The Oracle Paths

1206  Triumph Drowned in Blood

Upon returning to their camp, Ekhoʼs gaze swept the horizon in search of Jake, and when their eyes met, Jake gave him a nod of approval, a silent acknowledgment of his strength and determination. The barbarian, perplexed, felt a sense of relief wash over him as the nod of approval lifted the weight of tension and accumulated anxieties from his shoulders. From that day forward, he knew he was no longer the same spineless coward who had helplessly watched his wife and loved ones be tortured and killed.

As the former alcoholic gripped his swordʼs hilt, his knuckles turning white, the four Soul Clones, walking beside him, cast a sympathetic gaze his way. Even after this deadly battle, he was still unaware that he was the only real living person in this squad. At some point, the truth would have to be revealed to him. How would he react, then? Would he still radiate the same positive energy, looking to the future? In the meantime, he had triumphantly emerged victorious in a duel that held the fate of an entire land in its hands. For a conscript who had never wielded a weapon a month earlier, it was a truly remarkable feat that he could carry with a smile to his grave.

As the victors and vanquished returned, their heads held high or low, to their respective armies, Jake had already shifted his focus to the impostor, Cho Min Ho.

”I didnʼt expect anything from you, but it still left me feeling like a deflated balloon.” His tone was unforgiving and spiteful, but it truly reflected the depths of his thoughts. ”Do I need to whip up gear for a whole platoon in a flash?”

The next duel was the responsibility of the shapeshifter and this time involved 100 Spirit Paladin level soldiers. The quality standard was a cut above the previous squad duel, and typically, one had to delve into the ranks of company or regimental commanders to find such elements.

Alas, before the impersonator could even respond, a telepathic message from Meribelle revealed that the Radiant Conclave had just issued a new directive: Each replacement Soulmancer Kingʼs battles were now their sole responsibility, and that included the equipment of the chosen participants.

”Hey... They really have no shame.” Jake snorted with disdain, his face contorting in a grimace.

The original rule required Cho Min Ho to take charge of at least 9 out of 20 duels. To ensure transparency, Jake had provided a provisional list of who was handling which match, and he was obligated to keep them updated on any changes. It was undeniable that the Radiant Conclave members were all seasoned veterans, and it was no easy feat to pull the wool over their eyes.

At first, they were convinced that the costly artifacts they had bestowed upon their champions would grant them a decisive edge, but now that they realized this was not the case, they were scrambling to regain their footing. They werenʼt shameless enough to plead with Jake to spare his resources for his troops, but requiring the other Soulmancer King candidate to use only his own equipment was a way to maintain their dignity. Of course, it was just the story they told themselves to save face, but it was enough to keep them going.

The shapeshifter had yet to accept or reject, when Jake suddenly apologized,

”Aah! It seems that I canʼt even lend you a helping hand. I could try to reopen negotiations, but Iʼm afraid theyʼll just throw everything out the window.”

”I didnʼt promise Iʼd accept, anyway.” Cho Min Hoʼs double snorted, his face a storm of irritation. In fact, he had planned to accept, intending to keep the equipment for himself once the battles were over, but their enemies had beaten them to the punch. Now, all he could do was grit his teeth and surrender to the new rules, as if he were a prisoner of fate.

”You see me delighted.” Jake let out a dry, sardonic chuckle before his expression hardened, revealing a grim determination. ”In that case, donʼt let me down. Iʼve got my eye on you, my friend. Despite my unfamiliarity with the fortune and resources of Cho Min Ho and Kingʼs Idol Alliance, as an Oracle Knight, Iʼm confident it wonʼt be too shabby.”

The metamorphʼs face twisted into a grimace, then he replied in a sly tone,

”Naturally. But remember... In the end, Iʼm just a mere shadow of the real thing. Iʼm not the sole voice of our faction, nor the face of our leader. My resources... are as limited as a starving manʼs belly.”

”As long as youʼre doing your best to avoid sabotaging your own global rating, I think thatʼs enough.” Will interjected, his voice sharp and unwavering. ”In any case, if you try to pull any tricks, it will show.”

A fiery spark of anger flashed in the eyes of the impostor Cho Min Ho, but he merely grunted before striding off to issue his orders. This time, Sheanu wasnʼt the sole mastermind behind the selection process. After the previous debacle, Radahn and Master Firentz had joined the fray, bringing their unique skills and expertise to the table.

The banditʼs ethics and professionalism left much to be desired, but the last two were the real deal. Paladins were the weakest units to be found in the Vorzhul legion, while with his connections to the Soulmancer Enclave, recruiting a few elite warriors from his own guard for Master Firentz was a breeze.

This time, the shapeshifter and his generals werenʼt messing around, and they spared no expense on the equipment. Radahn lent his personal armor to one of his men, Sheanu reluctantly dipped into his prized loot, his heart aching, and Firentz generously provided a collection of spiritually enchanted artifacts, each one bearing three to six enchantments.

As if that were not enough, Zelorian Quen, the Korean producer, even handed over a huge sharp tooth the size of a stool to one of their Players chosen from the team. Its shape resembled that of a shark tooth, but of a specimen with drastically more spectacular dimensions than that of a megalodon. Its spiritual fluctuations were still impressive, and thousands of glowing runes and inscriptions were engraved on it, charged with vitality, and causing the Lumyst Water diluted in the air to converge.

”Satisfied?” The fake Cho Min Ho sneered at Jake, who merely shrugged.

”Weʼll see after the results are in.”

”Then, wait and see.”

A platoon clash was a whole different spectacle compared to a squad duel. Though still relatively small against the backdrop of the vast arena, they no longer seemed like mere pixels on a blank canvas.

The chosen warriors were also considerably more formidable. The three kilometers of open terrain separating the two platoons was crossed within seconds, and the clash erupted with a deafening roar. The brutality and violence of the melee were beyond imagination.

Forget bows and arrows—Treants were summoned, autonomous living ballistae; massive, spiked vines covered the battlefield, while a Life Link tethered the vitality of the Light Paladins, making them unkillable as long as their heads or brains remained intact. Their equipment had also been upgraded several notches, with the Saints of the Radiant Conclave determined to prevent a repeat of the last defeat.

On the side of the Dusken Throne, the Lumyst Auras of the Spirit Paladins had matured enough to finally offset their physical disadvantages. The spectral pressure radiating from their bodies could paralyze the mind, slow reflexes, hypnotize, terrify, or alter the senses of their opponents. When channeled into their weapons or enchanted artifacts, it gave rise to breathtaking phenomena and illusions.

In response to the Treants, balistas, and vines, a deluge of vengeful souls were constantly spewed from lanterns controlled by Master Firentzʼs subordinates, overwhelming and tormenting the enemy Light Paladins, devouring their vitality whenever one of them passed through. The tooth lent by Zelorian Quen also made its entrance, summoning the spirit of a colossal aquatic beast that converged and manipulated all the moisture in the air for miles around.

The confrontation seemed balanced, and each side was optimistic. If one were quite frank, one could even say that the platoon mounted by Cho Min Hoʼs double had a slight advantage. If it continued like this, their victory was inevitable.

The savagery of the battle continued to intensify, and very soon the first blood was shed… In favor of the Dusken Throne! Victory seemed closer than ever. Time ticked by. The armies of both camps held their breath in unbearable suspense, their hearts pounding in their chests. A quarter of an hour later, the curtain of the spectacle fell, and the result struck like a hammer blow...

A crushing defeat.

In that instant, a hundred and one corpses lay in a pool of blood, a macabre tapestry of gore, severed heads, and intestines. Except for the first victim, a member of the Radiant Conclave, all the others were the once-valiant and dashing warriors of the Dusken Throne.