Chapter 39: White Mist

After confirming that everyone had healed, Aurora gathered the group to ask about their encounter.

“Miss Aurora, we don’t know why the Magic Beasts suddenly attacked the Outpost today,” the captain said in a heavy voice.

“It wasn’t just typical harassment. It felt… planned.”

“What do you mean?”

Aurora asked.

“White mist. A white mist spilled out from the forest and covered the entire Outpost, and then the attack began. We repelled their assault, but we suffered heavy losses. Fortunately, they only attacked in one wave. When the mist cleared, the Magic Beasts all left.”

“It feels as if something was leading them,” Lockes pondered.

“Not many monsters in the Celtic Forest have developed intelligence.”

“The key is that the forest has dense mist every day, especially now that it’s autumn. I didn’t even pay attention when the mist first started rising in the Outpost.”

“Then they hid in the white mist, broke into the Outpost, and attacked you. When the white mist dissipated, the Magic Beasts retreated as well,” Qiaolin said, looking at the captain’s worried face.

“Exactly. It seems we weren’t vigilant enough,” the captain sighed.

In their experience, except for some weak Magic Beasts, most monsters would not easily come to the outskirts of the forest.

After all, adventurers were hunting them, and there was no food out here.

“No, even if you had run back then, you wouldn’t have been able to escape if it had its eyes on you,” Qiaolin explained.

“You should know that there used to be a Magic Beast species known as the Silverback Magic Wolf in this forest. They were the rulers who dominated the Celtic Forest.”

“Silverback Magic Wolf?”

When the name was mentioned, various expressions appeared on people’s faces.

Some were confused, some were blank, and even the well-traveled adventurer captain scratched his head in confusion.

Only Kross lifted his head and replied, “I know of that Magic Beast. It’s said that one of them became a Level 7 Magic Beast and was incredibly powerful. Anyone who stepped into the forest, whether they were merchant caravans or armies, was slaughtered by them. However, they went extinct 300 years ago. I’m not quite sure of the reason.”

“A… a Level 7 Magic Beast? That’s equivalent to the strength of a middle-stage King Rank powerhouse!”

The captain’s face paled with fear.

This was the first time in his life he had heard that a Level 7 Magic Beast lived in the Celtic Forest.

“If that were true, which adventurer would ever dare to go inside and hunt?”

“Mr. Qiaolin, do you mean to say the Silverback Magic Wolves have appeared again? And what do they have to do with this attack? The injuries the adventurers sustained were left by different types of Magic Beasts,” Aurora asked, puzzled.

“I’m not talking about the whole species, but that Level 7 Magic Beast. It might have survived. Using white mist to ambush prey is exactly the Silverback Magic Wolf’s fighting style and ability.”

Moreover, compared to traditional wolf-type Magic Beasts, they were better at long-range attacks.

They used their own ice magic to condense sharp ice spikes on their backs and fire them to pierce their prey.

“What?!”

Although it was difficult for everyone to believe, Qiaolin’s serious expression didn’t make it look like he was joking.

A Magic Beast capable of rivaling a King Rank powerhouse was not something their adventurer team, which had a maximum strength of Five Crown, could contest.

Lockes quickly stood up after hearing this.

The information Qiaolin provided was simply too terrifying.

He looked down at Aurora, who immediately understood his meaning.

“Everyone, if what Mr. Qiaolin says is true, we must retreat immediately!”

The others stood up one after another, their faces showing hints of terror.

At the thought of a Level 7 Magic Beast lurking in the white mist that had been filled with killing intent just moments ago, a chill ran through their hearts.

“I’m sorry, Miss Aurora. Although we are very grateful to you for saving our lives, it’s clear that the situation here is no longer within our control. I’m afraid this commission must be terminated early. Of course, we will certainly pay the penalty for breach of contract!”

The captain spoke to Aurora with an apologetic face.

However, the young girl understood the difficulties these adventurers faced.

“Who didn’t want to stay alive?”

“It’s alright, Captain. Your team has been faithful to their duties. I believe there will be other opportunities for us to cooperate in the future.”

Seeing that Aurora wasn’t angry at all, the captain felt even more embarrassed.

“Ah, that’s really…”

“Whoosh!”

“Get down!”

“BLOOD-ENTWINED BLAZING SWORD!”

Suddenly, a snow-white ice spike pierced through the wall and shot toward Aurora.

Lockes, who had been on high alert, reacted quickly.

Holding his blood-red longsword, he blocked the ice spike.

“Ugh!”

But the kinetic energy of the ice spike was so great that it actually sent Lockes flying back.

He crashed through a wall, and immediately afterward, thick mist poured in.

“That’s it! That’s the attack that pierced my stomach!” the adventurer holding a spear shouted in panic at the sight.

“Damn it, they’re back!”

The captain took a stance and ordered the other adventurers, “Protect Miss Aurora and Mr. Qiaolin!”

“No, this time it’s just one,” Qiaolin muttered.

Frost gradually began to crawl across the interior walls of the bunker, and the temperature dropped sharply.

“Get out of here quickly, or we’ll all be frozen into ice sculptures.”

At Qiaolin’s reminder, the captain led everyone out of the building.

The Outpost was once again surrounded by white mist.

Aside from the sound of their footsteps, the surroundings were deathly silent.

“Tap.”

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”

Several ice spikes pierced through the white mist, breaking the wind.

A warrior standing on the perimeter was instantly turned into a hornet’s nest.

“Aaaah!!!”

Seeing this, Qiaolin manifested a golden book in his palm.

A streak of golden light surged into the warrior’s body.

“UNIVERSAL DIVINE LIGHT: REVERSION!”

The intense, stinging pain vanished in an instant.

The warrior didn’t even know he had just been slaughtered.

Even the reactions of the surrounding companions were a step too slow.

“What are you screaming about?” someone nearby asked.

“I… I feel like I…”

The warrior had no idea what had just happened.

The ice spikes that had struck him and pierced his flesh had dissipated instantly.

“BLOOD WAVE SLASH!”

Lockes swung a red blade of energy, tearing through the thick fog.

Their vision became much clearer, and at that moment, the people finally saw the Level 7 Magic Beast hidden in the mist—the Silverback Magic Wolf!

A massive figure continuously appeared and disappeared in the fog.

Its white fur blended perfectly with the white mist.

Qiaolin raised his eyes and, in the brief moment the mist dissipated, caught a glimpse of a magic wolf missing an eye.

‘So it really is you? One-Eye…’

“Awoooo—”

A piercing wolf howl rang through the air.

Immediately afterward, frost appeared on everyone’s bodies, and their limbs grew stiff.

“Hey! Chant your magic quickly! Create a rock wall to block the ice spikes! You must make three layers!”

Qiaolin shouted to one of the Mages.

The man was stunned for a moment; he didn’t know how Qiaolin knew he was a Soil Magic user.

But he didn’t have time to think about it.

He immediately followed the instructions and cast his magic.

However, before he could finish chanting, the ice spikes attacked again.

Terrified, he rushed to release the spell, only managing to create two layers of stone walls.

‘Even if it’s only two layers, it shouldn’t be able to break through!’

Reality shattered his wishful thinking.

In the next second, a sharp ice spike lunged right before his eyes.

Fortunately, the captain stepped in, pulling the Soil Magic user aside just in time to avoid disaster.

“You guys go first. I’ll cover the rear!”

Lockes stood before the group.

He bit into his own wrist, and a powerful force of blood and Magic Power erupted.

A blood-red phantom began to condense around the young man’s body.

Seeing this, Qiaolin’s eyes widened.

He recognized this technique.

‘He’s actually using himself to activate Blood God’s Fury? Does he intend to fight to the death?’

Blood God’s Fury was a unique innate ability of the Vampires.

By burning the blood and Magic Power within their bodies, they could significantly increase their strength for a short period.

The source of this consumption could be others or themselves.

Even though the strength gained from someone else’s blood was limited, Vampires usually chose to Devour others to avoid harming themselves.

Thus, very few Vampires would consume their own power to activate this form.

The last time he had seen this same scene was on the Crimson Empress herself.