Chapter 121: - The Lord Is With Us (42)

༺ The Lord Is With Us (42) ༻

A group of seven individuals stood with tense expressions along the exit path leading back to the cave’s entrance.

Exactly five of them stood independently, while two women were securely held within Senior Delphine and Celine’s protective embrace.

Senior Delphine and Celine wore contented expressions, in stark contrast to the subtle hint of displeasure on the faces of the two being carried.

Ignoring the specifics, I focused on the task at hand. I shut my eyes and sharpened my senses to detect any movements around us. As soon as I sensed the flesh seeds moving even slightly farther away from us, I shouted.

“Run!”

As soon as my voice rang out, five pairs of footsteps dashed forward, trying to widen the distance as much as possible.

And that served as a signal.

From behind us, eerie screams echoed, and I sensed numerous flesh seeds clamoring vigorously up the pit.NewW novels updates on nov/el/b(i)n(.)com

However, judging from the fact that they kept slipping down and none had yet to climb up, they didn’t seem to be highly intelligent.

Right when I believed we had managed to increase the gap, one flesh seed scaled over its kin and successfully emerged from the pit..

Although I couldn’t see its eyes, I could feel it glaring in our direction.

Following a brief silence, it let out a fierce cry, the sound reverberating off the cavern walls as it pursued us.

It moved with terrifying speed. Even with our magically enhanced bodies, the distance between us visibly decreased with each passing second.

It was evident that it would inevitably catch up to us if we didn’t do anything, and given that Senior Delphine was currently carrying Senior Elsie, I was the only one capable of confronting it.

“I’ll hold it back, so keep running!”

The group hesitated, but at my insistence, their hesitant steps regained momentum.

It was then that the flesh seed launched its attack.

Its strike was just as ridiculously fast as its running pace, and a black liquid oozed from its long, protruding claws.

The nature of the dark fluid became apparent as the ground sizzled and dissolved upon contact with it.

“These bastards have acid venom!”

As a precaution, I shared the information with the party and then used my sword to block its claws.

Clang!

Sparks flew into the air, and venom oozed out of its talons.

The venom splattered through the air, and I had no intention of testing its potency.

My field of view widened as space in front of me contorted. I manipulated the surroundings, causing it to twist and warp.

Droplets of the venom followed distorted trajectories and narrowly missing me.

In a fluid motion, I cleaved one of the flesh seed’s arms off. It emitted a high-pitched wail, but by then, it was already too late.

A silver arc flashed across its neck.

The cut was impeccable. Bright crimson blood gushed out, tracing my blade’s flawless path..

The monster’s head tumbled across the floor.

I heaved a sigh of relief. Despite being a monster of myth, its strength was surprisingly underwhelming.

I was, after all, among the top third-year students at the Academy. Even when compared to knights, my abilities were considered exceptional. Even a monster that armies from the mythic age were reluctant to face stood no chance against me.

“K-Kill me... Kieeeeeek! P-Please kill me......!”

Each time the veins pulsed, a monstrous sound reverberated.

I froze on the spot.

My mind went blank as the pounding of my heart intensified.

Tuk!

Something within my mind snapped.

***

Minutes ticked by, yet there were no signs of Ian catching up.

Worried, the party decided to retrace their steps along the path they had taken.

Eventually, they stumbled upon the dismembered body of the monster, and relief flooded their faces.

As expected of Ian, he had defeated a mythic monster in such a brief span.

However, their relief was short-lived as they spotted Ian.

He knelt on the ground, gazing downward at something.

The atmosphere around him hung heavy and unsettling, causing everyone to pause before uttering a word.

An eerie tension gripped them as they approached Ian, their steps cautious and wary.

What they saw was so ghastly that the Saintess and Celine instinctively gasped and covered their gaping mouths with both hands as their eyes widened in horror.

Within the mass of flesh, a child’s face was revealed, eyes red and tears of blood streaming down.

“K-Kill me.......”

Puk!

The child’s tears ceased as a sickening crunch echoed from its head.

It was a hatchet. Ian rose to his feet after shattering the child’s skull.

A heavy silence hung in the air for a long while.

However, if they lingered where they were currently, the other flesh seeds were bound to catch up. As the one closest to Ian, Celine attempted to speak, but Ian cut her off.

“It’s already too late.”

His voice was tinged with an unfamiliar weariness, causing Celine to involuntarily shudder and step back.

Even so, Ian didn’t look back at his party.

He simply issued a command.

“Everyone, prepare for battle. There are about ten of them closing in.”

Eerie howls echoed from the distance. The noise grew more intense with every passing moment, and despite their trembling, everyone instinctively prepared for battle.

Securing his hatchet on his waist, Ian spoke through clenched teeth.

“...Today, we will kill all these cursed things.”

A brilliant silver aura burst forth as a flesh seed emerged from the darkness and lunged towards him.

This marked the prelude to their battle.