Chapter 181 Artorius (8,000 words in 2)
This is a dilapidated arena that has been around for so many years that it is already crumbling.
Darben thought he would see a dying man lying on the ground, but...
"Huh?"
An ugly abyss monster stood there, and made a puzzled sound after seeing him.
"Monster?" Dal looked a little surprised. He looked around but didn't see any normal people.
Where is the person who spoke just now? His voice sounded very weak, and he couldn't have run too far.
It can't be the monster in front of us, right? It has mutated so quickly?
The abyss is so terrifying.
"I'll take you to freedom." He raised the greatsword of Farlan, ready to send the other party on his way.
He knew that these monsters were all Urasil residents infected by the abyss, and he also knew that they were beyond cure after the mutation, so the best way was to free them.
Dahl's greatest strength is that he is very empathetic. In the process of conquering the painting world, he can feel the pain of these mutated residents.
As a result, his hatred for the abyss became even deeper. If the Lord of the Abyss was right in front of him at this moment, he would rush up to fight without hesitation.
The monster sensed his hostility and immediately opened its arms nervously, apparently intending to fight to the death.
Before the battle, Dahl looked around the arena again, and a question formed in his mind.
Come to think of it, there is only one monster in such a large venue?
According to past experience, as long as a large area appears in the Sean Dungeon, it means that it will trigger -
Dal suddenly sensed a strong sense of danger, and broke out in a cold sweat as he rolled backwards with all his might!
"boom!"
A huge black sword fell from the sky.
Bricks and stones shattered, dust flew, and the monster was pierced through the chest and nailed to the ground.
When did the weapons come flying?
Dal barely opened his eyes in the dusty environment, but found that the big sword looked very familiar.
It seemed as if "he" had wielded that great sword and fought everywhere for a long time.
It is soaked with the dirty blood of the abyss monsters. Although the sword is pitch black, it has a faint sacred meaning. Presumably, its owner must be a person with a noble soul.
“I remember now!”
Dal's eyes suddenly widened, and he finally remembered where he had seen this big sword!
I saw it in a painting of Wolf Rider!
“Boom!”
A dark shadow streaked across the sky.
The figure landed next to the monster as nimbly as a wolf, raised his hand and gripped the hilt of the sword, killing the monster completely.
“Puff——”
Blood splattered and stained the armor of the stranger who suddenly appeared. The silver armor was stained with blood, as if symbolizing that the sacred thing was eroded by darkness.
"Uh, uh."
A painful sound came from under the helmet that obscured his face, as if he was enduring great pain.
A purple-black abyss gradually emerged from under his feet, and the violent aura could not be stopped and poured out, shaking the arena.
No, it's not just the arena, the whole Ulashil is shaking with this feeling!
What a terrifying power! There is no doubt that this strong man has been eroded by the abyss and is at the critical point where he may fall into madness at any time. Or it can be said that the abyss is almost controlling him.
If that’s the case, then the abyss monster just now should be considered his “companion”, so why did he still attack it?
What did he rely on to survive the erosion of the abyss?
Could it be that he was able to hold on with his iron will, relying on the goal of eradicating the abyss, which had almost become an obsession!
"Leave!" He gritted his teeth, and the voice was exactly the same as what Dale had heard before.
He could hardly bear the madness of the abyss, but he still tried his best to warn the other party to leave.
"ah."
At this critical moment, even a fool would know that he should run away, but Dal just stood there.
He stared at the "stranger" who appeared before him with an expression of unwillingness to believe.
He thought a lot before entering the arena, thinking about how to prolong the life of the kind-hearted man who warned him, or help him get rid of it.
I also guessed the other party's identity, was he a survivor of Ulashil or some other afterimage?
But he hadn't thought about one thing, he hadn't thought that the person who appeared before him was actually——
Abyss Walker, Artorius!
That figure, that great sword, there was no doubt about it!
But. Why is it Artorius?
Shouldn't he be fighting the Lord of the Abyss?
If you were to ask what Dahl is most looking forward to when entering the world of painting this time, it would definitely be meeting Artorius.
One of the Four Knights of the King, the Abyss Walker, Sif's friend, and the idol of the Faran Undead Corps. With so many titles, the status of this Wolf Knight in people's hearts has been infinitely elevated.
He is also the "ancient" hero that people have the most information about besides the Undead Squad. Who doesn't want to meet such a legend?
Dahl had been looking forward to fighting alongside Artorius after entering the painting world, and he had also been looking forward to experiencing each other's life, but he ended up dying over and over again in the fortress, which almost made him numb.
Fortunately, Solar's enthusiasm melted the numbness. He began to feel that the purpose of this painting world was to let him relive the Wolf Knight's journey to conquer the abyss and let him experience the difficulty of the other party's conquest of the abyss.
He thought he would never see Artorius again, and at most he could experience his memories.
But I didn’t expect to see the real person here!
Dahl's expression became excited and he opened his mouth to speak.
What are you talking about?
Modern things? The fact that they are alive and well now means that the abyss has been suppressed, and the other party will definitely feel relieved to hear that.
The Faran Immortals? If Artorius knew that there were such people who admired him and continued his work, what kind of expression would he show?
The respect people give him? Well, he's probably used to being respected, but it should make him happy to hear these words.
but.
When the smoke and dust that filled the entire venue cleared and Dal could truly see Artorius' figure, the words that were on the tip of his tongue were forcibly stuffed back.
A black aura was emerging and Artorius' body was trembling.
There was something wrong with the other person. Very wrong!
His left arm hung unnaturally, shaking with every movement, looking completely powerless, as if... broken! ?
Not only his left arm, but his entire body of armor was covered with scars!
The bites of monsters, the tearing of claws, the attacks of magic, and even more the unnatural dents after being beaten! These scars have merged with the mottled armor under the effect of time, but they have greatly changed the temperament of the knight in front of him, making it desolate and tragic.
Looks like he's got an incurable injury?
His arm was broken, his armor was damaged, his shield was missing, and even his companion Sif was nowhere to be found. This appearance really made it difficult to associate him with the spirited Wolf Knight in the painting.
These are not the main points. The most frightening thing is the abyss.
Why did the Abyss emerge from Artorius' body!?
“How could that be?”
Dahl made a sound with difficulty. He could not help but step back. Why did he step back? Was he afraid of the power of the abyss or unwilling to accept the reality he saw?
What he was looking forward to was meeting the spirited Wolf Knight, listening to his teachings, and feeling the ancient legends.
Why let him see this incomprehensible scene!
His sword-holding hand was shaking, and the tip of the sword fell to the ground. The stimulating sound made Artorius lose his mind for a moment. He swung the sword violently and smashed the monster's body towards Dal!
Danger!
Dal dodged the monster's attack by jumping to the side.
But this huge force hit the rotten wall of the arena, causing the back of the building to collapse, completely burying his retreat.
But he had no time to think about escaping because Artorius was rushing towards him.
Jumping, spinning, swinging the sword, as agile and cruel as a wolf, Artorius performed the signature skill that Dal had seen countless times in his memory - the wolf jump!
Will die!
Looking at the big sword that was about to hit his face, Dal's body didn't even allow him to react. Even his mind could only react with difficulty and sent out a danger signal.
He would die like this in——
"Bang!"
A huge force suddenly hit his abdomen, and Dahl flew backwards like a broken sandbag and hit the wall heavily.
"Cough cough." Blood spurted out of his mouth. He covered his abdomen and trembled continuously, but his eyes looked towards the place where he was previously.
He saw clearly what had just happened.
At the critical moment, Artorius changed direction and not only failed to hit him, but kicked him away, completely keeping him away from danger, that is, himself.
"Get out!" This time, Artorius drove Dal away almost with a roar.
Dal looked at the other party in a daze. Ordinary people would often go crazy immediately after being eroded by the abyss, let alone such a large amount of abyss. However, Artorius was able to suppress it with his will, even though it was a fragile balance that could be broken at any time.
What a strong will this is.
Dar knew clearly that he should leave.
Not only could his presence fail to help the other party suppress the abyss, but it would cause more trouble. Even the slightest collision sound of the sword blade against the ground could cause them to lose control.
He wanted to run, the farther the better, to a place where he would not disturb Artorius.
But
Thick fog completely enveloped the arena. Dal was very familiar with this thing. It was the fog door that appeared after entering the boss monster room in the Sen dungeon.
In other words, he couldn't leave at all!
Dal looked at the fog gate and felt that if there was an intelligent observer inside the Sen dungeon, it must be laughing at his helplessness.
The idol he wanted to see was corrupted by his mortal enemy, the Abyss, and was in pain all the time. Is there anything that could bring greater pleasure to a sadist than this kind of scene?
He clenched his teeth; the pain made him more sober, and a bold idea gradually took shape in his mind.
"I always feel like I'm slow, or have low emotional intelligence, and I can never help, but this time."
Dal staggered to his feet, leaning on the Fran sword, and spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with flesh and blood.
As expected of Artorius, he almost kicked him to death with one kick. Who would be so ignorant as to dare to challenge him?
"Go quickly." Artorius seemed to be unable to control himself again. He was very angry. He was angry about why Dal didn't leave. Was he waiting to die?
He has been waiting for someone powerful enough, someone who can eradicate the Lord of the Abyss.
That's why he was guarding here, not only to drive away those who strayed into this dangerous place, but also to wait for the person of destiny. At that time, he would no longer have to suppress the abyss, and would ask that person to give him a way of death that suited his identity.
But Dar was obviously not the person he required. His strength was too low. It was unknown how he managed to pass through the forest.
The key point is that I don’t know whether the other party is frightened or stupid. He doesn’t leave despite his repeated warnings!
But when Artorius looked at Dal again, he was stunned for a moment.
Because the other party took an unfamiliar posture.
The arm holding the sword was raised horizontally, with the other hand resting on it and the head slightly lowered.
This is the etiquette of the Faran Undead Corps, the posture of the Abyss Watchers, and the highest etiquette of the group that idolizes the Abyss Walker.
Although he had never seen such a situation before, Artorius had a strange feeling, and even the erosion of the abyss became less painful.
He could feel the genuine respect coming from Dahl, just like the respect the people had for him when he was in Anor Londo.
Perhaps Dahl’s respect went even deeper?
The opponent showed a strong desire to fight. Does this mean that the "dwarf" in front of him will also challenge him after seeing his strength?
“Even though I will be laughed at, I still want to do it.”
Darfu lowered his body and skillfully assumed the stance of the Fran Undead Squad.
After the training of the Undead Squad and the guidance of the Sword Saint Gapar, his understanding of this sword technique has reached a deeper level. He can even make adjustments based on his own situation and is no longer just for show.
If he were to fight Doslebo again at this time, he might be able to win even if he was facing Doslebo in his prime.
Is this enough to defeat Artorius?
It's just a pipe dream.
However, trapped in the fog gate, facing Artorius who was suffering from the abyss, he could be killed by him at any time.
Dahl didn't want to run away and die screaming like a coward. In front of this legendary hero, he would give it his all and challenge like a warrior, even if it was just a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
After the initial shock, he finally understood the situation and his eyes were filled with sadness.
It seems that the Abyss won the battle between Artorius and the Lord of the Abyss.
The knight barely escaped, not only was he covered in wounds, but his companions were also missing. He could only wander here killing abyss monsters and warning those who came later not to set foot in this cursed land.
Reality is not a fairy tale, and justice ultimately failed to prevail.
If possible, Dahl sincerely hoped that Artorius could be freed, so he did this action that seemed to be ridiculous.
He challenged Artorius!
Artorius stood there motionless, making no sound, and his expression was unreadable, which gave Dahl time to prepare.
"Tons, tons, tons"
Dahl fumbled in the package around his waist and took out four potions. These were his last in stock. He had not been willing to drink them even when he was fighting the two gargoyles.
[Medium Strengthening of Arm Strength], [Increased Slashing Power], [Medium Strengthening of Constitution], and [Blood Healing Potion].
After drinking four bottles of potion in a row, Dal's muscles bulged, his clothes were stretched to the limit, and blood flowed from the corners of his mouth.
That’s not all, he activated several amplifying types of combat skills that he had learned.
The [Flowing Water] that can speed up, the [Imitation Slashing Field] taught by Japar, and the [Demon Rage] that greatly increases the attack power for five seconds.
Flashes of light appeared on his body one after another. His body's ability to bear the pressure had reached its limit, but his will was still holding on.
Finally, burn the wolf blood!
“It’s time to go!”
Dahl shouted loudly, and the Undead Squad finally used their moves at this moment.
He instantly flashed to the side of Artorius, and at this moment, the greatsword of Farran carried unparalleled impact force and slashed towards the opponent's vital points!
However, Artorius seemed to have no intention of fighting and did not even draw his sword. He just used his still intact arm to swing at Dal.
It was just a simple blow, but it made the opponent feel a strong threat of death.
This is the difference in numbers!
Fortunately, Artorius's attack was very casual, so Dal was able to dodge it.
The fighting techniques he learned from the Fran Undead Corps made him agile. He dodged the "attack" between jumps, flashed in front of Artorius, and swung another sword.
The latter just slightly turned his body to avoid the attack accurately, but the abyss breath exploded slightly at this moment. Dal raised his sword to resist, but his arm was directly numb from the shock!
A normal person would retreat and look for another opportunity at this time, but not Dal. He couldn't stop.
The body has reached its limit due to the large amount of amplification magic and combat skills, and it is only supported by one breath. Even a slight relaxation will result in an explosion with a "BOOM".
He gritted his teeth and continued street dancing. This time he jumped high, using his whole body weight to push the sword straight into Artorius!
It was only then that Artorius reacted. He looked at Dahl's series of actions and said in a trance:
"Shiv?"
The swordsmanship of the Fran Undead Corps is inherited from the wolf blood, and what is deeply engraved in the wolf blood is the image of the great wolf Sif dancing with the greatsword.
It's not an exaggeration to say that the Undead Squad is imitating Sif.
Perhaps his memories were awakened, Artorius finally took action. He grabbed the greatsword and swung it upwards.
"Bang!"
Sparks flew, the Wolf Knight remained motionless, but Dahl was knocked to the ground again.
He quickly got up and rushed towards Artorius with the undead army without giving up.
The latter was confused.
Artorius had never seen him, and it was even less likely that Sif had ever seen him, so why were Dal's swordsmanship and Sif's fighting style so similar?
This is definitely not a coincidence. As Siff's partner, Artorius knows its every move very well. The fighting posture of the Fran Undead Squad is exactly the same as Siff's, and even some small details are imitated very well!
What's more, Schiff is still young now, and his fighting style is just taking shape and is only in its infancy.
However, Artorius could tell from Dal's fighting posture what Sif's fighting skills should look like when they reached their peak.
How is it possible? Schiff hasn't figured out these technologies yet, and it's still under the protection of my shield.
etc.
Artorius suddenly raised his head and knocked Dal away with a sword. Looking at the other party who was trying to stand up despite the severe pain, he suddenly thought of a possibility.
This land is a place where time and space are disordered, so it is possible and not uncommon to meet people from the past.
So, if the person he is meeting now is from
After being eroded by the abyss, Artorius killed monsters here while he was unconscious, and his mood was naturally filled with violence and negative emotions.
But today, he felt happier than ever before.
Why happy?
Because he saw hope in Dahl's swordsmanship.
Since the young man in front of him, who seemed to have accidentally entered this place due to time and space confusion, is using swordsmanship that imitates Schiff.
Doesn't that mean that Schiff left the abyss safely in the future and even left behind a legacy!
Artorius also felt a familiar scent from Dal, it was the scent of wolf blood. Even though it was very thin, he could still smell the scent of Sif.
What could be more gratifying than seeing your partner safe and sound in the future?
He saw something deeper than just Schiff’s safety.
The great shield of enchantment he left behind could only protect Sif from being eroded by the abyss. If he wanted to leave the abyss, it would not be possible with just the power of a wolf.
In other words, there is a high probability that Schiff will be rescued in the future!
Who was it, Kiaran, Goff, or Ornstein? No, none of them had the strength to defeat the Lord of the Abyss.
Could it be the eldest son of the exiled king? If it was him, then it might be possible.
Memories of the past emerged in his mind one by one, and Artorius was surprised that his condition had actually improved a little.
He knew that this was only temporary and that he would soon fall into the pain of being eroded by the abyss again.
But so what?
Artorius suddenly felt a peace he had not felt in a long time. Since someone would defeat the Lord of the Abyss in the future, his efforts would not be in vain.
His choice to stay in this arena was the right one. He would continue to endure the pain while waiting for the person who could kill Manus and suppress the abyss to come.
Everything is done to suppress the abyss!
After a long time, a group of people who share the same dream as him will come forward one after another and fight bloody battles to destroy the abyss.
Artorius hefted the greatsword over his shoulder and assumed his classic stance, locking onto Dal.
He could tell that the young man in front of him seemed to have special feelings for him, and he tried his best to relieve him of his pain, even at the cost of hurting himself.
Facing such a warrior, it would be rude of him not to give it his all.
Artorius gripped the hilt of his sword, but then loosened it.
Using all his strength would mean that he would be corroded by the abyss and completely lose his sanity, just like the mutated residents of Urasil.
He couldn't do that, he couldn't lose his mind while waiting for the destined man to arrive, even if doing so would free his spirit from the torment.
Sorry, for the sake of his mission, he had to be rude.
Artorius stared at Dal, determined to give him a dignified ending in the fastest and most violent way.
Look back at Dar.
He tried his best but couldn't reach Artorius' body. Shame and anger made him grit his teeth.
The object of his anger was not Artorius, but himself. He was angry at why he was so weak that he didn't even have the strength to help the hero get rid of it.
Even if the Fran Undead Corps were here, they would probably not be able to defeat the damaged Artorius.
How majestic must this Wolf Knight be in his prime, and how terrifying must the Lord of the Abyss be.
Dal is like a silver who accidentally entered the game of the great gods. Even the aftermath of the battle between the great gods can shock him to death.
"It can't end like this."
Dal suddenly pounded his chest and once again activated the amplified combat skill [Demon Rampage] with his body that had reached its limit. His body turned red and blood oozed from his skin.
"Fuck you, body, I command you to give me strength!"
Perhaps jumping back and forth between the limits of life and death is really helpful for practice. Dal suddenly felt strength surging in his body.
Not much, but still enough for him to use a move!
He ran forward desperately, leaped high, spun around and delivered his final blow at Artorius.
Wolf jumps!
Put all your strength into this one strike!
"rub--"
The sword flashed and blood splattered all over the ground.
"Bang"
Dal's upper body rolled several times on the ground, and he held the severed hilt of the Fran sword tightly.
As he died, the roaring expression froze on his face, and he did not realize that his body had been cut off until he died.
Artorius was unharmed, but Dal was still too weak.
However, the weak can also gain his respect.
“.”
Before his remaining sanity disappeared, Artorius stabbed the broken Farran sword in front of Dal.
For a warrior, it is an honor to have a sword as a tombstone.
Artorius was very grateful to Dahl, who brought him the most precious thing.
"hope"
Hope is the reason that supports him to endure the pain and stay here.
One day in the future, the Lord of the Abyss will be defeated, and his efforts will not be in vain. It is enough to know this, and the rest will be left to time.
But...
Artorius smiled bitterly and thought to himself:
I really hope that someone who can defeat Manus will come soon.
"Well"
The intense pain surged into his heart again, and before he went crazy, he dragged his body and disappeared into the jungle.
In the dilapidated arena, Dal's body, cut in half, lay there quietly.
But his consciousness saw a different scene at this moment.
That is a follow-up to the memory seen when entering the world of painting.
In his memory, he once again became Artorius from a first-person perspective.
He saw himself giving the silver necklace to the survivors to protect them from the abyss.
The next moment, the scene switched to the abyss. A large amount of black magic attacked him frantically. Without the silver necklace, he could only rely on the shield to resist.
He saw that "himself" had failed in his challenge to the Lord of the Abyss, and still hadn't seen the other party's appearance. He was forced to retreat with his broken body, feeling unwilling.
He saw his companion, Sif, who was still a little wolf and could not walk due to his injuries. In desperation, he left behind a large shield to protect Sif in the abyss.
At this point, all his means of resisting the abyss were lost.
The abyss gradually eroded his mind. He felt the pain and his spirit was tortured. Monsters swarmed up and wanted to take advantage of his injuries to kill him.
He killed monsters all the way in a state of insanity and finally came to this arena, guarding the road to Urasil.
In his delirium, he saw many things.
His lover, his best friend, his companion, and the one he respected most, King Gwyn.
"We can't let the abyss spread!"
These were the last words Dahl heard before he was kicked out of the painting world.
This is what Artorius said.
Unlike a roar, he was full of energy when he said this. It seemed that it was the oath he made when he set out for Ulashil.
The voice is very nice, magnetic and full of courage. I believe its owner must be a handsome man.
In the moment before his consciousness faded, Dahl grinned and said with a dazed look:
"That sword is so handsome, Artorius."
After an unknown amount of time, Dal's consciousness gradually regained consciousness, and he vaguely felt someone calling him.
"Dal, Dal?"
"Wake up!"
He sat up suddenly and bumped into the gray wolf that was staring at him.
The latter ran away crying.
Dal's eyes were still filled with confusion, and he had no reaction to the outside world until someone opened his mouth and poured a bottle of advanced medicine that had a soothing effect on the mind into his mouth. Only then did he regain some consciousness.
Looking around, he saw that he was surrounded by people, all familiar faces.
In addition to everyone from the Fran Exploration Team, even the strategy group and the new strategy group were here. He also saw Roger, who was the one who poured the potion just now.
Why are everyone surrounding me? It feels a bit like a memorial service.
"What's wrong?" Dahl rubbed his head, feeling very tired.
"Dar!" A girl from the exploration team threw herself into his arms and shouted, "Thank goodness you're okay. We were all so worried!"
Dahl's body stiffened for a moment, and he said helplessly: "I'm fine."
"All right?"
The girl looked up and said, "Do you know how many days you have been missing?"
How many days?
Dar suddenly realized something and asked, "How many days did I spend in there?"
"Three whole days! You stayed in the dungeon for three days before coming out!"
Seeing that the girl was a little excited, a green light flashed above her head. The girl suddenly saw through the world and no longer cared about worldly affairs.
Drew withdrew his hand that was releasing the sedative spell, and while carrying the girl away, he explained to Dale:
"You disappeared after entering the dungeon, and you were even listed on the guild's missing person notice."
"Two hours ago, someone found you unconscious near the portal. You were still holding the painting in your hand, so they brought you back. Oh, and you're still holding this in your hand."
He placed a ring in Dar's palm.
【Wolf Ring Replica】
[Actively stimulate, greatly improve the body's toughness, the tough body and will will never be interrupted by attacks]
[The Wolf Ring is the ring held by Artorius, the "Abyss Walker", and the wolf is also his symbol]
[Artorius has a strong will and will never back down no matter what danger he faces. It is said that when he wields his greatsword, he is invincible.]
[Number of times it can be used: 10]
Dahl stared at the ring in a trance. At this moment, Drew asked again:
"What on earth have you been through these days?"
Upon hearing this, Dahl's eyes revealed complex emotions, and he said softly:
"I had a legendary adventure."
Then, he told a story about a wolf rider who stayed true to his mission.
I had intended to post two chapters, but after I finished writing them, they just didn’t feel right no matter how I read them, so I just combined today’s second update and extra update together!
We are united in thought!
(End of this chapter)
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