[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-adventures-of-hulim":3,"chapter-the-adventures-of-hulim-the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-523":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Adventures of Hulim",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1882424,2498,"Chapter 523 The Prelude to the Great War","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-523",523,"\u003Cp>Beyond Dorothy’s Hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Is it too much to entrust that child with facing an Archdemon Commander alone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Irus mused to herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>as her mind drifted back\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>to the vision of countless “blossoms” unfurling across the firmament,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a faint, soft smile curved Irus’s lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it was her, there would be no cause for concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that very moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a lone figure departed the Witch Hills and came to rest atop a lofty mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced back toward Windrock City, now vanished beyond the horizon, then cast her gaze about the surrounding wilderness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confusion clouded her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where am I meant to find that Archdemon Commander?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She possessed no such gift of instinct or tracking, after all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time slipped swiftly by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than a month had passed since the fall of Ebony City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom! Boom! Boom…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this day,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>thunderous detonations echoed ceaselessly beyond the walls of Windrock City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Feel the weight of my spear——!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A colossal spear-phantom cleaved through the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Esmelon, the target of the strike, evaded it with effortless grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh——!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp, cutting wind erupted from behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur surged forward, swinging his Holy Sword with every ounce of his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Esmelon flicked his wand, and a defensive barrier materialized in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang——!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur’s blow was repelled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ranged support, now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aralond roared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had the command left his lips\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>than Hena drew her bowstring taut to its limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom——!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A light-arrow, raging with the force of a cannon, blasted forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tome Chapter: Dark VI – Shadow of the Fallen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky above Esmelon was swallowed whole by umbral shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Attacks from above and below converged almost simultaneously,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>slamming into Esmelon’s barrier with violent force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash——!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prarlulu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aralond shouted once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On my way——!” Prarlulu cried in response, hefting her Holy Staff high above her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rays of light burst forth from her form, linking to the other five Heroes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, the power of the dual assaults surging toward Esmelon surged to new heights!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of shattering barrier rent the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now is our moment——!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant the barrier fractured, Arthur and Russell closed in on Esmelon in a blinding charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at that exact second, Esmelon pointed his wand toward the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum——!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive 6th-Tier Magic Circle unfurled across the firmament,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and a cataclysmic strike crashed downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“O earth, stand as my shield!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aralond gritted his teeth, raising his shield with every fiber of his strength to meet Esmelon’s onslaught.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the colossal explosion subsided,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the brutal skirmish finally drew to a close……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be healed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prarlulu waved her Holy Staff, and a tide of radiant light poured forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heroes’ wounds and crippling fatigue, fresh from the fray, faded away in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Prarlulu.” Arthur said with sincere gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, n‑not at all…… it is only my duty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, no need for such modesty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur smiled warmly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then turned to Aralond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aralond, in our last engagement—what flaws remain in our formation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……” Aralond paused in thought, then replied: “Our coordination is flawless now. With Prarlulu’s Mind Magic weaving us together, we need scarcely speak to understand one another’s intent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eh, r‑really? Me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prarlulu pointed to herself in stunned surprise,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then clutched her staff and giggled shyly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ehehe, I had no idea I was so vital…… I’m rather flustered.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If any shortcoming lingers……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it is the gap in our individual strength, which leaves minor vulnerabilities in our unison. But this will mend with time and battle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Truly spoken.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice rang out from nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Firuvin strode toward the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Firuvin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heroes greeted him, their tone far warmer than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been their primary mentor through these long weeks of training, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Firuvin’s gaze swept over each of them, a flicker of pride softening his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You now stand capable of defeating any demon beneath the rank of Archdemon Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Russell’s eyes blazed with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does that mean…… our training is at an end?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It does.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first phase of your trials as Heroes is complete.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, only the first phase……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do not despair. Remember—there is a task you are now fit to undertake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right! I’d nearly forgotten!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Russell leaped to his feet, electrified with fervor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Listen up, all of you! It is time we paid those fiends back in kind——!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eastern Valley, Witch Hills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Goruzaan——!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A demon burst into the throne hall, wild with panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The humans march upon us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Humans? Now, of all times?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Goruzaan frowned, his mind racing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lord Jaca remained in the eastern lands, unreturned. A High-Rank Demon had perished inexplicably not long past. Now only three elite warriors remained in the camp—myself included……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Goruzaan recalled the six Heroes he had faced in battle, and the two S-Rank experts he had encountered at Dorothy’s Hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation was dire…… Without Lord Jaca, we cannot hope to repel the human assault. And what is more……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We seized Ebony City and raided Dorothy’s Hill at great cost, yet never unearthed their fabled superweapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the humans bring that artifact to bear in this attack, resistance will be futile!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his lord lost in prolonged thought,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the demon spoke up cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Goruzaan…… shall we sally forth to meet them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No——”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Goruzaan nearly shook his head on instinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a second thought changed his course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……We shall meet them. We most certainly shall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Send the Marauder Horde forth as vanguard. Intercept the human army within the valley.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, my lord!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon bowed low and hurried off to relay the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two High-Rank Demons could not fathom Goruzaan’s strategy and ventured a hesitant question:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Goruzaan, why waste those fodder creatures as vanguard? They lack all martial prowess—they will break at the first charge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The so-called Marauder Horde was a demon slur for primitive, humanoid demonic beasts—classed as monsters despite their faint intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Precisely because they are fodder that they serve a purpose this day. You two—organize the retreat at once. The moment the Marauder Horde marches, all remaining forces withdraw to the east.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two High-Rank Demons grasped his plan at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brilliant~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As expected of Lord Goruzaan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the perfect use for such wretched creatures!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We go at once to carry out your will~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Graah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grrruh……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the valley,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a horde of goblins in tattered, ill-fitted armor, clutching rusted iron swords, shuffled haphazardly along the riverbank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the mass of goblins mingled countless kobolds in similar rags, a handful of elite orcs, and the occasional towering, menacing troll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ramshackle horde, led by a single Goblin King, marched forth to confront the elite warriors of the Himril Allied Forces.\u003C\u002Fp>",1130,"2026-06-10T06:36:51.451Z",1,"novelbin.me","5a09806b058722f867ad615d46313f6db4c73211de28629bbf67e3318d49b00d","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-524","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-522",528,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-adventures-of-hulim-cover.jpg"]