The air of the Forbidden Marsh of the Demon Domain felt like solidified grease, carrying the indescribable stench of rotting plants and the depths of the swamp, seeping bit by bit into[Shadowfang Warbreaker]’s breath.
He half-knelt at the root of a twisted, withered giant tree, where the tangled roots formed a natural depression, just large enough to hold a human-sized object.
He had just finished placing the last ice sculpture.
The ice sculpture was lifelike, shaped as the silhouette of a slender young woman.
Although the facial features were blurred, both the proportions and the unique, chilling aura that seemed to freeze the air were identical to Falu Xiel herself.
The entire ice sculpture emitted a faint blue glow, appearing both sacred and eerie in the dim, miasma-shrouded swamp forest.
After completing everything,[Shadowfang Warbreaker]slowly straightened up, keeping his center of gravity low.
His whole body resembled a black panther ready to pounce, silently retreating a few steps to melt into the deeper shadows.
His gaze was as sharp as a blade, sweeping swiftly and warily across the surroundings.
In the distant swamp, a huge bubble burst with a “gurgle”, releasing a stronger stench; above, on dead branches, several strange birds resembling crows but with compound eyes screeched hoarsely and flapped away into the denser miasma.
Everything was normal.
But he did not lower his guard.
In his mind, he once again reviewed the actions of the past dozen hours.
Without a doubt, this was the most thrilling and central hidden quest he had ever received since entering this game.
The order was given directly by Falu Xiel, a Divine Favored, without any quest panel.
It was explained, word by word, in that dim hotel room, her voice cold as ice.
“……A few days from now, I want you to take these ice sculptures into the Forbidden Marsh of the Demon Domain.”
At that time, her voice was even colder than the ice sculptures as she handed over a map drawn with special ink.
“Place these six ice sculptures at these six locations. Make sure they remain undiscovered for at least three days.”
“Is this… bait?”
[Shadowfang Warbreaker]couldn”t help but ask.
As a top player, his instincts told him this was anything but simple.
Falu Xiel”s ice-blue eyes showed no emotion, only watching him quietly.
“You don”t need to know their purpose.”
“OK, OK, Lady NPC, whatever you say.”
He put on a relaxed tone.
“But isn”t it a bit too conspicuous to wander around the swamp with six of your clones? I”m just one person—small target, fast movement—but protecting this pile of ice isn”t easy.”
“Their presence will be completely masked by the box. Only when you open the box to take them out will their aura leak. I”ll tell you the specific delivery time.”
Falu Xiel”s reply was as concise as ever, but revealed she had already considered every detail.
“Furthermore, I want you to swear. This matter must not be revealed to anyone. Not even your most trusted companions, any other player, nor anyone in the capital or the church.”
“Swear?”
[Shadowfang Warbreaker]raised his brows, finding the game more and more interesting.
Normally, NPCs used quest contracts to bind players; swearing on personal honor was unheard of.
“Yes, by your honor as a Hero from another world.”
Falu Xiel looked him in the eyes.
At that moment, for the first time,[Shadowfang Warbreaker]felt he was not facing a pile of data, but a real person trapped in desperation, still searching for a breakthrough in her own way.
It was probably the coolest way to accept a quest in this game.
No complicated dialogue options, no fixed procedures—only a gamble based on trust and judgment.
Falu Xiel bet he wouldn”t leak the secret.
He bet the follow-up rewards for this quest chain would be enough to make anyone”s jaw drop.
“Interesting……”
Pulling himself from the memory,[Shadowfang Warbreaker]muttered, the corners of his mouth lifting uncontrollably.
“The feeling of being deeply involved in the main storyline is far more satisfying than just grinding monsters to level up.”
He was not the type of person like[Jingwei Sage]—cunning and treating NPCs as collectibles—but he didn”t reject interacting with these charismatic “high-level AIs” either.
Especially ones like Falu Xiel: powerful, calm, burdened by heavy responsibility, yet occasionally revealing an unknown vulnerability.
Such contrast only intensified his desire, as a player, to conquer and… protect.
“Let me see, Falu Xiel. Which big fish are you hoping to catch with this game?”
He adjusted his posture, lowering his body even more, his gaze as sharp as a hawk scanning the distance.
The wind, the gurgling of the swamp, and the howls of unknown monsters interwove, composing the eternal and terrifying symphony of the Forbidden Marsh of the Demon Domain.
—
The last chime of vespers faded beneath the empty dome, its echo absorbed entirely by the thick obsidian tiles and walls engraved with the suffering of saints, leaving not a trace behind.
Falu Xiel stood silently at the end of the tall, cold corridor of the Lishen Church”s Holy See.
After the devastating defeat that came at a heavy price, she understood that the enemy was not only hidden beyond the mists of the Demon Domain, but also lurking beneath the light of the capital Arslan.
She could trust no one completely.
She had to find the traitor.
Thus, this vast and insane plan was drawn up, piece by piece, in her lonely office through countless sleepless nights.
It was meticulous, bold, and allowed no margin for error.
The “Giant”s Stone Highland” she reported to the Pope was merely one of six false targets she threw out.
In fact, she had disclosed a different, equally plausible secret location to each suspect.
To her greedy and foolish king, she had “accidentally” revealed interest in the defensible geography of “Howling Wind Gorge” during a dispute over military funds.
To Nilo, the senior who always showed her concern, she left an analysis of magic element density in “Yuguang Forest” in a draft tactical report, hinting it might be a good choice.
To the First Prince Doros, she proposed building an outpost on the “Crimson Plains” to defend the capital during a court meeting.
And to her adjutant, Irene… she merely circled “Silent Foothills” on a map with her pen while organizing documents.
She had turned herself into a maker of information fog, offering each potential spy in the darkness a unique poison.
Now, the one carrying out these “poisons”—[Shadowfang Warbreaker]—was running across the vast, dangerous land at the edge of the Forbidden Marsh of the Demon Domain, following her secret instructions.
Six locations, six ice sculptures.
Each ice sculpture had been personally condensed by Falu Xiel from divine ice elements, shaped in her own likeness, lifelike as a double.
At the core of each sculpture lay a Sacred Word rune bestowed by the Pope.
…Once a Sacred Word rune was broken, not only would it rapidly summon a defensive magic circle, it would instantly transmit its current location to the Holy See.
It was a high-stakes gamble.
If a traitor truly existed and relayed the information to the Seventh Apostle Zeheriel, then Zeheriel would surely act.
That cautious and cruel demon apostle would never pass up a chance to capture or kill her when she was isolated and weak.
An ice sculpture bearing her aura might not deceive a close inspection, but with Zeheriel”s cunning, he wouldn”t dare come too near.
As long as he sensed her aura from afar, he would unleash hordes of monsters to attack—mindless summoned beasts tearing apart everything along their path, including the decoy ice sculpture.
Zeheriel”s attack would be a signal fire of judgment.
The destruction of any ice sculpture meant the holder of that particular false intelligence was the viper hidden in Arslan”s heart.
No one but Falu Xiel herself knew the true scope of this plan.
Even[Shadowfang Warbreaker]only understood that he was carrying out a diversionary secret mission, with no idea of the true purpose behind the ice sculptures.
She stood atop the highest balcony of the Lishen Church”s Holy See, the night wind lifting her pale blue hair.
The lights of the capital sprawled at her feet, a dazzling sea of stars.