Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios
The pungent stench from the bottle quickly spread to the surroundings, which made many people frown and cover their nose. After all, the smell was really too strong; even Anne who was usually laughing leisurely was currently fanning her face with bitter expression. Apparently even she couldn’t stand this kind of smell.
On the opposite, Lapis, the “culprit,” looked indifferent. The smell didn’t seem to have any impact on her. After all, she was an alchemist; she made potions all day long. She could even bear smells more horrible than this. In her opinion, this had only reached an the appetizer level.
Marlene was a bit pale at this moment. However, the reason wasn’t because of this pungent stench. She reached out with her finger and closed her eyes. After a moment, she frowned. She glanced at Rhode with surprised and uneasy expression.
“This is a gas element precipitation!”
As a mage, and a talented one, Marlene could easily feel the elemental wave in the surroundings. From the moment that strange smell spread, she could already feel the original active gas element precipitate and sink. It was just like children who were suddenly getting scolded by the adult while originally playing and having fun—they would sit down on the ground, quiet and motionlessly in a disconsolate manner.
As a mage, of course Marlene knew what that meant. For the gas element to suddenly precipitate, it means that the associated spells would be difficult to cast. Her favorite storm shield’s power would be greatly reduced, even assuming she could cast it. The relationship between magic and elements was like workers and factory. If the workers worked in full swing, the factory would naturally be able to generate a powerful energy. But if the workers worked swinging one by one, then it would naturally be impossible to create any threat.
However, at that moment, Marlene was exceptionally surprised because element precipitation was a very rare potion effect and most alchemists simply couldn’t made it. However, Rhode seemed very familiar with it. After all, it was him who gave Lapis the recipe. Marlene wrote the recipe according to what Rhode had said; the quantities of the recipe’s ingredients were so detailed—even to its gram. Even a potion master like Marlene didn’t know the exact effect of this potion even after getting the recipe. She could only vaguely judge that based on the magical herbs in it, the potion would create a wide-range smoke.
But right now, Marlene was really surprised. She couldn’t understand how Rhode got this recipe and how he could remember it so well. He was not an alchemist; he shouldn’t be able to understand these kinds of things. Moreover, this element precipitation potion was very rare.
Is he really…
Marlene clenched her fist and placed it on her chest. She could feel her heart beating really fast.
At this time, the strange smell gradually filled the air and a strange scene suddenly appeared before them.
The Wind Snakes that were originally flying around in the forest suddenly wailed and fell to the ground as if they were hit by a huge boulder. Some Wind Snakes that were lucky enough to escape that catastrophe were running around as if they saw a ghost. They were screaming and desperately flew away. They didn’t even care if their wings and body were scratched by sharp branches. They just kept flapping their wings swiftly to get away from the forest in fear.
In a blink of an eye, the forest became empty; beside the Wind Snakes that fell to the ground and kept crying out in despair, there was no other sound.
“Hmph!” Looking at the scene before him, Rhode coldly snorted.
He was familiar with this scene. In the game, many part-time alchemists killed the monster like that. Wind Snakes weren’t like birds that were born with a body suitable for flying in the sky. The reason why they could fly in the air wasn’t because they had wings; it was because they had a special ability as a gas elemental creature. They could use their skill to fly freely in the sky. If the sky was the ocean, then the Wind Snakes were like the boats that were floating on it.
But now, after completely suppressing the gas element by using a precipitation potion, the ocean had turned into a dry pond. Without water, fish could only helplessly struggle. This was the exact portrayal of what happened to the Wind Snakes before them right now.
They were just a group of stupid monsters that hadn’t even reached level 5, and before, they actually made me look so pitiful. If I don’t take my revenge, then my name isn’t Rhode!
Rhode stomped on a Wind Snake that was still struggling. Below, the Wind Snake kept screaming and making shrill sound, but Rhode didn’t seem to be bothered by it. He used his full force and crushed the Wind Snake into meatloaf. After that, he turned around and issued a command.
“The potion effect won’t last too long! Speed up and get going!”
Hearing Rhode’s order, the mercenaries wore a different expression on their faces and quickly began to get going. They followed Rhode and continued to walk into the forest under the Burning Blade mercenary group’s survivor’s lead.
No one noticed that Lize’s face had turned pale while looking at the sky.
The dense leaves were blocking the starry sky, and sharp, hoarse cry of the Wind Snakes could be heard everywhere. It made her immediately remember the nightmare she had last night. The darkness-shrouded everything, the endless group of Wind Snakes, and…
Lize couldn’t help but shiver.
That was just a nightmare, that’s right, it was just a nightmare…
Just then, a hand patted her shoulder.
“Sister Lize.”
“Ah!!”
Lize, who was frightened, subconsciously jumped up and turned around. Only then, she saw that Anne was standing beside her. The girl who only knew how to eat and sleep everyday curiously looked at her. Her pair of clear, emerald eyes reflected Lize’s frightened and uneasy expression.
“Are you okay? Do you feel uncomfortable?”
“No, I just… dozed off a little…”
Lize also didn’t know how to explain. In the end, she only said so.
“Hmm…”
After she listened to Lize’s answer, Anne carefully looked at her for a while then revealed her usual lively smile once again.
“When we fight, Sister must stand behind Anne, alright? Anne will definitely protect Sister!”
“Ah… Hm, I know, thank you, Anne.”
Facing Lize’s panicked answer, Anne no longer said anything. She only smiled and patted Lize’s shoulder. After that, she energetically jumped forward. Looking at Anne’s figure, Lize couldn’t help but sigh. Then, she stretched out her hand and slapped her cheeks forcefully.
That’s right, now is not the time to doze off. I need to work hard!
Thinking until here, she took a deep breath. After that, she clenched both of her hands and looked at the front with a serious expression. The originally chaotic pace had become steadier.
Swoosh!!
A red light flashed through and broke the darkness like a fire dragon. The poor Wind Snakes that rushed towards the front didn’t manage to dodge in time. They were swept into the beam and turned into ashes in a blink of an eye.
“How’s the situation?”
Hiller looked at the dark forest and asked without turning his head.
“Very bad, Leader. Two-thirds of the people are heavily injured, five people among them are in bad condition and seem to be poisoned. Although we have tried our best… the number of survivors will be difficult to say.”
“Is that so.”
Hearing his subordinate’s reply, Hiller’s expression didn’t change. He held a giant, burning swords in each of his hands while coldly watching the surroundings. The Wind Snakes that lost their companions were no longer as aggressive as before. This also gave an opportunity for Hiller to rest. But clearly, this experienced mercenary leader didn’t take things lightly because he knew that the situation wasn’t very good.
Hiller’s mercenary group was attacked by Wind Snakes on their second day in the Twilight Forest. At first, they didn’t really think highly of those Wind Snakes, since the Burning Blade was a first-class mercenary group, and those kind of monsters simply weren’t even qualified to threaten them.
However, as time passed, the number of Wind Snakes also increased. Hiller finally noticed that the situation wasn’t the same as he had imagined and how unusual it seemed. He made the decision and led his men to the forest. After that, the situation that developed was even more strange. In general, after entering into the forest, the Wind Snakes would choose to retreat. However, this time they didn’t leave as usual. On the contrary, the Wind Snakes completely surrounded the forest, encircled them, and kept attacking them day and night.
Since Hiller was no fool, he also realized that the Wind Snakes were being controlled and manipulated by someone.
The next battle has validated his speculation.
“Tell everyone to prepare; we will try it one more time.”
Hiller lifted the giant swords in his hands. The burning flame followed his movement and once again began raging up.
“We have to broke the encirclement as soon as possible!”
“… Yes, leader.”
After receiving Hiller’s order, his men didn’t feel the slightest hesitation. Although they were being attacked and some of them were injured, as long as it was the leader’s order, they would follow it without hesitation. That’s why after hearing Hiller’s command, his subordinate didn’t hesitate the slightest and directly told his companion about the order.
At the same time, a scream sounded.
What happened? Did those Wind Snakes start to attack?
The sudden changes immediately aroused Hiller’s attention. He quickly looked at the surroundings in vigilance, but to his surprise, what he saw wasn’t a scene of Wind Snakes rushing towards him. On the contrary, the Wind Snakes were retreating in panic and rushing to leave the forest.
What happened?
Hiller hadn’t yet grasped the situation when he smelled a pungent stench. After that, he saw some people walk out of the forest before him.
“I’m happy to see that you guys are still alive,” the young man who stood at the front said.
