Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 266 - 246 Friends

Shadows tumbled across the altar, connecting black clouds and pillars of stone, like a rain of blackness pouring down from the firmament.

Veraliz watched as Lyle was nearly devoured by the shadows, her beautiful eyebrows lifting slightly, her sharp beastly pupils intently fixed on the mask exposed outside of the shadows, her tone filled with surprise.

"To think he’s a Qualified Person for the shadows, the shadows really fancy our offering, our luck is indeed very good." The successful completion of the ritual greatly improved Veraliz’s mood, she allowed the shadows entwined around Lyle’s mouth and nose to recede, and looked at his white mask. "Unlucky boy, before you’re devoured, do you have any last words?"

Lyle looked at the woman before him dressed in rubbery black clothes, the cold light in her eyes and malice at the corners of her mouth made him realize there was no hope of reprieve; she was resolute in using him as a sacrifice.

"Could you loosen these bindings a bit? Beautiful lady, my body is being crushed, I can hardly breathe. Please have mercy, even allowing me to move a finger would be a blessing."

Lyle’s bowing and flattery seemed to suit her wishes as she let out a girlish laugh.

"Such a sweet-talking boy, I’d almost not want to hurt you if it weren’t necessary. Just to loosen your bindings a little..." Blinking her large eyes, Veraliz who looked sympathetic wore a mocking smile, her black eyes cold and chilling. "Of course not."

Lyle felt his body being squeezed even tighter, to the point where even breathing was becoming difficult.

Veraliz leaned in close to his face, her finger with sharp nails slowly scratching across Lyle’s mask. "I know what you’re thinking, brat. When you were being devoured by the shadows, I discovered the magical artifacts on you, thinking of calling for help? The shadows will devour everything of yours, including your cries for help. As for your feelings, dear, I don’t mind if you die more painfully. You see, the reward for your sacrifice is already here."

With the shrill scream Veraliz unleashed, huge four-legged beasts emerged from the shadows. They were pure black, tiger-like and wolf-like. Their tall statures and long limbs, like elongated shadows, with tails as long as their bodies floating in the air and the tips swaying, slicing the wind like venomous snakes. These creatures quickly took over the entire land of the altar, they merged with the witches lurking nearby, becoming shadowy monstrosities. The hybrid felinoids let out joyous roars, feeling the power flooding their bodies, the beastly essence crushed the tiny bit of wit that remained from their witch identities in the flood of vengeance.

The black monsters seemed endless, they emerged from the shadows, fused with the witches, gradually forming a beast horde, a horde powerful enough to destroy armies.

Lily watched as the clan of vengeful witches slowly transformed into monsters, and the other witch clans began to embrace these beasts as well. All witches were the same; what they lacked was not the will for revenge, but the power for it. Now they could see it, ambition growing like a fierce beast within their hearts. Everyone was the same, even the Witch of Death thought of taking revenge on the high and mighty Paladins, but in the end, death awakened them.

"Sesela, have you gone mad? You want to attack the Holy City? A city guarded by the Crusader Legion!"

Lily’s scream mixed with the intermittent roars of beasts, reaching Sesela’s ears. Sesela had already shed her crow attire, looking a lot like Veraliz. She smiled, gazing at the apocalyptic scene unfolding. "No, we will make The Light pay a painful price."

"You have no idea what the Crusader Legion means! They are not the soft persimmons you hunt, nor can they be worn down by pack tactics like lone figures you overpower. Do you not realize how strong they are?"

Sesela looked at Lily with disdain, "Of course you would be afraid, for you are dead. You are cowards who dare not face the powerful."

Lily grabbed Sesela’s arm, "We are dead! Of course, we are afraid! We fear you’ll end up like us! Sesela, you are still alive! You have the beauty we never had! My sister, I beg you, please stop this dreadful act." Lily tore at her own clothes, in front of her sister who looked on with scorn, revealing gruesome scars beneath her extravagant garments.

"Lily..."

"I was once like you, Sesela. When Cinderella was established, I thought we were invincible, that we ruled the world. It was only when everything I cherished went up in flames, and only paleness remained in my sisters’ eyes, did I realize that we, we were nothing but frogs at the bottom of a well. Sesela, I hope you won’t end up like us."

Sesela stared at Lily, watching her hand that touched her own skin like a ghostly limb, she still remembered the touch of those hands once.

"We are different, Lily." Sesela flung Lily’s hand away. "Revenge fuels our will to survive."

She was rejected.

"Don’t you feel anything? Your plan has not come to fruition! With the fusion of witches and Shadow Beasts, inheriting the power of the Twin Crowns from the Magical Beast Clan... neither crown has appeared! Your plan has failed, Sesela."

Sesela did not turn back.

"There is still a chance, the start of the Shadow Sacrament will gradually increase Veraliz’s power, and she will eventually obtain the Twin Crowns. All we need to do is launch an attack during this ceremony, let the loss of the holy light turn into our sustenance, and we will ultimately triumph."

Sesela’s voice was faint, it was uncertain whether she was convincing Lily or herself.

Soon, the horde of Shadow Beasts surged down from the mountain peak, like thunder descending from the heavens, battering the world of holy light.

The Witch of Death looked at her Witch Mother.

"Miss Lily, should we do this?"

"Chase after them! Now we have no choice but to join the battle, for the continuation of the witch lineage. To preserve more seeds of our kind."

At the mountain peak, within the dark altar.

Veraliz, caught up in the black deluge she had unleashed, beamed with joy as she looked at the cross radiating light atop Lokarot.

"What a pity, I need to stay here to preside over the ceremony, I am missing out on a lot of fun."

Veraliz shifted her gaze to the black stone column, looking at the Shadow clinging to it like vines.

"It’s all worth it. As long as this ceremony is completed, this..."

"Shadow Sacrifice Ceremony."

Ellie stood in a corner of the sufferer’s dwelling, after that loud rumbling sound. The Paladins, who had been talking and laughing just moments ago, all had serious expressions now. Under the calls of their respective captains, they started to gather in formation, began donning their armor and putting on their helmets, even though the grease inside had not been cleaned.

Ellie held the hand of her companion, standing by the side of the road, giving way to the esteemed Guardian.

Her friend Irwin, who had just muttered a term she had never heard before, was looking towards the distance, at the deepness of the sky tainted by black.

"Irwin, what were you just talking about?"

The tall and skinny Irwin turned back to look at Ellie.

"Nothing, Ellie. I have to go now, I have to leave this place."

The departure of her friend made the young girl feel a little sad, "Irwin, do you have something you need to take care of?"

"Yes, my friend, he needs my help. Ellie, I must go and save him."

"Who is Irwin’s friend?"

"It’s the Purifier, Ellie. If it weren’t for him, I probably wouldn’t come back here again."