Chapter 14: The Ghost Warhorse
Uma observed calmly the two Spartan competitors ready to challenge him. It was clear these two had joined forces, putting aside their personal pride and honor—ensuring Sparta’s absolute dominance in such competitions seemed to be the bottom line they were determined to defend.
Three chariots chased each other frantically along the deliberately designed, winding and rugged track, with sharp turns and steep slopes. One hand held the reins, while the other rested on the dagger at his waist. Had it not been for Komer’s explicit orders, Uma could have easily left the two Spartans far behind—hundreds of meters away. His dark iron chariot had once been the legendary mount used by Emperor Kenifer to lead the Dark Empire’s army. Though the original warhorse had long vanished, Uma believed the ghost warhorse now serving as his mount was no weaker than Emperor Kenifer’s mighty steed of old.
Of course, this ghost warhorse was not a real horse. It was a necrotic mount he had seized from a ghost general in the underground world. Unexpectedly, within just two days in the hands of the emperor’s heir, this once-boneless specter was transformed. Plant restoration magic from wood magic perfectly integrated wooden materials into its skeleton, while wisdom crystals from orcs, combined with the ghost warhorse’s innate magic, endowed it with the power to survive in this world.
The ghost warhorse moved nimbly along the complex paths. The driver constantly tightened the reins, signaling it not to defy its master’s will too much. Angrily, it raised its front hooves and let out a deep roar, then kicked violently with its hind legs, sending a rock the size of a head flying backward. Uma skillfully dodged the projectile, turning it into a deadly weapon against the Spartan competitors behind him. His affection for this wise magic horse grew with each passing moment.
Caught off guard, the Spartan competitors could only use their javelins to strike the flying rock. The fierce impact caused blood to flow from their palms and nearly knocked them off their chariots. Fortunately, the other competitor quickly caught up and kept a close eye on the dark iron chariot, which was once again threatening to pull ahead.
Although the chariots of the two Spartan competitors were not as magnificent as the divine horses of Mount Olympus, they were still elite warhorses chosen from among the best in all of Sparta. They were not only intelligent but also strong and easy to control. Yet, in comparison to the pitch-black warhorse ahead, they paled in comparison.
The opponent’s warhorse demonstrated an absolute advantage over all other horses in terms of strength, speed, and agility. No matter how hard the Spartan riders tried to control it, the opponent could always take the lead first. Now, it could even use the power of its hind legs in perfect coordination with its rider to launch attacks, leaving both Spartan riders feeling disheartened.
Komer, sitting in the stands, let out an “Oh” and raised his eyebrows slightly. He hadn’t expected Umma’s prized Skeleton Horse to possess such strength—its hoof strike could even be used as a weapon to attack pursuers.
Komer knew he had merely filled in the Skeleton Horse’s physical flaws with wooden materials to make it less shocking when it appeared. Plant restoration techniques enhanced by wood-based magic could greatly improve the warhorse’s resistance to damage. With this thick layer of wooden material as a barrier, ordinary attacks had little effect on the warhorse, which relied on its innate magic and crystal energy. Unless some supreme being could see through the warhorse’s true nature and use a one-shot technique to completely destroy its spiritual energy or innate magic.
Thinking of this, Komer felt somewhat tempted. It seemed there were even more desirable places deep beneath Damorlensk Fortress. Umma had told him that place was a paradise for the undead, but due to some special restrictions, they couldn’t break through and could only fight against the strange creatures from the deepest depths of the earth in the dark abyss.
Komer had once read in the library of Damorlensk Fortress that the Eye of Darkness was actually a window between two worlds. Passing through this window could lead to an unknown world. It seemed the other world beneath Damorlensk Fortress was a dark realm filled with the undead. Whether the builders of Damorlensk Fortress chose this location with this in mind was unknown. For Komer, this was still a promising hope.
Although Uma exaggerated how extremely dangerous this dark realm was, Komer didn’t want to miss this opportunity. Of course, Komer was also aware that there were certainly significant risks in that dark realm. The reason Uma could cross the barrier and enter it was because it was still a spirit without a physical body, merely a mass of spiritual energy, and thus not vulnerable to certain types of magical attacks. But looking at the various trophies brought back from the dark realm, Uma claimed it was because of its limited strength and fear of challenging stronger opponents. Komer really looked forward to crossing that barrier himself and experiencing a journey in the dark realm.
The Dark Lord let out a slight exclamation before falling silent again. Xuro glanced at him. Although Komer’s eyes were still on the battlefield, the expression in them told Xuro that the Dark Lord was once again lost in his thoughts, pondering something else. Yet this battle was indeed crucial for the Great Secret Sect and even the Dark Faction, so Xuro dared not take it lightly at all.
Uma, representing the High Priest of the Great Secret Sect, competed for the Piraeus team, overcoming numerous opponents and winning the fervent support of many city-state legislators who were already followers of the Great Secret Sect. If they could crush the Spartans, it would undoubtedly be an excellent opportunity for the people of Piraeus to elevate their city-state’s political status and influence. Not only could they use this chance to promote Piraeus’s glory, but they could also challenge the authority of Corinth and Sparta, the two giants of the southern region. Even if they couldn’t succeed right away, just this strength and momentum would be enough to put Piraeus above other nations and city-states.
“Dark Lord, do you think Mr. Uma’s warhorse is too outstanding?” Xuro certainly knew the details of that warhorse. Initially, he was also worried that someone might uncover its true nature. But after Komer used special wood-based magic to erase its strong necrotic aura, the ghostly warhorse became almost perfect—its body, filled with a strong wood-like aura, looked even more like a mystical steed from the White God Mountains at the western end of Iberia.
“Hmph. Such tricks can deceive ordinary people, but not experts skilled in dark magic. As long as one gets close to this skeleton horse and examines it carefully, they can uncover its secrets,” Komer shook his head.
“Dark Lord, here, no one from the Dark Faction would do such a thing,” Xuro firmly denied such a possibility.
“Is that so? The dark faction has not yet truly united, and ignorant dark mages are not uncommon in the Southern Seas region. Once exposed, it will be too late to recover.” Komer still seemed uneasy.
“The Dark Lord worries too much. Even if it were revealed, it wouldn’t be such a big deal. In our south, dark magic and necromancy are not something to be hidden. As long as you don’t slaughter the living or deliberately defile the dead to practice them, no one cares. In our south, we don’t place much importance on the physical body after death; instead, we value the fate of the soul more. This aligns with the teachings of both the Northern Light Church and our Great Secret Sect.”
“Hmm, I hope such things don’t happen. Now is the perfect time for the dark faction to expand its influence and gain respect from mainstream society. I don’t want unnecessary disputes to disrupt our carefully planned progress.” Komer reminded him, “Besides Piraeus, the Kingdom of Iberia is also a great platform. Why can’t the Patriarch and high priests of the Great Secret Sect help the Kingdom of Iberia establish a new mage order? Defending against barbarian invasions is also an undeniable responsibility of our mortal faith-based forces.”
Xu Luo trembled all over as he suddenly raised his head. “Dark Lord, do you mean…?”
“Don’t the Corinthians always regard the sea god Poseidon as their patron? If they think Poseidon can ensure their prosperity forever, then let Piraeus prove the power of the dark patron Hades. Let the Corinthians realize that Poseidon can’t protect them—he’s only good at deceiving them. If the power of the people of Piraeus isn’t enough, the people of Tyre can join in. Let them understand that to restore the glory of the city-states of Tyre from the days of the Tyrian League, they just need to believe in the Dark Holy Religion. Then the Dark God Hades will favor them, and the Great Secret Sect can even help them.”
“Don’t the Spartans always believe that the goddess of wisdom, Athena, will bless them? Then let the Kingdom of Iberia prove the supreme status of the Dark God Hades. Without the help of the Spartans, the Iberians can still defeat barbarian attacks. Isn’t this enough to show that the Kingdom of Iberia, under the protection of the Dark God, is the rightful ruler of the lands in the Southern Seas region? If the Spartans want to prove they’re not inferior to the Iberians, shouldn’t they make some changes too?”
The faint glow in Komer’s eyes sent shivers through Xuro’s heart. Although this dark ruler had only been away for two months, his consciousness and way of thinking seemed to have changed drastically—he had become ruthless and heartless. Yet this was exactly what Xuro desired to see: cutting off emotions and desires in order to achieve great things, a truth that had long been proven unchanging through the ages. But how many people in the world can truly do this completely? After all, they are human, and humans have emotions and desires.