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墨書 Inktalez
The gray-purple Blood Mist swirled like fine silk, lingering in the Demonic Forest.
Morning light should have filtered through the branches, but today the sky seemed cracked, and the thin sun carried a Coldness.
At the edge of the desolate woods, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Brother San, and Lucius came to a halt.
They had ventured out for training while searching for the legendary Crescent Vine, said to dispel the Miasma. However, as they reached this eerie forest, strange sounds suddenly erupted around them.
A peculiar low growl resonated from deep within the woods, akin to wind tearing at the Tear rocks or a bound beast gasping from its throat.
Then, several bizarre figures began Emerging slowly; their forms were neither fully human nor entirely beastly, with curved spines and limbs adorned with strange bone wings that resembled a cross between Wings and blades.
Their skin was mottled like decaying mud, flickering in and out of visibility within the mist.
Lucius tightened his grip on the wand In Hand, beads of sweat forming on his brow. “This is… a magical aberration? No, damn it, these aren’t creatures from our realm!”
“Eldest Brother—fall back!” Second Brother whispered urgently, magic surging in his palms yet hesitating to act recklessly.
This was the first time he had encountered a type of being that even magic struggled to identify; his instincts warned him—these monsters were dangerous.
Brother San furrowed his brow slightly; although his perception was usually dull, at this moment he felt an indescribable oddity: “They’re not attacking; they’re just… watching us?”
The monsters circled around the four of them without any aggression or movement, merely growling softly as they prowled like lost beast souls. Their eyes held neither fury nor hunger—only a strange… anticipation.
The air seemed to be slowly drained away, and everyone’s Nerves reached a taut limit.
With every step closer the monsters took, Lucius’ Thin Shoulders stiffened like stone.
Meanwhile, far away in the Magic Castle’s library, Luna suddenly opened her eyes.
“They… have encountered something.” She spoke slowly, her voice barely above a whisper as if squeezed from her chest.
Raising her hand, she lightly tapped her Fingertip against the Star Map; a vein on the map flickered suddenly as if sensing fluctuations of Magic Energy from miles away, even faintly carrying an ancient call.
Luna closed her eyes; those Roars echoing through the woods, the thuds against the ground, and the Magic Aura’s Zhen Chan… all coalesced into blurred images of Leonard's Last Night in her mind.
She frowned slightly.
“They are not enemies.”
The moment she whispered this, her form abruptly blurred and reappeared at the edge of the Demonic Forest.
Not far away, her four brothers stood within a barrier, their Nerves taut as nine monsters slowly circled around them, their Magic Patterns flickering in and out like ancient prayers murmuring in the air.
Luna stepped closer; her thin lips parted slightly as a spell shimmering with Silver Radiance emerged from thin air.
It was an ancient magic long forgotten, meant to communicate with beings from other realms—more of an awakening than mere terminology.
The monsters paused momentarily; one tilted its head slightly as a subtle clarity emerged in its eyes.
Eldest Brother stared in astonishment: “They understood?”
“Not ‘they,’” Luna replied softly, her black hair drifting gently in the cold mist. “It’s—them.”
In an instant, the Demonic Forest seemed to calm slightly.
The monsters’ growls softened; the previously oppressive atmosphere that felt as tight as Qin Xian receded like a tide.
At that same moment, in the distant Magic Fortress Tower, Leonard leaned against a mahogany desk while flipping through a page of a Magic Letter In Hand.
His gaze fell upon a line of Secret Script; his expression darkened yet could not conceal a hint of greed.
“They’ve all ventured deep into the Demonic Forest?” He lifted his eyes to scan the shadowy figure of a woman standing nearby—his Concubine Aisen.
Aisen's figure was enchanting, her exotic robe unable to conceal the triumphant smile at the corner of her lips. "The people you instructed are quite capable," she remarked.
Leonard sneered, "That's good. As long as they are not present, Aelia's side... will naturally be unable to maintain control." His tone was low and cold.
In another bedroom, Qin Si knelt with her head bowed, her forehead pressed against the smooth Peacock Stone Tiles, her voice trembling. "My lady... I did not dare to believe the words of Leonard's Concubine. But this letter was secretly placed in the mailbox by a guard this morning."
Aelia's fingertip trembled as she opened the Magic Letter, reading each word as if they dripped with the coldness of Poisoned Wine.
"He actually..."
Her voice was hoarse like a rusty blade scraping against iron, her emotions rising from shock and anger to a final chill.
"For all these years, I have guarded this Magic Castle, protecting his dignity and offspring, yet he plots behind my back..." She slowly rose, her Magic Robe swaying slightly with her emotions.
Qin Si lifted her head but dared not look at Aelia's face.
Aelia did not utter another harsh word; she simply walked to the window.
Gazing towards the direction of the Demonic Forest shrouded in Magic Mist, a murderous intent sharpened in her eyes.
"...I will not let him have his way."
The wind rushed in through the window, lifting the cloak behind her as if whispering of impending unrest.
In the forest, Luna was now watching the approaching monsters that had gathered once more. They no longer roared; their movements were slow but carried a strange rhythm of sorrow.
It seemed they were beginning to comprehend something, even arranging themselves in a circular pattern as if performing an ancient ritual.
Lucius stepped closer and whispered, "Luna, what are they... planning?"
Luna calmly gazed ahead, a strange light flickering deep within her eyes; she did not answer.
Instead, she lightly raised her hand and pointed towards an almost invisible direction deep within the woods.
"Follow me," she said softly.
In the next moment, the group of monsters turned in unison towards that direction, causing everyone to hold their breath.
The sound of Wind began again; amidst the rustling leaves and swaying bushes, a straight path that seemed unnatural gradually emerged from the mist.
Luna's footsteps quietly stepped into the fog.
These creatures no longer posed a threat; they all turned towards the depths of the forest.
Their movements had once been stiff and unsettling but now possessed an odd elegance, reminiscent of ancient priests conducting a forgotten ceremony.
They glided forward, their peculiar Bone Wings rustling among the dense foliage, carving out a path through the swirling mist.
Though Luna was petite, she radiated an incredible confidence and followed without hesitation.
Despite fear gnawing at their hearts, the four brothers exchanged uneasy glances with Lucius before following suit.
Their boots sank into the soft Ground of the forest, and a strong stench filled the air alongside an indescribable oddity.
The usual sounds of the forest—chirping insects and rustling small animals—had vanished, replaced by an unsettling silence broken only by their soft footsteps and the rhythmic flapping of those creatures' Wings.
As they ventured deeper, the gray mist thickened until it felt like traversing through a Spider Web.
The trees twisted grotesquely; their branches reached out like skeletal fingers.
Deep within the forest began to emit a faint glow that cast an eerie and otherworldly light.
The air grew heavy with a strange energy that tingled against their skin.
The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, ozone, and a sharp metallic tang, reminiscent of blood. Finally, these creatures came to a halt before a large opening on the side of a small hill—an entrance to a cave.
The light within flickered, casting dancing shadows on the bizarre forms of these beings. Lucius swallowed hard, gripping his wand tightly.
“Are you sure you want to do this, Luna?” he asked in a low voice, his tone taut with fear.
Luna did not respond. She simply stepped forward, her small hand reaching toward the shimmering light. The creatures parted to let her pass and then followed her into the darkness.
Lucius and his brothers hesitated for a moment longer before summoning their courage and plunging into the unknown world.
The air inside the cave was thick and stagnant, filled with a strong sulfuric odor and an almost sickeningly sweet scent. The light was more intense here, emanating from crystals embedded in the cave walls.
These crystals sparkled with an inner glow, casting an unsettling brightness that illuminated the oddly shaped rocks and strange phosphorescent fungi clinging to the damp stone walls.
The group moved slowly forward, their footsteps echoing strangely in the vast cavern. Silence was only broken by the occasional sound of water droplets and their own heavy breathing. Each step seemed fraught with danger, every shadow appeared to conceal something malevolent.
Yet there was an odd sense of anticipation in the air, as if a significant event was about to unfold. The eldest brother felt a dull ache in his leg as he stumbled over a loose stone. When he steadied himself, his hand brushed against something smooth and cold.
Squinting in the dim light, he saw a cluster of small, dark crystals faintly shimmering with deep blue light. He reached out to touch one, and an energy surged through his body in an instant. His eyes widened in surprise.
This energy felt familiar; it resonated with the magic that had crippled him years ago. Could it be…? Hope fluttered like a fragile butterfly in his heart.
As they ventured deeper into the cave, the second brother stopped, his gaze fixed on a pool of shimmering liquid. It emitted an ethereal glow, its surface gently rippling. He knelt beside it, his reflection wavering and distorting within.
Trembling, he extended his hand and dipped a finger into the liquid. It felt cool to the touch, and as he withdrew his finger, a strand of liquid stretched out and clung to his skin.
He closed his eyes, concentrating on feeling it. Then he saw it—the illusion of the spell that had trapped him; its complex workings laid bare before him. A slow smile spread across his face.
He had searched for the answer for so long... and here it was.
Brother San lagged behind the group, stopping to examine a patch of glowing moss. He had always been drawn to the vibrant, almost chaotic energy of nature, but his talent had led him to neglect the discipline of focused training. Now, as he gazed at the intricate interplay of light and shadow within the moss, he suddenly became aware of something.
He had been too focused on flashy displays of power, forgetting the fundamental principles of magic; those subtle details were the true source of magic. He would not make that mistake again.
The creatures continued to move silently forward, guiding the group deeper into the heart of the mountain. The air grew heavier, and the silence deepened. The flickering light intensified, enveloping the entire cave in an otherworldly glow. Luna's petite figure bathed in this radiance came to a halt at the edge of a massive crack.
The creatures surrounded her, their bone wings rustling softly. They seemed to be waiting, watching. Lucius stepped forward, peering into the darkness.
“What is it, Luna?” he asked softly, his voice filled with awe.
Luna pointed with her small finger towards the crack. “The center of the mountain,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the faint hum of the crystals. “And that secret…” She paused, her eyes fixed on something deep within the darkness that Lucius could not see. “...will change everything.”
The air in the Deep Forest was thick and oppressive, with humid soil and decaying leaves exuding a poisonous fog that wrapped around a small group of adventurers like a shroud. Xiao Luna swayed unsteadily as she crouched on her brother Lucius' thin shoulders, wrinkling her nose.
It smelled here... well, like a goblin's armpit after three days of revelry. She sincerely hoped that goblins didn’t really exist in this world.
“Are we there yet?” she tugged at a strand of her brother's hair, pouting playfully.
Lucius winced slightly but not from pain; rather, he was exasperated by this question that echoed in the oppressive woods as if they had lived an entire lifetime waiting for an answer.
“Be patient, Luna,” he sighed, adjusting his grip on his staff. The magic that once flowed freely within him now felt intermittent—a consequence of that magic backlash that had left him severely weakened. Even so, an inexplicable sense of foreboding crept into his heart. Something was... off.
Their mother, Lady Aelia, walked with determined steps, her eyes scanning the twisted trees around them. Since discovering her husband Lord Leonard's betrayal, a steely resolve had ignited within her, transforming her from a gentle lady into a volcano ready to erupt. This expedition into the Deep Forest was her idea; she was desperate to uncover the source of a disturbingly familiar dark magic that she suspected Leonard was involved with.
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble as grotesque figures emerged from the shadows.
The twisted branches seemed to writhe with a life of their own, their eyes glowing like the embers of a dying fire, and their mouths filled with sharp, needle-like teeth. They were the embodiment of nightmares, even causing seasoned adventurers like Aelia's Second Son, who was usually quick-witted and skilled in Spellcasting, to swallow hard.
Surprisingly, Luna showed no fear. Beneath the monstrous exterior, she sensed something else—a hint of... despair? This feeling was all too familiar to her; it reminded her of her past life as a powerful yet ultimately forgotten Great Mage. These creatures were not attacking; they were pleading for help.
"Wait!" Luna called out, her small voice breaking the tense silence. Everyone froze, staring at her as if she were the monster. "They want to tell us something!"
As if responding to her cue, the creatures began to move, their grotesque bodies twisting into shapes that resembled gestures. The movements were rough and almost primitive, but Luna understood their meaning through the surge of ancient knowledge within her. They were speaking of a corruption, a darkness festering at the heart of the Deep Forest—a darkness that threatened to consume everything.
Meanwhile, in Glory Fortress, Leonard remained oblivious to the events unfolding in the forest as he executed his own sinister plans. He moved with an air of wicked elegance, his actions shrouded in secrecy. He believed he was on the verge of obtaining ultimate power—the kind that would make him the undisputed master of the magical realm. Little did he know that a self-righteous little girl would thwart his ambitions.
In the Deep Forest, Aelia suddenly became aware of a terrifying truth. The darkness spoken of by those creatures... it did not exist solely within the forest. It was right in her own home. It was Leonard.
If they did not act quickly, Glory Fortress—and perhaps the entire kingdom—would fall.
"We need to go back," Aelia said softly, her voice taut with urgency. "We must leave now."
A race against time had begun.
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