Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1485 - 510: Origin of the Black Mist (Part 2)

"What? A Fiend Demon!" Menia’s elegant features shifted once more, her expression instantly becoming grave.

"Rein, can you confirm that the ancient wizards gave that dark fog the name Fiend Demon?"

"I am certain, Prince Menia," Rein replied with a nod.

"Describe your confrontation with the Fiend Demon in precise detail." Menia paused to reflect for a moment before speaking in a somber tone.

Rein gave a nod of affirmation. He understood that Menia needed to verify if the entity he had fought truly matched the description of a Fiend Demon.

"It began with a type of black parasite attached to the skull of a goblin cadaver. After I dispatched it, I noted its strangeness as the creature dissolved into black vapor and vanished... Later, within the prison on the second basement level, I fought an ancient minotaur enveloped in a black mist..."

As Rein told his tale, the gravity on Menia’s delicate face intensified.

"Based on your account, it appears to truly be a Fiend Demon..."

"It seems the legends recorded in the ancient texts might be accurate—that the sudden onslaught of the Fiend Demon triggered the collapse of the Ancient Goblin Empire," Menia remarked, nodding slowly.

"Prince Menia, what exactly is the source of this Fiend Demon?" Rein felt compelled to inquire.

"The lineage of the Fiend Demon is incredibly ancient and difficult to authenticate. According to chronicles from the distant past, the Fiend Demon is a malevolent being birthed by the Void Overlord; every time one surfaces, the world suffers immense turmoil."

"The Fiend Demon lacks a permanent physical shape. Furthermore, when multiple Fiend Demons encounter a powerful adversary, they will coalesce, merging into medium or large-scale Fiend Demons with vastly superior strength."

"In truth, battling the Fiend Demon is not merely our responsibility; it is a primary mission of the Goddess Church."

"The Goddess Church?"

"Indeed. You likely noticed that Fire Witchcraft is quite potent against Fiend Demons, yet the most efficient way to eradicate them is actually through Divine Power."

"Divine Power?"

"Yes, Rein. Since you have already crossed paths with the Fiend Demon, I can reveal a secret to you. Deep beneath the Koen Cathedral in the Imperial City, a fragment of a Fiend Demon’s corpse remains sealed."

"It is for this very reason that the duty of guarding those Fiend Demon remains has occupied the majority of the epic-level experts within the Goddess Church."

"That makes sense." Rein nodded, the realization dawning on him.

It was no mystery now; while other cults were active and the Imperial Swordsmen and royalty handled the suppression, the Goddess Church had remained largely quiet—they were preoccupied with preventing the Fiend Demon’s return.

"Based on the information you brought, even though the goblin capital fell, they seemingly managed to seal or suppress the Fiend Demon, creating a fragile equilibrium. Had they failed, it would have escaped the ruins long ago to devastate the Federation."

"However, the Federation’s current excavations... might disturb that balance..." Menia’s thoughts suddenly pivoted, a sharp glint flashing in her beautiful eyes.

"Adjutant, relay a message to the Federation. Instruct them to exercise extreme caution regarding the Fiend Demon and suggest they prioritize their defensive preparations." Menia turned and signaled to her aide standing nearby.

"As you command, Your Highness."

....

At that very moment, looking down from the perspective of the Imperial Airship fleet, one could see various fishing vessels scattered across the blue expanse of the sea.

Such boats were a common sight along the shores of both the Empire and the Federation.

On one particular vessel, however, several individuals were engaged in work that had nothing to do with fishing. A man held a brass, pendulum-style monocular, tracking the Imperial Delegation’s fleet in the sky while reciting numbers:

"Elevation 65°"

"3"

"2"

"1"

"Elevation 63°"

The device in his hand was actually a sextant, a maritime tool used to calculate latitude and longitude by measuring the angle between the stars and the horizon. He was currently recording data on the Imperial Airship formation.

"Confirmed. The angular variance is 2 degrees, and our distance from the ’Bachelors’ is two nautical miles," another man noted, scribbling calculations into a ledger with a quill.

"Initial estimates place their speed at 80 knots, bearing is..." He rattled off a series of technical findings.

In reality, observers on the coast had been tracking the Imperial fleet since the moment it departed from Zetaya.

This was not the only ship monitoring them. Not far ahead lay another vessel masquerading as a fishing boat—the aforementioned ’Bachelors,’ a small pirate craft.

These men were recruited from minor pirate bands and maritime mercenaries who had sworn fealty to the Sea God Sect.

Their objective was straightforward: monitor and log the return path and velocity of the Imperial Delegation's airships and report the data immediately.

Somewhere in the depths of the ocean.

"Pope, the forward scouts report that the Imperial fleet has departed Federation Zetaya, traveling at 80 knots..." A man in black robes, adorned with a bizarre sea-beast crest, reported with deep respect.

"Hmm, excellent. We shall begin the prayer ritual now. The timing must align with their departure from Federation waters..."

Egil, the Pope of the Sea God Sect, led an assembly of High Rank Wizards and Evil Sorcerers into the sanctum.

A crowd of black-clad monks was already stationed there, surrounding intricate witch array diagrams on the floor that were primed for activation.

"O Great Goddess of the Nether Sea, the tsunami is Your scepter, and the gale is Your voice..."

Pope Egil began the invocation in a low drone, while the devotees of the Sea God behind him prostrated themselves upon the witch array, chanting in hushed tones.