Chapter 520: Unintentional
BOOM!
Dust and debris flew in all directions as a towering black panther with feathered wings landed a few meters away from Adam and his squad.
The ground cracked underneath the majestic beast, forming a small crater. The beasts and trees that happened to be around were instantly killed by the sheer force generated by the landing.
After the dust cleared, Valerian proudly raised his head and roared, signaling his arrival.
An invisible wave of energy emerged from his maws, rippling all across the clearing. Everyone except Adam went into a daze, their minds clouded by a mystical fog.
Adam's pupils constricted as he thought to himself in shock, Could this perhaps be the fabled dragon's breath?!
Does Val know what he's doing... or is this unintentional?
He snapped out of his train of thought when Valerian looked at him and urged, "Brother, hurry! We must leave!"
The raven-haired youth patted his students and the two Acolytes, injecting a faint ripple of mana into their nervous systems to wake them up from their stunned state.
"Huh?"
"W-What just happened?"
The three young Magi were confused momentarily before they heard Adam's grave voice. "Get on Val. Quick!"
One by one, the squad members hurriedly climbed atop Valerian's back. Once everyone had got on, everybody inside the clearing had snapped out of their disorganized and confused state of mind.
The wolves and trees around Valerian frantically approached him, trying to stop him from taking flight.
Meanwhile, the Magi in the distance saw him and couldn't help but call out in desperation.
"W-Wait! Wait for us!"
"Take us with you!"
"You cannot leave us!"
"Please, I beg you!"
Adam completely ignored the Magi's plea for help. He couldn't care less whether they lived or died. All that was in his mind was the safety of his squad and himself.
"Brother, let's go!" Valerian said with an urgent tone.
The wolves and the trees were getting closer and closer. Although the former wouldn't be able to attack them from long range, the same couldn't be said for the trees.
Adam saw that the menacing trees had already begun whipping their serpentine branches and roots, attempting to restrain the young dragon to the ground.
"Good," said Adam solemnly.
Suddenly, Aiden pointed at the forest beneath them and yelled out in shock, "Look!"
Everyone lowered their heads and glanced at the live trees in the Weeping Woods. Until now,
all the trees were moving in the direction of the Howlett Manor.
But suddenly, there was a partition and the trees were now moving in the complete opposite
direction.
And in that direction lay the town of Stratford!
Realizing this, Adam asked solemnly, "What's the situation in the town?"
Valerian replied with a grim tone, "It's bad. Those trees suddenly came alive and have now
completely surrounded the town."
"What?!" Wagner blurted out in shock. "They surrounded the town? Why?!"
Kenley chimed in, "No, wait! Is Rayna safe? What about the other townfolk?"
"That's the strange part," said Valerian as he continued to flap his wings.
"The trees have surrounded the town, standing right outside its walls. They haven't attacked
a single person inside. It looks like their motive is to prevent anyone from going out or
coming in."
Adam's eyebrows wrinkled into a frown as he contemplated, As I thought!
That entity must be planning to hold a ritual, and for that, he needs the residents of Stratford!
The rays of the early morning sun drove the darkness of the night away, but the gloom inside
Adam's heart remained.
Tonight's the night of the blood moons, he thought.
If my speculations are correct, then the evil entity beyond the red door will be making a move tonight...
His eyes narrowed and a cold light flashed in them.
But I won't let you succeed!