ONLINE: Blades of Eternity-Chapter 263: THE FOGGY HILL’S CALL

At another part of the pocket dimension, thick foliage rustled as Kelvin and the Valen Military Academy group pressed forward through the dense underbrush. Twisting vines and gnarled roots made the terrain treacherous, but they moved with the precision of trained warriors.

Moments ago, the air had still been heavy with the scent of blood and scorched flesh, remnants of the three-headed hound the Devouring King had slain effortlessly. Its massive carcass lay behind them, a testament to his terrifying strength.

But no one looked back.

They had a mission.

—

Ahead, a pale blue blur flickered between the leaves before stopping in front of them.

The Slime Harbinger.

His body, an amorphous blend of shifting blue and green, quivered slightly as he relayed his findings.

"I've scouted the entire area," he said, his voice a distorted yet clear echo. "The layout of this place is… unnatural."

Kelvin's gaze sharpened. "What do you mean?"

"At the very center of this dimension, there's a massive, fog-covered hill. But it's… strange." The Slime Harbinger's form pulsed faintly. "There's something hidden within it—something the ordinary eye can't see."

A murmur spread among the group.

Kelvin's jaw clenched as he thought.

'An illusion? A trap? Or something far worse?'

"Could it be where we might get a clue of how to get out of here?" one of their teammates speculated.

The Devouring King, silent up until now, finally spoke.

His deep, guttural voice cut through the tension.

"Doesn't matter. We're heading there."

His eyes gleamed with an almost unnatural coldness and indifference.

"If there's something hidden… we'll force it to reveal itself."

—

With that, the decision was made.

Weapons drawn. Senses sharpened.

They marched toward the foggy hill.

Meanwhile, Kaelen and his comrades pressed forward, weaving through the dense mystical terrain. The pocket dimension was full of surprises, but they had already overcome several natural obstacles—some involving shifting landscapes, others requiring sheer brute force to break through.

Just as they paused to catch their breath, a sudden swirl of mist materialized in front of them.

Ethan emerged, his figure melting out of the fog like a phantom. His mastery over Mist Magic and the Way of the Shadow allowed him to move undetected, and he had been scouting ahead while the others advanced.

Forbes stepped forward.

"Report."

Ethan's piercing gaze flickered toward him.

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"I scouted ahead. There's a massive fog-covered hill up ahead, not too far from here."

A hushed murmur spread among the group.

Kaelen's eyes narrowed slightly. 'A foggy hill? Could it be connected to the Battle Crown or how one can get out of here?'

"Did you see any of our competitors?" Forbes inquired, his expression serious.

Ethan shook his head. "No direct sightings, but while I was scouting, I sensed a few of them from a fair distance away."

That meant one thing—other teams were closing in.

"Were you able to identify who they might be?" Forbes then asked again with the same look on his face. "They were too far away for me to do so" Ethan replied as he shook his head.

After hearing him, Forbes suddenly pondered for a moment before giving a decisive nod.

"Then we're heading for the hill."

The others voiced their agreement.

Kaelen took in a deep breath, his mind racing.

He knew that if this hill truly held something significant, it wouldn't just be the landscape or the magical beasts standing in their way.

They were about to face the other strongest competitors in this tournament.

"Ok guys, let's set out" Forbes suddenly said as he got himself ready to move again.

But just as Kaelen and his comrades were about to set off for the Foggy Hill, a sudden surge of darkness erupted around them.

"We're under attack!" Eldric quickly cried out in alarm.

From the shadows of the trees and the thick foliage, figures clad in dark robes lunged forward. The air grew heavy with malice, and tendrils of sinister energy snaked toward them with lethal intent.

Mortis.

The leader of Blightmore House stood at the forefront, his presence exuding an eerie chill. His Dark Magic twisted the very light around him, creating an oppressive aura that seemed to swallow everything in its path.

"Scatter!" Forbes barked, his instincts kicking in.

But Kaelen and the others had already been on guard, expecting a possible ambush. Their honed reflexes allowed them to counter instantly.

Lila, Guinevere and Morris unleashed a dual-element spell of fire and ice, forcing back the initial wave of attackers.

Charlotte slammed her shield into the ground, creating a defensive barrier that dispersed Mortis's creeping shadows.

Kaelen, Valir and Eldric swiftly retaliated, cutting down the waves of darkness before they could reach the group.

After the chaotic exchange, the two groups faced off—each side tense and ready for battle.

Forbes stepped forward, his gaze steady as he addressed Mortis.

"We don't have to do this."

His voice was calm but firm as he knew the implications of what would happen if they battled now. A battle here would only exhaust their strength before reaching the real objective—the Battle Crown.

Mortis, however, was unfazed.

He simply tilted his head slightly, his cold, empty eyes staring at Forbes.

"But I want to. Besides, I want to see first hand just how strong the leader of the Pacesetters Academy really is""

His voice was devoid of emotion, as if he were discussing something as mundane as the weather.

Kaelen's grip on his sword tightened.

It was clear—this fight was inevitable.

As the tense standoff continued, Valir suddenly stepped forward, his grim-colored twin daggers gleaming in the dim light of the pocket dimension.

"Step back." His voice was eerily calm, his eyes fixed on Mortis. "I'll handle this alone."

Forbes hesitated, but before he could say anything, Mortis instantly snapped.

"This is the second time we've been insulted in this damn convention!" He growled, his eyes burning with frustration. "First Dawning of Magic Academy, now you?"

Valir, however, didn't even glance back at him. His aura darkened, and an ominous pulse of energy surged from his body.

Mortis flinched. He had never sensed this type of darkness before.

"Don't let him move! Bring him down!" Mortis shouted in panic, his voice betraying his urgency.

His Blightmore House companions lunged at Valir from all directions, their weapons infused with dark energy. Their teamwork was impeccable, their coordination flawless.

Yet—

It didn't matter.

A single step. That was all it took.

The moment Valir moved, his form seemed to blur—no, it was swallowed by the darkness itself.

"What—?!" One of the attackers gasped, but before he could react, a dagger tore through his shadow.

Instantly, his body convulsed, his own darkness rebelling against him.

One by one, the attackers fell.

Some were impaled by their own shadows.

Some were devoured by an unseen abyss.

Others simply vanished into the darkness, never to be seen again.

It was silent.

"How.... Is this possible?"

Mortis staggered back, eyes wide with disbelief. His entire team had been wiped out in seconds.

Forbes, Kaelen, Morris, and the others watched in shock.

This wasn't just ordinary dark magic.

Even Forbes, the most knowledgeable among them, had never seen anything like it.

"Since when did he become this powerful?"

Kaelen felt his grip on his sword tighten.

"Just what the hell did he do to become this strong in such a short time…?"

Valir turned back to the group, his expression unreadable.

"Let's move." He said, as if nothing had happened.

And for the first time, even Forbes—the leader of the group—felt a chill crawl up his spine.

Back in the coliseum, the air was filled with murmurs as the battle between Valir and the Blightmore House played out on the massive viewing screens.

While in the VIP section, Chancellor Castenada and Marel sat side by side, their expressions unreadable as they took in the display of absolute dominance.

"To think Valir could reach such a level in such a short period of time…" Marel muttered, narrowing his eyes.

Castenada nodded slowly. "This is beyond what even I expected from him." His brows furrowed in thought.

'The power Valir had just displayed… It wasn't just advanced darkness magic. No, this was something far more sinister.'

It was unnatural.

Just then, a deep voice interrupted their musings.

"Impressive. The boy's formidability is undeniable."

Both Castenada and Marel turned to see King Alexandria himself watching the screens with an intrigued smile.

"To command darkness in such a way… A rare sight indeed." The king mused.

Castenada smiled humbly as he replied, "Your Majesty is too kind. Valir has worked hard for his strength."

Yet, deep inside, suspicion began to bloom.

Was it truly just hard work?

Or…

Had someone interfered?

And if so—

Was it King Alexandria?

Because why would he compliment on a power that was so unrighteous while he should be a beacon of righteousness to the people of Valoria kingdom?

So for the rest of the match, Castenada found himself watching not just Valir… but the King as well.