An eerie, illusory mist crawled across the ground. As it neared the pair, it split into soft, writhing tentacles that slithered forward, plucking at the strings of fear in their hearts.
The mist rippled in waves, moving from the distance toward them as if invisible figures were sprinting through the haze.
Pitch-black Black Vessels climbed the walls, pulsating with a rhythmic thrum. They varied in thickness, looking like eyeless, headless insect pupae that rose and fell in a sickening cadence.
Tumorous nests sprouted from the nodes of these veins, and from them, wriggling blood-leeches squeezed their way out.
A piercing screech echoed from the rooftops. Talitha looked up, her eyes widening at the sight of a monstrous crow.
The bird’s feathers were as sharp as iron. Its head was a bizarre cluster of soft, mollusk-like folds, embedded with seven or eight narrow, blood-red eyes. In the center sat a massive white beak, skewed at an awkward angle like the hands of a broken clock.
Even though Talitha had undergone professional training and wouldn’t panic like an ordinary civilian, the constant erosion of fear was beginning to trigger bouts of acute anxiety and tension.
“Sir,” she asked unsteadily, “what is happening? Why are these anomalies appearing inside the town? Has a Sealed Artifact escaped?”
Annan-Kle stared toward the end of the mist-shrouded street. A twisting, grey vortex had formed there, looking like a gateway to another world.
“The town has been invaded,” he said, his voice heavy.
Talitha froze. Before she could ask what they should do, Annan-Kle suddenly stepped forward. He swung his Straight Blade in a clean, downward arc. With a sharp shink, a vivid line of blood manifested in the empty air, accompanied by a scream that sounded nothing like a human voice.
Ripples of mist erupted from the ground as blood splattered across the cobblestones. It seemed an invisible monster was fleeing in a panicked scramble.
“What was that?!”
Talitha’s scalp crawled with a cold chill. That invisible thing had been right next to her!
Annan-Kle didn’t seem to hear her. He muttered to himself, “The Lighthouse… why hasn’t it lit up yet?”
“Sir! Please, do something! What do we do now?!” Talitha couldn’t help but shout.
Annan-Kle remained deaf to her pleas. His eyes darted rapidly within their sockets, absorbing every detail of their surroundings. Suddenly, his figure blurred, and he circled around to stand in front of the young woman.
His blade lashed out in a horizontal sweep, the sound like tearing silk.
In that split second, a massive curtain of shadow that had been lunging at them was severed in two.
Thick smoke billowed from the cut.
The Luminous-Coated Blade was exceptionally effective against Shadow Creatures.
The light-shunning wraiths behaved like living things. They recoiled for a moment before instantly merging together, rising into a terrifying, towering form. With claws and fangs bared, the shadow lunged at him once more.
Annan-Kle swung his blade with one hand, executing dozens of consecutive slashes. He hacked the shadows into fragments that dissipated into the wind.
Just then, the crow perched on the roof let out a piercing shriek. It glided down from its height, sweeping toward them.
As the distance closed, the crow’s form expanded, gradually taking on a vaguely humanoid shape.
The monster stood nearly three meters tall. Its body was covered in soft, repulsive black lumps that seemed to be composed of pure shadow, writhing disgustingly around its frame.
Its drooping, massive beak looked like a hideous, crooked nose. Combined with its glowing red, slit-like eyes and a face as wrinkled as folded dough, it looked like a nightmare made flesh.
When the creature’s feet—which resembled swirling vortices of Calamity—hit the ground, its suppressed malice erupted in a violent surge.
Shadows split into the shapes of porcupine quills, suddenly lengthening and dancing wildly as they stabbed toward the two people on the street.
Annan-Kle shifted his stance. Using his right hand, which was missing half a palm, he hooked the Lantern with his thumb and thrust it high. The light flared, repelling the darkness. The shadow spikes melted away like ice under a summer sun.
So powerful! Talitha thought, her heart leaping with hope.
But in the next instant, the beak-faced monster reached out with a pitch-black claw. With a flick of its fingers, the entire scene seemed to crack and fold like a broken mirror.
The arm Annan-Kle used to hold the lantern was snapped by an invisible force.
He let out a muffled groan of agony. Pale bone shards pierced through his skin and flesh, and blood began to flow in earnest.
“Get back to the Guild!” Annan-Kle turned his head and roared.
The shout slammed into Talitha’s ears, vibrating through her brain and leaving her head ringing.
In a daze, the Lantern was thrust into her hands.
Then, her body moved like a marionette—stiff and rapid—as she turned and began to sprint toward the Guild.
The voice of a Candle-Bearer possessed a transcendent power that could inspire and embolden. Under his command, Talitha cast aside all distractions and fear. Only one thought remained in her mind: Get back to the Guild and report this!
I have to get back and tell them…
Her mind felt detached from her body, as if she were floating in the air, looking down at herself sprinting through the streets.
From a distance, she saw the eerie mist flooding in from every intersection. Ear-splitting sounds echoed from the depths of the darkness. She veered away, finding a small alley free of mist to reach the Guild.
The moment she reached the entrance, the pungent stench of blood hit her like a physical blow.
Talitha’s body swayed. To her horror, crimson blood was surging from the gaps in the door, cascading down the steps. It pooled at the bottom in a dark red lake nearly half a foot deep, reflecting the cold moonlight.
“The Guild…”
Talitha stepped through the viscous, slippery blood and climbed the stairs. Her hands trembling, she pushed open the leather-bound, soundproof doors. The warm, boisterous scene she remembered was gone. In its place was a horrific landscape of strange vines and writhing, humanoid shapes impaled upon them.
The vines had sprouted from beneath the floorboards, shimmering with an eldritch black light. Sharp as needles, they climbed everywhere. Pitch-black humanoid figures had been pierced through by them, the two entities merging into one. Their surfaces were lumpy and distorted, resembling melting candles.
A shudder surged from the depths of Talitha’s soul. Her pupils dilated, and her sanity began to crumble.
“Ah… ah…”
Tears streaked down her cheeks as a tuneless wail escaped her throat.
A moment later, she snapped back to reality and turned, running for her life.
She reached the street corner but had no idea where to go. Her vision was obscured by the mist. From places that seemed both near and far came the screams of women, the crying of infants, the sound of shattering glass, and the thunderous collapse of walls…
The air was thick with the choking scent of blood. A massive wave of sorrow crashed through her heart.
The town is finished…
How did this happen…
Father, Mother…
Someone… someone save us…
Suddenly, the image of Ed-Bear’s reserved and silent face flashed through Talitha’s mind.
She knew that man was strong—stronger than any of the freelance Explorers who spent their days bragging in the Guild hall. Among the ranked Explorers, perhaps only a Candle-Bearer could compare to him.
Talitha remembered seeing him at the town entrance earlier, heading toward his home.
She didn’t need to wonder how she knew his address; she was on good terms with Helen. She had bribed the little girl with plenty of candy and chocolate to get the information.
Talitha gritted her teeth, held the Lantern high, and ran forward.
The once-bustling town had become cold and sinister. Along the way, she saw the mist swirling and the eerie Black Vessels spreading across the walls, bearing Mana Cocoons that looked like a cross between brain matter and fruit.
Several Mana Cocoons split open, hatching distorted worms. Their bodies radiated a deep red glow as they dropped to the ground, searing bright, molten tracks into the earth like lava.
