CA - Chapter 163
Chapter 163
The Black Witches were never a race associated with mercy or sympathy. Their feelings toward their own kin were also incredibly cold; sacrificing one's life to save a fellow witch was something that would never happen in their race.
If the witch currently held hostage by Tang Qiu were anyone else, the Black Witches would not have stopped their attack. They would have used dark magic to send both the enemy and their unfortunate kinswoman to see the Dark God together.
Death never frightened them. As for a kinswoman dying at their own hands… in their eyes, it was just another form of sacrifice to the Dark God.
Such a sacrifice was a great honor.
However, the witch in Tang Qiu's hands was Noah. Although the Dark Array had been successfully established and was only awaiting its final activation, summoning the Dark God still required Noah's leadership.
Moreover, the Dark Key obtained from the forbidden grounds was also in Noah's possession. Even if every single Garcia Black Witch died, Noah could not.
The Red-robed Witches exchanged glances. The highest-ranking Black Witch stepped forward and said to Tang Qiu in a deep voice, "Release Noah, and I can let you leave safely."
Tang Qiu glanced at Noah, who was curled up on the ground in pain, and said to the Black Witch with a smile, "This is your territory. You call the shots."
She bent down, grabbed Noah by the neck, and lifted her up. Her sharp nails broke Noah's skin, and blood began to well up. Noah clutched Tang Qiu's wrist in agony, unable to utter a single word due to the pain.
The white wolf's strength was immense. Just moments ago, Noah had braced herself to take a blow from the white wolf in order to place the Godhead into the bloody swamp. The attack had fractured her shoulder and ribs, severely injuring her internal organs. Even breathing was painful.
Noah had been clinging to life by a thread, and being lifted by Tang Qiu cost her another third of what remained. Seeing her vomit large mouthfuls of blood, the Black Witches' expressions changed slightly, and they raised their bone staffs.
The lead Black Witch's face was grim. She made a gesture to the witches behind her, who turned and vanished into the white mist.
With their concerns gone, the Black Witches finally began to display their true method of combat.
This was Witch City, after all, and the Red-robed Witches standing before Tang Qiu were all the most gifted prodigies of their race.
Forcing a way out was impossible, which was why Tang Qiu hadn't simply snapped Noah's neck from the start.
Watching the Black Witches' figures gradually disappear into the white mist, Tang Qiu wore a somewhat helpless smile. She spoke softly to the witch who had been negotiating with her, "Don't be nervous. I promise she won't die."
The Black Witch looked at her calmly. "Your terms."
"Actually, I came here to pick up a friend," Tang Qiu said with a smile. "Hand over Erin, and you can have Noah back."
"Erin?" The Black Witch frowned. "She has already left Witch City."
"Oh?"
"After coming out of the forbidden grounds, Noah had Vera send Erin away."
Tang Qiu was somewhat surprised to hear that Erin was no longer in Witch City. She furrowed her brow and looked up at the Black Witch. Seeing her natural expression, Tang Qiu didn't doubt her words. She lowered her gaze and pondered for a moment, then suddenly turned to Patricia, who was kneeling on the ground silently staring at the bloody swamp, and said in a low voice, "Little guardian of the Elves, want to get out of here together?"
Patricia snapped out of her daze. She turned to look at Tang Qiu but didn't speak, slowly getting to her feet instead.
Her arms were covered in bloody gashes. Although they were slowly healing, the white of her bones was still visible in some places.
The Black Witch observed Tang Qiu and Patricia for a while, then raised her hand and waved her bone staff. The white mist behind her suddenly parted down the middle, revealing a clear path before Tang Qiu and Patricia.
Tang Qiu raised an eyebrow at the Black Witch's gesture of goodwill. To show her own sincerity, she kindly moved her hand from Noah's neck to her shoulder.
With Noah in her grasp, Tang Qiu wasn't worried about the Black Witches going back on their word. She gave Patricia a look, and just as the two were about to leave along the path the Black Witch had cleared, the sound of an explosion suddenly echoed from the distance. A familiar red mist spread through the air.
Tang Qiu paused, looking up in the direction of the sound. Her brows furrowed as she recognized the sudden red mist as coming from E Leaf powder.
The Black Witch also noticed the red mist. Another witch approached and whispered something in her ear. She nodded slightly and explained to Tang Qiu, "It's the Anderson Family dealing with intruders."
Tang Qiu withdrew her gaze. Just as she was about to say something, a cacophony of wolf howls reached her ears. The howls were chaotic, similar to those of the Werewolf race but distinctly different.
It was an ancient rule that the various Black Witch families did not interfere with one another. The Anderson Family knew nothing of the Dark Array prepared by the Garcia Family, and likewise, the Garcia Family was unaware of the "werewolf army" they had prepared.
The Black Witch was also baffled by the wolf howls. She frowned and gestured for a nearby witch to investigate. Just as she gave the order, Tang Qiu, Noah, and Patricia vanished.
The Black Witch's face darkened, and she led the other witches in pursuit in the direction Tang Qiu and the others had fled.
On the Black Witches' home turf, facing an attack from dozens of Red-robed Witches, even Rona and the others, who were also dark creatures, were finding it hard to bear. The Dark Domain obstructed their vision, and hundreds upon hundreds of demonic creatures drained their stamina. The mushrooms Rona summoned grew fewer and fewer, until only a few remained near her companions, securing their line of retreat.
As a vampire of the Brujah Clan, combat made Thor increasingly excited. The Black Witches' dark magic couldn't easily crush his heart, so he was, ironically, the most relaxed member of the grocery store's team.
Rona and a companion stood back-to-back, staring into the surrounding white mist. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and grumbled, "These Black Witches are too cunning."
They were using their geographical advantage to wear down their stamina and mental energy, while keeping their own bodies well hidden.
Forget about rescuing Erin; after fighting for so long, Rona and the others had only advanced a few hundred meters.
"What should we do?" a companion asked Rona. "Should we open a portal to the Dark World and get some help?"
Rona hesitated at the suggestion. "The Dark World… but the boss isn't here. No one can control them."
"Then we retreat?"
"But we haven't rescued Erin yet."
Caught in a dilemma, Rona felt a surge of impatience. But continuing this stalemate was not to their advantage. She scanned her surroundings, and just as she was about to make a decision, a fierce wind suddenly swept through, dispersing the white mist and making the figures around them clearer.
Rona was stunned. As she wondered about the Black Witches' unusual action, a massive, incredibly intimidating giant wolf leaped down from a rooftop. Its fangs were bared, and its eyes, fixed on Rona and her group, were fierce and savage.
One after another, giant wolves leaped out from all sides, surrounding Rona's group. They threw their heads back and let out a howl, then lunged at them.
Rona dodged in time, but her arm was still scratched, a chunk of flesh torn away.
She lifted her arm, watching as the wound was slowly covered by black energy and began to heal sluggishly. Her brow furrowed tightly.
These giant wolves' attacks were not infused with the Power of Darkness, which meant their wounds would heal much more slowly.
Why did a pack of werewolves suddenly appear… She hadn't heard of any close relationship between the Werewolf race and the Black Witches.
Rona gritted her teeth. Just as she was about to order a temporary retreat, her peripheral vision caught a familiar figure on a nearby roof. A petite, slender, brown-haired girl was standing there, anxiously looking down.
It was Erin… The order to retreat died on Rona's lips. The moment she saw Erin freeze, a giant wolf seized the opportunity and pounced, pinning her to the ground. Rona pressed her hand on the wolf's back and violently flung it off her.
Thor also threw off a giant wolf and flashed to Rona's side. Glancing at Erin on the roof, he said in a low voice, "…This is a trap."
The enemy actually knew the purpose of their trip… Thor frowned. They had done their best to distance themselves from Erin, so how were they still discovered?
On the roof, Erin watched the battle below with anxiety. Rona's group was besieged by the giant wolves and had to be wary of sneak attacks from the Black Witches. The situation was dire; it looked like they couldn't hold out for much longer.
Glanna stood beside Erin, also watching the scene below. But unlike the anxious Erin, her expression was much more relaxed and at ease.
She pointed at Rona below and said softly to Erin, "That woman is from Mark's Grocery Store, isn't she?"
Seeing Erin remain silent, she shook her head slightly and chuckled. "I've investigated her."
"Unfortunately, the background of this organization is too mysterious."
"If you can convince them to tell me who the master behind Mark's Grocery Store is, I'll let them leave. How about it?"
Glanna reached out to stroke Erin's hair, saying with a smile, "I don't want to kill all your friends, you know."
Erin dodged her hand. She lowered her eyes and was silent for a moment before suddenly speaking, "If I agree, you'll let them go?"
Glanna smiled and nodded. "Of course."
Erin took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Then have your elders stop first."
For Rona and the others, the greatest threat was the Red-robed Witches hiding and launching sneak attacks.
Glanna glanced at her, then raised her hand and made a gesture. The dark magic spells flying toward the ground immediately ceased.
Although the dark magic had vanished, the giant wolves were still attacking. Rona's group tried to move closer to Erin's position, but their path was constantly blocked by the wolves.
Erin reached into her sleeve and pulled out Little Fur Ball. She stroked its head and stood at the edge of the roof, glancing down. The height of over ten meters made her a little dizzy.
Little Fur Ball's appearance caught Glanna's attention. She looked down at it, and though she didn't know what was special about it, a bad premonition suddenly rose in her heart.
Glanna placed a hand on Erin's shoulder, her eyes narrowing as she asked, "…What is this?"
Erin struggled to break free from Glanna's grip but failed. Steeling herself, she was about to throw Little Fur Ball off the roof when the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground drew both her and Glanna's attention.
On the roof opposite them, Noah lay unmoving, her life status unknown. Her red robes were almost completely soaked in blood.
Glanna froze for a moment, her expression instantly turning cold. The smile on her lips slowly vanished, especially when she saw Noah's right hand, which had been reduced to withered bone.
Two figures landed beside Noah, one after the other. The white-haired werewolf scanned her surroundings, and her sky-blue eyes quickly locked onto the roof where Erin and Glanna stood. She smiled in their direction, offering Glanna a friendly greeting.
Seeing Tang Qiu, Erin's eyes lit up, and she called out happily, "Grace."
Tang Qiu nodded at Erin and said gently, "I'm here to take you away."
Erin had complete faith in Tang Qiu's strength. Hearing her words, she quickly stuffed the "transformation-unstable" Little Fur Ball back into her sleeve.
Glanna stared at Noah at Tang Qiu's feet for a moment, a slow curve forming on her lips. She looked up to meet Tang Qiu's gaze, her eyes dark and her tone ambiguous as she called out, "Bishop Grace."
Tang Qiu nodded in acknowledgment, smiling. "Long time no see, Elder Glanna."
Glanna let out a low laugh. "And that vampire who's always with you?"
Although she and Tang Qiu hadn't interacted much, Glanna had specifically investigated this person because of Erin.
A werewolf bishop. It sounded astonishing.
"She had business back in the Blood Domain." As Tang Qiu spoke with Glanna, a giant wolf circled behind her and Patricia, attempting a sneak attack. However, just as it crouched down, before it could lunge, Tang Qiu turned. A single, light glance froze the giant wolf in place.
Its tail drooped instinctively, and the giant wolf bent its front paws, kneeling on the ground and trembling.
Tang Qiu walked over, stroked the giant wolf's neck, then grabbed it with both hands and threw it off the roof. The wolf landed with a thud, letting out a whimper.
The giant wolves besieging Rona's group simultaneously felt this terrifying pressure. Their bodies stiffened, and they prostrated themselves in Tang Qiu's direction.
Rona and the others exchanged glances, then turned and leaped onto the roof, standing behind Tang Qiu.
The giant wolves' reaction caused Glanna's gaze to deepen. She snorted coldly and said with displeasure, "This kind of bloodline pressure is so annoying."
She hadn't expected Tang Qiu to have also infiltrated Witch City. Otherwise, she certainly wouldn't have released these werewolves.
After the giant wolves were subdued, the Garcia Black Witches also arrived. Noah had been lying on the ground for a long time without moving. The Black Witches' eyes had turned red. The lead Red-robed Witch glared at Tang Qiu and demanded coldly, "Are you going back on your word?"
Tang Qiu glanced at the speaking Red-robed Witch and explained good-naturedly, "You misunderstand. I'm just here to pick up a friend."
She pointed at Erin on the opposite roof.
The Red-robed Witch followed her finger and looked over, somewhat surprised. She frowned and asked, "Erin, didn't Vera send you away?"
Erin unhesitatingly exposed Glanna's crime. "Glanna knocked Vera out and captured me."
The Red-robed Witch stared at Glanna and said in a deep voice, "Elder Glanna, release Erin."
Glanna glanced at the unconscious Noah and said nonchalantly, "Give me a reason. She is my most beloved daughter, after all."
"Am I supposed to abandon my daughter just to save an elder of your Garcia Family?"
Erin was disgusted by Glanna's repeated claims of her being a "beloved daughter" and couldn't help but retort, "Don't call me that."
The Red-robed Witch paid no mind to Glanna's sarcasm. She described Noah's condition in a grave tone, "Elder Noah is severely injured. She lost a great deal of blood to activate the Dark Array. Any further delay will endanger her life."
The only reason the Red-robed Witch was negotiating so patiently with Tang Qiu was because Noah was in her hands. If Noah died… even if it meant sacrificing the entire Garcia Family, she would send Tang Qiu and her companions to see the Dark God.
Tang Qiu knew this, which was why she hadn't chosen to fight the Black Witches head-on. She glanced down at Noah, her expression neutral, but her heart felt heavy.
If Glanna continued to stall, it would be bad for them.
Fortunately, Glanna had no intention of delaying further. She lowered her gaze slightly, and after a moment of thought, she made her decision. She gently pushed Erin's back and said in a low voice, "Go on."
Erin was surprised by Glanna's choice, but more than that, she was delighted. She had already been preparing for a fight to the death.
Glanna's agreement brought a collective sigh of relief from the Garcia witches. Rona patted Tang Qiu's shoulder and whispered a few words in her ear.
Tang Qiu raised her eyebrows after hearing it, altering her original plan. She signaled for Glanna to bring Erin down, and she also jumped down with Noah.
The giant wolves were cleared away, leaving an open space. Tang Qiu placed Noah on the ground. Rona and the others came down as well, summoning a black vortex behind them.
The Garcia witches frowned when they saw the vortex appear but said nothing.
Although they had reached an agreement, their trust in each other hadn't increased much. Glanna pulled Erin toward Tang Qiu. Halfway there, she looked at the motionless Tang Qiu and raised an eyebrow. "…Am I supposed to come over and pick her up myself?"
"No need for such trouble." Tang Qiu bent down, grabbed Noah's arm, and lifted her up. To Glanna's astonishment, she threw Noah toward her.
Glanna subconsciously let go of Erin to catch Noah.
Thor shot out from behind Tang Qiu, grabbing Erin like a bolt of lightning and rushing toward the black vortex.
The moment Tang Qiu threw Noah, dark magic spells flew in from all directions, nearly engulfing them. But before the spells could land, they had already slipped into the vortex.
The dark magic hit empty air and slowly dissipated. The black vortex spun a few more times, and just before it vanished, a black arrow and a flame of light shot out from within, heading straight for Glanna and Noah.
After catching Noah, Glanna didn't immediately check her injuries. She had anticipated that Tang Qiu's group would launch a sneak attack, so she had directly used a scarecrow to switch locations.
The scarecrow was torn apart and incinerated by the arrow and the flame of light.
The Black Witches went to where the vortex had disappeared and investigated. After confirming the location of their teleportation, they summoned skeletons one by one, attempting to give chase.
Glanna carried Noah to a safe place before stopping. She supported Noah's back with one arm and checked her injuries with the other.
Noah let out a muffled cough and slowly regained consciousness. Her face was pale and bloodless, and even her gaze seemed scattered.
"…Are you alright?" Glanna brushed Noah's hair aside and glanced down at her neck, which was covered in purple and blue bruises, as well as cuts.
Noah's voice was hoarse and weak. "Not dead yet."
Glanna snorted with a laugh and took out some healing potions from her Space Gem, opening one and handing it to Noah.
"What's the deal with that Dark Array?" Glanna asked nonchalantly as she watched Noah tilt her head back to drink the potion. Her gaze swept over Noah's hand, now just withered bone, which was tucked into her sleeve.
Noah closed her eyes and leaned against Glanna. After feeling some of her strength return, she replied wearily, "It's a ritual to welcome the Dark God."
"The Garcia Family has been preparing this Dark Array for nearly a thousand years. Today, it was finally completed."
Glanna narrowed her eyes and asked with a pout, "What does it do?"
Noah didn't answer directly, but a smile couldn't help but form on her lips. "You'll find out soon enough."
The person in her arms was still very weak, but her tone became excited the moment the Dark God was mentioned. Glanna felt a flicker of dissatisfaction, especially since Noah's life had been exchanged for Erin's, a fact she was still bitter about. "…Is the Dark God that important?"
Glanna grabbed Noah's arm and lifted her right hand, looking down at the hand that had turned to withered bone. The smile on her lips was tinged with mockery. "Do you think you're a vampire? That your hand can heal itself?"
Aside from their ability to wield the Power of Darkness, Black Witches were essentially ordinary humans.
Vampires, werewolves, and even elves possessed powerful regenerative abilities, but they had no such talent.
The pain from her corroded hand had not yet faded. A cold sweat broke out on Noah's forehead again. She pulled her arm back and lowered her head without a word.
Glanna watched her for a while, and her anger slowly dissipated. She reached out to stroke Noah's hair, then used her sleeve to wipe the sweat from her forehead.
"Let's go. Everyone is very worried…" Glanna's words were cut off by Noah.
Noah rested her head on Glanna's shoulder and murmured, "The Dark God… is very important to me."
"But I don't know why the Dark God is so important…" Noah's eyes held a trace of confusion.
The Dark God was her faith. From the moment she was born, this belief had been deeply imprinted on her mind, something that could probably only be stripped away upon her death.
With her uninjured hand, Noah took out the Dark Key she had obtained from the forbidden grounds from her Space Gem.
This pitch-black stone was almost identical to the one Erin had, but Noah could easily tell them apart.
The Dark Key in Erin's possession had already been used. Noah didn't know how she could tell, but she just knew.
This was the Dark Key that belonged to their Garcia Family. This was the key that could summon the Dark God. Noah's gaze on the Dark Key was somewhat entranced.
She had obtained this only through the guidance of the Dark God.
The aura emanating from the Dark Key caught Glanna's attention. She glanced down and tentatively reached for it. Noah instantly snapped back to reality, looking at Glanna warily. "What are you doing?"
Glanna pulled her hand back, shrugged, and replied casually, "Nothing." She glanced at the Dark Key in Noah's hand again, then coolly looked away.
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