The long and narrow tunnel, dark, silent as if nothing existed—

"Bang!"

In an instant, the flames burst into the passage, the dust rose violently, the smoke billowed out, the bone-white helmets stepped out of the hazy dust, the tongues of fire burned through the armor, and the sickles slashed with a strange glimmer.

The Lord of Death strides into his own battleground, and the Death Shroud and the Soulless follow their monarch closely.

There was a noise in the channel, and Motarian turned slightly sideways, a missile that would rush ahead of him, the bright light of fire banishing the obscurantist and illuminating their path.

The tension of exploring the tunnels was long gone, and with Death Guard Zero fully stocked, the previous illusion was nothing more than a small skill of carving insects.

Mortarian walked to the second door with a blank face, he paused slightly, and the soulless received his signal, and the people stepped forward and planted the explosives.

"Bang!"

Mortarian stepped directly into the door, Fernus Manus was holding his furnace breaker hammer, and in front of the original body lay the corpse of the basilisk on its side, the blasphemous corpse lying on the steps with its head down, and on the high platform was a chair that looked like a king or monarch sitting, with a gorgeous and intricate pattern.

From the moment the Lord of Death forcibly stepped into the door, except for the two primordials, everything in the illusion stood still, and the pool of blood spilling from the corpse no longer grew.

As if he didn't realize that Motarian had entered, Fernusmanus turned his back to Motarian, still staring at the corpse.

The room was deep, and in the darkness higher up, twenty-one sculptures were watching them in silence.

After making sure that there was no other threat in the room, Motarian placed his left hand on the lamp on his waist seemingly casually, and his right hand was silent with a scythe.

[My brother, Commander Candidate, can you return to your desert battlefield? 】

Fernus Manus slowly turned around, and Motarian secretly clenched his scythe, he was ready at any moment—

Fernus turned, at least he didn't have anything strange on his head, and his expression was ...... He looked like he had been shocked, and his normally expressionless face showed some unusual twitches.

Fernus also made a gesture of preparing to attack, but he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when he saw Motarian, and his shoulders unconsciously relaxed, although he was still tense like a piece of steel.

[Motarian...... Are you here too? 】

Fernus spoke tentatively,

Why can't I be here, but you, Fenus, should have been in the desert with your heirs, and why did you run to the tunnel under the rainforest? 】

Motarian asked defiantly, but this did not provoke the anger of Fenus as usual, and Fenus only paused, and the expression on his face hesitated,

[I can't explain this to you, there is something on this planet that we can't imagine...... I met two Spirit Clans, and they took me ...... Led by, I made a mistake in my decision. 】

Motarian spoke naturally,

[One ear is pointed, and one tooth is protruding?] 】

[You also encountered it? 】

Mortarian let out two sneering laughs,

[Cunning alien...... They did not dare to stand directly in front of me, for they knew that I would tear them to shreds, and that I would encounter nothing but the shadow of a coward. 】

Fenuston paused, he blinked stiffly, it was a stupid expression, and Motarian swore that Fenus would never be willing to make such an expression in front of him - unless he was really confused and had something going on right now.

Motarian had been in this situation, and he was already familiar with it.

Mortarion's gaze passed through Fernus, who looked at the basilisk corpse, but then Fernus moved, obscuring Motarian's scrutinizing gaze.

Dangerous move, Motarian narrowed his eyes, he stared at Fenus, poison gas spewing from his mask.

Aware of Mortarian's doubts, Fenus spoke,

Did they say anything to you? I'm referring to the prophecies of the spirits. 】

Motarian laughed dryly,

[My brother, the most useless and harmful thing in the world is prophecy - let alone alien prophecy, if you cling to that foolish future, I can recommend to you our mad "brother". 】

[Fenus Manus, the contender for the battle commander, I think you are known for your sanity and efficiency, you are the original body that will not be shaken by a few simple words of the alien race, right? 】

Mortarian thought his words were valid, and now that Fernus looked like a living man, the familiar fire of anger lit up in his eyes again.

[Motarian, put away your useless sarcasm. 】

Fernus said,

[It's not just the language, they showed me...... There are several possibilities. 】

Fernus's voice grew quieter, and he remembered the bewildering and familiar face of the bassilis, one of the spirits telling him to change, the other telling him that steel would eventually perish, and that he was on the path of fate.

Then he saw it...... Destiny...... Fogen ...... No......

No, it's just a botched fake, a malicious prank.

But when Ferus remembered his best friend, the basilik he had just fought with began to coincide with the perfect figure.

No, Fugen has a holy beauty, he is the first mottle on the marble statue carved by the morning sun, the first cold light on the sword of the Night Watch at sunset, he is a holy ascetic, he is a loyal paladin......

…… The shimmering scales of the snake floated in a faint light, and the beauty showed a familiar smile on the bewitching face, and he looked at him, and the sharp nails gently ran across his neck as he laughed.

What's behind you, Fenus? 】

Motarian's cold words brought back Fenus's expression, and Fernus realized that he had just fallen into the river of thoughts again.

His lips twitched twice, but he didn't say a word.

He could clearly see Motarian's rising vigilance, and Fernus should have been angry, but he was too confused now.

He stood still, his expression perhaps stupid.

【…… A terrible monster. 】

Fenus said.

Then he saw Motarian be silent for a moment, and the Lord of Death drew a grenade from his waist, rather a strange move.

[Forgive me for taking the liberty of guessing...... Fenus, you see a familiar figure on that monster——?! 】

The next moment, Fernus found himself in front of Motarian and tried to punch him in the face.

Motarian, who had expected it, directly detonated the grenade, and clenched Fenus's fist towards his face, and the dust drifted between the two primordials.

[Am I right, right, Fenus?] 】

Beneath the hood, Motarian's bright yellow eyes were staring at Fernus with a smile, but the chill in his eyes could not be hidden.

Fenus loosened the strength of his arm, the corners of his mouth stiffening.

[I'm not very rational right now, Motarian, I don't want you to try to provoke me, even if you're happy to do so. 】

Motarian smiled, and he let go of his hand, as if to confirm that Fernus was okay.

[The Elves are always cunning, this is not the right place to talk—Vulcan and your sons are still waiting for us, and we should go.] 】

[But,]

Motarian said slowly,

Would you like me to take a look at the monster behind you, my brother?] 】

Without saying a word, Fernus walked coldly to Motarian's side, and he stared at Motarian with his spare eyes, waiting for the Lord of Death's reaction.

Motarian tilted his head, the basilien's face tangled in a mess of hair and blood, but the iconic eyes still allowed him to identify who it was.

…… Fogen?

Motarian hadn't actually seen Fogen, but he had seen portraits and sculptures of his brothers—especially those who liked to promote themselves.

The expected answer, Motarian himself has seen the illusion, and it feels unforgettable.

Motarian opened his mouth,

[It turns out that you have a good relationship with Fugen, I have indeed heard of it. 】

He was answered by the sudden widening of Finus's eyes, who were confused and surprised by Motarian's apparently bland reaction.

Motarian spoke calmly,

[Excuse me, let's go to Vulcan first, time is running out, candidate for the Great Commander, go through this kind of thing...... There is no need to be so alarmed. 】

No, yes!

(End of chapter)