Shadow Slave

Chapter 1884 Scarlet Garden They set out in the morning — which wasn't any different from the day in Godgrave. The jungle, which had been teeming with Nightmare Creatures before, gradually became quiet and eerily empty as they moved further south, making the Saints tense with its sudden tranquillity.

Even the plants, which were as predatory as the beasts in the scarlet jungle, remained still.

That was because the conquest force was entering the land which belonged to the master of the old ruin… the creature they were meant to defeat.

As they moved, Saint Jest happened to catch up with Sunny, who was leading the party. The old man was using his cane to swat away branches and vines, looking annoyed because of the heat and humidity.

"That guardian we're supposed to kill… what kind of creature was it again?"

Sunny turned his head briefly, giving Saint Jest an impassive look.

"I do not know. Although I explored the Hollows casually, I never failed to avoid getting too close to this place. All I can say is that the guardian of the Citadel is a Great Nightmare Creature of a higher Class… a Terror, perhaps. Maybe even a Titan."

The old man chewed his lips.

"A Great Terror, really? Gods, the world is changing… it used to be that the existence of such beings was merely a theory. In fact, I remember mocking a bunch of academics viciously for suggesting that something this unreasonable exists! And here I am, on my way to battle one. Who's the fool now, huh?"

Sunny smiled behind the mask.

"I'd say that we are all fools, for choosing to face such a creature voluntarily."

paused for a moment, then added in his usual cold

what's wrong with being

gave him a surprised look, then

put it better myself. What a poignant sentiment… now, we just need to

parted, and they found themselves on the shore of a vast lake. Dozens of rivers joined to form it,

both like a beautiful temple and a grand castle... however, that castle was unlike any

of pale wood instead of stone — not out of boards or logs, though. Instead, it was as if countless white trees had grown and fused into a seamless whole to form the shape

were worn and faded, but they must have been vividly scarlet once, just like the canopy of the jungle. The white temple was overgrown with vermilion moss, with vines and tree branches protruding from the gaping holes in its broken roofs and empty windows. As such, it

but also with a sense

wondered what purpose that beautiful structure had served once, before the

came to worship? A stronghold to protect them from the perils of the shattered world? A logistical hub where the ships sailing to

the latter would make sense. Or maybe all three of his theories were true, and the garden temple served many purposes

In any case…

of the Hollows would have been infected by the Nightmare Spell, and destroyed as a consequence —

had witnessed some of what these people had been capable of in the ruins of Condemnation. Although they had not possessed the technology and war machines of the waking world, the War God's realm, they were in many ways no less advanced than them… even superior in some regards, judging by the ingenious sorcery used to create

now, Nightmare Creatures ruled over its

the garden castle had once contained was gone, replaced by vile corruption. And the abomination whose lair

extended his shadow sense forward. Something was hiding there, behind the pale wooden walls… he could feel the eerie threat of it, but not much

'...Damnation.'

reach the Citadel by