A signature smirk ghosted across Zhong Shenxiu's lips. The sharpness in his eyes hadn't faded; in fact, it intensified.
As for the nearly despairing mercenaries, they were stunned silent when they watched the monsters retreat like a receding tide. The same question echoed relentlessly in their minds: How could this be?
At that moment, all eyes converged on Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, an unspoken feeling dawning that these two children must be connected to this event.
Could it be that these monsters’ weakness is children?
Some mercenaries entertained such an absurd notion, and a few even displayed a look of sudden realization. No wonder this "Misty Mercenary Group" brought two children along—it turns out they knew the kids were the bane of these beasts!
The onlookers could find no better explanation for the phenomenon.
However, their theory was quickly overturned by another event that sent shivers down their spines.
By now, the fleeing monsters were nearly out of sight. Everyone relaxed their combat readiness, standing still and gasping for breath.
“Robin!” Zhong Shenxiu called softly, a look of anticipation playing on his face, as if waiting for a show to start.
As if taking a command, Robin stepped forward two paces, extended both hands horizontally, aiming directly at the retreating monsters. Then, the gravitational pull of the "Repelling and Attracting" Bracer was unleashed, and instantly, the monsters shot back as if loosed from a bowstring, swarming toward Robin in a dense cloud!
Their speed was breathtaking; they arrived before Robin in mere heartbeats.
The mercenaries behind them nearly collapsed in fright. They hadn't expected the monsters to return, and their velocity was astonishing.
“Everyone, prepare for battle—” Frank tried to direct them to reform their defensive positions, but his command died in his throat at what happened next!
The returning monsters vanished into thin air!
In the blink of an eye, the dense swarm of creatures was completely gone, a disappearance so eerie it made their scalps prickle.
What happened? Did we see a ghost?
The mercenaries’ faces were contorted with tension.
Robin, the central figure, stepped back toward Zhong Shenxiu as if she had just completed a trivial chore. She had already collected every last monster into her storage bracelet, ensuring Zhong Shenxiu could study them whenever he pleased—a great convenience.
Zhong Shenxiu rejoined the group with Robin, looking pleased. Though intensely curious about the monsters and the ancient texts, he preferred not to investigate now, lest it spoil the thrill of the current expedition!
Meanwhile, Xia Luo and the others were buzzing with excitement. They knew Robin was responsible for the bizarre occurrence. With these two little freaks, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, around, they could navigate even the fiercest monster encounters unscathed, because to those monsters, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin were the true monsters!
“Excuse me, what exactly just happened?” Frank, unable to contain his curiosity, walked over.
He had to re-evaluate the "Misty Mercenary Group." That last scene couldn't have been mere luck; there had to be secrets they didn't understand.
“Didn’t you see it yourself?” Zhong Shenxiu was in a good mood, having just collected a host of monsters.
“I didn't see clearly!” Frank managed an awkward chuckle, lamenting that he, a former Vice-Captain, now had to ask others to explain what occurred.
“Do you want to see clearly?” Zhong Shenxiu’s lips curled into a mischievous smile, his bright eyes suddenly sharpening.
Uh!
Frank froze. Years of experience screamed at him not to nod, or he would surely regret it! He couldn't fathom why a sense of unease was rising within him, growing stronger by the second.
“N-no, that’s alright. I was just asking casually,” Frank managed another awkward laugh.
Subsequently, everyone returned to their tasks. Zhong Shenxiu once again closed his eyes to rest, though in reality, he was using his mental waves to probe the surroundings.
Angelina and the others were already busy preparing food. Having followed Zhong Shenxiu for so long, their culinary skills had improved remarkably. Within moments, waves of savory aroma began to drift out.
This scent was a fatal attraction to the starving mercenaries.
“What is that? It smells incredible!”
“Too fragrant! I can’t stand it!”
“Ah, over there! Look, they’re preparing food! Heavens, they actually have so much delicious stuff!”
Soon, the area became noisy as more and more people converged toward Zhong Shenxiu’s location. Judging by their greedy expressions alone, their intentions were clear!
Angelina glanced at Zhong Shenxiu, saw his eyes remained closed, and shifted her gaze to Kenny.
“Everyone, guard the food well. Don’t let it get snatched away!” Kenny said with a smile, but everyone could tell she was serious.
“Hey, what are you making? Can you spare some? We’re all trapped here together now; we should look out for each other!”
“Right, if we need to get out of here, we have to cooperate. I think you should share some of your food with us!”
“How about this? We all pool our food together and divide it equally. That would boost everyone’s survival chances!”
The crowd babbled, the general sentiment demanding that Angelina and the others contribute their provisions without compensation!
Just as their verbal demands seemed poised to turn into physical action, a voice suddenly rang out!
“Who do you think you are?” Zhong Shenxiu opened his eyes, a cold light blazing forth!
The crowd started, as most of them—apart from Frank and Harrymanfu—didn't know Zhong Shenxiu was the leader of the "Misty Mercenary Group." They assumed he was just an ordinary child.
“This is adult business. Children shouldn’t interrupt!”
“We’re doing this for everyone’s good!”
“Any who try to seize it will be killed without mercy!” Zhong Shenxiu dropped the final line, then turned his attention away from them.
Zhong Shenxiu wasn’t so much angered by their request as by their presumption. They demanded the food as if they were entitled to it, implying they should be thanked for accepting the charity!
“Boy, how dare you speak like that? Is no one disciplining you?”
“Being young isn't your fault, but speaking so carelessly is wrong!”
“We see you are young and ignorant; we won’t stoop to your level!”
The mercenaries continued their incessant chatter, failing to notice the murderous glint emerging in the eyes of the other child.
You think you're so great, do you? Fine, let’s see just how great you are.
With a swift gesture, Robin did something that stunned everyone: she released a monster!
The moment the beast materialized, the mercenaries’ vision blurred. When they could finally see clearly, they nearly collapsed in terror!
“H-how… how is this possible?”
The monster gave them no time to process. Still roaring and struggling from being abruptly pulled from the storage bracelet, it suddenly found itself facing a crowd of humans. It immediately attacked!
A single swipe of its claws elicited a scream, and blood instantly gushed forth. The others reacted quickly, leaping backward when they saw the danger.
However, monsters share one trait: the more you flee, the more they pursue!
In the span of a few breaths, five or six more had staggered back, not yet dead, but their injuries, untreated, would soon prove fatal.
Many drew their weapons, and several mages began chanting spells. They no longer had time to wonder how the creature appeared; the immediate task was to subdue it!
This monster was undoubtedly formidable, but even one beast couldn't withstand the coordinated attack of many hands. After nearly five minutes of combat, they had managed to corner it, and it was only a matter of time before it was subdued.
The mercenaries finally breathed a sigh of relief, thankful it was only one. If there were more, who knew who would end up subduing whom!
But their relief was premature, for Robin released another monster.
This new creature also lunged forward, claws extended, ready to attack anyone it saw. But upon spotting its companion trapped by the group of humans, it grew enraged. It roared, “Brother, I’m coming to save you!” and charged forward!
The mercenaries nearly lost their nerve at the sight of a second monster. Their faces turned an indescribable shade of pale!
One monster was already more than they could handle; a second one complicated matters immensely!
Yet, the horror was compounded when a third monster materialized from thin air, its target also locked onto the mercenaries!
Heavens, someone tell me what is going on here!
The tide of battle had dramatically reversed. Now it was the mercenaries who were forced into a continuous retreat, accumulating fresh wounds with every passing moment.
These monsters were bizarre; not only were their physical strikes potent, but they could also launch dark orbs. Being struck by one slowed movement and seemed to sap the victim’s very strength!
Stanley and Faraday exchanged a look, both seeing stark horror reflected in the other’s eyes. The reason was simple: they both recognized the black orbs fired by the monsters—they were undeniably "Darkness-Type Magic"!
These monsters are "Darkness-Type Magical Beasts"?!
Every magical beast possesses inherent attributes. Some are Wind-Type because they can cast wind spells; others are Fire-Type for fire spells. But creatures capable of casting "Darkness-Type Magic" were merely legend—no one had ever seen one, and they were all presumed extinct, like Space-Type beasts!
Yet, here they were, these rumored, vanished creatures! Was it coincidence, or was there a deeper secret at play?
Necromancers differed from traditional mages. Due to their affinity for darkness, they could not form contracts with ordinary beasts. Darkness-Type Magical Beasts would be their only option, but since these beasts were mythical, Necromancers rarely possessed any companions beyond skeletons.
But now, seeing these legendary Darkness-Type Magical Beasts, the two old men’s eyes were practically glued to them; they desperately wanted to rush over and kiss them!
Just as the mercenaries seemed destined to be torn apart by the beasts’ claws, Frank, frantic and out of options, yelled toward Kenny and the others: “Members of the Misty Mercenary Group! We were abrupt just now. Can you please help us think of a way? I beg you!”
Kenny couldn't bear to watch them die like that. She quickly turned to Robin and softly called out, “Robin!”
Robin understood Kenny’s plea. She might disregard anyone else’s status, but she would heed Kenny’s words. Besides Zhong Shenxiu, Kenny was the second most important person in her heart!
So, Robin slowly extended both hands. Ten black chains erupted from her ten slender fingers, shooting toward the three magical beasts with incredible speed!
This was the manifestation of Dark Witch Power, a technique invented by Zhong Shenxiu himself, known as “Ten Finger Dark Lock.”
The three beasts were thoroughly engaged in their assault when they suddenly felt a powerful surge of dark energy approaching. Startled, they realized they were too slow to evade, and all were instantly bound by the black chains.
Then, without Robin exerting any apparent force, just a gentle tug, the three beasts were yanked airborne and pulled back toward her!
Perhaps blinded by the frenzy of battle, the three monsters failed to accurately assess the situation. They struggled violently, attempting to attack Robin!
Robin’s small nostrils emitted a cold snort of disdain for their overestimation of their own might.
You all want to attack? It seems I need to teach you a proper lesson.
Robin gave a shake of her wrist, withdrawing the chains binding them, and watched coldly as they lunged toward her.
“Danger!” Frank roared.
As the three beasts leaped simultaneously toward Robin, he braced himself for the worst, certain the little girl would be ripped to shreds! What a wonderful child, gone just like that…
However, a deafening CRASH interrupted his grim expectation. When he looked, there was no bloody scene, but rather a sight that stunned him beyond measure!
The three beasts, moments ago so menacing, had all simultaneously plunged headfirst into the stone floor. The loud crash must have been them striking the flagstones!
W-what… what just happened?
Frank stared with vacant eyes. He had only lost focus for an instant, yet the outcome was drastically different from his prediction!
The others, who had been watching with unblinking intensity, were equally blank. They hadn't seen what occurred either.
They could swear on the lightbulb—though lightbulbs didn't exist in that era—that they hadn't blinked or looked away, yet they utterly failed to see how the monsters’ heads ended up embedded in the stone floor!
Weird. Terribly, utterly weird!