The Last King Of Darkness
Chapter 152 - 111: Let You Know My Hardness

Chapter 152: Chapter 111: Let You Know My Hardness

The reinforcement squad consisted of sixteen people, including two instructors and one teacher.

The teacher was the blind Mo’er, while the two instructors were Dark Leaf, who had assessed Rod’s destructive power, and Bach, who previously carried out a hunting mission with Rod in the sewer.

Rod was very impressed by his Moon Bow, only wondering why Bach wasn’t a member of the Knight Order. How had he become an instructor instead?

Bach, a silent middle-aged man, simply responded to Rod’s question, "Instructors are combatants."

Mina knew Rod had experienced amnesia and thought he hadn’t fully recovered, so she explained, "Most teachers and instructors have military roles and participate in combat; they only teach during their recovery periods."

No wonder the academy’s curriculum is so relaxed... Rod suddenly realized; indeed, professional teachers were in the minority.

It was no surprise that the Royal City was so eager to train new warriors to join the battlefield; the Dean managed to maintain the four-year educational plan under such circumstances, which was truly impressive.

The group quickly prepared and then set out in the Spirit Car.

This was Rod’s first time participating in an official war mission.

The biggest difference from missions within the Royal City was the introduction of a new role in the reinforcement squad: the Lantern Bearer.

This role was personally taken by Teacher Mo’er, and his lantern was different from the one Rod often hung on his waist.

The lantern was larger, made with a gray metal grid on the outside and thick translucent glass on the inside, elegantly and simply designed without a handle, but with a large loop on top.

But the greatest difference was that instead of a bundle of light inside the lantern, there was a small flame.

This reminded Rod of the scenes from the migration convoy—among many corpses, an old man clutched such a lantern, its light illuminating hundreds of yards.

The lanterns he encountered later emitted light only a few yards away.

Rod asked Mina, who was sitting beside him, about this.

Mina exclaimed, "Rod, I really find your amnesia quite strange. It precisely erased certain parts of your memory while leaving others intact. The knowledge you possess sometimes makes me think you’re a scholar, yet at times you seem as ignorant as an infant, like a traveler from an unknown world."

Congratulations on discovering the truth... Rod responded offhandedly, "You don’t understand, humans are beings of infinite possibilities. It’s understandable that strange things happen to them. I’ve got a type of amnesia called Alzheimer’s, where my memory comes and goes with the swell of the void."

"I feel like you made that up..."

"Impossible."

Rod flatly denied.

"I never lie."

Mina looked at him doubtfully, but still explained, "This is the Guardian Fire. The lantern holding it is a Soul Device. Teams larger than fifteen can apply for it to accompany them on missions outside the Royal City but within the defensive perimeter. It provides us with light and protection. Of course, under normal circumstances, the Royal City doesn’t easily give out the Guardian Fire; our configuration is quite high."

As she finished speaking, the fragmented knowledge in Rod’s memory pieced itself together.

The Guardian Fire was the fire that protected humanity. It could dispel the Black Fog and repel all derivatives born from the darkness while also being the source of all Bright Power.

According to the current mainstream belief in the Royal City regarding the Light Doctrine, fire symbolizes light and opposes darkness, which envelops the world as Black Fog.

Thus, fire can dispel Black Fog, but Black Fog can also extinguish fire. The primordial laws of the world are those of light and darkness; all existence and powers derive from either light or dark. The representatives of light are the existing humans, while the representatives of darkness are the Black Fog and the monsters born from it.

The "Residual Light" and "Residual Fire" in most lanterns are also derived from the Guardian Fire’s power, making them possess the power of light, though much weaker than the Guardian Fire.

When humans leave the Royal City, they step out of the Holy Fire’s protection and to avoid being eroded by the Black Fog, they need to carry the Guardian Fire or its derivatives.

Even the recovery of Spiritual Energy must be conducted within the influence of the fire.

If one tries to recover Spiritual Energy through methods like meditation in areas without fire, the soul would be eroded and reliance on potions becomes necessary.

Inside the Royal City, the monsters born from the darkness are significantly weakened by the Holy Fire, but outside the city, the scenario reverses; the Fire Holders’ power is suppressed while the monsters become incredibly strong.

Thus, operations outside the Royal City are exceedingly dangerous.

No wonder Mina mentioned that this was a high configuration.

Rod thought.

It seems I need to focus on hunting monsters.

The Spirit Car stopped by the City Gate in the Outer City District; it could only be used within the Royal City and could not leave it.

Under the massive city walls, the City Defense Army guard troops, whose main adversaries were not monsters, but Doomsday believers attempting to sneak in or out of the Royal City.

After checking all the necessary documents of the reinforcement squad, the guard troops allowed them to proceed.

In the long passageway, theirs was the only lonely team, the thick blue city walls emitting a strong oppressive air.

Karamon couldn’t help but ask, "Why is there no one here? I remember the City Gate usually being crowded."

Egger cursed, "Idiot, forgot what Dean Vera said? The Black Tide has arrived."

Karamon couldn’t help feeling nervous, "Doesn’t that make us very dangerous?"

Instructor Dark Leaf said, "The danger is not great. Sword Pass is in Seventh Defense Zone, right in the middle of Dead Mountain Canyon, at the very end of the defensive circle. Ahead is Dawn Fortress, and to the side is Giant Fortress, hardly the most dangerous area. Our mission is just a normal defense maneuver."

As he finished speaking, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Only Beowood was somewhat disappointed, "Without a challenge, there is no strength to gain."

Old Blind Mo’er laughed and said, "Young man, the Royal City lacks everything except challenges. You don’t need to worry."

Beowood bowed slightly, speaking with respect, "I understand, Teacher Mo’er."

When the City Gate guard pushed open the enormous steel gate that was at least as thick as a man, Rod, after two months, finally stepped out of the Royal City.

An unusual feeling hit them, desolate, bleak, terrifying, devoid of light, with the Black Fog rolling and thick darkness seemingly harboring countless monsters. By stepping into this place, they were like falling into an endless Dark Abyss.

It wasn’t until Mo’er stepped out of the City Gate, lifting the lantern, that its gentle light illuminated at least a hundred yards, keeping the rolling Black Fog at bay as if blocked by an invisible barrier.

A shadow screamed from the ground, its body igniting in fierce flames, instantly turning to a pile of ashes.

A chubby kid screamed in fright, and Mo’er scolded sharply, "Dodo, shut up!"

The chubby kid referred to as Dodo closed his mouth, but his body still trembled.

Rod glanced at him, thinking, "How can there be such a coward in the secret branches?"

Mo’er, holding the lantern, led the group forward for a while until the City Gates and high walls were completely out of sight.

The firelight shone lonelily on this small area, as if they were left with a tiny brightened world, igniting a sense of panic in everyone’s hearts like children who had left their warm homes, now to face the boundless terror of the outside world.

Mo’er cracked a smile, revealing his uneven, yellowed teeth:

"Little ones, this is the real outside world. In most cases, your vision won’t be this good, and your light can only illuminate a few yards around you. The Black Fog and monsters within reach can suddenly burst close to you, clawing open your bodies and gnawing on your flesh. The Black Fog will devour your souls and turn your broken bodies into one of their own."

Many trainees turned pale, even some veterans tightened their clothes.

They knew Old Blind Mo’er wasn’t scaring them; he spoke of facts that had happened and were still occurring.

Suddenly, Rod smelled a scent of urine and looked down to see that the chubby kid had pissed himself.

What the hell is this guy? If you’re so scared, why come here? You could have refused.

Rod, without causing a stir, moved forward a step, positioning the chubby kid to the very back to block his view.

Dodo’s gratitude +21

Humanity +2

Not bad. Rod glanced at his Humanity, which was 312, not much, as it might only resist erosion for a few seconds.

Need to increase it more, Humanity is not only material but also essential for preventing erosion.

In his contemplation, Mo’er added:

"Therefore, in combat outside the Royal City, be very careful. Even the smallest threat can end your life, be vigilant!"

He shouted loudly, startling everyone.

Immediately, Instructor Dark Leaf started assigning duties.

Unexpectedly, neither instructors nor teachers took the role of captain.

The captain was the bear-like strongman Beowood, and the deputy captain was also the bear-like strongman Reslin.

The two bear-like men standing at the forefront inexplicably provided a sense of security.

"All actions must follow the Captain’s orders, no unauthorized actions are allowed, this is a basic principle,"

Instructor Dark Leaf said sternly.

"And you, carry the fate of the entire team. Your decisions should be calm, careful, cautious, yet decisive and swift. Hesitation is fatal for a leader, and reckless abrasiveness is a main factor for a team’s destruction."

Beowood and Reslin nodded together.

"During the mission, you may question, discuss, and plan, but once orders are given, there must be no hesitation. Team members may question but are not allowed to refuse to act or cause disruption, do you understand?"

The trainees responded in unison, "Understood."

"Good, I will now discuss our operational guidelines. We are going to reinforce Sword Pass and repair the Spiritual Power Generator. Thus, researcher Mina is our core protectee. If she loses the ability to act, the mission is half-failed."

All eyes then focused on Mina.

Mina remained calm, showing no reaction.

Instructor Dark Leaf continued to speak:

"Lantern carriers are the core of the team. If the lantern goes out, death is not far off, making them a critical defensive target,"

"Scouts are the eyes of the team. If the eyes are blind, we end up very passive, so, Anna and Rod, you are our key protective targets."

"I will mention this, Anna is highly capable, a secondary scout, need not worry about her, but Rod is a full Spiritual Visionary, the primary scout, without the ability to protect himself, considered a fragile commodity that we must take great care to protect, cherish, and love. Understood?"

Amid the neat chorus of "Understood," amidst the multitude of gazes, and the various expressions from Reslin, Karamon, and others.

Rod’s face almost burned up.

Am I this fragile?

Damn it, I’ll let you all see my toughness soon!

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