Chapter 48: Chapter 48: The Piper

As they watched the strange creatures tear apart their comrades' bodies like a pack of wolves feasting, even those who had managed to take refuge within the protective barrier couldn't help but feel a deep sorrow. Their faces were marked with grief.

Just a minute ago, those who were now being devoured had fought alongside them!

At this moment, everyone's expressions were grim as they came to realize the terrifying nature of these ruins.

"It's strange... the magical energy within those creatures isn't particularly strong. At best, they're at the level of a mage, just like most of us here. So why couldn't anyone put up even the slightest resistance?"

Hearing this, the group fell silent.

No one had a definitive answer.

After a long pause, Lina Jones spoke softly, "They must be wolves--there's no mistaking the howl. And they seem to have the ability to absorb moonlight. From what we've seen, it's likely that their power is significantly amplified by the moonlight."

"Then how do we deal with them?"

"If I remember correctly, wolves are most afraid of fire. Do any of us specialize in fire elemental magic?"

As soon as she said this, the followers of the Temple of Wisdom all turned their gazes toward Dean Bruce.

Noticing their stares, Dean Bruce quickly waved his hand, saying, "I don't know any fire elemental magic!"

Although his Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain spell did include control over fire elements, Dean Bruce had no intention of revealing that now. His goal was to conserve his strength and ensure his own safety.

"Awooo!"

As they were discussing, the eerie wolf howl rang out once more, sending a shiver down everyone's spine.

Looking up, they saw that the strange creatures had already stripped their earlier victims down to bare bones, which now lay scattered on the ground. The creatures were rapidly closing in, their claws relentlessly striking the glowing shield.

Bang, bang, bang!

At first, the shield held firm, showing no signs of breaking. But with each blow, the barrier began to tremble, and soon, cracks started to appear.

"This isn't good!"

The mages maintaining the shield turned pale, shouting urgently, "We can't hold this for much longer! Your Highness, you need to retreat now! We'll cover your escape!"

Hearing this, everyone's breathing quickened. Without hesitation, they began to retreat.

Lina Jones, too, wasted no time. She knew that as the designated saintess, her life was of utmost importance, and she needed to prioritize her own safety.

Boom!

Crash!

Barely five breaths after Lina Jones and the others had retreated, the shield shattered like glass, its fragments scattering across the ground as the light flickered and died.

The group of mages didn't flee. Instead, they raised their staffs high, chanting incantations as they summoned a fiery red circle, which gradually expanded in an attempt to trap the strange creatures within.

But those creatures, resembling wolves as they did, naturally possessed the speed of wolves.

With a few quick movements, they dodged the fiery circle. Then, to everyone's surprise, the creatures split into two groups--one continued to chase after Dean Bruce and the others, while the other charged at the mages who had stayed behind to cover their retreat.

The dangers would at most involve traps or beasts that had made the place their home.

But this ruin was completely different from what they knew!

First, they encountered ancient creatures, then strange monsters, and now, they even found a living person. Who knew what else might happen if they continued exploring?

Still, Lina Jones, Alita Miller, and Horton Martin weren't foolish. Even if they didn't fully trust the girl, they knew that they needed her to get more information about the ruin. So, they treated her kindly.

Alita Miller also approached, speaking softly, "Little sister, thank you for saving us. Can I ask, besides you, are there any other people here? And how can we avoid those creatures?"

"They're not monsters!"

Upon hearing this, the girl puffed out her cheeks and glared at Alita Miller, her eyes filled with anger.

This scene immediately piqued everyone's curiosity.

Alita Miller's eyes flickered with thought, but she didn't seem bothered by the girl's glare. Instead, she smiled and said, "Alright, I misspoke. They're not monsters. Little sister, can you tell me who they are? And where do the other people live?"

The girl bit her lip and replied with a hint of sadness, "They're all my kin. But... three years ago, they started acting strangely. Whenever they're touched by moonlight, they become extremely vicious. Many of our people... have been eaten by them."

"To avoid them, our tribe has to hide underground. The others live in a village at the base of the mountain."

The girl's explanation was vague, but Dean Bruce and the others exchanged knowing smiles.

She's too easy to deceive!

The next step would be to reach the village she mentioned and gather more information from there.

Lina Jones seized the moment and asked, "Little sister, could you take us to your village?"

Hearing this, the girl tilted her head, studying the group for a few moments before her gaze settled on Dean Bruce. She stared at him intently for a long time before finally nodding, "Okay, I'll take you to the village."

"But you must be very quiet. Their hearing is incredibly sharp. If we make too much noise, they might come after us, and then we'll all be in danger."

The girl gave a few warnings before crouching down and tapping on the nearby stone wall. Instantly, a hidden passage appeared.

"Stay close to me and don't get lost, or you'll end up wandering aimlessly in the mountain paths!"

With that, the girl ducked into the passage.

Dean Bruce and the others exchanged a glance and, without much hesitation, followed her in.

There wasn't much air underground, and staying too long would mean suffocation. Going back outside was certain death as well. Following the girl was their best chance of survival!

Meanwhile, in the mountains, countless strange creatures continued to sprint and dash around. However, after losing sight of their targets, they made their way to the peak, stopping at the entrance of a dilapidated palace, near a stone pillar.

On the stone pillar lay a figure, lounging sideways, one hand propping up their head while the other toyed with a flute. Their eyes glowed with a purple light as they watched, with great interest, the spot where Dean Bruce and the others had disappeared earlier.

"So, it's you lot again! You're such a bothersome group! If you dare intervene again, I swear I'll wipe you out!"

"But those others... they seem to be outsiders. Heh, maybe I'll finally get the chance to leave this place, just like my brother did! I can't let them slip away!"

A sly smile curled at the figure's lips as they began to play the flute once more. As the haunting melody filled the air, the strange creatures all howled in unison, and the moonlight within them started to dissipate, flowing into the figure's body.