Blood tax

Chapter 415
The ball at the Sanssouci Palace was rushed due to the news about the Sacrifice of the Chosen One.Amidst excited, restless and greedy gazes, the young Chosen one ushered in the dawn of December 12st.

Early this morning, the Chosen ones boarded a ship and set sail from Bayerand.As the process of the first stage was accelerated, only 24 of the 7 selected candidates were eliminated in the competition in the past few days (actually 8).After a short and intense trial, the remaining 14 formed multiple camps and set off separately.

Their destinations are the ruins of the city-state of Anok on the Eastern Continent.

There lies between the towering snow-capped peaks and the dark sea. In the summer of 1425, there was a skirmish between the city-state and the elves. A few days later, a small group of wizards started the ritual of summoning the ancient gods, and the city-state was destroyed.

Dressed up as Miss Laura, Griffith boarded the magical express ship "Typhon" sent by Canaan at the invitation of Galadia, and headed towards the east.

A large piece of territory in the east has become the territory of the Anatolian province of Bayeran.The coastline there is tortuous, with many harbors and dense islands.The ancient fold mountains "Ponting Mountains" run across the north and divide the vast land in two.Even at the height of the war in the East, the area north of the mountains was not affected by the fighting.

Surrounded by mountains and tranquil seas, the ruins of the city-state of Anok fell asleep for more than ten years, until it was awakened by the revelation of the gods.

Galadia leaned back on the chaise longue next to the porthole.Not long after everyone left Bayeran, black clouds and gusts of wind began to roll in the sky, which seemed to indicate that a strange storm that should not appear in the Sea of ​​Tranquility was coming.

A strange flute-like scream came from the far east, like the ominous sound of a night owl in the wilderness.Accompanied by this screeching sound was the strong wind that swept across the sea, making people shiver, and the chill went straight to the bone.

Galadia's outstanding perception could be vaguely detected. Just in the direction of the ship's sailing, an ominous black cloud rose straight into the sky, covering the ruins of the lost city-state in darkness.It is it that stirs up the calm sea.

The lively farewell ceremony at the departure is vivid.The dignitaries all over the world are focusing their attention on the once-in-a-century sacrifice, expecting the chosen ones to bring back miracles that can change the world.

Galadia stopped the divination ceremony in hand.On the mithril plate full of dew, the water traced a strange and disturbing picture, flashed by, and then disappeared.

She slid across the water with her slender jade fingers, as if to drive away the remaining omens and anxiety.

"Miss Villanoy," Tarkin Amon, Canaan's Extraordinary Elf, Sequence 6 "Collector" asked aside, "Has the Queen of Silver Moon and Starlight given you any revelation about the future? We will see Yes, what kind of miracle is it?"

"Miracle……

"For those nobles who wish to use mysterious gifts to smooth out all embarrassments, it has infinite temptation,

"As everyone knows, what a trembling truth that destroys the mind is sealed in that desolate and broken ruins."

Galadia murmured, then raised her head, and said in a friendly tone: "Amon, I have invited Miss Launa for afternoon tea, see you for dinner."

Amon, who was full of anticipation, couldn't help showing a bit of displeasure when he heard this.But Miss "Laura" was already standing at the door.Amon made no secret of his disappointment, turned and left.

Griffith, dressed as Laura, was wearing a dashing orange long coat.In the case of changing his appearance, he can use this method to minimize the mental confusion caused by the different clothes.

But even so, the black tights under the jacket made the curvaceous waist and curves more alluring, the green belt and headband were embellished with heart-shaped gemstones, and the purple lip gloss added a lot of mystery and temptation.

Forced by fate, Griffith, who had to dress up like this, felt that he was one step closer to going crazy every time he looked in the mirror.

"You are so charming~" Miss Elf picked up a cup of fruit tea to cover up the corners of her mouth that were already smiling, "Which foundation did you use, did you choose the purple lip gloss yourself? I can't help myself !"

Griffith ignored her.

Ahead of this trip may be a mystery that challenges the bottom line of physiology and rationality, and tramples on the laws of the world. His nervousness and vigilance make him unintentionally joking.

Galadia smiled for a long time before she stopped, and then she suppressed her smile and talked about the business: "To be honest, before you knew you had the means to participate in the Chosen One's Sacrifice, Mommy and some allies had already started operations, trying to Arrange a spot for you."

"Oh?"

Galadia let go of her spirituality, checked the safety of the cabin, and then fetched a file and spread it on her lap.

"It looks like an official document from Canaan." Griffith glanced at it and said.

"Yes, it is indeed the official record of Canaan, there is an investigation report about a mysterious incident.

"To be precise, it is less than ten days after June 1443, 6 in the Second Age, the record of events that occurred in Canaan shortly before we knew each other.

"Mom and some of Canaan's high-level officials have delved into the clues, and regard the investigation of it as the most urgent and priority. It seems that this matter is closely related to you. I will tell you it now."

June 1443?Galadia and I met on June 6th... Griffith leaned back in the chair, naturally pressed the fingertips of both hands together, and closed his eyes.

Galadia looked at him, picked up the case file, and told the weird and dangerous story with a voice as clear as a mountain spring:

"There have been many theories about the belief in Canaan. The generally accepted view is that with the rise of magic power, pure-blood elves are almost always pursuing the mystery of psionic power, and the belief in the Seven Gods has been declining for thousands of years.

"The miracle of Canaan comes from the inexhaustible psionic energy displayed in the form of magic power, which is different from all other forms of psionic power - magic power can simulate almost any kind of energy and characteristics. However, the source of magic power is too confusing So disturbed that even talking about the source of the restlessness is taboo.

"The benefit of magic power to Extraordinary and mysterious creatures is unmatched by other powers. You can easily know this by looking at the number of noble demigod committee members of the Arcane Council. In other words, since the source of magic power is so generous , Powerful, spellcasters just need to be cautious, lest they go astray due to excessive curiosity, and cause deep pain to fall on us, the family members of the gods.

"In June, 1443, the situation changed. A danger that we had not anticipated was spreading across Canaan.

"In the middle of the night of June 6th, Antihas, the front-line executive of the Canaan combat force, drowned in the shallow water by the lake. According to the testimony of his colleagues, his spirit was in a state of instability for a long time, and his diary also showed signs of insanity. There is a line of bloody writing on the wall of the residence——

"'A price will be paid'.

"On June 6th, Harandir and Pilotis, members of the half-elven combat force that once belonged to Antiha, arrived in Canaan. They participated in the investigation of the subsequent death of the commander."

Harandir?Is that Haranduil?Haranduil, who is very familiar with Roland.

Griffith immediately opened his eyes and raised his eyebrows when he heard the familiar name.He was unfamiliar with another name that was clearly feminine.

It was very strange, but there was a kind of trembling from the depths of the heart, just like the voles carrying rice grains met a poisonous snake at the corner, it was an instinctive trembling.

"This is just the beginning," Galadia said, "The focus of what I want to say is the experience of these two half-elven investigators.

"That was June 6.

"Halandir and Pilotis of the Frontline Ranger Troops were deployed to the front line to fight the Alliance of Orc Clans. After a short and brutal battle, they were given a short rest.

"A fallen wizard of an extraordinary rank appeared on the battlefield without warning. Logically speaking, an extraordinary person should not appear in a battle of this level. The powerful fluctuations of spiritual energy will be detected by the front line, and even if it is too late to stop, an early warning can be issued. However, the intervention of the corrupt wizard was not forewarned. He slaughtered half-elves with frost and arcane spells, and transformed himself into an extremely powerful ball lightning.

"Soon, the only rangers present were Harandir and Pilotis. They were both wounded and about to be killed.

"At this moment, a faint, weird sound came from the scene, like the howling of some kind of beast, coming from an extremely distant world.

"The howling is approaching, and the profane rhythm is amplifying, like the howling of hounds and wolves, getting closer.

"A strange mist rose over the desolate battlefield, and the half-elves, almost in despair, saw elongated, twisted heads, then bodies.

"Its form is indescribable, like wriggling liquid, like drifting smoke, and vaguely like a ferocious beast. Razor-sharp teeth and claws, shining eyes and interlocking jaws, like a wolf , the undulating hazel and cyan cortex, the open organ that can barely be called the mouthpart has a hollow straw flapping among the mucus. But when it leaves the fog and starts to move, the image distorts quickly.

"All the creatures present were horrified by the appearance of the monster. The fallen wizard took the lead in attacking, and immediately fought with the distorted monster. They attacked each other with lightning, fire and acid. The recovery power of the monster is amazing, even corroding the body of the superhuman Magic shield.

"Seeing this, the fallen wizard used the power of time and space. Countless tentacles surged out from the deep darkness and exiled the monster. Then, he also withdrew from the battlefield due to excessive consumption."

Griffith listened silently.

This seems to be just a monster in a certain position on the battlefield.The world is haunted by unrecognizable monsters every day, and it is not worth disturbing the high elves for a monster.

Galadia took out a piece of drawing paper and handed it to him.

"This is?"

"This is the scene picture drawn by Pilotis, one of the parties involved at the scene."

Griffith looked at it, only to see a mess of lines drawn on the paper, a monster with a wolf's mouth and a moldy orange pitted and pitted were fighting.

There is also a portrait of Pilotis himself on the drawing paper, a young woman with long silver hair, beautiful features and tall stature.

"Well, does this have anything to do with us?" the knight asked, "We need to investigate this monster?"

Miss Elf put away the file and drawing paper and said:
"Some of the most daring researchers have observed existences that do not belong to this world. There are distorted dimensions, angular discontinuous worlds outside the linear continuous space-time in which we live and perceive. In other words, It's a different dimension than ours, governed by different laws.

"According to speculation, if the creatures leave their own world, go to the extremely distant shore through the tunnel across the plane, and enter the territory of 'them'.

"They never stop, they are the embodiment of rules as old as the stars, and they are hunting dogs."

Griffith was even more strange: "The hound...I admit that this monster is scary. But, so what?"

"It's not a monster~" Miss Elf said, "It's a prey."

"prey?"

Galadia looked at Griffith for a while, and when she answered, her voice was so low that it was almost like a whisper:
"Griffith, this monster has a clear goal when it appears, and what it's tracking is—

"Pilotes."

(End of this chapter)