CA – Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Deep in the Fallen Crow Forest, a thin layer of white mist did little to conceal the busy figures of Half-Human Monsters moving back and forth. Black crows circled overhead, letting out sharp cries, while lion-like men lay scattered on the ground, gnawing on severed hands and feet from some unknown source.
A crimson stream flowed silently. The corpses piled on its banks, far from diminishing as the Black Witch created more Half-Human Monsters, had instead grown into a mountain of bodies.
One after another, Half-Human Monsters emerged from the dense fog, carrying two or three not-quite-dead bodies on their shoulders, which they tossed onto the mountain of corpses. A black crow would dive down from the sky, pluck out a body's heart with its beak, and drop it into the stream. A few seconds later, a new Half-Human Monster would join the ranks of the carriers.
The dark array had taken shape. The Black Witch no longer needed to cast spells here personally. As long as the people of Edry were not all dead, they could create countless Half-Human Monsters.
Plunging Edry into darkness was only the Black Witch's first objective; her ultimate goal was Bill.
A few black crows emerged wretchedly from the fog and chattered at the flock that was helping the Half-Human Monsters process the bodies. The flock's movements ceased, and one crow flew to perch on the head of a scarecrow standing by the stream.
"Oh? You're saying there's a priest in the Fallen Crow Forest?" The scarecrow spoke in a human voice, its eyes, dotted with bits of flesh, looking particularly eerie in the mist.
The black crow circled once above the scarecrow's head.
"I look forward to seeing what kind of monster a priest's heart can summon." The scarecrow let out a cold laugh. The Half-Human Monsters, black crows, lion-men, and all the other creatures stopped what they were doing and followed the leading crow into the dense fog.
Tang Qiu's group, still searching for the Black Witch in the dense fog, was unaware of the impending danger. The black crows, unable to break through Tang Qiu's Light Barrier, had hidden themselves again to wait for an opportunity.
Maintaining the barrier was draining, so Tang Qiu dispelled it after the black crows gave up, merely reminding the others to remain vigilant.
Lucille had not reappeared since vanishing into the fog. Seeing the worried look on Anna's face, Tang Qiu asked tentatively, "Is Marshal Lucille alright? Should we go back and look for her?"
Tang Qiu had witnessed Lucille's combat prowess against the monsters yesterday. To be honest, she was more concerned about the safety of their own group than she was for Lucille.
Anna shook her head slightly. "It's alright." She paused, then added vaguely to reassure Tang Qiu, "The Marshal... her situation is a bit special. The monsters can't harm her."
Tang Qiu raised an eyebrow. Noticing Anna's shifting gaze, she smiled and tactfully chose not to press the matter.
Anna breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't dare reveal too much to Tang Qiu. After all, for a priest, Lucille's identity was a rather delicate subject.
Yelena's wound had worsened due to the corrosion of the dark aura. The pain made her lips turn white, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
"Grace, let's rest for a bit," Jane called out, frowning as she saw Yelena struggling to hold on.
Tang Qiu walked over and took a look, her own brow furrowing. "She's in a dangerous state."
They could be attacked by monsters at any moment, and Yelena was no longer able to stay alert and guard against a surprise attack.
Jane helped Yelena sit down, looking at her with a worried expression. She turned to Tang Qiu for help. "We can't leave her behind."
Yelena kept her head down. Usually quick-witted and unyielding, this time she just hugged her arms and said nothing.
David analyzed calmly, "Even if we bring her along, she might not survive."
Jane bit her lip, unsure how to refute him. After all, whether any of them would make it out alive was still an unknown.
Tang Qiu sensed the atmosphere suddenly turn heavy and felt a bit helpless. She sighed, trying to soothe everyone. "We've already come this far. No one knows what will happen next."
"But I believe the Light Goddess will guide us to safety."
Tang Qiu looked at Jane and said gently, "We won't abandon Yelena. It's just that her condition is no longer suitable for continuing on."
"The path we've taken is safe for now. Yelena can stay here and rest." Tang Qiu planned to split them into two groups. "The Sengo Mercenary Squad and I will continue onward to find the Black Witch. The rest of you will stay here for the time being."
Aside from David and his people, Tang Qiu felt that the others wouldn't be of much help if they encountered the Black Witch.
Anna pointed to herself, surprised. "I'm staying here too?"
Tang Qiu nodded with a smile and said softly, "Don't worry, I'll set up a Light Barrier here. You'll be very safe."
David agreed with Tang Qiu's proposal. Anna hesitated for a moment before also choosing to follow Tang Qiu's decision. Although Jane's light magic couldn't compare to Tang Qiu's, it could still be of some use. After a moment's hesitation, she chose to go with Tang Qiu's group.
The "elite" squad, after a brief adjustment, continued deeper into the forest.
The Staff of Light enhanced a priest's perception. When the Half-Human Monsters stepped within a hundred-meter radius of Tang Qiu, the staff's gem suddenly flickered. She stopped abruptly, her brow furrowed, and said in a grave tone, "There are monsters."
The ground trembled slightly. The noisy chattering of black crows disturbed their thoughts. The oppressive atmosphere made Tang Qiu and the others hold their breath. When they finally saw their surroundings through the dense fog, even Tang Qiu gasped.
A black mass of creatures surrounded them. Half-Human Monsters brandished their huge fists, ready to tear them apart, while the lion-men shook their heads, their gaping maws revealing sharp fangs still stained with blood and flesh.
The staff flashed rapidly several times, and multiple Light Binding Spells shot toward the nearest monsters. Tang Qiu chanted a low incantation, and a Light Barrier suddenly appeared, blocking the creatures.
Jane looked around in disbelief, muttering to herself, "How... how can there be so many monsters?"
David's expression was grave. He slowly drew the broadsword from his waist, but for the first time, he held his sword without knowing which enemy to strike.
"The dark aura is thickest to the southeast. The Black Witch might be there." Although this was Tang Qiu's first time facing a life-or-death situation, she was surprisingly calm, casting one spell after another without pause.
David, Jane, and the others also regained their composure and began to coordinate with Tang Qiu to resist the monsters' assault.
The light magic Tang Qiu cast using the Staff of Light was powerful, but the sheer number of monsters was overwhelming. For every one ensnared by a spell, another would take its place. Even the Light Barrier couldn't hold and began to crack.
The black crows circling in the air, waiting for an opportunity, suddenly dove down all at once. Just then, the Light Barrier shattered. They swarmed toward the nearest person, Jane, who only had time to let out a cry of alarm before she was engulfed by darkness.
Tang Qiu's hand trembled, interrupting the light spell she was halfway through chanting. A lion-man seized the opportunity to close in on her, opening its mouth to bite her neck.
A dark figure suddenly appeared between the lion-man and Tang Qiu. With a blank expression, Lucille grabbed the long fur on the lion-man's neck, swung it around, and slammed it violently onto the ground.
The lion-man's massive body was thrown, knocking down a row of monsters beside it and giving Tang Qiu a moment to catch her breath.
"...Thank you." Tang Qiu's tense nerves relaxed slightly. She looked up at Lucille and thanked her sincerely.
Light magic was indeed powerful against monsters, but its weakness was also obvious: the casting speed was somewhat slow.
With Tang Qiu's current abilities, she was actually better suited to providing support from the rear. However, since David and the others couldn't hold back so many monsters, she had no choice but to take the front line.
But now that Lucille had finally appeared, hope rekindled in Tang Qiu's heart.
Lucille glanced at her. "If you transformed into a werewolf, you wouldn't have such a hard time."
Tang Qiu: "Hm?"
A werewolf again? Tang Qiu found the things Lucille said to be truly baffling at times, but now was not the time to ponder them. She tightened her grip on her staff, walked to Lucille's side, and asked in a low voice, "Did you find where the Black Witch is?"
Lucille grunted in affirmation.
Tang Qiu let out a sigh of relief and touched the light gem on her staff. "Let's go find the Black Witch." Only by dealing with the witch could they focus on the monsters.
Otherwise, as long as the Black Witch was still around, the number of monsters would only continue to grow.
Lucille looked at her with calm eyes. "We?"
Tang Qiu was taken aback for a moment, then gave a faint, knowing smile and promoted herself, "While I can't fulfill your wish and turn into a werewolf, as a priest, I'm still somewhat useful when it comes to dealing with a Black Witch."
Lucille coolly averted her gaze, and her figure suddenly vanished. The surrounding monsters were torn apart one by one by an afterimage, their dark red blood staining the ground a deep shade.
"Aren't we going to deal with the Black Witch?" Lucille's figure reappeared a short distance away. She turned her head to look at Tang Qiu and said in a low voice, "Aren't you coming?"
The corners of Tang Qiu's mouth lifted. A light spell pushed aside the dense horde of monsters before her, finally clearing a narrow path. She quickly moved forward and followed Lucille.
Deep in the Fallen Crow Forest, the absence of the chattering black crows made it deathly quiet. The scarecrow by the stream stood silently, a black aura spreading from its feet into the water, where the scarlet, bloody liquid bubbled.
The corpse of a Half-Human Monster fell with a thud at the scarecrow's feet. Lucille emerged from the dense fog, stepping over a floor of monster corpses. The thick stench of blood made her pause. Her throat constricted in an involuntary swallow, but her brow furrowed in disgust.
"A disgusting smell." Lucille lowered her gaze to the mountains of corpses piled on both sides, her dark red eyes deepening to a shade richer than blood.
A Light Barrier suddenly appeared, shielding Lucille from the surrounding stench of blood. Tang Qiu arrived a moment later. She walked to Lucille's side, looked around, and asked with a frown, "Did the Black Witch escape?"
As the air she breathed became fresh again, Lucille's agitation slowly subsided. She turned her head to look at the priest beside her. This person always seemed so thoughtful.
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