Surviving The Fourth Calamity

”I won’t let you take that bone giant away.” If Russell could see it, Rosero naturally had no problem.

The white-robed mage sneered and switched the whip in his hand into a massive bow and arrow. A black, gleaming long arrow shot towards the bone giant at lightning speed.

However, to his surprise, the dragon in the clouds had no reaction at all, merely tilting its head slightly.

Rosero’s beautiful peach blossom eyes widened sharply... On the bone giant’s claws, at some point, a massive gray shield had appeared.

Although pushed back hundreds of meters by the tremendous force of the arrow, the bone giant remained intact.

”Huh? There’s a person in that skeleton head?” Aislin, who had been silent behind him, noticed something crucial.

”What...” Rosero looked carefully and discovered something unbelievable in the hollow eyes of the skull: a mysterious figure in a black cloak covering from head to toe standing beside the fiercely burning green soul fire.

This was too unbelievable.

Even the mages who summon these undead wouldn’t stand defenselessly next to the soul fire of these undead!

In a split second, Rosero realized something: ”The Messenger of the Styx?

How could it be?”

”Heh heh~” The black dragon in the clouds chuckled slyly twice, ”What? Did you think I would use my body to block for him?

Think again... I’m not that dumb, can’t you tell you’re holding a dragon-slaying arrow!

Well, you sly little devil.”

Delphus swayed, hesitantly stepping back a step.

”Is he an idiot?” Carpenter’s voice turned a tad shrill.

At least half of the archmages in the Sia Tower had issues... And those who weren’t devils among the archmages probably had more or less some suspicions.

Even those middle-low rank junior mages who were kept in the dark wouldn’t genuinely believe that Sia Tower was actually saving the world.

They simply preferred to accept the reality that Sia Tower was utilizing the name of salvation for greater benefits... Mages wouldn’t believe in the occurrence of some inexplicable divine miracle like a savior.

Only those who have something to gain can make mages believe their lives might be spared.

However, such human manipulation is something devils have always excelled at, and Hill wouldn’t feel there’s anything to disdain in those mages who merely seek self-preservation.

It’s normal for people to first save themselves when encountering an apocalypse, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Heroes who can place others’ lives, even the world’s future above their own are certainly worthy of respect... But heroes are precious because they are rare.

Therefore, as a Ninth Ring Mage, Delphus clearly knew that those archmages of Sia Tower were definitely foreign invaders and part of the evil faction.

He might even have guessed something... Even if Asmodeus tried every means to erase the existence of devils from the historical traces, mages capable of integrating with the law would certainly know something.

Especially those Ninth Ring Mages from Sia Tower who have been associating with devils for so long.

Moreover, Delphus managed to obtain the ’Order Jewel’ from the Defense Tower, how could he not know anything?

Even Carpenter could figure this out, which is why she was so amazed... What’s with Delphus’s evasive performance towards Rosero?

”Perhaps, he was surprised that Rosero was too...” Russell said softly, ”Delphus seemed to have always looked down on Rosero.”

”Is he crazy?” Carpenter’s voice was quite sharp.

”Probably, in his heart, the devils of Sia Tower are strong and terrifying beings, how could they be anyone’s male pet?

Especially later, when we reached Sia Tower, Rosero’s overly compliant behavior towards Aislin might have given him some abnormal thoughts.” Russell smiled slightly.

”You get along quite well with Lady Pet’s students!” Carpenter suddenly said in a sinister tone.

Hilbert nodded in sudden realization... He thought so, even he couldn’t see it, how could Russell have the brains for that.

”Lady Pet probably wants us on this side not to worry about Delphus’s influence, so she passed a lot of words over.” Russell replied earnestly, ”You know, don’t you? That female mage also communicates with you quite a bit.

Not mentioning this, maybe she just considers you to have no value.

Besides, she, as a mid-level female mage and a direct student of a Ninth Ring Mage, has to bow and smile to a normal low-rank mage like you, it’s naturally unpleasant, and I don’t think she likes talking to you.”

All of Carpenter’s sarcasm could only turn to nothing, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes: ”You don’t need to say it, it’s redundant for me.”

Russell looked a bit puzzled at his sister, but he never really cared about Carpenter’s occasional antics, so he just turned forward, curiously looked back at Hillbert who was watching their exchange, and asked: ”Teacher, was Rosero trying to outwit that giant dragon just now, but it didn’t succeed, right?

But doesn’t this also prove one thing, that for that dragon, whether the Bone Giant survives or not, he really doesn’t care, so he didn’t even move a claw.

It’s not just because he trusts that Black Robe more, is it?

That also means, although he covered for that Black Robe’s infiltration, they aren’t really on the same path... My judgment shouldn’t be wrong, right teacher?”

”Hmm, the dragon’s target, is the hearts of humans on the ground.

The Black Robe, is for his own underground enterprise.” Hillbert replied slowly.

”Underground? The Styx?” Russell immediately thought of the key point... in this world, people are very afraid of the ground.

In their hearts, the earth is actually the enemy.

Even though the earth has left them a glimmer of hope, when the only enemy they have is themselves, the ground that might kill them at any touch would naturally be hated and resented even more.

People who don’t understand why the world has become like this, of course, would not go to understand the earth’s anger and resentment.

Russell blinked sharply, remembered some things teacher said during occasional exchanges, coupled with their earlier speculation about why Delphus’s Magic Ballista failed again... Russell couldn’t help but ask Hillbert who was constantly smiling in front: ”Teacher, is that your acquaintance?”

As an outsider, Hillbert’s acquaintance in this world, which Russell hasn’t met, could only be one... Gilbert Hainarson.

Hillbert turned to look at him, smilingly nodded: ”He’s really quite impressive, right?”

Russell couldn’t help but smile along with him... indeed, even such a powerful dragon, is only a collaborator with Gilbert, not an existence that commands Gilbert.

Russell knew when Gilbert entered the Styx.

In such a short time, he became so powerful, Gilbert, truly is the most outstanding descendant of the Hainarson Clan in recent years.

Russell smiled gently... although he knows it’s not easy to be a good person in this world, nor is it appropriate, and generally, there is no good reward, seeing someone like Gilbert who persists in his principles have a decent outcome, always brings a bit of comfort to someone like him who holds a sliver of hope for the world.

”Teacher, if he can do it, then, the Archmages in the Tower of Necromancy, can they also... control these bones?” Russell suddenly remembered another thing.

Hillbert thought for a bit, then nodded... although normal Necromancers don’t have that ability, it should be possible if they were given permission by the Styx.

And Gilbert coming out so directly, although possibly because this Bone Giant is quite important to him, he absolutely wouldn’t let Hillbert’s presence become problematic.

So, it’s estimated that people from the Tower of Necromancy are also ready to reclaim these bones.

Although the people from the Defense Tower might take their own people’s bones later, what’s left should still be enough for those awkwardly living Necromancers to create a small force.

Thinking about Sel in Toril makes it clear, even those unwelcome by the Styx can make the neighboring country live a miserable life!

”Looks like Rosero came out with this arrow well-prepared!” Russell sighed.

”That’s not too bad either.” Hillbert chuckled, ”It’s also a kind of destiny~”

Or should I say, Aislin’s Path of Destiny?

First go through a baptism of the Styx, then shine on the Light of Dawn, and finally find your path through the eternal bright moon... what an interesting life!

Hillbert turned to look again at the excitedly discussing Russell and Carpenter... better than having a few kids with nothing get swept away by a wave from who knows where, right!

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”Hehe~ why... are you just standing there?” The voice of the black dragon echoed through the sky, ”You didn’t just bring a Dragon-Slaying Arrow with you, did you?”

’Swoosh!’

A sharp giant arrow shot directly from afar to the black dragon atop the clouds... judging from the position, it should be aimed at the reverse scale under the dragon’s neck.

Although the reverse scale positions are roughly the same for giant dragons, there is quite a bit of variation, and they come in different sizes, so the person sneaking in probably observed for a long time before daring to shoot it.

But Hillbert recognized immediately, he chose the reverse scale position based on the black dragon’s inertia.

The result of choosing wrong would naturally be loudly ridiculed by that sharp-tongued black dragon.

”Hahaha~ who told you that the black dragon’s reverse scale is on the frontal chest?” Although the black dragon didn’t dodge the long arrow, it seemed to feel no pain and laughed mockingly to the sky.