Chapter 176: The Journey

Chapter 176: The Journey

Was it satisfying? No!

Ruoti felt even more resentful, the anger in her heart growing stronger, without any relief after venting. Especially the attitude Kkel had before his death, that indifferent understanding, deeply irritated her.

Contempt, that was Kkel’s final expression.

No, hidden beneath the contempt was actually relief! Kkel was just waiting for an answer, and she had given it to him. She should have killed him with one strike, should have let him die in confusion.

Ruoti finally figured some things out, but this only made a wave of frustration surge in her chest, and her mind began to grow dizzy. It was as if Kkel’s words rang in her ears again, “Pity, you will never get your revenge.”

No, I can!

She heard that the wizard took in the survivors from Sandstone City. She still remembered the people who rushed into her home trying to capture her. Sandstone City was only so big, with only so many people, no one could escape.

If she couldn’t find them, then let them all die together!

…

Kkel was dead, and his clansmen became his burial companions. Many versions of his death circulated. But in all versions, there was a name that made people’s hearts tremble – Wizard Bran.

And Bran still didn’t know he had been used and had taken the blame for someone else’s evil deeds. He was still persistently searching for souls within himself. Many insects appeared around him, butterflies, wasps, and more, and more. Some were beautiful, some were disgusting, constantly dancing around him.

At first glance, it felt dazzling and colorful. But when you looked closely, the colors would gradually fade, eventually turning into gray shadows.

The Little Fairies Rando and Langa provided him with much help. They tirelessly summoned various flying insects, and the City Manor had now become a sea of flying insects.

With many insects, naturally many birds were attracted, so the chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects filled the place.

From a distance, it looked very beautiful, colorful and undulating. But being inside, you would understand how terrible the environment was. The overwhelming flying insects were not all friendly; a single bite was enough to leave a lasting memory.

Only Bran, Huahua, the Ancient Tree, and the two Little Fairies enjoyed themselves.

Unable to bear it any longer, Danny finally stepped forward. On a certain sunny afternoon, these flying insects surged out from the City Manor, scattering to various parts of the city. Thus, many lucky and happy children appeared in the city, proudly showing off beautiful butterflies they caught; there were also many unlucky ones, watching with envy while their heads swelled from poisonous insect bites.

Birds followed the insects’ trail and began to settle here, making Northland City full of life.

After all the commotion, Bran’s only gain was the insect shadows flying around him. As the mana seeped deeper, they were gradually becoming a part of Bran.

I need materials! More materials! With this thought, an idea rose from Bran’s heart, and he couldn’t help but turn his gaze towards the Western Territory.

The final battle hadn’t started yet. He hoped everything was still in time.

…

The Demon Clan was gathering, and the Northlands were gathering too, but the purposes of the gatherings were completely different. Those gathering in the Northlands were mainly children, teenagers, and some young people.

Spectating! That was the main purpose.

They had to let these young people personally feel truly powerful forces and make them understand their own potential. With the mobilization and gathering, the entire Northlands gradually became enveloped in an excited mood. It seemed they were not heading to a battlefield, but to a celebration.

As they got closer to the Western Territory, the gathering teams from various places came together. One team with the smallest number of people gradually attracted everyone’s attention.

They had the youngest average age, and they all wore hoods. Most of the boys carried a cat, and most of the girls carried a bear cub. Along the way, the meowing of cats and the roaring of bears made it very lively.

Complaints were heard from time to time, either about someone’s cat scratching another’s clothes, or someone’s bear stealing and eating another’s meat. Several cats, after fighting each other, were now running and chasing around the team, ignoring their owners’ calls.

No one wanted to deal with this team of troublesome kids, not even the leading Elder. Although they were the future backbone of the Northlands – the Little Wizards of the Northlands – and there were high hopes for their future, watching their current behavior, one could only secretly shake their head.

With Lily not around, these kids had completely lost restraint. Their various strange abilities and the pranks they pulled from time to time made everyone annoyed now.

When Lily was here, following tradition, she had beaten this team of Little Wizards into submission. The leading Elder had already decided to settle accounts later: He heard Lily was waiting in the Western Territory. He would complain to her then, and perhaps get a preview of a strong warrior’s prowess.

The team continued forward. The Little Wizards of the Northlands continued to stir up trouble, completely unaware of the danger quietly approaching…

…

The Northlanders were on the move, and the Demon Clan’s army was also on the move. One of their vanguard units had already arrived at Anya Fortress, and another was heading straight for Silverpine Town.

The journey was smooth, with nothing but occasional corpses. Everything was going well, but it was all too smooth, making everyone feel uneasy.

Wrong! But what exactly was the problem?

They saw that large banner, the one described by the defeated soldiers. If this banner was real, then were the so-called rumors also true?

The officer leading the team was already shaken, but the necessary probing still had to be done.

He pointed at that large banner. Before he could give an order, a dark shadow swept by. He instinctively looked up. A group of vultures had appeared in the sky at some point, silently circling above his head.

A wind blew, carrying a chilly breath that pierced through their clothes and armor. The originally noisy team with people shouting and horses neighing suddenly fell silent. The warhorses under them pawed the ground uneasily, their breathing becoming heavy. Everyone looked at him, their eyes filled with unease, fear, and seemingly also pleading.

He became a silent statue, not moving for a long time. Only when sweat dripped from his eyelid did he snap out of it. “Make camp!”

He pointed at the ground under his feet. The noise started again, and the whole team came back to life, but the shadow overhead grew even heavier.

…

Bran was running at full speed towards the Western Territory, with Huahua closely following by his side. The Little Fairies Rando and Langa pulled on his flying hair strands, letting out light laughter.

Souls! Now, only the battlefield in the Western Territory could provide a large number of souls. He hoped everything was still in time.

The Ancient Tree was left alone in Northland City, currently giving Eileen and Zoya intensive training. He complained to Danny in passing, “You have to control Bran, control Huahua. We are partners who share life and death.”

Danny helplessly patted him. “There’s no way this time. The matter is quite urgent. When they run at full speed, we cannot keep up. And precisely because we are partners who share life and death, we must trust each other and protect our home.”