Chapter 248: Chapter 248: Knights Vs Spiders, Summoning The Forsaken General

"Krkrkrkr!"

One of the three [Spiders of Darkness] lashed out with one of its massive, blade-like legs, the movement sharp and brutal as it pierced straight through the body of a [Forsaken Knight].

It tore through its armor as if it were nothing more than paper before ripping it apart completely, its body collapsing into pieces on the ruined ground below.

And yet, the remaining knights didn’t react.

They didn’t even turn their heads toward their fallen comrade.

Instead, they continued their assault as if nothing had happened, their movements rigid and relentless as they pushed forward without a single ounce of fear or concern for their own survival.

Their sole was focus fixed entirely on the spiders standing before them.

The difference in power between the two sides was obvious at a glance.

Each [Forsaken Knight] held around 900,000 [Combat Power], while each [Spider of Darkness] reached 1,250,000, a gap large enough that in any normal situation, the outcome would already be decided before the fight even began.

And yet, they kept fighting.

It was as if they had lost all sense of self-preservation, as if their existence revolved around a single purpose that overrode everything else, pushing them to attack without pause even when the result was obvious.

Leon stood at a distance, watching the chaotic clash unfold in front of him, his expression calm but thoughtful as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing.

"Maybe the [Forsaken Legion] wasn’t only meant to deal with players..." he muttered quietly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he observed the way the knights moved, "Maybe they were also meant to protect the city from other monsters."

The idea made sense.

After all, the spiders clearly weren’t part of the same faction as the knights, and if anything, they seemed just as hostile toward everything around them.

Still, even if that was the case, it didn’t change the reality of the situation.

The [Forsaken Knights] were losing. Badly.

They were at the very bottom of the hierarchy in this city, the weakest among the creatures that roamed these streets, and against enemies like the spiders, their chances of victory were almost nonexistent.

Leon’s fingers tightened slightly around his sword as he considered stepping in.

Not to help either side. But to take advantage of the situation.

If he timed it right, he could sweep in, deal the finishing blows, and collect multiple kills at once, gaining both experience and resources without having to face everything head-on.

It was the perfect opportunity.

And yet, right as he was about to move...

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A sudden, synchronized sound echoed through the street.

Leon paused.

All of the [Forsaken Knights] suddenly raised their shields at the same time and began striking them with their swords, the metallic sound repeating over and over again in a steady rhythm that reverberated through the ruined surroundings.

"Huh?"

Leon’s brows furrowed slightly as he stopped himself from acting, his attention fully shifting toward the strange behavior.

The spiders didn’t stop attacking.

They continued their assault, their legs slashing and piercing through the knights one after another, their movements just as aggressive as before.

But the knights... They didn’t react, defend, or even attempt to dodge.

Instead, more and more of them began appearing from the surrounding streets, their numbers increasing rapidly as they joined in, forming a larger group that all performed the same action.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound grew louder. Heavier. More oppressive.

Even as their numbers dwindled under the spiders’ attacks, even as their bodies were torn apart and reduced to lifeless fragments, the remaining knights continued striking their shields with unwavering persistence.

It didn’t stop. Not even for a second.

"Krkrkrk~"

"Krkrkr?!"

Even the spiders seemed momentarily confused by the strange display, their movements hesitating ever so slightly as they tried to process what was happening, though their instincts quickly took over once more.

To them, this wasn’t a battle. It was a hunt.

The knights were prey. Nothing more.

They would kill them, wrap their bodies in silk, and bring them back to the "Mother", feeding the endless cycle of this twisted city.

Leon watched silently, his mind piecing things together as best as he could.

’So the spiders kill everything they see to eat... and the knights attack everything they see to protect the city...?’

It wasn’t a perfect understanding. But it was enough.

And in the end, it didn’t really matter. None of it did.

As long as he could reach the [Forsaken King] and find a way out of this place, everything else was just background noise.

Still... He didn’t move. Not yet.

Because something about this situation felt off.

The knights weren’t just acting randomly. They were doing something. Calling something.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound continued. Relentless. Until finally, only around ten knights remained.

And then—

BOOM!

A sudden explosion of darkness erupted from above, a massive beam descending from the sky like a pillar of pure void as it struck the ground with overwhelming force, the impact sending shockwaves through the area.

"Holy shit...?!"

Leon reacted instantly, jumping back to avoid getting caught in the blast as his eyes locked onto the center of the phenomenon, where the beam continued to pulse with immense energy.

From within it, something began to rise.

Ding!

[The "Forsaken General" has appeared in the area around you.]

[Run before he notices your presence.]

The crimson panels appeared before Leon, flashing repeatedly as a skull symbol formed above them, leaking a dark aura that felt almost suffocating just from looking at it.

It was a warning directly given to Leon by the system.

And yet, Leon didn’t move. He didn’t run.

’They mentioned other monsters like the [Forsaken Minotaur]... but I didn’t expect something like this so soon,’ he thought, his gaze fixed on the beam as it slowly faded.

As the darkness dissipated, the figure within finally became visible.

The [Forsaken General]. It was massive.

Easily twice the size of a normal knight, its body covered in dark armor riddled with glowing cracks that pulsed with corrupted energy, its movements unnatural as if something else was controlling it from within.

In each hand, it held a weapon: a sword and a shield.

Both radiating an oppressive aura that made the air itself feel heavier.

And before Leon could even fully process what he was seeing, two of the three spiders were already dead.

The last remaining spider reacted immediately, its body turning as it attempted to flee, its instincts screaming at it to escape.

"Krkrkrkrk!"

But it didn’t get far.

Fwoosh! Slash!

In a movement so fast that Leon couldn’t even follow it properly, the [Forsaken General] appeared directly in front of the spider and brought its sword down in a clean, precise strike.

The head fell. The body collapsed. And just like that, it was over.

’Too strong...’ Leon’s eyes widened slightly, his mind coming to an immediate conclusion, ’I can’t beat that.’

Even the warning panels in front of him didn’t disappear. If anything, they pulsed more intensely.

Once the general finished dealing with the spiders, it slowly turned its attention toward the battlefield, where dozens of fallen knights lay scattered across the ground.

For a moment, it stood still. Then, one by one, it knelt beside them.

"..."

There was no sound. Just a silent gesture that almost resembled respect.

After a few seconds, it stood back up.

"...Protect..."

That single word left its mouth, distorted and heavy.

Then, it turned. Ready to leave. It seemed like it only appeared when summoned.

Which meant—

’When it’s not here... where does it go?’ Leon’s expression darkened slightly, his thoughts shifting toward the distant [Forsaken Castle], ’Does it stay near the center...?’

The idea made sense. But if that was the case, why didn’t it deal with the [Forsaken Minotaur]?

Or maybe... They weren’t enemies at all.

Maybe everything in this city, everything labeled "Forsaken," belonged to the same faction.

Before the general could leave, however, Leon decided to check the general’s status panel.

He needed information after all.

And so—

Appraisal!

The panel appeared in front of him.

But at the exact same moment—

Ding!

[He has noticed you.]

Leon’s body froze. Slowly, very slowly, he lowered his gaze.

And just as the panel had warned, the [Forsaken General] was looking directly at him.

Its dark aura crackled outward, spreading across the area as the atmosphere shifted instantly.

A few seconds passed. Then the remaining [Forsaken Knights] turned as well.

Some raised their weapons. Others struck their shields.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Leon’s expression tightened.

’Maybe I shouldn’t have done that...’ he thought, a bitter realization settling in his mind.