Wizard: Starting from the Skill Tree-Chapter 486: Farewell to the Unknown Demon
Even though they were merely standing there quietly, the occasional natural emanation of the sharp aura belonging to extraordinary beings from the Duke and Vivian made everyone present, including the envoys from the nearby territories, feel an invisible sense of oppression. ππ³π¦ππ€ππ£π―β΄π·π¦π.πππ
Even more impressive was the Storm Dragon Eagle.
It was not put away but was allowed to soar freely in the skies around Maple Hill County.
Its gigantic figure often swept over the city and villages, its clear eagle screech echoing across tens of miles, making people stop and gaze up in awe, feeling both fear and pride.
This was a symbol of power belonging to Maple Hill County; only people from other territories would truly fear such power descending upon their lands.
This was an existence more formidable than the legendary Over Tier Magical Beast, and just how strong it was had become unimaginable for ordinary people like them.
At the banquet hosted by Earl Hardy, the Duke and Vivian became the focal points for all guests trying to make connections and observations.
The Dukeβs words were peaceful yet watertight, and a simple glance would make anyone probing feel a chill, daring not to ask more.
Vivian was poised and occasionally chatted with familiar old acquaintances, speaking of some scenery from the West Coast as if it were only natural, as though that legendary region was just next door.
All this information spread like seeds scattered by the wind across Jade Province and even further regions.
"That old man, Earl Hardy, not only didnβt die but became even more spirited! It must be that Duke Wizard who used some magic!"
"Miss Vivian... no, now itβs Master Vivian, she has also become a wizard, a figure from legends!"
"And that monstrous giant eagle! My God, I saw it with my own eyes, its wings flapped, and the trees on the ground were shaking! With it around, who would dare to have evil designs against Maple Hill County?"
"Young Master Rein is also not the same as before, the Hubs family has its successor..."
"The most important is that Duke... what level is he exactly? A wizard! A true wizard! Even the royal family of the kingdom sent heavy gifts to show goodwill..."
...
Originally, some surrounding nobles that had an eye on the vast lands of Maple Hill County or made small moves during Earl Hardyβs serious illness immediately fell silent upon confirming these rumors.
All provocations and ambitions turned to nothing in the face of absolute power and clear lineage.
Not only did they stop any unfriendly actions immediately, but they also sent emissaries carrying heavy gifts to Fengqiu City to express their most sincere greetings and congratulations, with their words full of humility and flattery.
The prestige of Maple Hill County reached an unprecedented peak with the return of the Duke and Vivian this spring.
No need for words of threat, just their presence and occasional appearances were like a sea-stabilizing force, calming all turbulence.
After spending a period of peaceful and much-attentioned time in Maple Hill County, the Duke and Vivian were preparing to depart back to the West Coast.
However, just a few days before departure, a piece of news came back.
A Nightingale squad, led by seasoned veterans, tasked with clearing out a suspected demon nest deep in the northwest forest, was overdue by half a month with no signals returned.
This was clearly very unusual; given the Nightingale squadβs experience and capability, even if the task was challenging, they should have found ways to send a message.
"The deep forest occasionally has troublesome demons, but with their experience, they shouldnβt be completely out of touch," Rein explained the situation to the Duke and Vivian with a furrowed brow. "I plan to personally lead a team to take a look."
The Duke and Vivian, upon hearing this, also thought it might be due to an especially powerful local Magical Beast.
After all, on the vast unknown Florence Continent, the existence of some powerful demons is not uncommon.
They themselves had encountered a Two-headed ogre back then, both getting seriously injured and barely escaping with their lives.
However, for them now, a Two-headed ogre didnβt even have the qualification to become their slave creature.
But for ordinary people, an existence like a Two-headed ogre is still extraordinarily terrifying and hard to deal with.
"We will go with you," the Duke said, "itβs right on our way, a quick battle. If we encounter unsolvable problems, we can assist in time."
Earl Hardy naturally had no objections.
The next day, the three of them rode the Storm Dragon Eagle, heading straight to the task area deep within the forest.
Initially, the forest appeared normal, but as they went deeper, a sense of discord gradually emerged.
Birdsong and beast roars became sparse, with a faint acrid, fishy scent lingering in the air.
"This smell..." Vivian slightly frowned, feeling it somewhat familiar yet unable to recall where she had encountered it.
The Storm Dragon Eagle landed in a messy clearing in the woods, where it was clear a fierce battle had taken place; trees were broken, the ground charred, littered with fragments of the Nightingale squadβs equipment and the dry, blackened traces of blood long since left behind.
"The battle was very intense, judging by the marks, it doesnβt seem to be caused by a single powerful Magical Beast," Rein noted while inspecting the ground, finding some deep claw marks and corroded pit holes. "It seems like... many things surrounded them."
The Dukeβs gaze swept over as his Spiritual Power spread out like a net.
He keenly captured that behind some broken trees and rocks were a few inconspicuous, dark purple chitin fragments and some already solidified, similarly dark purple mucus.
Upon seeing these, both the Dukeβs and Vivianβs expressions changed almost simultaneously.
"These chitin and mucus..." Vivianβs voice carried a hint of disbelief, "are very similar to the Devouring Bugs we encountered at sea when we arrived!"
The Duke crouched, picking up a piece of chitin, feeling a cold touch and a faint energy resistance at his fingertips.
He said in a deep voice, "Itβs not similar; itβs likely the same thing, but how could they appear in the forest depths of Florence Continent?"
A foreboding feeling arose in both of their heartsβif such troublesome demons did not appear by chance on the coast but had already infiltrated the inland...
"Follow the traces," the Duke decided swiftly.
They tracked the sporadic traces left from the battle and followed the direction of the faint fishy scent.
The deeper they went, the more pronounced the forestβs mutations became.
Large areas of vegetation appeared unnaturally withered, trees were hollowed out, and the ground was covered with a thin layer of dark purple, fungus-like substance that was soft and uncomfortable underfoot.
And as they turned a mountain foot, the Duke and Vivian saw that familiar purple demon again, with no less than fifty or sixty of them distributed across the forest ahead.
