Chapter 224: Chapter 212: First Appearance of the Crystal Devouring Disease

Roland’s gaze was nailed to the line of text, steeped in a dark, blood-red light. In the dead silence, his heartbeat felt exceptionally heavy.

The initial ecstasy was extinguished as if doused by ice water, replaced by a complex mix of shock, gravity, and a hint of absurdity.

"Plunge into a grand war of roaring steel and sky-rending war drums..."

He repeated the first line in a low voice, his brow tightly furrowed.

This was nothing like the Professional Panel’s usual cold, direct prompts, such as "Power Attribute must reach a certain value" or "master a specific Skill."

It was more like a...

’An ancient proverb?’

"In the vortex of horn and blood and fire..."

Roland’s gaze slowly drifted downward.

"Thou must become the blade of victory, the weight that decides the outcome..."

The sentence echoed in his mind, and a grave expression slowly crept into his eyes.

In past battles, he was more accustomed to meticulous pre-battle planning, relying on his foresight and adaptability to seize victory.

This strategy had been foolproof in limited-scale conflicts, but when faced with a grand war...

’And... the weight that decides the outcome?’

This meant he had to play the decisive role at a critical juncture, one that would affect the entire course of the war.

In such a scenario, great Power was certainly important. But what was more crucial was accurately identifying the one opportunity that could turn the tide of the entire war, and seizing that fleeting chance.

This was a goal that could not be achieved through personal valor alone.

"And thou must be the final survivor to tread upon scorched earth and fallen banners, to descend from the hill of corpses..."

As he silently recited the words, Roland felt a pang of confusion.

’Does this just mean to survive the war, or... is there some other meaning?’

His gaze continued downward.

"Only then... shall the Knight’s Heart be forged into thy soul."

The final line reverberated in Roland’s mind like the tolling of a heavy bell.

He slowly closed his eyes, letting the dark red text burn a Residual Shadow onto his retinas.

The Professional Panel’s unusual lag and the epic prompt it ultimately displayed both gave off an extraordinary air.

This wasn’t a cold system command. It was more like an ancient and powerful being issuing him a trial, a decree soaked in blood and glory, from across the veil of Space-Time.

"War... a decisive hand... survival..."

Roland repeated these three core words in a low voice, sensing the weight and bloodshed they contained.

The Land of Mist was fraught with peril. Where was he supposed to find a war "of roaring steel and sky-rending war drums"?

And how, on an unfamiliar battlefield, was he to ensure he became "the weight that decides the outcome"?

’Should I get involved in the war between the nations of the River Domain and the Wolf King?’

At this thought, Roland gently shook his head.

His fingertips tapped unconsciously against the cold bed, making a dull sound.

’According to Avril’s intelligence, the war has reached a stalemate because they still haven’t been able to pinpoint the Wolf King’s location.’

’Even a powerful Extraordinary Professional like Graham is at a loss, forced to search inch by inch through the mist. What chance do I have?’

Roland sighed softly.

’In any case, since the Professional Panel gave me a prompt, it means my Power is already approaching the threshold to become a Knight.’

’Worst case, I’ll just continue practicing the Breathing Technique. Once my Power truly reaches the level of an Extraordinary Knight, I can look for an opportunity to complete this Profession advancement then. For now...’

He let out a long breath, his eyes staring blankly.

’I should focus on how to get out of this damn Land of Mist safely.’

After all, even if he didn’t advance to the Knight Profession, he would only lose the Attribute Bonus and powerful Traits. It wouldn’t stop his own Power from growing.

Compared to that, ensuring his own safety was the top priority.

His mind made up, Roland lay down on the cold bed.

As his thoughts drifted, he sank into sleep.

Night fell, and the Demons in the mist grew more restless.

Alerted by the diligent soldiers on watch, Roland and Freddy quickly eliminated the few scattered Demons that attempted to raid the camp.

「The next morning」, Roland woke up on time.

After stretching and warming up with his usual Swordsmanship practice, he lifted the tent flap and stepped outside.

Thanks to the capable arrangements of Avril and her adjutant, Barry, the soldiers had already packed their belongings.

Following the guidance of Witch Vanessa, the group set off on the road to Cuiyan Forest.

However, perhaps due to the size of their party, they encountered unusual Demons far more frequently than when Roland’s small group had traveled alone.

Fortunately, with powerful individuals like Roland, Avril, and Freddy on hand, the attacking Demons were quickly repelled.

Even so, the party’s pace was slowed considerably.

The only good news was that they found signs of the missing transport team along the way.

Although the soldiers escorting the convoy had all been killed, the supplies were perfectly preserved.

The discovery was a great boost to the soldiers’ flagging morale.

The timely supply of food and fresh water relieved their despondency, and the party’s pace quickened considerably.

After what felt like an eternity, the outline of Cuiyan Forest finally became faintly visible on the horizon.

But Roland’s mood didn’t improve, because...

"When did this start?"

Roland crouched down to carefully inspect a limping soldier’s injury and asked Avril, who was standing beside him.

"Sometime last night..."

Avril replied softly, her gaze also fixed on the soldier’s wound.

On the wound, which had been close to healing, small, pale blue crystalline growths had appeared.

"A Crystal Cluster..."

"Exactly."

Roland nodded slowly. As he instructed other soldiers to help the injured man up and keep moving, he began to speak.

"Avril, how long have you all been in the Land of Mist?"

"About two months... or maybe three?"

Avril sighed softly.

"I’m sorry, Roland. In an area shrouded by such a high concentration of Magic Elements, the passage of time becomes... blurry."

"I understand."

Roland shook his head, his mood growing heavier.

The Crystal Cluster on the soldier’s wound had appeared suddenly, which ruled out the possibility that the Truth Church was responsible.

’Then...’

Recalling the stories Bronson had once told him about the time before the Year of the End, Roland’s brow furrowed deeply.

’Is this a crystallization phenomenon caused by prolonged exposure to an environment with a high concentration of Magic Elements?’

At this realization, Roland’s desire to leave the Land of Mist as soon as possible became overwhelming.

Even if his Power far surpassed that of these soldiers, who could guarantee he wouldn’t contract this bizarre illness?

At the same time, his outlook on the war the River Domain nations were waging against the Wolf King grew deeply pessimistic.

The appearance of the Crystal Devouring Disease didn’t just mean a sharp decline in the soldiers’ combat effectiveness. More terrifyingly...

Comrades who had once fought side-by-side could lose their minds at any moment, transforming into crazed Demons and turning on their own allies.

Just as he was lost in thought, a gruff shout from the distance shattered his concentration. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Mr. Roland! You have to come see this!"