Chapter 572: Losing Balance

Chapter 572: Losing Balance

As Duncan and Alice walked quickly toward the colossal vine hidden in the shadows of the adjacent buildings, Duncan was gripped by an indefinable sense of unease. He couldnt put his finger on it, but something felt off.

When they arrived at their destination, the sheer size of the vine took Duncans breath away. Far from being just an overgrown plant, its massive tendrils had a diameter that exceeded the height of an average adult. It seemed to emerge from the slope of the street itself, almost as if it were a creature of the night, blending into the surrounding darkness. What made it even more perplexing was how its sinuous body appeared to weave in and out of the building shadows. This gave Duncan the eerie feeling that what they were looking at was merely a fragment of an even larger, perhaps sentient, being lurking somewhere in the depths of the dark.

This mysterious entity was shrouded in a thick, inscrutable mist that made it difficult to see any details. Strangely enough, even the fragments of sunlight that managed to penetrate the dense canopy of trees above could not dispel the foggy veil surrounding it.

Alice stood there absolutely stunned by the sight while she tried to make sense of the origins of this incredible, creeping vine. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally spoke, Captain, is this thing actually a plant?

Duncan didnt answer right away. His eyes were still fixed on the vine, which was so massive it almost obstructed the entire street. After a moment of silent observation, he cautiously approached the tip of the vine and lightly touched its rough, hardened surface with the tips of his fingers.

From the wooden dolls head that Alice was holding, Lucretias voice chimed in, Papa, what have you discovered? Have you found the Dreamer?

No, we havent located the Dreamer, Duncan responded without taking his eyes off the vine. But we have stumbled upon an unusually large and unique vine. Its far different from the other vegetation around hereimmense in size, yet it feels like its merely a part of a larger, perhaps living, entity. Something about this vine gives me the impression that its not just a plant but something animated.

Duncan then looked around at the tall trees lining the block. Despite their lush appearance, they seemed hollow, as if devoid of lifealmost like mere illusions. Only this monumental vine in the middle of the street seemed alive to him.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Duncan decided to take a bold step. Taking a deep breath to center himself, he channeled a wisp of green flame through his fingers, allowing it to silently seep into the vine. The faint light flickered momentarily in the darkness before vanishing.

With expertise, Duncan guided this magical flame to spread through the vine, which he now considered a foreign object of some sort. He then told Alice to remain vigilant and keep an eye on their surroundings. Closing his eyes, he concentrated, tuning into the feedback he received from the magical flame to comprehend and, hopefully, establish communication with this mysterious vine that seemed to originate from some otherworldly realm.

As he focused, Duncan sensed subtle movements in the darkness, as if something was shifting, gathering, and dispersing in response to his magical connection. It was as if the vineor whatever it was a part ofwas beginning to communicate back.

As Duncan opened his eyes within the encompassing darkness, he strained to make out the elusive shapes that seemed to briefly materialize, only to dissolve back into the pitch-black void. His eyes focused intently, attempting to decipher the mysterious shadows as if they were words written in invisible ink.

A mist began to emerge from this unending blackness, and within its enigmatic depths, Duncan sensed something taking form. His pulse quickened.

Something is definitely here!

An exhilarating rush of adrenaline surged through him as he felt himself drawn toward the indistinct figure that was slowly coming into view. It was as if his very essence had turned into a gust of wind or a fleeting wraith, gliding effortlessly through the thickening fog. The closer he got, the clearer the object before him became. What was once a nebulous outline started revealing intricacies and details.

The stability of this dream is compromised. The operation is terminated. We all need to evacuate from the Nameless Ones dream world immediately, Richard announced, a tinge of suspicion finally coloring his previously impassive face as he turned towards her. Didnt you receive the warning?

Shirley momentarily faltered but quickly recovered, feigning ignorance. No, I mustve missed that message somehow

Missed it? Richard, the self-styled cultist, looked at her more closely, his eyes narrowing. For the first time, he seemed to sense the discordant vibrations that Shirley had subtly been emitting all along. A trace of heightened alertness flickered across his features. Sister, it occurs to me that I never inquiredwhat city-state do you hail from in the real world?

Cognizant of the subtle yet definitive shift in Richards demeanor, Shirley knew she had to tread carefully; her innate skill for detecting malice in others had made her instantly aware of his mounting suspicion. Yet she maintained her facade of innocence. I operate out of the city-state of Mok. It has a high elf population, you see

Both scenes were charged with an escalating sense of urgency, like tightly wound threads suddenly pulled taut, each signaling the imminence of some great, unknown event. Whether it was the foreboding areas deep within the forest, the abrupt destabilization of the dream realm, or the mounting suspicions among the characters, it felt as though some unseen force was agitating the elements, setting the stage for a cascade of unforeseen outcomes.

Brethren,' Richard abruptly cut off Shirley, and the quality of his voice altered significantly. It was as though he layered his words with additional, concealed syllables that vibrated at a different frequency. His eyes seemed to pierce through her very soul as his lips moved, emitting a nearly hypnotic force. We are strictly prohibited from divulging our real-world affiliations during these operations, even among our own kind. How regrettable that youve done so

As he spoke, malevolent magic subtly infused his words, a spell imbued with the essence of a death crowa mystical creature he was psychically connected to through a complex metaphysical chain. He sensed his spell tightly grip Shirleys mental faculties. Yet, she seemed to be utterly oblivious to the magic he had cast, standing there with a blank look on her face.

Seeing this, Richard felt his suspicions solidify. This girl, who appeared so naive about the deadly potency of the magic he had unleashed, couldnt possibly be a genuine disciple of the Nether Lord.

While he couldnt pinpoint her origins or how she had managed such a convincingly deceptive masquerade, he was convinced she was an imposter. Fortunately for him, he thought, he had uncovered her deceit in time, and she appeared to lack any real combat savvy.

It was time for her to meet her fate; nobody could escape the curse woven by his death crow.

Yet, all of this transpired within the mere blink of an eye: Richards rapid internal assessment, his mental self-assurance, and then the sudden, incandescent smile that blossomed across Shirleys face.

Caught utterly off guard, Richard had only a fleeting moment of surprise as the woman, who had introduced herself as Sara, grinned warmly, her eyes lighting up. Before he could react or process what was unfolding, her arm snapped upward, and a monstrous black shadow rocketed into his face.

In one fluid motion, Shirley unleashed her chained hound, which hurtled through the air like a missile and collided squarely with Richards head.

So long, you piece of garbage!

Shirleys unexpected and impeccably-timed counteraction shattered every assumption Richard had harbored. He didnt even have a split second to contemplate the magnitude of his miscalculation, much less mount any kind of defense against the incoming assault. It was a harsh lesson that appearances can be not just misleading, but dangerously so.