Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses v4c17

The God of Malice is Watching the Land: Chapter 17 The End of “Malice”

“Dreams are sometimes false… reality is also false, returning to dreams when false, is also true.”

The little girl with short, ice-blue hair slowly opened her eyes, enveloped in a dreamy mist.

She seemed to exist within a dream, while the surroundings were a stark contrast of reality.

The city guards stationed around the district discovered this little girl outside the city defense system. Ignoring the strangeness surrounding her, they quickly shouted,

“Little sister, how did you get out? It’s dangerous outside, come back quickly!”

The little girl, wrapped head to toe in bandages, paid no heed, just took small, shaky steps.

Her bare little feet stepped onto the filthy dirt, one deep step, one shallow step, walking away from the city district.

This patrolling city guard became anxious. This wasn’t an area severely affected by Calamities, so usually only a few people were stationed here.

Now everyone else had gone to eat, leaving only him watching.

Seeing the little girl walking further and further away, the city guard couldn’t ignore it. He gritted his teeth, stepped out of the city defense system, intending to forcibly bring the little girl back.

But just as he stepped out of the city defense system, the little girl stopped and slowly turned around.

For some reason, the city guard’s heart suddenly skipped a beat, a bad premonition arising.

But it was too late. He had completely stepped out of the city defense system, exposed within the range of the Endless Wasteland.

The little girl with short, ice-blue hair looked up slightly at the city guard. Only then did he see that not only was her entire body wrapped in white bandages, but even most of her face was covered, revealing only one eye.

It was a light blue pupil, but surrounding the pupil was a darkness emanating “malice.”

“Is this a dream, or reality, I can no longer tell…”

……

“Seventeen personnel have gone missing this month, Magistrate Norian,” the subordinate pulled out a file from a mountain-like pile of documents and placed it before Norian. “It seems a monster is hunting lone individuals, its strength cannot be assessed.”

After receiving Qin Wen and Hua Qingling, Norian returned to his busy official duties.

At such a busy time, ordinary missing persons cases couldn’t even reach his desk, so Norian looked at his subordinate with confusion.

“Even ‘Peril’ level ability users are no exception.” The subordinate said seriously, “It seems to only kill those who are alone. Regardless of their strength, as long as they are alone when leaving the city defense system… they cannot escape its clutches.”

“So strange?”

Norian was somewhat surprised. He opened the file, the first page was about an ordinary city guard.

“This is the suspected first victim. Several similar cases occurred after him, so we optimized the city guard deployment arrangements, ensuring that there are at least three people present at all times.” The subordinate continued,

“But later, ability users acting alone couldn’t escape either, so we advised some lower-level ability users to act in teams. Finally, two ‘Peril’ level ability users were killed separately.”

Only when “Peril” level ability users became casualties did this case become important enough for Norian to review.

“In that case, should we be glad that Madam Hua came with Miss Qin of the Sword Saint Sect?”

Norian raised an eyebrow. His words carried a hint of teasing, but his expression wasn’t relaxed at all.

“Another thing we should be glad about is being able to see them intact,” the subordinate took out several photos and pushed them towards Norian. “This is the death scene, Magistrate Norian… the images are somewhat graphic, please be prepared.”

“No matter how graphic, it can’t be… Hiss—”

Norian stopped mid-sentence upon seeing the photos and instantly gasped.

There was no corpse in the photos, just a pool of blood.

But upon closer inspection, one could see finely minced flesh and bones, as well as some internal organs, within the blood.

What kind of perverted enemy, harboring what kind of hatred, would commit such an act?

“I’m afraid we’ve been targeted by some existence, possibly remnants of the Church of the End Gods. This might be his warning to us… Sigh!”

Norian sighed deeply. Lannister was in urgent need of high-end combat power. In the past, he would have asked Granny Zoya to handle such situations; no matter how strong the remnants were, they couldn’t be a match for a “Destruction” level opponent.

Unfortunately, Granny Zoya was gone forever.

“Notify everyone, all ability users and city guards must not act alone. Just in case, this order also applies to the Lower District.”

The Lower District, where Luo Yan had once arrived due to a teleportation error, was actually the second line of the city defense system.

After the outermost defense line was breached, the entire Lower District surrounding Lannister would turn into an impassable minefield, blocking incoming enemies.

As for the refugees settled in the Lower District…

At this point, Lannister could only choose to abandon them.

Evacuate the refugees to the outer districts?

Impossible. Doing so would squeeze the living space of Lannister’s citizens. Between ordinary citizens and refugees, Lannister’s choice had always been clear.

“Understood.” The subordinate nodded and took out another document. “This is the detailed plan, please review it.”

It was already expected that Norian would make such arrangements, and the plan had even been prepared in advance, just waiting for Norian’s approval.

The vast Lannister couldn’t rely solely on Norian. The Council of Elders and the Assembly he controlled, as well as the grassroots magistrates, were his greatest support.

Norian took it, glanced through it, and handed it back,

“This is good, issue it for execution.”

The subordinate respectfully took the document and exited the office.

Just then, alarms blared throughout Lannister, the urgent, sharp sirens, like wails, echoing through the entire city.

But Norian’s face remained calm, without a trace of panic.

Not only that, even the citizens of Lannister didn’t react much. Ordinary people on the streets just consciously moved towards the nearest buildings.

“Another attack… it hasn’t even been a week since the last one subsided.”

Norian’s expression showed more fatigue. “When will Lannister finally overcome this calamity…”

It wasn’t because he was calm, but because he was used to it.

Attacks of this level had occurred countless times in Lannister during this period, and even the citizens had gradually become numb to it.

However…

Some people weren’t numb.

Because they were newcomers.

“Damn, this level of warning, it’s at least ten ‘Peril’ level Calamities starting!”

Hua Qingling, who was walking on the city streets, marveling at Lannister’s changes, was startled.

“Is our luck this bad? A city-destroying battle as soon as we arrive?” Qin Wen wasn’t much better, but after reacting, her expression seemed eager to try. “Maybe we can help?”

She was originally a battle maniac, even more obsessed a few years ago, wanting to charge into the enemy’s lair upon sensing even a hint of demonic aura. If she weren’t lucky, she would have died long ago.

Hearing Qin Wen’s interpretation of “luck,” Hua Qingling couldn’t help but recall her last visit to Lannister…

Why did it feel like something bad happened every time she came to Lannister?

“…I’m afraid that’s the only way.”

Although Hua Qingling lamented inwardly that she didn’t even get time to rest, her expression still turned serious.

As a responsible “Peril” level ability user, it was impossible to remain indifferent to the arrival of a Calamity.

Furthermore, Hua Qingling was also registered with the Anomaly Management Bureau, which was a common organization throughout the Free Federation.

“Compared to last time, Lannister’s performance seems much better.”

While leading Qin Wen towards the Lannister Anomaly Management Bureau she remembered, Hua Qingling observed Lannister’s situation.

During the previous chaos caused by the Church of the End Gods, Lannister was in disarray, causing many problems for her and her squad’s rescue work.

But now, the citizens of Lannister were all orderly retreating to nearby shelters. Even if a shelter wasn’t nearby, they would choose the nearest building to hide in.

This also showed how many Calamities Lannister had suffered during this period…

Soon, the two arrived at the Lannister Anomaly Management Bureau. The bureau was bustling with activity, everyone preparing to deal with the incoming Calamity.

The person in charge on site recognized Hua Qingling at a glance and quickly waved,

“Madam Hua, here… why are you here?”

“I came to see if I can help.” Hua Qingling showed her credentials to the person in charge. “Executive Operative, Calamity Response Department, Yan City Anomaly Management Bureau. I should be qualified to participate.”

“Executive Operative, Apprehension Department, Yan City Anomaly Management Bureau.”

Qin Wen also showed her credentials, but at the same time, the expressions of the person in charge and Hua Qingling turned strange.

It was well known that almost all Apprehension Departments in the Anomaly Management Bureaus were moles from the Noah Anomaly Management Bureau…

“This is what you issued me.” Qin Wen said innocently, “I was working under that guy named Frick back then, but you should have heard about what happened later.”

A ruthless person who dared to eat a follower of the Witch of Envy raw, death was only a matter of time. It just implicated Qin Wen, who almost couldn’t recover from it.

“Actually, this isn’t important,” the person in charge smiled wryly. “I need to ask the Director, and the Director probably needs to ask the Chief Magistrate…”

“No need, Magistrate Norian has already informed me about you two.”

A hoarse voice, like a broken bagpipe, sounded, and then a stern middle-aged woman appeared, her sharp facial features strong and powerful.

But what was striking was her lower face.

A metal device replaced her chin, and several tubes extended from her throat, connecting to the metal chin.

She scanned the two with scrutinizing eyes and finally said in a deep voice,

“Assigning you two to a combat unit, a team of two… any objections?”

It sounded like a question, but more like an order that couldn’t be refused.

What else could Hua Qingling and Qin Wen say? They could only nod.

They came here to help anyway. Leading a team was fine, acting alone was also fine.

And being in a team of two would actually be easier. During their journey, Hua Qingling and Qin Wen had developed quite a bit of tacit understanding.

“That’s settled then.”

The hoarse voice sounded again, and the middle-aged woman walked towards the interior of the Anomaly Management Bureau with mechanical steps.

Everyone who saw her immediately bowed in salute,

“Good day, Director!”

However, the middle-aged woman didn’t respond to anyone, her figure gradually disappearing from view.

“Is that… your Director?” Hua Qingling shrunk her neck. “The pressure is so strong…”

“Her strength should also be greater than mine.”

Qin Wen crossed her arms and nodded in agreement.

“The Director’s throat was pierced by a Calamity monster when she was young while dealing with a Calamity, she barely survived.”

The person in charge said with emotion, “Otherwise, she wouldn’t have stopped at the peak of ‘Peril’ level, she definitely could have become Lannister’s second ‘Destruction’ level.”

Like Hua Qingling, this Director also had “Destruction” level potential, but her path of growth was completely destroyed by a near-fatal injury.

But even so, she was still unmatched among “Peril” level ability users.

“Let’s not talk about it, the Director doesn’t like us mentioning her past.” The person in charge took out two communicators,

“These are special communicators for coordinating combat deployment… You two should have the maximum freedom of action, but when forced combat deployment is required, please cooperate.”

“Of course.”

Hua Qingling took the communicator and tossed the other one to Qin Wen.

“One more thing, you absolutely cannot act separately. No matter what, you must ensure that both of you are within each other’s sight.”

Speaking of this, the person in charge’s expression immediately became serious.

“Why?” Qin Wen couldn’t help but ask.

“It seems a terrifying existence has been targeting Lannister recently… Once alone, even ‘Peril’ level ability users can’t escape its clutches.”

A bitter expression appeared on the person in charge’s face. “Even the senior who brought me into the Anomaly Management Bureau… met an unfortunate end.”

“…”

Since he put it that way, neither Qin Wen nor Hua Qingling were the type to court death.

“Mm, we understand.” Hua Qingling nodded slightly and looked at Qin Wen. “Let’s go.”

Qin Wen nodded and followed beside Hua Qingling.

The two left the Anomaly Management Bureau together and immediately headed towards the strongest Calamity aura they sensed.

……

The light blue pupil within the dark eye flickered slightly with clarity. The little bandaged girl seemed to have been sleeping here all along. She looked blankly at the gray sky, seemingly unaware.

“Perhaps… besides the Witch of Envy, I am the God most severely eroded by ‘malice’…”

She could no longer control her dreams. Where nightmares surged, Calamities arose.

Countless nightmare monsters appeared out of thin air, frantically attacking everything with the aura of life.

The Witch of End was surrounded by a withered forest. She had been dreaming here for a long, long time. Only the aura here could bring her some peace.

Very simple.

This was where Miss Luo Yan had accidentally teleported to. The Void here was still unstable.

“I didn’t want to wake up…”

The clarity instantly dissipated, and she closed her eyes again.

Somewhere unknown, another lonely little bandaged girl slowly appeared out of thin air, wandering aimlessly.

Everyone who saw the little girl would have a strange feeling.

She was in a dream.