Villain Ch 253. Torture Show [Part 3]
The battle raged on, and the Ghouls, fueled by Grimora's command, intensified their assault on the Mandragora and the team. The undead creatures, driven by a relentless hunger, swarmed around the summoned entity, their bony fingers reaching out to tear it apart.
The Mandragora fought valiantly, using its tendrils to strike back at the Ghouls. Its powerful vines lashed out, tearing through their decrepit flesh and sending them sprawling to the ground. But the sheer number of Ghouls proved to be overwhelming, and they quickly regrouped, renewing their assault.
"Let's go!" Mac's voice rang out with determination as he led his team in a frantic retreat from the Ghouls. The forest around them seemed to blur as they stumbled around, adrenaline coursing through their veins. Their weapons swung with precision, striking down any bony hand that dared to impede their progress.
The team had managed to create some distance between themselves and their pursuers, but their escape was far from easy. Occasional, the bony hand still reached out, snatching at their legs and causing momentary stumbling. It was a constant reminder that danger lurked just behind them, urging them to push harder and faster.
Yora found herself lagging behind the others. Her focus was split between maintaining the team's health and keeping up with their rapid pace. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't match their speed. Every step she took felt heavier, and her breath came in short gasps.
Just as the team thought they might successfully escape the Ghouls, Grimora unleashed her sinister skill.
Her voice dripped with malice as she uttered the words, "Bone Cage."
The air crackled with dark energy. The forest floor beneath her feet erupted with a bone-chilling spectacle. Bones of various sizes and shapes emerged from the ground, intertwining and weaving together with eerie precision. They twisted and contorted, forming an imposing skeletal gate that sealed off any escape route for Yora.
The bones, once hidden beneath the earth, now glistened under the dim light filtering through the thick foliage. They seemed to pulsate with otherworldly energy, emitting an unsettling aura that sent shivers down the spines of those who witnessed the macabre sight. The clattering of bone against bone filled the air, creating an unsettling symphony of eerie whispers and creaks.
The gate of bones stood before Yora like a formidable barrier, taunting her with its grim presence. It was an intricate lattice of rib cages, femurs, and spinal columns, woven together with uncanny precision.
The gaps between the bones were narrow, offering no room for Yora to squeeze through or find an escape route. The skeletal cage loomed high above her, creating a suffocating enclosure that prevented any approach from her friends.
"Mac! Help me!" Yora's panicked cry echoed through the forest, tugging at Mac's heartstrings. His mind raced, searching for a way to free her from Grimora's grasp.
Greg and Player_Eater exchanged worried glances, but without a moment's hesitation, they turned back to join Mac. Their weapons gleamed with anticipation, a stark contrast to the eerie glow of the skeletal gate that held Yora captive.
They sprinted toward Yora. Their footsteps reverberated through the forest floor, mixing with the unsettling clatter of bones. Mac's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and strategies. He knew that attacking the skeletal gate directly was futile; they needed to find another way to break the spell.
But before they could reach Yora, a haunting voice, dripping with malice, resonated from behind her.
"Come to me, my servants…" Grimora's words sent shivers down their spines.
More red-eyed Ghouls emerged from the shadows, blocking their path and cutting off their advance. The undead horde encircled them, leaving little room for maneuvering.
Mac could feel his own heart racing, the adrenaline pumping through his veins. The situation seemed dire, but he couldn't simply abandon Yora to her fate.
"Alright, team!" Mac called out, his voice firm and resolute. "We might not have the advantage here, but we can't leave Yora behind. We'll find a way to break through this horde and rescue her."
Greg tightened his grip on his ax, a determined glint in his eyes. "I didn't sign up for this game to back down from a fight. Let's show these undead freaks what we're made of!"
Player_Eater nodded in agreement, his gaze fixed on the horde of Ghouls. "We'll make it through this, guys!"
Mac and his team charged into battle, their weapons clashing with the Ghouls. The air was filled with the sounds of steel meeting bone, the clash of weapons, and desperate cries.
Greg swung his mighty ax with incredible strength, cutting through the Ghouls like a whirlwind of destruction. But for every one he took down, two more seemed to take its place. Their slow movements didn't make them any less deadly, and their attacks were brutal and unforgiving. Mac and the others had to be quick and agile to avoid their strikes.
At the same time, behind the skeleton cage, Grimora and Yora locked eyes. Yora tightened her grip on her staff, her mind racing with thoughts of escape. She knew that time was running out, and she needed to act quickly if she wanted to survive this encounter. With a flick of her wrist, she attempted to summon her inventory screen, hoping to find her Home Crystal that would transport her back to safety. But just as her fingers brushed against the magical interface, Grimora's voice cut through the air.
"Shadow Grasp!"
Grimora's dark aura intensified, it transformed into six sinister hands, each adorned with sharp, elongated nails that seemed to stretch and contort with otherworldly flexibility. The hands reached out towards Yora, their claw-like nails closing in on her body.
Yora gasped as the dark hands closed around her, their vice-like grip constricting her movements even further. The sharp nails dug into her flesh, causing a mixture of pain and fear to surge through her veins. She struggled, attempting to break free from their hold, but the more she fought, the tighter their grip became.
The dark hands held Yora firmly, restricting her movements and making it nearly impossible for her to summon her inventory screen. She could feel her wrists being painfully constrained, rendering her unable to access her items or spells. Panic welled up within her as she realized the gravity of the situation.
Grimora watched with a wicked smile as Yora's struggles became increasingly futile. The necromancer reveled in the torment she was inflicting upon her rival. She delighted in Yora's helplessness, relishing every moment of her suffering. The dark hands held Yora in their grasp, taunting her, as if mocking her feeble attempts to escape.
"Where are you going? I haven't finished with you yet," Grimora sneered, her voice dripping with malicious intent as she approached Yora, her eyes gleaming with a mix of excitement and malevolence.