Ander said, "I bumped into a Skrins Lord, but I didn't succeed in killing him… Almost, damn it."
Rowe looked at the spear in his hand: "Is this the lord's weapon?"
"Yes."
With that said, Ander picked up the spear.
At this moment, a golden light suddenly flashed from Rowe's waist, and the Holy Light pointer emerged, trembling slightly, its direction unstable.
Rowe was stunned, then realized that since this spear belonged to a Skrins Lord, it must have been deeply tainted with sin, triggering the Holy Light's reaction.
He thought for a while: "Ander, is the place where you fought this time far away?"
"Not far."
Rowe hesitated for a moment, then said, "If I have a way to find the exact location of that Skrins Lord, do you want to kill him with me?"
Ander scoffed: "How is that possible?"
Rowe pressed on, "Will you go?"
Ander raised his head: "Are you serious? Can you really find that lord?"
"You know I have some magic," Rowe said, then pointed to the spear. "As long as I have this, I can locate the Skrins Lord's hideout."
Ander looked down at the spear in his hand, silent for a moment. "The Skrins Lord may not be strong, but there will definitely be a large number of Skrins warriors around him. Just the two of us—won't that be too risky?"
"We don't need to engage with other Skrins. I can pinpoint the lord's exact location. As long as we strike fast and retreat immediately, the risk should be minimal." Rowe added, "You know that once a Skrins Lord dies, the fragile discipline of the Skrins collapses instantly."
Ander thought for a long time: "How accurate?"
"There's only this much error." Rowe gestured with his thumb and forefinger, as if holding a tiny insect.
"The battle credit is yours, but I take the spoils. Deal?" he continued.
He didn't know what loot lay in the Skrins lair, but it had to be something worthwhile.
Even if it was empty, he wouldn't feel cheated. At the very least, he would receive divine merit for eliminating a source of corruption.
If they were lucky, there might be some elite Skrins warriors nearby that they could take out in one strike.
Ander was visibly tempted and thought for a while. "Let's bring Wayne along too. Three of us will be safer."
After being rescued by Rowe, Wayne had become a close friend to both him and Ander.
"Alright," Rowe agreed without hesitation.
Ander: "When do we leave?"
Rowe: "I'll be free in a few days, maybe three to five. We need to coordinate schedules."
As warriors, Ander and Wayne had patrol and guard duties, so they had to pick a time when both were available.
"Here, take this," Ander said, about to hand over the spear.
Rowe merely drew his dagger and cut off a piece of the wooden handle. "This is enough."
After discussing with Wayne, the three of them agreed to infiltrate enemy lines six days later and attack the Skrins Lord's lair.
Although this violated camp discipline, the Asgardians held warriors in high regard. As long as they returned victorious, their punishment would be light and symbolic.
The real reason Rowe chose to act in a few days was to prepare Swiftness Potions.
Even with the Holy Light Pointer guiding him, there was always the chance of being pursued. Having Swiftness Potions as an emergency measure significantly increased their odds of survival.
Two days later, Rowe perfected the Swiftness Potion formula and identified a substitute for the rare swiftlet herb—cloverleaf, a common plant from Vanaheim with an 88% effectiveness rate.
On the day of departure, Rowe had prepared six bottles of Swiftness Potion, ensuring each of them had two.
That night—
"What is this?" Wayne asked curiously as he took the two bottles from Rowe.
Rowe explained, "A potion that enhances running speed. If we get surrounded, this will be invaluable."
"Take the potion. Let's move out."
Under the cover of darkness, the three of them slipped past the patrols and entered the damp, dense forest.
Before setting off, Rowe had sealed the Skrins Lord's spear fragment inside the Sanctuary.
Now, he glanced at his waist. The Holy Light Pointer flickered, pointing steadily towards the depths of the forest.
"Let's go."
He gestured in the direction indicated by the pointer, and Ander and Wayne followed.
The Skrins Lord's lair was not far from the camp.
After traveling at full speed for a few hours, the Holy Light Pointer began shifting noticeably—a sign that they were closing in.
"Be careful," Wayne whispered, pointing ahead.
A horde of Skrins stood before them.
Some were feasting, others fighting, naked and beast-like. In truth, most Skrins behaved more like animals than sapient beings. The Holy Light judged them accordingly.
In a ten-mile radius, only a handful could be considered truly intelligent. These were the rare prodigies among their kind.
The trio carefully maneuvered around the Skrins and continued towards their objective.
However, as they advanced, Skrins warriors grew more numerous, scattered across the landscape in groups, their stench thickening in the air.
Despite their best efforts, they soon encountered a problem.
"What now? There's no opening at all," Ander muttered.
Rowe frowned, staying silent for a moment.
Ahead, the Skrins were densely packed, leaving little room for maneuvering—let alone stealth.
But their goal was clear.
At the center of the Skrins gathering stood a massive, half-fallen tree, its trunk at least ten meters wide. Several doorways had been carved into it, converting it into a structure.
Elite Skrins patrolled its perimeter, their routes erratic but forming a semblance of a defensive line.
Undoubtedly, this half-giant tree was the palace of the Skrins Lord.
And the Holy Light Pointer confirmed it, directing them straight to it.
However, there was something odd.
The pointer was shaking rhythmically, as if… the Skrins Lord was engaged in some kind of repetitive motion inside…