Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Bam!

With a loud noise, the stone pillar collapsed.

Ian, I didnt know you would hate me this much.

Yerina was astonished.

Even though she had provoked him first, Ian unleashed such a powerful attack!

No. This is

Of course, Ian was also taken aback.

He had just swung his sword following the feeling of darkness, but such a monstrous attack was unleashed.

Its difficult.

If Yerina hadnt dodged, the outcome would have been terrible.

But lets not panic and stay calm. He hadnt intended to harm Yerina in the first place, so its just a matter of lifting her up a bit.

I believed in you, Lady Yerina.

Really?

Ian quickly nodded to Yerina, who squinted her eyes.

Since it had come to this, he had no choice but to show some backbone.

I thought Lady Yerina could easily block such an attack.

To think of that monstrous strike as just such an attack?

I thought Lady Yerina could handle it.

Youre too modest. But it doesnt feel bad that you overestimate me.

Swoosh.

Yerina put her weapon into the leather belt around her thigh. The corners of her mouth slightly lifted.

I survived.

Ian let out a small sigh of relief.

But that thing that came out from the tip of the sword just now.

Was it Sword Aura?

Ian glanced at his hand cautiously.

He used Sword Aura. Although he wasnt particularly skilled in swordsmanship, it was clearly a remarkable achievement.

Among swordsmen, just being able to emit Aura was enough to be recognized as a master. In the academy, only knights of the highest rank, the Aether class, could use it.

Of course, Sharon Pierce, who used her sword with magic, was an exception.

I didnt expect to succeed from the beginning.

Certainly, Ians performance was remarkable even in Asilias eyes.

A child who had never held a proper sword suddenly emitted a sword aura. Of course, once someone became proficient in magic to a certain extent, they could emit a sword aura more skillfully than an ordinary person.

But this speed was not ordinary.

It seems like Ive got an excellent disciple.

Asilias voice was filled with surprise and pride.

It means your teaching is excellent.

Ian.

Yes.

Youre my chosen disciple, but Im really glad you speak so well.

On the contrary, its my honor.

Yerina watched the conversation between teacher and disciple with a somewhat absent-minded expression. Werent they embarrassed to constantly praise each other like that?

Oh, right.

It wasnt that. There was something she had to tell them, so she came.

The recent duel was just to help Ian gain some insight.

Ahem.

Yerina cleared her throat.

Confirming that both of them were paying attention, Yerina spoke.

By the way. I have something to propose.

A proposal?

Recently, the vitality draining from our bodies has noticeably increased. Ian, you must have felt it too.

Ian nodded quietly.

Its due to a structural arrangement that disrupts vision. Its not magic or any spell, just the arrangement itself causing this effect. You wont see it until you come here in person.

Perhaps because of this, an eerie and gloomy atmosphere was felt.

Their destination was the summit of this towering mountain.

The mountain grew deeper.

Blackened trees and snow piled upon them endlessly.

Although the direction was confusing, Asilia led without hesitation.

Wait!

At that moment, Danya halted the group.

Gurgle!

A strange howl echoed.

There! Lina!

Yeah!

Danyas grass-attribute arrow flew behind a tree, followed by Linas fire magic.

The corpse behind the tree reacted to it, springing out.

At that moment, Thud!

Danyas arrow split, leaving a greenish trace on the corpses body, like a kind of net.

Sizzle!

Linas magic hit the spot, engulfing the corpse in flames. Utilizing the elemental reaction of covering grass attribute with fire attribute makes it burn even better.

Woah.

An exclamation escaped Ians mouth at the rather impressive combination.

Proudly, Lina and Danya put their hands on their hips.

Ian, while you were learning swordsmanship, we practiced hard too, nyah!

They continued to advance, disposing of the sporadically appearing corpses.

That rock beyond is the summit.

Asilia pointed at the massive rock.

Indeed, beyond it, the dense black forest of trees was no longer visible.

Their destination was now close at hand.

Strange.

Theres something strange nearby, nyah.

Yerina and Danya murmured simultaneously.

Ive never felt this kind of energy before.

Asilias expression wasnt any better.

At that moment.

Something emerged from the shadows.

Its appearance was infinitely grotesque.

Guoooooh!

Should I describe it as a massive mound formed by corpses gathering and converging?

The dismembered facial features of the corpses were densely packed together, rolling around like a giant ball.

Lina and Danya expressed their brief thoughts.

Eugh

Whats that?

Unlike the two girls, Ian thought the grotesque pile of corpses resembled something of unknown origin.

What in the world is that?

Ah. Just a moment ago, rolling snow + pile of corpses.

As soon as that thought crossed his mind.

Ting

Hundreds of eyeballs were fixed on them simultaneously.

Their appearance was unequivocally more grotesque than any other creatures.

Guaaaah!

Graaaargh!

Guaaard!

Hundreds of mouths opened simultaneously.

An incredibly chilling cacophony erupted from its mouth.