Yet, aside from the rustling sound of wind blowing through the leaves, everything around was silent.
There was no fireball as expected, nor the terrifying, suffocating figure.
Only that little girl stood quietly inside the barrier, staring at the group of mad adults with a terrified expression.
Casey’s hand rested on the sword at his waist.
After a long, wary observation, he finally sensed something off.
“No… that barrier doesn’t seem to have been cast by that big witch.”
“What?”
Baron was stunned for a moment, then pointed at Aiweila inside the barrier.
“Are you saying that big witch isn’t nearby?”
“This barrier seems to be cast by that magic circle on the back of her hand.”
Looking at the glowing pattern on Aiweila’s hand, Casey tentatively took a step forward.
Seeing no magic coming at him, the fear in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by the relief of surviving a disaster and the fury of being tricked.
“So it’s just you alone!”
Baron caught the meaning in Casey’s words.
He picked up the large cleaver that had fallen to the side, strode forward, and knocked on the Magic Barrier.
Seeing that it really didn’t react, a ferocious grin spread across Baron’s face.
“Scared the hell out of me! I knew it—how could that big witch just watch you get caught and not show herself? Turns out it’s only you!”
Seeing Baron’s actions, the crowd’s anxious hearts gradually settled.
“But didn’t she summon those vines yesterday? The ones that sent those guards flying with a single swipe?”
A thin, small man cowered behind the group, timidly voicing his reminder.
Those words tightened the relaxed atmosphere once more.
Casey instinctively pressed down on his sword and took two steps back, maintaining distance from Aiweila, afraid that lethal vines would burst from the ground at any moment.
Seeing everyone’s reaction, Baron’s heart jolted too.
He quickly turned back and scanned the ground beneath his feet.
Only after confirming there was no sign of vines breaking through the earth did he let out a heavy sigh.
Plucking up his courage, he raised his cleaver and knocked on the Magic Barrier as a test.
Clang! Clang!
A crisp sound echoed, ripples spreading across the barrier.
Inside, Aiweila trembled in fear, pressing herself tightly against the tree behind her, showing no intention of fighting back.
Baron’s eyes rolled, and he turned back to face the crowd.
“Oh, come on. Look, I’m standing this close, and she still hasn’t done anything.”
He spat, full of disdain.
“If you ask me, those vines yesterday were just that big witch’s trick—scaring you cowards. Now that she’s gone, this little girl is nothing but a lamb for the slaughter.”
His words were like a shot of adrenaline.
Seeing that Aiweila truly wasn’t resisting, only huddling inside the barrier with a terrified face, the crowd gradually grew bold.
They swarmed in, surrounding Aiweila in a tight circle.
Some picked up stones and hurled them at the barrier; others banged against it with their weapons.
“But this turtle shell is so tough—we can’t break it.”
One man holding a pitchfork poked at the Magic Barrier, complaining in frustration.
Baron said nothing.
He looked Aiweila up and down, then fixed his gaze on the magic circle on the back of her hand.
With every impact, the light visibly dimmed.
Realization dawned on Baron.
A sinister grin curled at the corner of his mouth.
“What’s there to be afraid of? This barrier isn’t invincible.”
He raised his cleaver and pointed at the glow on Aiweila’s hand.
“See that? This turtle shell is held up by that magic circle. If we keep attacking, it’ll run out of magic power sooner or later. And then… heh heh…”
Aiweila watched the twisted, excited faces outside the barrier and listened to the unending pounding.
Her legs gave way, and she slid down to sit at the base of the tree.
Her vision blurred.
Tears mixed with the dust on her face, trailing down her cheeks.
“Sister…”
She wrapped her arms tightly around her knees, buried her head deep in them, and sobbed uncontrollably.
“Where are you… Waaah… Please come save me…”
Aiweila’s despair didn’t stir any pity in the crowd—if anything, it made them even bolder.
Baron heard her tearful calls and laughed uproariously, as if she’d told the funniest joke in the world.
“Hahaha! You want that big witch to save you? Don’t worry—once we’re done with you, we’ll send her to join you soon enough!”
Those words struck Aiweila like a thunderbolt.
Her sobs caught in her throat. She forgot to cry.
Her tears stopped mid-flow.
She lifted her head sharply.
Her unfocused pupils abruptly contracted as she stared at Baron.
The tear tracks were still there, but her voice now carried a note of shock… and murderous intent.
“What… did you say?”
Baron didn’t notice the subtle shift in atmosphere, still reveling in his anticipated victory.
“Hah, I said you and that big witch—neither of you is getting away today! Just wait to die, haha…”
The laughter died abruptly.
Baron saw that the girl, who had been kneeling on the ground trembling and crying like a broken toy, was now slowly getting to her feet.
The tear tracks on her face weren’t dry yet, but the fear in her eyes had vanished, replaced by a bone-chilling coldness.
The pressure in the air dropped instantly.
Everyone froze mid-motion, eyes wide as they stared at the girl who stood with her head lowered, radiating a terrifying aura.
Baron’s heart tightened.
Sensing something wrong, a chill shot up his spine.
He spun around hastily, his voice shrill with panic.
“Ev-everyone, don’t be scared! She’s just bluff—”
Schlick!
Before he could finish, a streak of emerald green shot up from the ground, cleaving the air with a sharp sound, and pierced straight through his chest.
“Ugh…”
The words he was about to say were choked off by blood.
He stiffly looked down, eyes filled with horror.
It was a vine—dark green, as thick as an arm, covered in countless thorns—mercilessly impaling his chest.
Bright red blood dripped slowly down the vine onto the ground, splashing into delicate crimson blossoms.
Baron’s mind went blank.
The image of the vine sending guards flying yesterday flashed through his head.
But only now did he truly understand: that wasn’t some “trick” of the big witch—it was this seemingly fragile little girl’s… purest rage.
Schlick!
The vine yanked out sharply, tracing a crimson arc through the air, trailing a warm spray of blood mist.
Deprived of the vine’s support, Baron’s massive body toppled backward like a felled log, crashing heavily to the ground in a cloud of dust.
His eyes were wide open, staring at the sky obscured by dense leaves.
His pupils gradually blurred, and then all life faded.
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