Chapter 33: The Late Rival.
On the surface, the child abductions began at the orphanage, but the first case occurred miles away in the outskirts. The Accuser believed the array’s flaw was so well-hidden no one could find it.
Yet now—had Zans betrayed them, or had the Phoenix family hired a master? They were willing to die for their cause, but not without knowing their foe, reduced to sacrificial fuel.
Black lightning crackled as a colossal demonic claw emerged from the black hole, striking at the array’s weak point with earth-shaking force.
A deafening roar echoed as a towering tree sprouted, blocking the blow. The emerald figure strummed her lyre, her smile ambiguous. “Weakling junior, I’ll handle Ungrust. No one’s bailing you out next~”
Daphne’s lyre unleashed a deafening hum, the tree behind her surging, each leaf glowing with emerald runes. The claw disintegrated into black mist upon touching the canopy. Her melody became chains, binding the chaotic energy, vines coiling around the black hole, greedily draining its power.
Her form faded into green particles, leaving a teasing echo: “Fail next time, and I won’t help~ Might even step on you and call you weakling! It’s on you now, junior~”
Aphrosia stood with a healing spell, lips twitching. Done… just like that? That shadow was a major Abyss power! Was stopping the Dark Tide Coagulation Array’s summon so easy?
Gods’ motives were inscrutable, but she knew relying on others stunted growth—yet she couldn’t beat that monster!
In the orphanage, oppressive darkness flared. A giant hand burst from the ground, slamming the earth, as if something was emerging.
No, something was emerging! Count Phoenix gripped his sword, his stern face shrouded in a dark purple barrier. The ground quaked, cracking the stone path like a spiderweb. He stepped on a tilting slab, his blade’s blood runes igniting, transforming into a blazing phoenix, screeching.
“Stay sharp, give it everything!” His voice rang with metallic resolve. His knights formed a defensive line. Amid the roar, viscous black liquid seeped from the cracks, forming bone spikes under moonlight. Another hand, covered in eyes, erupted.
The monster revealed itself—a giant writhing with eyes and maggots, its flesh like festering mud, nauseating.
Chaos swept Phoenix County, panic spreading. The weak hid, the able fled, the helpless awaited death. The battlefield outside calmed under the phenomenon.
“Look at your mess, dark dogs!” a high-tier adventurer roared. The suppressed allied forces seized the moment as the Accusers writhed in pain, turning the tide. Victory seemed near.
Surviving Accusers cursed the array’s activator: “Fool, ignoring the big picture! Sacrificing us—aren’t you afraid of consequences?” “Exactly! The array’s demon is only at sixty percent power!”
“Heh, infighting?” the adventurer sneered.
“Lord Ungrust is here! You’re all dead!” an Accuser screamed, but his superior looked despairing—the life-draining debuff had stopped. They lived not from vitality, but because the sacrifice… failed!
Low-tier Accusers still blustered, unaware their “Lord Ungrust” was sent packing by Daphne.
The church’s priests rushed to heal the wounded. Few Accusers knew healing magic, and most were half-dead, their life essence nearly gone from the failed sacrifice.
The lead knight gritted his teeth, glaring at the allies. Suddenly, screams erupted behind. A panicked knight ran up: “Trouble! Rogue adventurers are attacking from the rear—we’re surrounded!”
Before he finished, an arrow struck his back. He grunted, collapsed, and didn’t rise.
The lead knight spat, kicking the corpse aside. “Damn it!” He raised his sword, ordering a charge to slaughter the Phoenix family.
The briefly quiet battlefield reignited, the brutal clash reaching a new peak.
Among the allies, Count Phoenix’s confidant smirked confidently. “Reinforcements are here.”
But they had aid, and so did the enemy. Clashing with the kingdom’s forces were the Dema Trading Company’s mercenaries.