Awakening The Only SSS-Rank Class! Now Even Dragons Obey Me Chapter 774: The Iron Grave

Daniel’s eyes remained unfocused, yet his perception extended far beyond mere light and shadow. The entirety of the forest unfolded within his senses like a living, interconnected web. His divine sense surveyed nearly the complete structure of the woodland and the world around it, his attention currently fixated on the approaching entities converging towards the cursed tree.

Their movement was deliberate, following a specific trajectory with calculated spacing, betraying no sign of disruption. It was evident they were a coordinated group, united by a singular objective.

"...They are arriving," Daniel murmured, his voice barely audible. Despite its low volume, the profound silence amplified it sufficiently.

Kieran’s head snapped around instantly, his gaze piercing, his hand instinctively finding the hilt of his sword. "At last, the prelude begins..."

Lumira retreated a step, her posture taut with alertness. Saren remained outwardly still, but a depth appeared in his eyes, as if he were mentally dissecting the impending adversaries.

Elisira’s attention was solely on Daniel, displaying no apparent concern for the approaching party. After a few moments of observation, she made her decision. "We must depart." Her tone was tranquil, yet resolute.

"These individuals could hail from another empire. Should a conflict erupt, it could escalate beyond our control."

"You must come with us," she added, directing her words at Daniel. Introducing an unknown individual to the Holy Empire carried inherent risks. This was particularly true for someone who had voiced sentiments bordering on defiance against the Divine Prophet’s directives—a fact that, paradoxically, only amplified Daniel’s mystique and allure in her eyes.

She harbored a deep curiosity about him, yearning to uncover his origins and understand his true nature. A primal urge to ensure his safety stirred within her.

He sat composedly, his back against the shimmering silver trunk of the tree. His sword materialized beside him, its tip embedding in the earth, his fingers resting lightly upon the hilt. It was abundantly clear that the approaching contingent posed no threat in his estimation, nor did he perceive them as a challenge.

His gaze was directed forward, yet it seemed to look past the immediate forest and into the distance.

"You all should go." This he stated plainly, offering no elaboration or justification.

"You need not concern yourself over him, Princess," Kieran interjected with a sneer, a hidden current of satisfaction coloring his voice. "He has chosen to remain of his own accord." His eyes remained locked on Daniel, a discernible jealousy and discontent simmering beneath the surface, stemming from Elisira’s diverted attention.

Elisira offered no immediate reply, remaining rooted to her spot. Her gaze lingered on Daniel, on the almost unnatural serenity he exuded. She noted the stillness, which felt less like indifference and more like a patient, measured wait.

"This course of action is unwise and perilous. I implore you, heed my words and accompany us."

Daniel remained unmoved, his silence a clear rejection. Saren scoffed, "The Princess herself extends an invitation, and you still refuse? Tch, what a simpleton."

Finally, Elisira drew a shallow breath and stepped back. They retreated a short distance, not disappearing entirely, but positioning themselves behind a line of trees where they could still observe the unfolding events. The Princess’s reluctance to abandon Daniel was palpable. She resolved to maintain a hidden vantage point, ready to intervene if necessary—a compromise she deemed the most prudent course of action.

Mere moments later, the atmosphere of the forest shifted perceptibly. The trees seemed to yield, their branches gracefully retracting, and from the encroaching shadows emerged dozens of individuals. They were clad in a variety of armors, some ponderous and protective, others lighter and more agile. Their weapons bore the unmistakable marks of seasoned warfare, and their faces, etched with ruthlessness, concealed a weariness born of countless battles.

These were no novices; their bearing indicated years, perhaps even decades, of rigorous training.

Their leader advanced to the forefront. He was a formidable man, broad-shouldered, his skin crisscrossed with a tapestry of old scars. A colossal hammer rested upon his shoulder, its dark, unpolished metal hinting at countless forceful impacts.

His gaze settled on Daniel. A brief pause, then a low chuckle escaped him. "Well, well... it seems someone has arrived ahead of us."

He took another step forward. "Are you here for the tree as well?"

"No," Daniel replied without haste.

"And who might you be?" the man inquired after a short hesitation.

A few of the accompanying mercenaries let out a derisive laugh, tinged with an undercurrent of indignation, as if offended by the young man’s apparent ignorance of their renown.

"Are you jesting?" the leader raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by the notion that anyone could be unfamiliar with them.

"We are the Iron Grave mercenary company," he stated, his tone carrying a distinct note of pride. He surmised that Daniel might hail from some remote village, thus explaining his lack of recognition. It seemed inconceivable that anyone residing in the cities would be unaware of one of the continent’s most prominent mercenary factions.

Their insignia was emblazoned upon their armor, a visual declaration intended to leave no doubt as to their identity. "We hail from the western reaches of this continent," he added, gesturing slightly with his hammer, as if their name alone was sufficient testament to their stature.

"And the reward... a hundred million gold coins." A wider smile stretched across his face, his gaze fixing on the tree as if he were discussing it directly.

Murmurs and jeers rippled through the assembled group.

"For a tree, that's quite a sum. I'm truly intrigued by what this particular tree possesses to warrant such a bounty for its destruction."

"Who cares about the 'why'? Once we obliterate it, that fortune is ours."

"Haha, precisely. We must express our gratitude to those foolish enough to offer such a reward."

Daniel observed their exchange in quiet contemplation, unaffected by their sentiments.

"I am protecting it." His declaration, uttered moments later, was remarkably straightforward.

His words cast a momentary hush over the crowd, a silence that lasted mere seconds.

Then, a wave of boisterous, scornful laughter erupted.

"Is the kid delusional?"

"Enough of this jesting." The leader raised a hand, halting the laughter mid-peal.

He advanced, approaching the tree, but Daniel positioned himself as a barrier. As long as Daniel remained unmoving, the leader's objective was unattainable.

"Step aside, pretty boy." It was evident he hadn't taken the boy's earlier statement seriously, dismissing it as a mere jest. After all, he couldn't fathom any fool daring to obstruct him, let alone defy the command of the Divine Prophet!

"I advise you to depart if you wish to remain alive." Daniel did not budge from his spot. He wasn't issuing a threat, but rather a piece of counsel, his tone devoid of menace.

"Did you hear that?" The mercenary leader let out a sudden laugh. Even he felt as though he had misheard.

"I'm weary of this pointless delay. If you refuse to move, you shall be annihilated along with that tree." Without further ado, he strode towards the tree.

He lifted his hammer, his muscles bunching with power, each footfall pressing the soil slightly deeper.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

All eyes were fixed, anticipating the strike, the imminent collapse and explosion of the tree.

Yet, his momentum faltered. His eyes snapped wide open. His mouth hung agape, poised as if to utter a word.

Then, he erupted from within, as though an internal mechanism had suddenly been triggered.

His head disintegrated in an instant. His body crumpled, and the weighty hammer descended to the ground with a hollow thud.

Before the first person in the group could even register the event, the second individual fell.

The third.

The fourth.

One after another.

Without any physical contact and without any means of defense, their bodies burst apart, collapsed, and fell silent.

Within seconds, scores of seasoned warriors were reduced to motionless corpses.

Once more, a profound, oppressive silence enveloped the scene.

From their concealed position behind the trees, Elisira and her companions watched in stunned disbelief. Kieran instinctively recoiled, his hands slick with sweat from the sheer terror of witnessing such a spectacle.

"I did warn you." Daniel sighed, his gaze returning to the ancient tree. The tree, as if drawing sustenance, absorbed and consumed all the dispersing life forces, its luminescence intensifying. Its light deepened, appearing more vibrant, and its overall mass seemed to expand slightly.