Return of the Mythic Bloodline-Chapter 422: Scout Party

"The Banes are more meticulous than the rumours," a knight said, riding at full speed toward the Jungle of Pines. "Now I understand why the Hundred Sky Mountains is the only independent territory in the Western Continent."

"Careful with your words, Sir Jason," the knight on the horse beside him said. "You could be beheaded for those words."

The two knights, along with a group of fifty others, had been sent as a scout party by the emperor to investigate the cause of the thunderous explosion he and the other Eternal Sages had heard from the direction of the Jungle of Pines.

"Wh-what could have caused destruction on such a scale?" Jason gasped, his eyes widening as the party reached the depths of the forest.

The land was shattered like spiderwebs, trees uprooted from the earth, and the corpses of elite soldiers lay everywhere, the ground beneath them crimson with flesh and blood. Some of the knights even vomited at the horrific sight before them.

"These are all elite knights of the True Sage Realm who were sent by the Emperor along with Sir Rhaegar on a secret mission," the knight beside Jason mumbled, his lips trembling.

"I pray for Sir Rhaegar's safety—"

"Don't spout nonsense! Nothing could happen to Sir Rhaegar," the knight shouted before Jason could finish. "Sir Rhaegar is the strongest knight of the Azure Sun Empire. The Demi-God Aurelion was still inside the fortress when the war had begun. No one except him is capable of fighting a hundred elite knights and Sir Rhaegar at the same time."

The knight was loud, but his expression wavered as he spoke, revealing the doubt he was trying to suppress.

Rhaegar was the sword of the empire, the most notorious and loyal warrior of the realm. Even though he was weakened and had lost an arm, no one could deny the absolute prowess he possessed.

The empire's knights could not imagine him losing to anyone. It was unthinkable.

However, the unthinkable was exactly what they had been witnessing since the Second Ultimate War had begun.

Eighty thousand knights battling an army of a million from House Thornwall, the siege of the Ironvale Fortress, the most impregnable stronghold of the duchy, and preventing the mighty imperial army from landing even a single strike upon Ironvale. All of these feats were nothing short of impossible.

If it was the Hundred Sky Mountains, the fall of Rhaegar might not be impo—

Tommy, the knight beside Jason, shook his head, dismissing those thoughts as they began gathering the corpses of the fallen knights to give them a proper burial.

"Si-Sir Jason, come here!" a knight shouted, his voice filled with worry.

Jason and Tommy rushed to the site. As they drew closer, their legs trembled, and they barely managed to keep themselves from collapsing. Cold sweat broke out across their bodies, their chests rising and falling with shock and horror.

Before them lay a headless corpse, its body severely burned. Beside it rested a head, charred beyond recognition, its half-opened eyes staring into nothingness.

It did not take more than a glance for Tommy and Jason to recognize the broken armor fused into the corpse's flesh.

"H-how could something like this happen?" Tommy murmured, his eyes wide. "Who could do this to Sir Rhaegar?"

While the two were still in shock, another knight approached them and whispered,

"Sir Jason, I think I found the man behind this destruction."

Following the knight, the two moved beyond the devastated area and found a half-naked man sleeping beneath a tree. The countless scars across his upper body, the missing arm, and the disheveled hair covering his face made him appear no less than a monster.

His hand rested on his chest, clutching a silver locket tied around his neck.

"Do we have any information about someone with this appearance in the Banes' army?" Tommy asked.

"A man capable of fighting so many elite knights..." Jason murmured. "His appearance does not match any of the Sect Leaders of the Hundred Sky Mountains. However, his hair does resemble that of a man capable of causing such destruction."

Taking a deep gulp, he continued, "He bears the same black hair as the figure who declared war upon us. Taranis El Thunderbane."

"H-he is the Lightning God?" Tommy gasped, unconsciously stepping back.

"W-we need to leave right now," Jason declared. The more he looked at Taranis, the more his body broke into cold sweat.

Just as he was about to turn away, Tommy spoke,

"W-wait, Sir Jason. I-if he is really Taranis, isn't this our chance to get rid of him?"

His breathing was unsteady as he continued, "He must have suffered these wounds from his battle against Sir Rhaegar. He might be too exhausted to even hold a weapon—"

"Sir Tommy, don't be foolish!" Jason said, his voice firm. "If your reckless actions awaken that man, none of us will survive. We are leaving right now."

Tommy stared at Taranis one last time, let out a deep sigh, and said, "Y-you are right. I was blinded by the rage of losing Sir Rhaegar. Let's leave."

The knights left Taranis undisturbed. They placed the fallen knights' corpses into wagons stored within their storage rings, and just as they were about to depart, Jason asked,

"Where is Sir Tommy?"

"He told us he would search for more bodies and that we should leave first," one of the knights replied.

"Doesn't he understand how dangerous it is to stay here?" Jason muttered. Then his eyes widened. "D-don't tell me that idiot went back there!"

---

"Haha, that Jason is too cowardly and timid. People like him, who never take risks, always remain at the bottom," Tommy snickered as he moved through the trees. "How could he waste such a heaven-sent opportunity?"

The corner of his lips curled into a wide smirk as he approached Taranis, who was still lying beneath the tree.

Tommy unsheathed his sword, pointed its blade at Taranis's throat, and murmured, "I wonder what reward the Emperor will give me once I bring him the head of the Prince of the Hundred Sky Mountains and the man who slew Sir Rhaegar."

With that, he brought the blade down.