Dorothy’s Forbidden Grimoire

Inside Karnak City, in the city hall office.

With a hint of fervor in his eyes, Shihab spoke passionately to the people before him. Watching Shihab's fanaticism, Mohn's anger visibly deepened, until it finally gave way to resignation.

"You're insane! Do you want us all to die here?!"

"If you don't want to die, you can always leave. Do it now, while Shadi's army hasn't fully surrounded us yet. We've long since prepared ourselves to offer our lives to the Lord."

Shihab cast a glance at Mohn as he spoke. Mohn's face twitched slightly at those words. Then he glanced over at Khurashi, who had just finished reporting his intel, and strode swiftly toward the door.

"Let's go."

Hearing him, Khurashi quickly followed, opening the door and exiting alongside him, joined by Mohn's subordinates waiting outside.

Khurashi walked alongside Mohn through the streets of Karnak, and after hesitating a moment, voiced his concern.

"Mr. Mohn, can we really open the Sepulcher in two days?"

Mohn scoffed at the question. Hearing this, Khurashi's face darkened.

"Then… what should we do now? Shihab only gave us two days. After that, he plans to blow up the crypt himself… Maybe we should withdraw while we still can. It's one thing to work with these lunatics normally—but when a crisis comes, they're truly dangerous."

Khurashi continued, clearly uneasy. Mohn didn't reply right away. He took a deep breath, then finally spoke.

"We've already invested too many resources and too much effort in Addus. We're only one step away from success; now is not the time to speak of retreat. When I return, I'll contact the Eternal Interment Institute and see if we can get some additional support. After all, this is Rachman's undead we're talking about, they won't just stand by.

"We still have some trump cards here. If the higher-ups give us even a little help, we won't have anything to fear, even if Shadi's full army reaches our gates."

"The higher-ups…"

"Enough. Go get some rest. Recover your strength over the next two days. What happens next will depend on what support I can secure."

Mohn dismissed Khurashi politely. The latter nodded and withdrew.

…

Elsewhere, in the desert between Karnak and Dorsa, at the edge of the undead surveillance zone, Dorothy sat inside her tent. By now, she had seen and heard everything Khurashi had seen and heard in Karnak.

After witnessing the current state of Karnak through Khurashi's perspective, Dorothy thoughtfully touched her chin.

"I didn't expect this... The Nether Coffin Order and the Savior's Advent Sect have already found Rachman's Royal Mausoleum in the Dead Eagle Valley and even managed to open the crypt. Looks like their real target is Rachman's soul. So the Baruch Royal Sacrificial Book was right—Rachman's soul really didn't enter the Ethereal Realm, but remained in his tomb."

Given Dorothy's past dealings with the Nether Coffin Order, she knew they had a penchant for collecting powerful souls. And Rachman, a Crimson-rank Beyonder, possessed a soul of Crimson-rank quality. Their interest in him was hardly surprising.

"The Coffin's target is Rachman's undead. Somehow they found his tomb and began digging. Along the way, they used the Savior's Advent Sect troops occupying Karnak to help excavate. My guess is they promised Shihab that once Rachman's undead was under control, they'd help him fight Shadi. Shihab's army brings manpower and explosives—perfect for brute-force digging—filling in the manpower gap that the Nether Coffin Order lacks."

"Judging from what I've seen, they're moving fast. They even dug out the Goblet of Nether Guidance. That's probably how the Nether Coffin Order managed to control so many undead across such a wide range—through rituals powered by the Goblet. But they still haven't opened Rachman's Sepulcher, where his soul lies. Without a proper ritual, brute force seems nearly impossible to breach it."

Sipping her tea, Dorothy contemplated the situation. A sense of urgency now loomed in her mind.

"Shihab won't wait much longer. If the Nether Coffin Order doesn't open the Sepulcher in two days, he plans to use brute force to blast it open. That could send Rachman's undead into a frenzy. Not only would Karnak's defenders be at risk, but Dorsa might be caught in the fallout too. We can't wait any longer. We have to launch the assault on Karnak immediately, or things could spiral out of control."

Frowning, Dorothy's expression turned grave. She then calculated the timing and realized.

"Looks like… the reinforcements should be arriving right about now."

"Time to start preparing for the main offensive…"

She murmured to herself, then began packing up her tent, ready to return to camp.

…

Dusk, Dorsa Train Station.

Amid the gradually fading roar of machinery, yet another steel behemoth slowed to a stop on the tracks. Steam billowed up from the platform, and a thick white mist quickly enveloped the surrounding area.

As the train came to a full halt, one after another, soldiers in plain uniforms leapt down from the carriages and landed on the platform. Waiting reception staff immediately stepped forward to guide these newly arrived reinforcements to their designated positions.

At the far end of the platform, near the passenger cars at the head of the train, two rows of guards stood tall and straight. At the end of those ranks stood several figures, clearly officers of the Dorsa Revolutionary Army. At their forefront was Adan, and beside him stood Nei, the special consultant who had arrived in Dorsa a few days prior. The presence of so many key personnel indicated that this train carried someone even more important.

Amid the swirling steam, the door of the passenger car slowly opened. Several guards in ceremonial uniforms stepped out first. Following them was a dark-skinned, sharp-featured North Ufigan man in full officer's dress uniform, wearing a military cap. This man was none other than the supreme commander of the Addus Revolutionary Army, General Shadi.

"Your Excellency."

As Shadi stepped off the train, Adan immediately saluted him respectfully. Shadi gave a slight nod and then spoke.

"How's the preparation for the offensive going?"

"Once the reinforcements you brought are deployed, we'll be ready to launch at any time."

Shadi scanned the scene briefly. When he noticed Nei beside Adan, he paused momentarily, then responded.

"I see… Well done. Go ahead and handle the deployment of the last group, then get some rest. We strike tomorrow."

"Yes, sir."

With that, Adan stepped away. Shadi glanced once more at Nei before walking to the far end of the platform. Nei followed. Once they were far enough from the others, Shadi turned to him.

"You're the consultant I appointed?"

"Yes. Pleased to meet you, General. We didn't expect you to personally come to Dorsa."

Nei smiled politely. Shadi chuckled in response.

"This is the final battle of a civil war that's lasted three years. I wanted to see it with my own eyes. Besides, didn't Adan say morale was down due to the undead? I figured my presence was the simplest and most effective way to lift it."

"Ah… so it seems Your Excellency is eager to resolve the Karnak issue."

"More or less. This damned war has dragged on long enough—it's time to bring it to an end."

"Indeed, ending it quickly would be best. If it drags out any longer, I fear… complications might arise."

Nei replied meaningfully. Shadi paused, then looked over.

"Complications…?"

"Regarding the one buried in the Dead Eagle Valley—your former king."

Nei said with a knowing look. Under Dorothy's control, he then relayed the full details regarding the current situation at Rachman's Royal Mausoleum. After hearing the report, Shadi's eyes widened slightly, a strange expression crossing his face.

"Their target isn't just treasure, but Rachman's soul itself? So it's true… His soul never entered the Ethereal Realm, just like the legends say…"

Shadi spoke, a note of surprise in his voice. Nei nodded.

"Yes… The Nether Coffin Order has a tradition of hunting powerful souls. Since Rachman's soul still lingers, they would never pass up such an opportunity. The only mystery is how they found the precise location of his tomb."

Shadi's eyes sharpened. After a moment's thought, he muttered a name.

"Diadin…"

"What?"

"Diadin Baruch—the last king of the Baruch dynasty. The final guardian of that rotting throne. The most powerful Beyonder of the Baruch line. Muhtar and I killed him together. But his body vanished. His soul couldn't be summoned. Someone stole him from right under our noses. We've always wondered who could've done it… now I have a lead."

Shadi's voice was deep and thoughtful. Realizing who "Diadin" referred to, Dorothy paused for a moment. Then she had Nei speak.

"You mean the Nether Coffin Order stole Diadin's corpse and soul, and from him learned the location of Rachman's undead?"

"That's the most logical explanation. Judging by everything so far, the Nether Coffin Order likely set their sights on Addus and Baruch a long time ago. If they truly have Diadin's soul and body… then tomorrow's battle won't go as smoothly as we hoped. Their command over the dead is terrifyingly refined."

Hands clasped behind his back, Shadi spoke grimly. Nei replied thoughtfully.

"Then it seems tomorrow's operation needs to account for a lot more uncertainty."

"Yes… Karnak is no longer the only focal point. The Royal Mausoleum is now a second front. We'll take the lead in assaulting Karnak. Can your forces handle the tomb side?"

"We don't have many people this time, certainly fewer than in Yadith, but if you can keep Karnak's defenders occupied, we should manage."

Dorothy, through Nei, gave the answer she had hoped for. Having the Heaven's Arbiter Sect handle the tomb assault was exactly her plan.

From there, Dorothy continued directing Nei as he discussed detailed plans with Shadi for the next day's operation. As the sky darkened, Nei finally excused himself.

"One last question… I've noticed you always refer to him as King Rachman. For someone who ended the Baruch line, do you still respect their monarch?"

Shadi paused, then answered.

"King Rachman's wisdom is part of every Addus child's upbringing. He was a hero to many boys—including me. Mr. Nei… if it's at all possible, please ensure the Sepulcher remains sealed. Let him rest."

"The battlefield changes quickly… We'll have to see."

Nei replied, then turned and walked away, while Dorothy mused silently.

"Once I open the Sepulcher, I'll tidy it up a bit… clear a place for him to sleep. That way, he can rest better."

With her thoughts in place, Dorothy had Nei take his leave.

After Nei departed, Shadi looked into the distance and murmured.

"The Nether Coffin Order, controlling thousands of undead to guard Karnak… even the Savior's Advent Sect, heretics of the Lantern path, couldn't stop them from stealing intel. That church is everywhere…"

He sighed. And within his mind, the voice of Setut responded with a tone of smug pride.

"Heh. When it comes to intelligence gathering, none of the Six Great Spiritualities come close to 'Revelation'. It was true seven thousand years ago. It's truer now. Be glad you're not standing in their way. Otherwise, they'd know even the color of your underwear, kid."

"… You talk like you're 'Revelation' yourself."

"……"

"Hey, Setut, you alright?"

"Nothing! Aren't you going to war tomorrow? Start getting ready!"

"…Oh."

With that, Shadi strode off the platform, disappearing into the golden glow of dusk.