Knight Lords: Infinite Simulation and the Path of Light

Chapter 99 Departure
Selena, radiating blinding light, was like a bursting firework. The knights, who had been knocked to the ground by the magical storm, were unable to get up and could only watch helplessly as beams of light shot towards them.

Instantly, the entire camp erupted in a blinding light, and the explosion lasted for more than a dozen breaths. When the smoke and dust cleared, the ground, about fifty meters in diameter centered on the entire tent, looked as if it had been bombarded by anti-aircraft artillery, and the ground had sunk by nearly one meter.

After the smoke and dust cleared, Haven covered his nose and crawled out of the tent. He was speechless at the shocking scene before him. At that moment, Serena, who looked like a giant light bulb, slowly descended from the sky, her cute brows furrowed as she looked into the distance.

"What's wrong, Serena?"

The faint magical light emanating from the girl slowly disappeared, and she wrinkled her small nose as she said:

"I controlled the attack range, so I only used half my strength. I didn't expect that someone had a substitute magic equipment, which allowed him to escape. I was unable to kill him immediately."

Hearing the girl's words, Haven immediately jumped into the pit and began searching for the corpses below. However, Serena's destructive beam was too powerful; the pit was filled with severed limbs, various pieces of flesh, and human internal organs. In some areas where the attack was concentrated, only a few deep craters appeared, and the soldiers in that area were instantly reduced to ashes.

After searching for a while, Haven gave up, shook his hands, and climbed up.

"Lori, get me some water, I need to wash my hands."

Lori, who peeked out of the tent, looked on in bewilderment at the scene before her. She had always known that Serena was powerful, but she hadn't expected her to be this powerful. Hearing Haven call her, she quickly grabbed a water bag from the tent and ran over.

“I’m here, I’m here, Mr. Will, ah, no, Master Haven.”

Seeing Lori's slight restraint and nervousness, Haven smiled and said:

“Lori, just call me Will as usual, don’t be too formal.”

But clearly, Haven's words didn't reassure Lori. His hand trembled as he poured the water, watching the water flow in disarray. Haven shook the water off his hand and gave Lori a sharp flick on the head.

The blow must have been too forceful, because Lori was knocked onto the ground with a thud. After a few seconds of stunned silence, he covered his head and looked up at Havent.

"Say it, what did you call me?"

"Haven~~ Mr. Will, Mr. Will."

Seeing Haven raise his hand again, Lori quickly changed what he was saying.

“That’s right. Go check on Kubasi and the others. I only had time to pull you back to the tent.”

Seeing Havent, who seemed no different from usual, Lori secretly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded as she walked towards where the others had been lying.

"Serena, how are you? You were absolutely awesome just now. As a reward, I've decided to make you a big plate of delicious McFlurry ice cream."

When the silver-haired girl heard that Haven was going to cook something delicious for her again, something she hadn't eaten before, her big eyes instantly lit up with a different kind of brilliance.

"but……"

Haven surveyed his surroundings. Serena's magic had wiped out the entire cavalry unit, leaving not a single intact person, but the remaining limbs and severed legs still filled the area with the stench of blood.

"Serena, could you summon some water to wash the surrounding human remains into the lake? The smell of blood is still affecting my McFlurry ice cream."

On the other side, Lori arrived at the spot where Coopers and the others had just been. Coopers was struggling to get up from the ground, glanced at his men beneath him, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mr. Cubas, how are you? Are you alright?"

Kubasi shook off the dirt and stood up. He first smiled at Lori, who walked up to him, and then looked at the young couple standing at the entrance of the tent with a serious expression.

It's truly, truly astonishing. One is the heir to a noble family with a powerful background, while the other, a silver-haired girl, possesses terrifying strength.

A cavalry squad of nearly two hundred men offered no respectable resistance and were blasted to smithereens by the girl's magic in the blink of an eye.

Such terrifying strength was beyond Kubasi's wildest imagination. He couldn't help but mutter to himself, "As expected of the heir to a powerful earl family in the North, even his guards are so formidable. They must be at the level of a mage."

As the silver-haired girl floated up again, she gathered her hands together, and a jet of water gushed out from Serena's palms. The fragments of corpses in the circular crater around the camp flowed into the lake under the impact of the powerful water flow.

After finishing clearing the bodies, Serena did not land. Looking around the muddy camp, she held one hand to the ground. As a yellowish-brown light shone from Serena's palm, the ground, which had turned into a swampy depression, quickly solidified and rose up.

After completing the task assigned by Haven, the silver-haired girl landed again and smiled sweetly at Haven, who was making ice cream with milk, fruit, and other seasonings.

"Will, we've finished cleaning up, and we've even filled in the collapsed ground."

Haven turned and looked out of the tent. Sure enough, the camp, which had become an isolated island, was now connected to the land by the lake again.

"Serena, you're amazing."

Hearing Haven's praise, the silver-haired girl's beautiful eyes narrowed with joy as she squatted down next to Haven and watched him make ice cream.

"Serena, give me some freezing magic. I can't cast spells with one hand while using the other."

A few minutes later, a bucket of special McFlurry ice cream, topped with various fruits and dried fruits and drizzled with honey, was ready.

Serena, who had received a large tub of special ice cream, sat obediently in the tent and began to eat. Haven, having paid his protection fee, wiped his hands and walked toward Kubasi, who was sitting by the campfire.

As he watched the heir of the White Lion family slowly approach him, Kubasi's breathing quickened. This feeling was just like when he first met his older brother Ye Liwen; it was the aura of a powerful figure.

"Hey, how was it? I didn't accidentally hurt you, did I? Although Serena and I demonstrated our attack ranges, her move just now was too powerful."

Kubasi swallowed hard, looked at the still-smiling boy, and suddenly felt nervous, stammering as he replied:

"Um, um, it's alright, Lord Havent, I'm not injured. Mage Serena's attack was very accurate."

Seeing that Coopers had become just as nervous as Lori had been, Haven shook his head. It was so pointless for these people to suddenly become so distant.

"Relax, Commander Cubas. Why don't you just call me Will?"

As he spoke, Havent's ring flashed, and several bottles of Blackthorn Wine from the North appeared in his hand.

"Although your injury is a bit serious, I think you can have a little alcohol. Anyway, with your physique, it won't matter if you drink a little."

Upon catching the bottle thrown by Havent, Coopers swallowed twice, then unscrewed the cap and took a big gulp. Because he drank it too quickly, he choked and coughed a couple of times.

After downing a bottle of Blackthorn wine, Coopers visibly relaxed, and his expression toward Havent was no longer as reserved as before.

"Haven..."

Mr. Will, I want to thank you again for saving my life.

"That's right, no need to be polite, Commander Kubasa. I once read in a book that meeting is fate."

Moreover, I feel that our meeting was arranged by fate. In fact, we had met before, at the Goya Baths in Helgen.

Upon hearing Havente's words, Kubasi was visibly taken aback and began to recall the events at the Goya Baths, but after a while, he clearly couldn't remember.

“Mr. Cooperas, Mr. Will and I were taking a bath at the Goya Baths, uh, and then we saw you and your men storm in.”

Then a little while later you came downstairs, carrying... uh... that severed head, and then you left.

Including the battle this morning when you were cornered in Fallen Leaf Canyon with the Imperial army, we were actually there, right on the cliff directly above you.”

Upon hearing Lori's words, Kubasi was visibly shocked, clearly not expecting that the group had met so many times before.

The series of events left Kubasi somewhat bewildered, and he sat on the ground in a daze for a long while before finally speaking.

"So we've met before."

Seeing that Coopers had regained his senses, Haven raised the bottle in his hand and gestured to him.

"Commander Kubasa, what are your plans next?"

Upon hearing Havent's question, Coopers fell silent, fiddling with the bottle in his hand, as if trying to glean something from its dark brown surface. After a long silence, he sighed heavily and looked at Havent and Lori with a wry smile.

“Where can I go now? I can’t escape the Empire’s wanted list no matter where I go. I’ll take my two men and leave when it’s dawn. I’ve already caused you a lot of trouble, Mr. Will.” Kubasi tilted his head back and finished the last sip of Blackthorn Wine in the bottle. He put the bottle on the ground and rubbed his hands together helplessly. Maybe he should have died on this battlefield instead of being a wandering ghost with nowhere to go.

"Next~"

Hearing the sound, Coopers quickly looked up and saw a bottle of Blackthorn Wine flying towards him in a whirl. With a snap, Coopers caught the bottle and looked up at Havent. The latter felt a warmth that could be felt even in the darkness, like sunlight on the first snow.

"Mr. Cubas, don't be too pessimistic. As long as you're alive, there's always a chance to start over."

Besides, running away won't make you happy, nor will it solve the problem. Don't you want revenge for being turned into this state by those people?

Looking at the boy before him, whose eyes shone like stars, Kubasi's once dormant heart began to beat again, inspired by the boy's youthful energy.

“Commander Cooperas, go to the North. The White Lions will take you in. We have a common enemy. At least until you avenge Yelvin, Abhimoya, Toussaint, Toronto, and your brothers who fought and died alongside you, you’d better live on. Live on with all their hopes.”

Upon hearing Havent's words, Coopers' eyes gradually brightened, burning like flames—a sign that hope had been rekindled and the courage to live had been regained.

"Mr. Will, is it really okay?"

Kubasi's face was flushed with emotion; those who haven't experienced the feeling of being saved from a desperate situation and seeing hope again cannot understand it.

"Of course, Commander Kubasa, I have witnessed your character several times. As an upright knight, you should not end up in such a dismal way."

As the boy stood up and walked toward his outstretched hand, Kubasi suddenly sat up from the ground and took the hand in his own, feeling its warmth and strength.

"Thank you, Mr. Will, thank you, Mr. Will."

Warehouse outside Helgen.

The large magic circle in the center of the warehouse suddenly lit up, and the magic platform made of thorium in the middle shone with a dazzling light.

Bang~bang~bang~
As the magic circle's power rapidly circulated, the magic crystals embedded in its key nodes exploded after the magic power was drained. The attendants waiting nearby were stunned by what they saw. After a moment of shock, they reacted and immediately shouted at the top of their lungs:
"Help! Help! Lord Ampar's substitution spell has been activated, and the situation is very dire."

Hearing the servant's shout, the high-ranking mage inside the room hurriedly came out and exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the situation on the magic array:
"How is that possible? Lord Ampar went to hunt down those rebels, how could he have been attacked by a Grand Magus?"

But clearly, no one could answer the high-ranking mage's question at this moment. The high-ranking mage, initially surprised, quickly recovered and hurriedly called out to the attendants rushing from all directions:
"Go to my room and bring me the inscription pen on the table and the tool bag on the shelf. You guys, bring all our high-grade magic crystals from the storeroom."

The attendant arranged by the high-ranking mage quickly returned. The high-ranking mage checked the tool bag the attendant had brought over, and after confirming that nothing was missing, he immediately went to the magic circle.

"Ampar has been attacked by an unknown and powerful being. Due to interference from powerful magic, the Bubble Mirror Substitute Death Magic was unable to convert Ampar's body immediately. You need to quickly replenish the magic power depleted on the magic circle. You must be quick, otherwise if the magic power is depleted for too long, the magic circle's patterns will short-circuit and burn. If that happens, Ampar will not be able to be successfully converted, and you will all die."

As soon as the high-ranking mage gave the order, a dozen servants busied themselves in a flurry of activity. The sound of magic crystals exploding and servants shouting for the magic crystals to be delivered could be heard throughout the warehouse.

After a busy hour or so, the dazzling light on the Thorium platform softened, and Ampar's figure gradually became clearer. The high-level mage who had been repairing the magic circle breathed a sigh of relief. The most dangerous moment had finally passed, and the powerful magic that had been pursuing them was completely neutralized by the explosion of hundreds of magic crystals into fragments.

All that's left to do now is wait for the magic circle to function properly, and then Ampar's physical body will be formed.

In the blink of an eye, an hour had passed. The light on the magic circle dimmed, and Ampal's painful howls came from the Thorium Seat. The servants who were waiting nearby quickly went up to him.

"Lord Ampar, how are you?"

Ampar lay on the silver throne, his face as pale as a sheet of paper, devoid of any color. His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, his mouth opening and closing slightly, as if he were trying to say something.

When the attendant saw Ampar's condition, he quickly moved his ear back to its original position.

"Lord Ampar, Lord Ampar, what did you say?"

After listening for another ten seconds or so, I realized that Ampar was just making some meaningless, inaudible hoarse sounds.

"Move aside, let me take a look."

After drinking a bottle of mental potion and recuperating for several minutes, the high-level mage finally regained some of his energy.

The high-ranking mage with gray hair walked to Amber's side, reached out and poked at the latter's pupils, his hand glowing with blue magic.

"Hiss~ It seems the substitution spell lasted too long, and Ampar's brain has been damaged. This is a bit troublesome."

The high-ranking mage stroked his beard, then placed his right hand on Ampal's head again, channeling pure magic into his brain. With the magic's blessing, Ampal's eyes briefly regained their light.

But after only a breath or two, the light in Ampar's eyes dimmed again. Seeing that his actions were not very effective, the high-level mage stopped.

"I can't save him here. You all pack up and prepare to take Ampar back to the capital. Let Duke Ampere figure something out."

Upon hearing what the high-ranking mage said, the warehouse manager quickly came out and nodded in agreement.

"By the way, I remember that Ampar was a special application to join the pursuit force. This force was not pursued by the construct knights led by Count Casilla."

"Has something unexpected happened? Go to the military headquarters and find out what's going on, then pass the news on to Duke Abe."

Half-moon Lake
After a whole night of rest, Cubas' injuries no longer looked so frightening, and with the combined efforts of Havent and Lori, the wounds were all bandaged up.

When Havent and the others came out of the tent, Kubasi had already come ashore with several fat fish. After regaining hope, people's spirits and energy were completely different.

"Good morning, Mr. Will! Good morning, Lori!"

After saying that, he glanced at Serena, who was walking out yawning, hesitated for a moment, and then greeted the girl whose true nature he couldn't discern.

"Good morning, Venerable Master."

"Ha~"

Haven stretched and looked at Coopers, who was holding several fish in his hand, and couldn't help but praise him:

"Good morning, Commander Kubasa. Tsk tsk tsk, your strength is indeed impressive. You seem to be fine now."

Kubasi scratched his head and smiled sheepishly when he heard Havent's praise.

"Will, you flatter me. Compared to Earl Hylan, I am nothing."

Upon hearing Coopers mention the old man, Haven couldn't help but recall that he could fly and even fight dragons; in that sense, he was indeed even more awesome.

An hour.

After finishing breakfast, the group packed up their tents, and Haven handed over the intelligence that Kubas had shown him the day before.

"This intelligence will help me deliver it to my father, and it also includes the letter I wrote. You can have this bag of gold coins and the carriage. Don't linger in town; get to Whiterun as quickly as possible."

Kubasi nodded and, with his two men, drove the carriage north. Whether it was his imagination or not, Haven felt that the carriage was going faster than usual.

“Mr. Will, Mr. Will.”

Lori's shout brought Havent back to his senses, who was still gazing into the distance.

"Ah? What's wrong?"

"What do we do now?"

"What do you mean, what should we do? Let's keep going to the capital!"

Should we walk over there?

Upon hearing Lori's question, Havent seemed to realize something, his lips twitching involuntarily. With a flash of his ring, the map appeared in his hand.

Uh... um...

"It's alright, it's only a mere hundred kilometers to the next town. Do you think we, the eagles of the North, would fear such a short distance?"

(End of this chapter)