Chapter 50: An “Encounter” with Rorgus the Gnoll

Deep within the Ashen Mist Mountains, Veylin arrived at his destination.

“All of you, spread out. Do not approach this place.” Taking every precaution, Veylin glanced at the sky and issued his command without hesitation.

Upon hearing his words, the others quickly withdrew, putting several hundred meters between themselves and the site.

No one knew how much time passed before the air ahead began to ripple. Dazzling, chaotic light suddenly flared on the clearing, and an overwhelming pressure, unlike anything Veylin had ever felt, pressed down on him. He and his followers retreated another few hundred meters.

After more than ten minutes, the fabric of space shattered open, and a woman clad in a mage’s robe was spat out, her clothes in tatters, but she landed steadily on the ground.

“Master, what… what is this?” One of the silver knights stared in astonishment, voicing the question on everyone’s mind.

The others looked to Veylin, their faces equally puzzled.

“Just remember this: she will be the future guardian spirit of our domain.” Veylin replied simply, offering no further explanation.

Another fifteen minutes passed, and the spatial passage gradually faded. At last, Veylin rose from where he’d been sitting on the ground and slowly approached.

Drawing closer to the center, he found none of the legendary aura he’d imagined—no oppressive force, not a hint of magical pressure on his body. The absence made him doubt for a moment.

Unconsciously, Veylin crossed the several hundred meters that separated him from the mage. Silver hair, exquisite features, and a body of alluring curves made him swallow involuntarily.

But the thought that this woman was a legendary mage instantly doused any restless impulse in his heart.

He drew a small wooden box from his breast pocket, opened it, and took out a seven-colored Life Blossom.

Careful and cautious, he approached the legendary mage. A faint blue shield flickered into being, then vanished without a trace.

“They say high-level mages always cast attack-detection shields on themselves. If I’d had any ill intent just now…”

The image of himself being reduced to a pile of ashes flashed through his mind. He quickly shook his head and reassured himself, “I’m here to save her.”

The blue shield did not reappear. Veylin placed the Life Blossom to the mage’s lips, and in the next moment it melted into a pale green liquid that slipped into her body.

Time passed. Veylin, having exhausted all other options, sat helplessly to one side, waiting for the legendary mage to awaken.

Just then, a knight-attendant appeared before the group.

Veylin turned to look—it was one of the men left behind at camp. An uneasy feeling gripped his heart.

“Master, Lord Raimondo sent me to report—a large pack of gnolls is heading our way. Over three hundred of them!” The knight-attendant panted as he delivered his report.

“What?”

The silver knight nearby sprang to his feet, terror written on his face.

The others closed in, weapons drawn, their expressions full of worry as they looked to their lord.

A few dozen gnolls they could handle with ease, but over three hundred was a disaster.

“Calm down. Let me think.” Veylin said evenly, already working through the options.

Gnolls coming from deeper within the province could only be the retreating allied monster army. There were likely many silver-ranked monsters among them. The urgent priority was to avoid a head-on clash and preserve as many of their own as possible.

“Tell Raimondo to abandon all other supplies. Take the horses and essential rations and retreat in our direction.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Without another word, the attendant sped off.

Meanwhile, just two or three kilometers from the Ashen Mist camp, the gnolls had already spotted Raimondo’s group.

Rogus, broad-shouldered and missing an arm, rode upon a hulking gnoll, his face turning grim.

“Are you certain? There’s a human camp ahead?”

“Chief, there are many humans ahead, and the banner they fly is that of the human outpost.”

At this, Rogus abandoned any thought of detouring. His expression grew savage.

“Full speed ahead—I want to collect a little interest.”

“Yes, chief.”

The hundreds of gnolls surged forward, racing toward the camp.

Inside the camp, Raimondo wasted no time after receiving Veylin’s orders. “Abandon this place. Mount the blue-violet horses. Withdraw with me.”

The eight knight-attendants, who had been building fortifications, immediately dropped their timber and stones, gathered the essential provisions, mounted up, and followed Raimondo into the Ashen Mist Mountains.

Just ten minutes later, hundreds of gnolls burst from the wilds and reached the camp.

In an instant, the half-built defenses were obliterated, tents torn to shreds.

Rogus stared at the empty camp, fury clouding his mind. He roared at his followers, “Where are those humans?”

“Chief, over there—they ran that way,” said a gnoll with a keen sense of smell, quickly sniffing out the direction.

“After them! I’ll eat them alive!”

With a howl, Rogus ordered the pursuit. The other witless gnolls eagerly followed, heading for the Ashen Mist Mountains.

In their simple minds, with several hundred on their side against just a handful of humans, there was no way they could lose.

Within the Ashen Mist Mountains, Veylin relaxed when he saw Raimondo arrive. He had feared the message wouldn’t reach them in time, and that they would be caught by the gnolls.

“Master, the gnolls are right behind us—they’ll be here soon.”

“Prepare for battle. Their target is surely us.” Veylin stood, eyes fixed on the approaching shadows, his voice ringing out with command.

As his people readied for battle, the legendary mage’s fingers began to tremble, a sure sign that she was about to awaken.

Minutes ticked by. Hundreds of gnolls had surrounded Veylin’s group, each one brandishing a weapon, eyes fierce, awaiting their chief’s order.

Veylin drew his knight’s longsword from his mount, readying himself.

To survive this, they would have to behead the enemy leader and throw the gnolls into chaos—only then might they find a way out.

Of course, if the legendary mage regained consciousness now, the situation would be resolved in an instant.

At that moment, the gnolls opposite them split into two ranks. A one-armed gnoll, riding a massive beast, advanced slowly.

Seeing him, Veylin’s eyes grew grave.

“Hahaha! Surely this is my god’s blessing—a chance for revenge delivered into my hands.” Rogus’s face twisted with madness as he roared, “I’ll tear you to pieces, salt your flesh, and savor you bit by bit.”

Hearing the gnoll speak the common tongue, Veylin tightened his grip on the knight’s sword, waiting for the right moment.

They still had seven silver knights—there was a chance of slaying the enemy leader outright, though it meant the twelve knight-attendants would likely be lost.