had deduced the situation.
"We didn't know! We really didn't!"
Cale, in an icy tone, replied:
"It would be good if you thought about how to act from now on."
More than advice, it was a warning.
Ryeon could not reply.
Cale had already turned his back on her.
*Whooosh—*
He accelerated in the rain.
Ryeon watched him walk away, speechless.
Then...
"Lady Ryeon."
Clopeh smiled, sinister.
"Prove your usefulness."
"...!"
Ryeon's pupils trembled.
"If you prove to be valuable enough to make amends for your mistakes... happiness will not abandon you."
Like the legend that was unfolding before them.
Clopeh looked away, adding with a wider smile:
"It seems that Mr. Cho did understand."
Cho, with shining eyes, seemed to have grasped something.
*Whooosh—*
Under the downpour, Clopeh followed Cale, saying:
"Betraying the Five Colors Family is not difficult."
His smile disappeared.
"But betraying your own hearts... that hurts."
Ryeon could not answer.
Clopeh's eyes burned with a terrifying intensity.
And Cho...
"......"
Only shone in silence.
"*Hoho.*"
Clopeh quickened his pace.
"Diligently follow Mr. Cale today. That way you will see the memories you crave."
While guiding them, Clopeh remained alert.
Watching them was an order from Cale.
And he never disobeyed.
---
### In Midisi
"Raon. Communication crystal."
"*Understood!*"
A crystal floated before Cale, connecting with Ed, the strategist of the Demon King.
"*Mr. Cale?*"
"Can you contact the Demon King?"
"*Well, why—?*"
Cale sighed.
This guy never understands the first time.
"Mr. Ed. I am not the one who should explain reasons to you."
His voice was sharp.
"*We have had no contact.*"
Only then did he react.
"A water snake of the Third Emperor has been sighted."
"*...!*"
"And it is heading to the city. It carries the corruption of Chaos."
Cale did not look at the crystal.
His eyes were fixed on the walls of Midisi.
"Act openly from now on."
Ed paled.
He understood:
Snake. Third Emperor. Rain.
It was enough to act.
"*We will focus the search for the snake and avoid the contaminated water.*"
"Good. I trust you."
Ed hesitated for a moment.
Cale, soaked, was running into the unknown.
"*...Good luck.*"
The connection was cut.
*Uuuu— Uuuu—*
In Midisi and Mikashi, magical messages resonated.
Ed had acted fast:
"*The Gray Disease is spread through liquids! Tonight, everyone must stay indoors!*"
"*Report infected people immediately! We can save them!*"
The Third Emperor already knew.
The snake was proof.
Now, everyone was changing strategy:
From acting in secret... to mobilizing openly.
"*Mr. Ed!*"
An officer reported:
"*General Mol, the troops of the territory, and the Grey Trees are joining forces to act!*"
"*All the infected people of the clan have been purified! The purification will continue all night!*"
The Grey Trees, guardians of the Ruins of the Demon God, were joining the Demon Kingdom.
It was a temporary alliance... but enough to calm the population.
"*Tonight... we will resist!*"
Ed raised his voice.
"*Follow the orders of Mr. Cale! Support him!*"
Meanwhile, General Mol shouted:
"*The Third Emperor might attack! Prepare yourselves!*"
He did not forget the prophecy.
The water dragon would arrive.
They had to be ready.
*Whooosh—*
Under the rain, everyone mobilized.
It was night... but no one would sleep.
---
### On the outskirts of Midisi
Cale stopped before the walls.
"Raon."
*Whooosh—*
He ascended the wall.
There was no time to enter through the gates.
Ron and On were nowhere to be seen.
Where could they have gone?
*Whooosh—*
The rain and clouds obscured everything.
"I don't feel anything."
If Cale could detect the corruption, he would have already located the infected.
But it was not so.
He had to think.
"The water."
The Third Emperor controlled liquid snakes.
Why?
"To infect."
That snake carried Chaos.
Cale feared that, with the rain, the contagion would spread.
But...
"The river."
The small river that supplied Midisi.
If the snake reached there...
"Ron would go there."
Cale visualized the map.
And pointed to a place.
"*Found it!*"
Raon teleported them.
Next to a stream on the outskirts...
"The snake!"
Ron was shouting orders to the soldiers:
"Find the gray snake! Do not approach!"
His voice cut through the rain.
*Miauuu!*
On was running along the water.
They had heard the announcements and were acting fast.
*Whooosh—*
"......"
Ron suppressed a curse.
The rain and darkness made everything difficult.
It was impossible to see a transparent snake.
"I'm old..."
His body no longer responded as before.
On, on the other hand, was agile... like him in his youth.
"There!"
On pointed to the bridge.
"Something whitish! Like a snake!"
Ron narrowed his eyes.
He saw nothing.
"We're approaching."
On jumped towards the rocks of the river.
"On!"
A voice stopped her.
Cale, Hong, and Raon descended from the sky.
"The ground!"
On remembered too late:
*"Always examine your surroundings."*
*Ssshh—*
Between the rocks... the snake emerged.
"...!"
It was too late.
The snake, noticing her, grew in size in seconds.
"Ron!"
Cale shouted.
Ron stood in the way.
*Crash!*
The snake bit his arm... and exploded.
Gray corruption spread...
But it did not touch On.
Because Ron, her master, was protecting her.
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