Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

With a loud thud, the oak table was slammed so hard it almost flew off the ground. Nathamus, both anxious and angry, stood up abruptly, reaching out to grab Tersolius by the collar, ready to teach this idiot a lesson.

But Tesorus, who had anticipated this, easily dodged it and even grabbed his wrist. Just as Tesorus was about to continue and knock his brother unconscious and tie him up, Tesorus spoke with a sincere, even somewhat solemn expression:

"Please trust me one more time, brother... If there were any other choice, I wouldn't take this risk, but the problem is we have no other way out, this is the only hope we have, and only I can grasp it... So don't stop me."

“I’m not stopping you, but what you’re about to do is absurd. In just one month, I can send two more legions here! There’s no need for you to risk your life alone. We can dig this place upside down! We can expose the very core of the earth…”

"it's useless."

Thesolius continued to shake his head, his gaze as resolute as polished steel, never wavering.

"This is a matter that I can only handle alone. No matter how brave or elite the soldiers are, it will be of no use. Even if they could dig down a mountain, it wouldn't help in the slightest... This is not arrogance or division, but the truth... And for some reason, I cannot explain the whole story to you, my brother."

"I've been working myself to the bone in the east to get His Majesty and the others to agree... To be honest, this time it felt more like I snuck out... Please just think of it as me going hunting in the forest, and trust me that I'll bring back some prey."

At this point, a slightly silly smile appeared on his face, while Natamus froze completely, unable to speak for a long time.

..............................

The bloodstains on the ground had dried, and he couldn't remember how long he had been sitting there. So long that it felt like mold was growing in his bones and would eat him up... Such a long wait without sunlight would drive a normal person crazy, but for him it was just a little pastime, and he even had the interest to use his tentacles to dip into the blood on the ground and draw patterns on the stone wall.

In this dim and lightless place, only he could see this pattern, after all, his ability to observe the outside world was no longer that of an ordinary person. But precisely because of this, he was now extremely sensitive to light, and he immediately noticed it the moment a faint light shone through.

Then an inhuman smile immediately stretched across his skin, the corners of his mouth turned up to his ears, revealing a mouthful of fine, needle-like teeth:

"Welcome, welcome, my final rival for this power. I have been waiting for you for a long time and am quite hungry. But it is alright, your strong body and bones can fill my stomach and serve as my last meal before my ascension."

"You talk too much nonsense... I have a question, would you die if your head were cut off right now?"

Clad in full armor, Tersolius drew a sword from a magnificent golden scabbard at his waist. The sword had an ancient and simple design, and its blade, which should have been shiny steel, now revealed a calm and translucent fiery red color. The moment it was exposed to the air, it began to generate a warm feeling.

"...Oh, this sword is truly remarkable, but I don't know if it will die after cutting off my head. Why don't you try it yourself?"

He chuckled and twitched his fingers, from which something sharp and pointed slowly emerged, while Tersolius turned and spat.

"Get out of my way, you bastard."

Chapter 532: The End (11)

This is a sword that was popular thousands of years ago. The blade is only half the length of a common blade today. To compensate for the material's shortcomings, it was made very wide, making it very powerful for slashing. However, due to its length, it had to be used with a shield.

Of course, the material of this sword is flawless. The reason it is made in this shape is simply due to custom. It also has a sacred and irreplaceable symbolic meaning. As the blade of the first emperor, it is forever burning with a crystal-clear flame, symbolizing the blessing of war and law on this country.

The sword had a very unique feel, but fortunately, its center of gravity was still excellent. After a short period of practice, he had mastered it as if it were his own arm or fingers. At this moment, in the darkness, dirty and foul-smelling blood was slowly being baked and burned off on it.

The streak of fire left by the sword as it sliced ​​through the air still lingered on his retina, and the severed limb was still twitching on the ground before he slowly mashed it into a pulp with his boot... But even so, the remaining parts continued to leap until he swung his sword downwards, at which point they finally burst into flames.

He clearly saw that even before the blade touched the flesh, it was already flaming up like flammable grease. He immediately understood and gained more confidence.

"What is this—"

The filth before him, attempting to question him, was interrupted by the sudden thrust of his sword. In the shimmering light, the creature dared not resist, relying solely on its superhuman agility to dodge.

But he merely twirled the blade twice, using a swift and irresistible upward thrust as a feint to draw the opponent's claws and limbs upward to block. Then, with lightning speed, he plunged the blade into the opponent's chest, cruelly pulling downward and tearing open a bloody gash. Burning flames quickly began to spread across the wound, causing a trembling scream to suddenly erupt.

Like a scarecrow being set ablaze, the flames showed no sign of extinguishing amidst the mutated and proliferating flesh. Then, sharp bone claws ruthlessly sliced ​​off two large strips of flesh from the wound, severing the deadly flames from his body.

The instant the flesh fell away, he hurriedly raised his claws and grabbed the blade aimed at his head. At the same time, the bone blade in his other hand viciously stabbed at the other's neck, but before it could succeed, the blade in his claws suddenly spun, severing his five fingers cleanly. Then he kicked him to the ground, dodging the bone blade aimed at his neck.

Several plates of armor flared off his shoulders, the refined steel twisted by the immense force, but ultimately failed to injure his flesh—unlike this monster, his body couldn't withstand many severe blows, and his stamina was limited, so a swift victory was necessary—

So he stepped forward again, holding the blade in front of him. The crimson flames shattered the darkness in the blink of an eye. No matter how the opponent moved or shifted, his blade could always find the blasphemous body, peeling flesh and tendons from the bones inch by inch, tearing the foul-smelling entrails and the parasite to shreds.

The thing seemed to finally react, opening its mouth as if to say something, but its blade had already ripped open the tongue from the swollen throat, forcing the other to tear off its entire jaw. Then it began to become ferocious, like a raging beast, its back suddenly bursting open.

Tentacles with spikes and bone blades sprang out, dripping with blood, and a stench-filled black shadow swept towards him, trying to seize this troublesome threat and make him unable to wield the deadly sword anymore. It swallowed him into its belly and bit him into a pile of scrap metal and rotten flesh.

His steel armor was undergoing an unimaginable test. The fine steel plates, strong enough to withstand blades and axes, twisted and cracked one by one, breaking under strength far exceeding that of any mortal. Sparks flew as they rubbed against the hard bone, but before completely shattering, they remained loyal and sturdy, protecting his body.

This is an absolute fight to the death. In this confined space, only one of them can survive and achieve their goal. The battle will not end until one side is completely destroyed...

........................

Meanwhile, on the ground, the imperial legions were leaving. The craftsmen had dismantled all their excavation equipment and tools, hoisting them to the ground with cranes. The laborers and auxiliary soldiers also immediately withdrew. The heavy wheels of the supply wagons rolled over the ground in front of the camp, while the heavily armed guards on both sides carried spears, swords, and shields, and followed with their flags.

Even the once spacious campsite has now been leveled, leaving nothing but ditches and soil used to bury wooden stakes and stockade walls. In just half a day, the place has gone from bustling with activity to utterly silent.

Natamus was the last to leave, his face as heavy as blackened iron, his hands gripping the reins so tightly they seemed about to snap, even his horse shook its head in dissatisfaction at his unconscious, rough movements... Several times he subconsciously wanted to turn back and do something, but in the end he gritted his teeth and forced himself to return to the original direction. After turning back for the third time, he finally hardened his heart, whipped his warhorse, and quickly rode away.

As he had done countless times before, he forced himself to completely trust Tersolius, believing that his presence there would be of no positive effect and would only lead to the annihilation of the legion. Therefore, he left only three large cavalry units nearby for possible support.

The dark underground must be fraught with danger, and he didn't even know if Tersolius was alive or dead... He could only passively await the final outcome.

He had never prayed so fervently before; every drop of blood in his body, every nerve, was earnestly praying… praying that the outcome he most longed for would appear before him, and if not, he was prepared for the worst.

No matter what disaster befalls this land, all he can do is rely on his sword and his army. In that case, let him do what he should do.

………………

The bright red firelight illuminated the entire dark room. A mangled head, half burned away, still had its tongue writhing, trying to make a sound.

Thesolius, expressionless, plunged the sword in, then slowly twisted it, making the fire even hotter, until the blasphemous body was completely reduced to ashes. Only then did he let out a long sigh of relief and collapse to the ground, utterly exhausted.

He was the only one left in the dark room. Apart from him, there was only a clump of ashes on the ground, still radiating residual heat. His armor was tattered and mostly destroyed, with broken armor pieces scattered all over the ground, making him look like a beggar in rags. Only the inner chainmail was barely intact, and a piece of flesh had been ripped off his shoulder. The most tragic sight was the gaping hole in his abdomen, which he suspected might have exposed his internal organs.

Fortunately, after some exploration, he dispelled his doubts—his abdominal muscles were cut through, but his intestines did not spill out; most of the force was cushioned by the chainmail.

This wretched creature's tenacious vitality truly put him in a tough fight, and its endless stream of bizarre methods also made him feel quite embarrassed. Its flesh and blood kept growing back like boiling mud. If it weren't for the first emperor's sword, he probably would have died a very ugly death... But fortunately, he ultimately won.

Now, he should get down to business.

Chapter 533: The End (12)

But after looking around, he fell silent—because the dark room looked like a square space carved out of solid granite, with the textures always continuous and without any gaps, leaving him completely at a loss as to where to begin.

The crystal lamp he used for lighting had just placed at the doorway and was now covered in sticky blood, but unlike a torch it wouldn't be easily extinguished. It had been providing him with a steady and ample light. Now he picked it up again, held it high, and began trying to find a way to break through the surrounding area.

The stone walls were as hard and cold as ever, and unlike the other places, they did not have exquisite carvings. They were simply smooth and flat enough, indicating that the carver had put a lot of thought into it. There was nothing functional on the ground, just an empty stone chamber. His fingers had even carefully explored the edges and corners of the ground, but he still found nothing.

His brow furrowed involuntarily, and a sense of anxiety began to rise within him—he could hardly control these emotions. After all, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he now bore the fate of the entire world on his shoulders. The slightest misstep could lead to cataclysmic disaster. He really didn't want to think about the consequences of failure, especially not for such a reason…

This made his thoughts somewhat chaotic, but he quickly forced himself to calm down. He then reached for a package that had been tied to his back—a package shaped like a large peach pit was inside. The fierce fight had torn the package in several places, but it hadn't left a single scratch.

This is what he needs to send underground, and only he can accomplish this without attracting the attention of that thing... But in any case, he can't dig a tunnel by himself unless there is another force to help him.

As if echoing his thoughts, the next moment, an unimaginable heat suddenly erupted in front of him—the thing that looked like a peach pit emitted a bright light, as dazzling as a red-hot iron block, but it did not burn or scorch his hand.

He was startled at first, then suddenly realized what was happening. He squatted down and pressed the large peach pit against the ground—like a hot blade being plunged into butter, the hard granite floor was instantly "gnawed" into a hole.

This was not melting; there was no flowing of molten lava. It simply disappeared silently, as if the hole was meant to be there all along. All the soil and rocks that were originally there vanished without a trace, leaving not even a mark.

The entire process was completely silent, and he descended smoothly downwards like melting oil as the ground disappeared, leaving only the smooth, flat sections of gnawed earth and stone flashing past him.

From beginning to end, he didn't need to exert much effort at all. It was like working with a pre-programmed machine, something that would have required tens of thousands of workers and craftsmen. He easily surpassed the depth that would have taken countless days of hard work to achieve, and he continued to sink deeper and deeper, like an arrow piercing through flesh and blood, relentlessly moving forward, completely bidding farewell to the bright world above.

Logically speaking, at this point, his life should have been unsustainable, and he should have died in agony. However, he still feels no discomfort, and even his breathing remains smooth.

Later on, he became so tired of paying attention to the scenery around him that he simply stared at his feet, waiting for the final answer.

..............................

Time became unpredictable and blurred in the endless darkness. He didn't know how much time had passed in this steadily falling blackness. Maybe it was only 10 minutes, or maybe it had been half a day. Only his heartbeat became clearer and heavier, and even his thoughts seemed to be stretched into blank and bland lines.

His muscles were stiff and swollen, but he didn't let his wrists tremble. He figured the passage must be a perfect straight line... But the line eventually came to an end. Suddenly, his feet lost their footing, followed by a moderate impact. He swayed for a moment, then stood firmly, raising the peach pit in his hand to illuminate the surrounding space.

Only then did he realize the terrifyingly abnormal sensation beneath his feet—it wasn't the solid feel of soil and rock, but rather a soft, slippery texture like flesh and blood, gently wriggling and pushing against his feet.

In the illuminated space, there was purplish-black flesh and writhing tentacles everywhere. Giant mushroom-like clumps of flesh were piled up on the ground, covered with a layer of shiny mucus. The swollen and proliferating walls undulated like the abdominal cavity of a living creature, and he was the food encased in this stomach wall...

There was a passageway extending from directly in front and to the side and behind, swallowed by darkness and unclear, and he had to make a choice.

After a brief hesitation, he took a firm step forward, drawing his sword from his side as a precaution... As the darkness was gradually illuminated, a narrow, wriggling opening, barely wide enough for half a person to peek out, appeared before him.

So he approached the opening, and slowly and tentatively stretched out his left hand, followed by his head and half his body, and then pushed himself up with both hands on either side, and rolled inside.

His tattered armor was covered in a thick layer of slime, but when he pressed the blade against his body, it began to ignite with golden flames and instantly turned into a layer of white ash.

Before him lay endless darkness, and he could only continue forward... until his feet suddenly gave way to nothingness, at which point he stopped in horror... The peach pit in his hand continued to glow, revealing the almost endless cliff-like structures on either side.

At the bottom of the cliff, there was a lake composed of a cool, pale purple liquid... This substance was all too familiar to him, and the enormous shadow that loomed in the lake was equally chilling.

Here, he could only see a faint corner... but even this corner was thicker than the largest whale in the ocean, and it moved and twitched unconsciously like a fetus soaking in amniotic fluid.

He immediately realized that he had found his ultimate target, and the other party was clearly not disturbed by him... So without any hesitation, he immediately seized the opportunity, reversed the blade, and stabbed into the transparent blue area in the middle of the peach pit.

As if piercing through a thin sheet of paper, the blade sank deep inside, and immediately a cold sweat broke out on his back—a kind of chilling horror and fear exploded from the depths of his heart, making him almost subconsciously loosen his grip.

But the peach pit didn't fall—it was just a container, and the contents inside were the real terror. The blade that had pierced it dissolved rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye, disappearing completely into the air in the blink of an eye. The azure liquid tumbled and expanded in the air, then with a splash, fell into the purple lake.

The next moment, almost visibly, he saw the purple lake surface dry up a bit, and a terrible and heavy sound began to come... like the final howl of a dying creature.

........................

“You did a great job, little one. Just as I expected, only you could have done it.”

Thesolius slowly opened his eyes—once again he was in this vast and boundless starry sky, countless stars twinkling above, below, left, and right, and the enormous god, as large as a mountain, appeared before him once more.

The empty peach pit was twitching and rolling on one of the other's tiny tentacles, its bright inner crevice revealing a darkness like that of the starry sky.

"Now that the hidden dangers here have been eliminated, there is no need for me to stay any longer... As the only being on this planet who has ever communicated with me, I feel I should say goodbye to you."

Thesorius nodded in realization, a smile appearing on his face.

"Thank you for your help, and I wish you a safe journey."

It was an ordinary farewell, but he received no response. The god's head slowly lowered, gazing at him meaningfully, and then suddenly uttered these words:

"Have you already noticed?"

Thesolius's face stiffened for a moment, but he then nodded calmly:

"It's just a suspicion stemming from my usual nature... May I ask if what's in this container truly the dangerous item you've collected?"

"of course not."

He gave a slight smile:

"Actually, that was a part of me, something I used to digest things of the same level. I'm quite satisfied now, and I've gained a lot."

"The reason I stayed in this world back then wasn't just because of that emperor's request... I'm not that easily moved. What I really wanted was a feast. All these years I've just been waiting for my prey to grow up to be more delicious and pleasing. You really did me a favor."

"So what you said about leaving before was also a lie? People who want to eat walnuts won't care about cracking the hard shell, so I suppose you wouldn't mind either."

Thesolius continued to ask without expression, and the other party's answer quickly appeared in his mind.