Chapter 85: We Are Not Companions

"Temple Knight?" Despite everything, Shaman Timmah immediately recognized the identity of the corpse. Though the face was unrecognizable, the shining armor on the body was more noticeable and more telling than the face.

"How did a Temple Knight end up here?" Shaman Timmah asked in astonishment.

"Of course, this was sent by Celeste," Theodorus answered calmly.

Shaman Timmah remained silent, his face still showing confusion. Celeste certainly had no reason to send the already scarce Temple Knights so deep into enemy territory. In an environment like Orford, no one could easily hide. No matter the task, sending a Temple Knight in shining armor alone would only mean death. And the Pope clearly wouldn't do something so foolish.

"Wait... this person is not a Temple Knight," Shaman Timmah said, his surprise deepening.

"Oh? How so? This body is indeed wearing the glory armor," Theodorus furrowed his brow. "This is a treasure from Celeste; it could never be a fake."

"The armor is glory armor, but the person is not a Temple Knight. Although this person has a strong physique, the muscle structure overall is not coordinated, which is not the kind of body a true expert would have. And if this were a Temple Knight, how could he be killed by a single blow? The injuries on his body seem to have been inflicted after his death," Shaman Timmah replied.

Theodorus slowly nodded, impressed. "Lord Shaman truly has an eye like a hawk... I suppose only you could have such keen observation and judgment."

"My friend, what exactly do you want me to see this dead body for?" Shaman Timmah asked.

"Oh, no, I didn't bring you here to see him. This is just a prop... I actually want you to meet someone else," Theodorus shook his head slightly and smiled. "To be more precise, he wants to see you."

"Who?" Looking at Theodorus's smile, Shaman Timmah suddenly had a strange feeling, as if a curtain was about to be pulled back, revealing a terrifying monster.

"It's me." a voice said. A figure stepped out from behind a few bushes.

"It's you?" Shaman Timmah's voice suddenly rose, taking a step back. Lorelei let out a scream and immediately took flight.

The man who appeared was black-haired and black-eyed, dressed casually, but anyone who saw him would no longer feel any sense of casualness. He was the God of War of Orford, Grutttt. For Shaman Timmah and Lorelei, he was an even more towering figure. In the rare absence of Moriel, he was not only the ruler of the dark elves but also the supreme being of all of Nigen.

It was precisely because he had left Nigen that Shaman Timmah had the opportunity and the courage to execute his plan of betrayal. Seeing him suddenly here, years of accumulated fear nearly made both tribal leaders lose control.

However, Shaman Timmah quickly regained his composure. Knowing that he would eventually face him if they were to ally with Orford, he had already discussed his issues with him in advance, as per his earlier conversation with Theodorus. The Shaman immediately nodded toward Grutt, signaling, "Hello, it's been a long time, Mr. Grutt."

"It's indeed been a long time... I never expected to see you two again," Grutt's eyes scanned the two tribal leaders, and what was once a deep, ink-black gaze now showed a hint of nostalgia.

"Yes, it's truly an honor to see your presence once again," Shaman Timmah nodded. He too was studying this long-lost compatriot, and his surprise grew heavier. "You seem much stronger than before."

In his memory, Grutt was never one to hide in the shadows. His presence was like a constantly erupting volcano, and no matter how he concealed himself, his aura would always be felt. Yet just now, he had failed to sense Grutt's presence, only realizing it when Grutt stepped out and stood before him. It was only then that the immense pressure filled the air once again.

The way this aura shifted—from an unstoppable, overwhelming force to something that could be controlled, like a mountain stream that floods and then recedes—showed the difference in their levels of mastery. It was a clear sign of how much Grutt had advanced in his cultivation.

"Of course, the outside world is much more interesting than Nigen," Grutt nodded, his cold eyes still fixed on Shaman Timmah. "But I know you didn't come out here because you found the outside world interesting, did you?"

"The reason I came out... I believe Lord Theodorus has already told you," Shaman Timmah replied, sensing something was off.

"He has. You came here because your rebellion failed, and you had nowhere else to go," Grutt said, his voice as cold as his gaze. Timmah's heart froze, but Grutt then nodded and continued, "But I suppose that's for the best…"

"Yes, that's right. Now, we are all companions," Shaman Timmah nodded in agreement.

"Companions? No," Grutt shook his head, his voice growing colder, sending a chill straight into the heart of the Shaman, who felt like his heart had frozen. "What I mean is, now we can finally fight to the death. Back in Nigen, you always avoided me, and I didn't want to force you into action. But now, it's different."

"Wait, Theodorus didn't tell you we are…"

"He said you must die today," Grutt moved swiftly, charging straight toward Shaman Timmah.

"Theodorus, you despicable bastard~~!" Shaman Timmah howled, slamming his hooves into the ground. There was a deafening crash as he propelled himself backward, moving with a speed that belied his massive form.

The deafening crash came from underground. Shaman Timmah's kick sent a large chunk of the ground flying. The once soft swampy soil, under the powerful concentration of earth magic, had hardened like granite, and the giant stone shot toward Grutt like a massive cannonball. Timmah had been secretly gathering magical power from the moment he sensed something was wrong, and this powerful rock projectile was infused with all of his magic.

However, as the stone, weighing over a thousand pounds, was launched into the air, it soon dissolved into a pile of yellow sand, falling back down. This was because, as soon as Timmah made his move, Theodorus also acted. From the moment things started feeling off, Theodorus had been preparing his own magic—also earth magic, though far weaker than Timmah's. This was a simple Sandstorm spell, much lower in tier compared to Timmah's advanced spell. The moment the giant stone flew up, Theodorus's spell was cast upon it. The overlapping effects of the same magical element caused Timmah's attack to dissipate completely and quickly.