Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Convincing the Ghosts

The awakening of the souls was shocking. Most of the beings at Strafe’s level would be amazed at how Dyne succeeded.

But Strafe himself was unimpressed. Rather, he was already used to this insanity of Dyne breaking the norm.

The dark energy that Jedo was channeling from the chants gave all the souls a chance at having a temporary physical form thanks to the increase of darkness. But this power could not be used constantly, and Strafe concluded that Dyne couldn't create an undead army.

“Is he planning to use the king to spur the emotions of these ghosts to take physical form? What exactly is Dyne banking on?” Strafe couldn’t help but wonder.

Slowly, more and more apparitions of ghosts began to appear in the hall.

The scene frightened almost everyone, except a few, which included Emera, who only glared back at the ghosts.

It was then that several familiar figures that some of the knights noticed appeared. They were knights who served the former king and were old enough to sever King Ciroel during his earlier reign.

“King Ciroel?” One of the ghosts called out.

“It is King Ciroel!” Another ghost identified the king.

Suddenly, a mighty wind began to blow, and several figures began to apparate.

“King Ciroel! I have served you and fulfilled my vow while I was alive. Do not blame me for this insubordination now that I am dead!” An angry and ruthless warrior carrying a large battle ax appeared.

“Domekas!” Ardnula recognized the warrior.

The king stood still and didn’t retreat from the angry charge of the Barbarian Domekas.

But then…

BOOM!

A powerful heat appeared around Dyne, and an image of a terrifying monster appeared behind him.

It was the Afarit.

"Demon!" The barbarian exclaimed.

Dyne continued to chant but had glanced at Jaden. Jaden remembered Dyne’s orders and stepped forward.

“Knights, Warriors, and Mages of Old! This is the monster that is attacking Martsirt!” Jaden began.

“I am Jaden Martsirt. Son of King Ciroel Martsirt.”

The sudden declaration drew curious gazes. Even the barbarian paused and glanced at Jaden, who stood in front of the image.

While they hated the king, their honor and vows as defenders of Martsirt demanded that they respect any future ruler. The sudden appearance of Martsirt and how King Ciroel did not deny that he had another heir also caused the group to be curious.

“I am not my brother. You know that the real heir to the throne is my father’s royal son, born to the departed queen. But I harbored no desire to claim the throne but served before it! I even made the same vow that binds you! I am a Knight of Martsirt first, and a son of my king, only second!” Jaden declared.

“But I almost died saving my brother. And if it were just from mere men, it would have been possible!”

The vision changed, and it showed the many Kong Apes and the bodies of dead men. Soon, the dead men rose due to the wicked darkness in the entire cave.

The scene amazed the group.

“The wickedness of this group has created various lies that have plagued many. Even some of you were deceived. They laid up the evidence that showed the wickedness of the king, although there were no such acts! Before you are Arya Blaze and Ussylys Homer. Son of Oddessy Homer, the renowned painter. See how the powers of the darkness corrupted the man to be a Berserker! See also the power that controlled Bishop Chrone!”

Chrone nodded and used the power to become a large ape-like monster.

“Monster! Those are the monsters that killed him!” One of the ghosts exclaimed. He was one of the knights that fought alongside Lachdagonan and died protecting the king.

The monstrous power disappeared, and Chrone was once more in his human form.

Suddenly, a powerful force erupted. The entire cave trembled, and a tall, strong figure emerged in front of the group.

“Lachdagonan…” Ardnula recognized the form.

“I knew it.” Dyne thought to himself as he continued his chant. The martial cultivation of the man was so strong that it affected everyone in the room.

“If I can get him back to his body… I’d have a good ally!” Dyne thought to himself.

“Those monsters… they are…?” The figure ignored all surprised gazes and asked Jaden.

“Ma-Master Dyne.” Jaden called to Dyne as he felt the great pressure of the powerful knight standing before him.

The vision changed to their battle against Chrone’s first transformation.

“We- We defeated this monster, and through Master Dyne’s power, we managed to revert him.”

“You said that we were fooled and that these people were deceived and used,” Lachdagonan asked Jaden.

“I was tortured and turned into a Revenant,” Emera spoke as she moved forward.

Many wights appeared out of Jedo and encircled Emera.

“Each of these souls was tortured. Lord Dyne. Please show them the scenes of the Arc Knights.” Emera requested, and the scene changed to the inside of Gruelle’s platoon.

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Emera and Ussylys told their tale, and the horrifying image of the dead in the darkroom appeared.

The gore and blood that appeared even made Gregory faint.

But of all who grew angry, none was angrier than King Cireol himself.

“This is… my kingdom? This is the horror that has been happening?!” He cursed as he watched on and listened to the tale of Emera and Ussylys.

Arya also stepped forward and introduced herself. Dyne revealed the vision of his fight against Nabal and the Swift Blade Corros. Then later, the image of Abrellam was also shown, and this revealed the horrifying truth about the Arc Knights.

Chrone and Gregory had the ugliest expression upon learning of that fact.

“Those missing people reports!” Gregory was the one who would offer prayers for the people who had been missing for several days. He knew the number of people that went missing.

“Those attacks outside the town… Was it this? Then the destruction of the other towns by the monsters! It was all to feed these vampires?” Ardnula grew angry.

“You have all been deceived! An evil work is being done in this country! People are dying and being offered to these monsters!” Jaden finally added.

“We come here before you, oh knights, warriors, and mages, because of these threats! We call you to your oath… You promised to serve Martsirt when you were alive. But our enemies are of the dead! Will you stay slumbering while the Serpentari and the demon Afarit devour this place? They might soon come after you!”

Dyne then showed the vision of the Afarit once more. But Dyne didn’t show how he managed to hack and wound the monster but revealed the unworldly magic that Archbishop Lazarus used in the cave to call the Afarit.

It was then the vision changed once more.

This vision shocked everyone as they were horrified at the scene of zombie hordes rushing out and devouring people. The people in this vision had a strange attire.

“This is our future.” Dyne finally spoke. As he could see that the horror and anger of the souls grew intense, he didn’t need to aid it by chanting.

“This is what will happen soon. The Afarit will rage and devour and send their zombies not only in the Scattered Kingdoms but all over this planet. It shall reach the kingdoms beyond this continent! And it will not only end on this planet!”

The group watched in horror. The buildings in Dyne’s vision were so strange and yet so amazing. But even the amazing powers of these kingdoms could not defeat the monsters that attacked.

Strafe, however, was watching with his mouth wide open.

Jedo was confused. Where did this vision come from?

“You… you showed them various zombie movies and series?!” Strafe exclaimed.

Dyne had shown them scenes from his favorite movies.

Zombie movies where hordes of zombies would rush at people. Scenes of an army of skeletons from various fantasy movies he watched. Horrifying and bloody videos from the many PS4 and PC games that he could only watch online all appeared.

Dyne used all of these memories to paint a horrifying vision.

Gregory fell to his knees and began to tremble.

“Stop! Please stop!” Gregory was horrified.

Strafe then realized what Dyne had been doing.

“You’re leaking the Afarit’s power!”

“Of course. This is the best way to harden the resolve of these slumbering knights… They see a vision and feel the aura and wickedness of this Afarit. It’s the perfect plan.” Dyne answered as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“This is the fate of the world. King Ciroel. It will start with your kingdom!” Dyne suddenly approached Ciroel.

“Who-Who are you?!”

“I am Valkyrion Dyne Valliant. Messenger of the gods. I was sent here to stop the growing threat to this planet. Make no mistake, king! There is so much more at stake here. This planet will soon collide with another. Defeating the Serpentari and its hordes is but the start. So I ask you again. Will you be this weak king? Or will you fight? Your son is now being held inside that cave where Jaden came from. He will be the body that will carry the demon Afarit! And his soul will forever be lost. Burning in the fires of hell! And you couldn’t find the strength to save him!” Dyne began to challenge.

Strafe was confused at Dyne's sudden rebuke.

“Wha-what?!”

“Archbishop Lazarus played you like a fool! Your servants stepped on your dignity and mocked your son! They even made him a vessel of a demon! And if I weren’t there to save Jaden, he would have died too! You are a useless king! Look around you! The first thing the Barbarian ghost did was attack you! That is how much you are worth to them! And frankly, the kingdom is dying because of your weak will!” Dyne shouted.

Everyone was confused. No one expected Dyne to insult the king suddenly.

“Jedo. Is it ready?” Dyne asked.

Jedo took out a very small portion of the Afarit’s soul.

“But… I have a way… Descend to darkness! Descend to madness, King Ciroel! You have that power!” Dyne smiled.

Jedo’s figure appeared behind him.

“Are you brave enough to take it?” Dyne then reached out his hand, and the small soul of the Afarit appeared.

The room grew hot as the soul appeared. Everyone took a step back.

Emera recognized the power and wondered what Dyne was planning to do.