Volume 2, Chapter 81 – The Girl Inside the Crystal

The Ashurmos Church team, in a state of high alert, finally arrived at the door of the small cottage after a period of internal conflict. Under the apprehensive gaze of several team members, Kabane slowly opened the door and even offered a token greeting.

“Excuse me, is anyone there?”

Of course, no one answered Kabane’s greeting. The house remained silent enough to hear a pin drop. It was not just the cottage; even the forest outside was deathly still, and the eerie silence was spine-chilling. A strange sensation caused unease and the urge to retreat to sprout within everyone’s hearts. Yet there seemed to be some eerie power within the wooden house, constantly luring them deeper inside.

“Someone lived here before?! Are you kidding me?! This is the Deepwinter Forest!” Kabane could not help but cry out in surprise as he looked at the neatly arranged furniture and the carefully placed decorations. This simple cottage, filled with the atmosphere of daily life, almost shattered the worldviews of the Ashurmos Church members.

How could a human possibly live in the Deepwinter Forest, a place dominated by so many terrifying Abyssal Demons? It was simply unbelievable. How did those people even reach the Deepwinter Forest? How did they avoid the attacks of the Abyssal Demons? Furthermore, where was the owner of this house now?

For a moment, countless questions surged into everyone’s minds. While observing the furniture in the room, the Third Hero, Arela, slowly walked into the living room and stroked the fur on the sofa with great confusion. Then, a faint look of surprise appeared on her pretty face.

‘Is this… the pelt of a Snow Lion King?’

The Snow Lion King was an extremely powerful magical beast. As she touched the fur, Arela felt as if she could still sense the powerful magic power remaining within it. If her judgment was correct, the owner of the wooden house must be incredibly strong. However, there was really no need to judge; how could anyone who could build a house in a terrifying place like the Deepwinter Forest be weak? She simply didn’t know what kind of person lived here.

Rеαⅾ оո КαtRеαⅾіոɡCαfе

Furthermore, would their unauthorized intrusion into this person’s residence cause displeasure? Thinking of this, Arela felt increasingly uneasy.

The exploration continued, and so did Arela’s thoughts. Suddenly, the shout of a warrior snapped Arela’s thoughts back to reality.

“Hero! You have to come see this!!” The urgency in the voice caused Arela to frown slightly.

The young woman followed behind Kabane and the others, slowly entering the basement. Under the guidance of another Ashurmos Church member, they arrived beside an ice spring in the basement. When she looked into the calm ice spring, Arela’s pupils suddenly contracted, and a thick sense of trembling immediately surfaced in her eyes! At this moment, she understood why the warrior’s voice had been so anxious.

Currently, within the sight of Arela and the others, a giant scarlet crystal shaped like a butterfly cocoon lay at the bottom of the chilled ice spring! Inside the crystal was a delicately carved little girl with her eyes tightly closed. The moment they saw the little girl’s face, not only Arela but everyone present revealed expressions of astonishment.

“Why does she look so much like the girl beside Lady Mengxi?!”

This was the first question on everyone’s minds. But they did not dwell on it for long because compared to another serious fact, a facial resemblance was not that big of a deal. What made everyone feel most apprehensive and terrified was the dense aura of Shadow Essence enveloping the girl!

That terrifying aura of Shadow Essence was stronger than any Abyssal Demon they had ever encountered before! It was much stronger, as if they were in completely different dimensions! If their judgment was correct, this black Shadow Essence had likely reached the demon king tier!!

Reаԁ oո КatRеαdіոgСаfе

Moreover, if one sensed carefully, they would discover that the pink-haired girl encased in the crystal did not possess a single shred of human aura. Instead, there was an Abyssal Demon aura so thick it was nauseating. In other words…

“Is this… a demon king tier Abyssal Demon?!” Arela took a sharp breath and slowly whispered her conclusion.

As soon as these words were spoken, the Ashurmos Church followers, who had still been skeptical, immediately showed expressions of fear and unease. Standing around the ice spring, they could not help but retreat several steps in trepidation.

“Demon king tier?! Is it really that kind of monster?!”

“It likely is…” Arela nodded nervously. “She should still be in a state of slumber, otherwise she would have attacked us long ago… Moreover, a human form…”

Gazing at the girl inside the crystal, every cell in Arela’s body was in a state of trembling, and her brain was occupied by countless doubts. A strange cottage in the forest, a demon king tier existence inside the cottage, and a human-shaped demon king tier at that?! Was she a human who had accepted the power of the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons?

And why did this girl look so much like Little Mo? Wait? This girl also had a slave mark on her foot, and it was identical to Little Mo’s? Could it be that this girl was the real daughter of the Marquis? If that were the case, then who was the person currently accompanying Lady Mengxi?!

In an instant, Arela’s expression became solemn. At the same time, a young priestess slowly walked to Arela’s side, her petite body already trembling. After all, they were currently in the same room as a legendary and terrifying monster. Who knew if that terrifying demon king tier existence would suddenly wake up? Thus, the blonde priestess asked in fear, “Lady Arela, what should we do now?”

Rеaԁ oո КαtRеаdіոɡСаfе

“What should we do…” Arela muttered, her expression growing more serious.

Ever since they had stepped into the eastern part of the Deepwinter Forest, their communication magic stones had been blocked by some special field and could not be used at all. In Arela’s view, since they could not contact the Ashurmos Church or other Heavenly Apostles, it was best to evacuate this place as quickly as possible. Although she didn’t know why she had been possessed to walk inside in the first place, there was no time to care about that now.

“Be careful. We’re retreating. Leave this place quickly while that demon king tier existence hasn’t awakened yet.”

“Yes…” The priestess nodded in total agreement.

Although the Ashurmos Church members were surprised by the human appearance of this demon king tier entity, they did not lower their guard because of it. No matter how docile a creature was, it would become incredibly violent and cruel after turning into an Abyssal Demon. The seemingly harmless little girl before them was likely the same. They absolutely could not lower their guard because of her appearance.

“Then let’s go quickly…” After receiving Arela’s instruction to retreat, everyone hurried to leave the basement. No one wanted to be in the same room as such a terrifying time bomb.

However, as they were leaving, Arela’s brow suddenly furrowed. She could not help but look back at the red-haired man who was staring blankly at the ice spring and whispered, “Kabane! What are you still doing standing there! Leave quickly!”

“Leave?” To her surprise, after hearing Arela’s words, Kabane gave a cold, disdainful smile. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Why should we leave?!”

Reαd oո ΚatRеαⅾіոɡСαfe

“Kabane! What do you mean by that?!”

“Heh, a demon king tier Abyssal Demon is lying here completely defenseless, and you actually want to run away? Arela, you’re too cowardly!” Red battle aura began to slowly surge across his body, and Kabane’s presence instantly began to climb.

Failing to find the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons was indeed disappointing. However, if he could kill a demon king tier existence, he would likewise obtain endless glory and wealth! How could he pass up such an opportunity? A demon king tier was strong, but the demon king tier Abyssal Demon before him was clearly in a weakened state and completely defenseless. If he used his strongest attack, he could certainly kill her. Success belongs to those with courage!

“Kabane! Don’t do anything reckless!!” Arela, having guessed what Kabane wanted to do, rushed forward to stop him.

However, it was too late. Kabane had already drawn the battle axe from his back. Violent fire-attribute holy magic suddenly erupted with a boom.

“Heaven-Rending Berserker Axe!”

In the next instant, under the terrified gaze of the crowd, Kabane leapt into the air and launched a fierce attack toward the crystal at the bottom of the ice spring.