Chapter 72 44. Smart or Stupid
A thin, dark, fine silk carpet stretched from the entrance to the center of the room, where a parchment book bound in dark leather sat on a platform. Beyond this platform were several stone steps, and upon the platform stood an ornate, uncovered coffin. Inside, clad in black steel armor, lay the shrunken corpse of the Dreadlord Elleril the Damned.
There were also eight coffins standing around the platform. Standing at the door, Daxus could see that each coffin contained the body of a Druch. They were wearing ancient black steel armor, with longswords and greatswords of varying lengths erected on their chests. The styles of the longswords and greatswords were even more ancient and gorgeous, dating back to the time of the Chaos Demon Invasion.
Daxus hesitated at the doorway. The air was thick with the scent of the Shash Wind. He couldn't describe the damned feeling, but he could clearly feel it flowing around him, like a tingling sensation on his skin. He turned his gaze back to Elleril's body. Elleril's hands were tightly grasping something on his chest, possibly the Soul Dagger.
A group of dignitaries stayed where they were, waiting for Dacus's instructions.
Darkeus entered the room cautiously. The shash wind in the room made him even more uncomfortable. He stepped on the silk carpet, which instantly turned to dust under his feet. The dust flew in the blue light of the glowing crystal in his hand.
Five thousand years ago, the Druki nobles of Naggaroth would visit the Chamber of the Dead to honor their ancestors. They would walk the carpets, kneel before parchment books, and carefully read the legendary deeds of their ancestors. They would recall the glory lost before Nagarythe sank to the sea, and they would swear vengeance in the name of their ancestors. Once upon a time, the Witch King's dread lords would trek to the cemetery on the eve of battle, seeking to invoke the blessings of their ancestors.
But that is no longer fashionable, those days are long gone, and the old ways have fallen into disuse. The parchment books of great deeds lie unread in the gloomy darkness, and the silk carpets crumble to dust under the feet of visitors.
Dacuus walked past the parchment book with the great deeds written on it and carefully walked up the stone steps. The space on the platform was very small, just enough to place Elleril's coffin. He was less than half a meter away from Elleril's body. He could clearly see that Elleril was wearing a pair of strange gloves, which held a strange black dagger.
The Soul Dagger lacked a guard. Its handle was likely smooth black ebony, showing no signs of age, carved with a cross-hatched pattern for a better grip. Anyone familiar with weapons would automatically assume this dagger was meant for stabbing, not cutting or parrying. The edge gleamed black, as dark as iron. The Chaos runes etched into the blade had turned a crimson red, as if they had rusted into the blade. Darkius believed these runes twisted the mortal powers, allowing the dagger to so easily sever magic and destroy the soul's connection to the afterlife.
Daxus was not stupid enough to take the soul dagger. If he took it, this bastard would definitely come back to life. Too many examples were warning him. He began to retreat slowly. He needed to discuss and make some arrangements.
"You two go check it out. Remember! Don't touch anything, especially that dagger. Remember!"
The two sorceresses took the order and went to check.
Darkus continued, "If nothing unexpected happens, something unexpected will definitely happen when we take that soul dagger down."
The nobles stared at Daquus with piercing eyes. He pointed his right thumb backward and said, "The moment we take the Soul Dagger, our souls will be buffeted by the winds of Shashi." He placed his hand on the disposable amulet and gestured, "The Clan Mother's amulet will protect us from one attack. The nine corpses should then move and attack us." He paused, then smiled and said, "Their weapons must have been forged on the Vaal Anvil during the Great Invasion!"
Upon hearing this, all the dignitaries finally lost their composure. They knew too well the significance of the words "Great Invasion" and "Anvil of Vaal". It had been so long, and these weapons were either damaged in battle, missing, or family heirlooms. If these weapons were in the game, they would definitely be blue equipment!
Ryan took out his serrated sword and gestured, saying, "Sir, what are our weapons?"
Daxus smiled and ignored him, but turned back to look at the two sorceresses. After a moment, the two sorceresses came back. There was no scene of them being suddenly possessed, then picking up soul daggers and being attacked in a hurry. These two were the personal maids of the clan mother.
"Can the wind of Shaxu here be drained away?"
The two high-level dark sorceresses exchanged a glance. One of them pulled out a box from her waist and said, "Master, the strong wind of Shaxu in this room is emitted by that dagger. It can be drained away! But we have to be quick!"
Daxus nodded. He understood the sorceress's meaning of "fast" and continued, "Are those eight mummies holding swords powered by the wind of Shash?"
"Master, yes."
"That means, the moment the Shash Wind in this room is drained, the nine corpses will be at their most vulnerable." Darkus looked at Kesle and Baine and said, "Anyone touched by that soul dagger will die, and they won't be able to return to Ers Haiai's arms. Who of you will do it?"
Kesley and Bainie exchanged a glance and simultaneously took a step forward. After a long stalemate, Kesley said helplessly, "I'll do it. I'll hold that one back while you help these little guys quickly take care of those eight."
Bainie hesitated for a moment and nodded.
Darkus clapped his hands and said jokingly, "Then let's each choose one we like."
When all the dignitaries heard this, they looked disgusted. Walter and Ryan moved the platform that was in the way in the middle of the room away, placed the glowing crystals and started to take their positions.
The two sorceresses opened the box and took out a dagger. When Daxus saw that the dagger in the box was similar to the one in Eleril's hand, he immediately understood. They were from the same era and lived in the same place, so they would meet each other sooner or later. The Hell's Disaster Family and the Cursed Family knew each other well.
Unbeknownst to Dak'eus, Anathara had been tricked. The counterfeit within the box was the very artifact Elleriel had presented to the House of Hellbane, claiming it was dedicated to the Witch-King Malekith. Back then, her dark magic skills were not as refined as they are now. Her close friend, Morathi, had come to Clar Karond to discuss the construction of a dark sorcery monastery in Grond. Morathi, enchanted by the Soul Dagger, sought it for herself, but upon playing with it, discovered it was a counterfeit. Elleriel had vanished, and the descendants of the House of the Damned were unable to explain their whereabouts. In a fit of rage, Anathara wiped out the House of the Damned.
It is also unknown whether Elleril is smart or stupid.
