In the third watch of the night, with the moon high in the sky, the camp of Grie was silent. It was at this hour that Autris was summoned into the central military tent by Grie.
Summoned late at night, Autris thought there must be some crucial military intelligence and naturally dared not delay, following the central army in haste to the central military tent. However, he saw Grie with a face full of smiles, which did not seem to indicate any urgent military situation. He couldn't help but feel relieved and let out a long sigh.
Seeing Autris's expression, Grie rose from his seat and gestured for Autris to sit, pushing him into a chair. He then dismissed the central army and said with a smile, "General, today I will introduce you to an old acquaintance. You two can get to know each other better."
Autris had learned from Grie's words that morning that he intended to test his combat skills. Now, hearing that he was to be introduced to an old acquaintance, a big question mark arose in his mind. An acquaintance?
There were naturally many who could be called acquaintances in Santiloman, and countless more who were more capable than himself.
However, Autris was clear about the situation in Santiloman's military. The country was currently lacking in generals, and Swain would not possibly assign another high-ranking general to Grie.
Looking around Santiloman's military, among the low-ranking generals, it was not impossible that there were those more capable than himself, but they were definitely few and far between.
And this was also due to his illness dragging him down. Otherwise, Autris believed that among the high-ranking generals, there wouldn't be more than ten who could match him.
As for this bothersome fellow in front of him, with a face full of smiles and speaking without thinking, he had not seen any of his abilities. If it weren't for his higher rank, he would truly want to exchange some moves.
Although Autris was greatly displeased with Grie's intention to test his skills, he was also somewhat eager to show off. Yet, a trace of dissatisfaction was still mixed with his smile.
"My lord certainly has a good disposition! However, it is getting late, and we have to march tomorrow. We are about to reach Carrol's territory, which will surely be a tough fight. If my lord has an acquaintance to introduce, then please present them!"
Hearing the name Carrol, Grie's smile became even more unrestrained.
"Carrol? Heh heh... To be honest, this general doesn't really take him seriously. However, if the army lacks a bit of steel, even if we go, it will be suicide."
Autris exchanged a look with Grie. Grie then shouted towards the outside of the tent, "Aren't you coming in yet?"
As soon as the words fell, an ominous wind suddenly arose, and the tent flap was slightly lifted. Autris saw a mass of green mist flash into the military tent, sending a chill through his entire body.
He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but Autris felt that the temperature in the entire central military tent had dropped by several degrees since the green mist entered.
Seeing the mass of green mist flash into the tent and rush directly towards Autris, Autris did not see the opponent's appearance clearly. He only saw a mass of green mist lunging at him, and he instantly stood up, exclaiming, "What is that?"
His hand unconsciously slid towards his waist, and just as he was about to grab the hilt of his sword, a hand pressed down on his.
"Don't be afraid!"
Grie made a gesture and said, "Still not revealing yourself?"
Strange to say, as Grie pointed his hand, the mass of green mist immediately dispersed, and a human form appeared before the two as the green mist dissipated. It was a middle-aged man with a few wisps of a mustache under his chin, and a prominent blue mark on his left forehead.
With such distinctive features, Autris immediately recognized him, and his face turned pale. He took two steps back, forcing the wooden chair to scrape against the ground with a sharp grating sound. "You... you... you're a remnant spirit?"
He had personally witnessed the remnant spirit being executed by himself, and now the remnant spirit was standing alive before him. The astonishment in his heart was unimaginable.
Clanking sounds were heard from outside the tent, and Grie's personal guards rushed into the central military tent.
However, Grie let out a long laugh and dismissed his guards, saying, "Brother, your eyesight is indeed extraordinary. This person is indeed the remnant spirit!"
Having said that, Grie released Autris's hand and said leisurely, "This fellow is truly cunning. If I hadn't seen your poor complexion, as if you were being haunted by a vengeful spirit, how could I have caught him?"
The remnant spirit, hearing this, quickly bowed to Grie and said, "The mage speaks the truth! The mage speaks the truth!"
The remnant spirit's voice had not changed, except for a hint of chilliness. However, to Autris, it was quite astonishing. "What? You're saying I'm being haunted by a vengeful spirit? Do vengeful spirits truly exist in this world?"
The remnant spirit quickly apologized with a smile, "Misunderstanding! Misunderstanding! This is all a misunderstanding! If I had known you were a subordinate of the mage, even if I had the courage of a bear, I wouldn't dare to provoke you!"
Having said this, he turned to Grie and said sincerely, "However, this humble one has also benefited from misfortune, having met the mage."
The remnant spirit's laughter was truly more unpleasant than crying, and the chilling aura all over his body exuded a sense of coldness.
Only then did Autris vaguely understand the remnant spirit's words. His worldview had been completely overturned, and he was in a state of shock for a long time.
"Vengeful spirits truly exist in this world! Vengeful spirits truly exist!"
This was Autris's first encounter with something beyond his own consciousness. He clearly could not accept it for the time being and was on the verge of a breakdown, to the point where Grie had to interrupt him.
"Of course, vengeful spirits exist in this world! Do you still think he is human?"
Being sharply addressed by Grie, Autris finally came to his senses, nodded, and after a moment of stunned silence, burst into manic laughter. "So, if I die, can I be reborn as a human?"
Grie smiled sinisterly, "That's hard to say."
However, Autris seemed not to have heard Grie's words. He had served in the army for many years, experienced countless battles, and seen more dead people than living ones. The more he saw, the more fearful he became of death.
If he died, he would feel nothing. In this long, boundless chaos, what kind of loneliness would he have to endure? This was like a topic he dared not touch. Once touched, fear would surge into his thoughts like a torrential river, penetrating every cell of his being.
Seeing Autris acting foolishly, his face shifting between emotions, Grie had to bring him back to reality. He stared intently into Autris's unfocused eyes and said word by word, "Autris! To tell you the truth, I summoned you here late at night for him to protect you. Why are you acting so foolishly?"
Autris was drawn in by Grie's piercing gaze. His pupils gradually contracted and focused. He no longer looked dazed. It was only after Grie had finished speaking for a long time that he came to his senses, "What? Protect me? Who is protecting me?"
Grie nodded towards the remnant spirit, "Naturally, it's him. What else did you think?"
Having understood the laws of this world, Autris clearly regained his usual calm and composure. "Him? He has harmed me for so many years. How can I tolerate him?"
As he spoke, Autris raised his fist and lunged towards the remnant spirit.
The remnant spirit was not afraid of Autris himself, but he had some reservations because Grie was present. He dodged in the air, leaving a blur of afterimages, and shouted from behind Grie, "Mage, save me! Mage, save me!"
Autris was clearly surprised by the remnant spirit's uncanny movement skills, but his expression remained unchanged. He said coldly, "General! Allow me to teach this malevolent spirit a lesson!"
Grie looked at Autris and then said to the remnant spirit, "You are a vengeful spirit, why are you afraid of an ordinary person like him? You weren't afraid of him when you were alive, are you afraid that as a vengeful spirit, he will beat you into dispersed smoke?"
Having said that, he pulled the remnant spirit out from behind him, looking like someone who enjoyed a good spectacle, and said indifferently, "Since he wants to make a move, you can spar with him?"
Hearing Grie say this, the remnant spirit's doubts vanished, and he immediately became spirited. He stared at Autris and sneered, "Good! Since the mage says so, then I won't hold back."
In Grie's tent, although Autris was fearful, seeing that Grie intended for him to compete with the remnant spirit, he was not afraid and stared intently at the remnant spirit.
Then, a faint light flashed behind Grie, and the remnant spirit disappeared.
When he was alive, the remnant spirit's abilities were already superior to Autris's. Now, as a vengeful spirit, he had countless more tricks than before. With a move of his body, he was already standing in front of Autris.
Autris was greatly alarmed and swung his fist to strike.