Chapter 64: A Demon in the Tide of Madness
Although anticipated, it was still a bit of a surprise.
Before coming to the Savage Lands, Lin Yan’s impression of the Wild God Altar had been based on the capital.
But after learning of the cruel and barbaric sacrificial ritual, she had imagined a more… mysterious place.
But in reality, besides the oppressive atmosphere and the distant, terrifying crimson Blood Spider nest, it wasn’t much different from the capital.
Of course, the capital had civilians. Here, even the weakest beastkin was at least at the Collapse Class level. Anything lower was practically nonexistent.
And due to the sacrificial ritual, the beastkin here were either incredibly powerful or incredibly ruthless. None of them were easy to deal with.
“What are you looking at, Miss Lin Yan?” Diana’s sultry voice purred in her ear.
Lin Yan instinctively reached for her dagger, but Diana just chuckled. “I’m not behind you this time, Miss Lin Yan. Just beside you.”
She was standing a bit too close, but Lin Yan remained impassive.
“You’re not what the rumors say,” Diana said, then, seeing Lin Yan’s lack of reaction, she stepped back. “I heard, Miss Lin Yan, that you have… special feelings for your own gender.”
“As long as the other party is a person, I consider them to be of the same gender. A person, in every sense of the word,” Lin Yan said, her gaze fixed on Diana, her voice laced with a cold menace.
She had been warned about Diana, by the other Legendary Knights, by Uncle Lin… They all respected her personal preferences, but they didn’t want her to get involved with… that.
Of course, Lin Yan had no interest in Diana… she was a beast, disguised as a seductive woman.
“You’re so cruel, Miss Lin Yan,” Diana said with a pout. “I haven’t even done anything to you…”
“I need to see your mother, to deliver an important message. How do I get there?” Lin Yan said, ignoring her, her gaze fixed on the crimson nest in the distance.
“Hmph,” Diana’s playful expression vanished. “Of course, we can’t have the esteemed Legendary Knight walk. We have a teleportation circle that will take you directly to my mother’s doorstep.”
“I don’t want to waste any more time,” Lin Yan said, her voice firm.
“Yes, yes, the Legendary Knight’s time is precious,” Diana said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
But she still led Lin Yan to a clearing, cutting her palm and using her blood to activate a teleportation circle.
After all, Lin Yan was here as a representative of the human Empire.
Although the North Empire didn’t have a definitive super-power (like the High Priestess of the Bewildering Forest or the Arachne Queen of the Savage Lands), their overall strength could not be underestimated.
Even Queen Arachne was cautious. No one knew what kind of ultimate weapons the North Empire had developed with the legacy of Vikarn.
And thankfully, they didn’t have a super-power. Otherwise, the Bewildering Forest and the Savage Lands wouldn’t be showing respect, but fear.
Just like Karina had done, Diana used her blood to activate the teleportation circle.
She stepped into it, and Lin Yan followed, her Authority held in reserve, her senses on high alert.
But Queen Arachne had no intention of harming her, and Diana, though she didn’t like it, wouldn’t disobey her mother’s orders.
A flash of crimson light, and Lin Yan found herself standing before the crimson nest.
The open entrance was like a gaping maw, the air thick with a sweet, cloying scent that sent a shiver down her spine.
And it wasn’t just the oppressive atmosphere, but a deep, bone-chilling cold.
“This way, Legendary Knight,” Diana said, a sneer on her face as she saw Lin Yan’s tense expression.
She walked towards the entrance.
Lin Yan, composing herself, followed.
…
A sky of black and red, a land of blood and rust.
A pink figure appeared out of thin air, landing lightly on the ground.
Then, as her tails swayed uncontrollably, she almost lost her balance.
But with her years of training, she managed to steady herself, avoiding embarrassment in front of Isabelle.
“These tails are so troublesome,” Bai said, patting them, a frustrated look on her face.
“But Bai, why can’t you control your tails?” Isabelle asked curiously.
“Huh? I thought it was a common problem for Dream Demons,” Bai said, surprised.
“…Who told you that? I’ve never heard of such a thing,” Isabelle said, equally surprised.
“I… read it in some documents,” Bai said, thinking of the information Eleanor had given her.
“Dream Demons left behind documents? Oh, right, you’re a Dream Demon. They must have been left for you…” Isabelle said thoughtfully.
“Ahem,” Bai coughed, embarrassed. She hadn’t actually inherited any documents. Isabelle’s comment made her feel a bit… awkward.
She quickly changed the subject. “Can you sense anything strange here? I keep feeling a… familiar aura…”
She had sensed it from Rex’s offerings, but now, in the Tide of Madness, the feeling was even stronger.
“There’s a demonic aura here,” Isabelle said, her expression serious.
“…Isn’t that obvious? This is where the beastkin banish their Fallen Demonspawn. Of course there’s a demonic aura,” Bai said, a corner of her mouth twitching.
“No, I don’t mean those filthy things. I wouldn’t even call them demons,” Isabelle said with disgust. As a pure-blooded demon commander, she despised the Fallen Demonspawn, a race rejected by all others.
“Wait, then what do you mean…?” Bai’s expression turned serious.
“There’s a true demon here,” Isabelle said, her voice low. “And… its power may be no less than my own.”
