Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

It was because of this reason that Lucas and the others were struggling. It was easy to deal with Lesser Ghouls that rushed at you without any thought. However, the Greater Ghouls who knew how to fight and could use skills were tricky to deal with.

And then there was also their numbers, even the Greater Ghouls were in the hundreds. It was really like fighting the entire Black Town. The humans were truly despairing.

"It was just like this that you cornered Master at that time and forced him into a dead end. I will never forget the feeling he felt that day, the betrayal, the despair, the refusal and the dejection that overwhelmed his mind. I swear at the title of Valkyrie bestowed to me by master, that I will let you experience what he felt that day ten times; no hundred times more" Annette vowed.

Flooding the enemy with overwhelming numbers, showing them false hope and crushing their spirits was uncharacteristic of Annette. She usually fought enemies by herself using her magic instead of relying on numbers to tire them out.

The only reason she was doing something that was so unlike her, was because this was a revenge. Revenge for her master who had once been driven to a corner just like this.

Benny Beckerman, one of the main perpetrators who had antagonised their master time and time again was with the group. Since this was an opportunity, Annette made sure that he experienced what her master did back then. Hence the reason behind the group's current predicament.

It could be said that Benny Beckerman was the reason why their group was suffering right now. As Annette watched them with cold callous eyes one of the warriors among the group got bitten.

"Dammit, he got bitten. Everyone, get away from him" Benny cursed. He used his thunder magic to instantly disintegrate hordes of ghouls around him.

"Lucas, if you don't use your magic now, we won't be able to hold on for long" He shouted looking at the mage wearing bright red robes in the backlines.

"You don't need to tell me, my magic is complete, I just needed everyone to fall back"

Lucas stated, his voice rang out amidst his incantation. With the coagulation of mana around him as the indication, the group that was fighting the ghouls backed down. Immediately afterwards, the air in the surroundings took on a crimson hue and a massive amount of flames rolled in.

Like clouds, the golden flames or the infernal magic materialised in the air and with Lucas's swift motion they started to rain down on the Ghouls.

"[Infernal Magic Mastery]— Infernal Misery"

The purging golden rain looked dazzling to the eye. However, make no mistake, this advanced magic that took so long to conjure, was extremely lethal and covered a large area. All the ghouls whether they be lesser ghouls or greater ghouls, all ignited into flames when the golden droplets dropped on them.

Like pouring gasoline into the fire, the flames blazed hotter and hotter the more the droplets fell. Just like the name of the magic, the scene was truly an infernal Misery.

And just like this, a large amount of Ghouls was taken out by Lucas. The remaining ones were handled by Benny and the others who used their powerful rare and ancient tiers skills to quickly sweep the ghouls.

At present, the number of enemies remaining on the battlefield was— zero... excluding the woman named Annette. On the other hand, the side of humans too suffered major losses with one of their warriors and assassins falling in the battle.By no means it could be counted as their victory.

Huffing and puffing, the group of humans looked at their last opponent, the woman standing in the air.

CLAP… CLAP… Annette clapped her hands as if congratulating them for a job well done. "That was a good fight.You managed to wipe out thirty per cent of the population of the Black town, truly marvellous"

Hearing Annette's words, everyone had the same question in their head. What was this woman saying? The never ending horde of ghouls that they just fought was only thirty per cent of the entire population?

Although they were certain that these people were the denizens of the black town, hearing it from the mouth of the woman directly, nailed the realisation in. To be able to turn the population of black town into these things, what kind of being were they dealing with?

Ignoring the perplexed looks of the humans below, Annette continued her monotonous announcement—

"Now then, look alive. It won't be any fun If you guys get tired just after this. I took the time to prepare tons of fun things for you all, so it's time for round two. I wonder how many of you will survive this round as I have a special treat for you all"

With another round of clap, hordes of ghouls larger than the previous horde, came out of the forest. They were so numerous that it was like watching a colony of ants from above. They blanketed the land and continued to pore out of the forest in a never ending fashion.

Looking at this scene, would give goosebumps to anyone. The observing human felt despair at the sight in front of them.

Just facing the previous horde, had tired them out considerably. Now facing a horde that was more than twice that big, one could see the look of anxiousness on their faces. The realisation that they might die or become a ghoul like them, was finally setting in.

That said, the true despair was not the overwhelming numbers of the lesser nor was it over the hundred greater ghouls but the three figures standing at the forefront of the army of ghouls.

All three of them were decked out in impressive looking armours that would make all the other ghouls around them paler in comparison. One of them had an axe for hand, one was wrapped in bandages and the other was holding a sword so red that it looked like it had bathed in blood.

Seeing the three figures, the group of now seven people narrowed their eyes. Being the citizen of the kingdom, there was no way they would not recognise these legends who had left their own mark in history and disappeared afterwards.

Although there were many rumours going on about them being alive and staying in the northern outlaw forest, only a small number of people had actually seen them in person. Who would have known that they would encounter these legends in person and that too as opponents? Novel Fire - novelfire.net

"Axe hand Adger, Zackary the unkillable, Bloody Blade Orman… these old farts are really alive"

Even Benny Beckerman had a grim look on his face. If even the current strongest man in the kingdom had a dire look, one could imagine the seriousness of the situation.

"Oi Lucas, I can no longer guarantee that we can return back safe and soundly. You better give up on chasing after the princess. Depending on the situation we might even have to run"…

"What?" Hearing Benny's pessimistic words, Lucas was shocked. He couldn't believe that the man heralded as the strongest in the kingdom, would say something like this.

"How can you suggest to run? Didn't you use to say that an adventurer is someone who seeks romance in danger and can turn any situation around? You were the one.. ".

"All that was in the past. Many things have changed since then. I'm no longer an adventurer nor am I still the guild leader who once led the most powerful and prestigious guild of the kingdom. Now I am nothing but a loser who has lost everything and is currently employed under his highness to earn some spare change. What else do you expect from me?"

Benny retorted back. After he lost Godwin, Raven and some of his best people on the trial grounds, the Sea God's Trident just like the other five top guilds was almost but finished.

It was only a guild in name, what proved it still existed was the headquarters which now lay in ruins after the war between Ellsemere and Balckthorn broke out. Right now, he was nothing but his former shell.

"Dammit even though I was so close to meeting her" Lucas clenched his fist and sighed. He looked at the overwhelming numbers of the enemy and the exhausted people on his side before making his decision.

"Alright, let's leave. We can't win with our current numbers". A sound decision considering that they were severely outnumbered.

Lucas and his group tried to back towards the Air Engine. However, how could Annette who went through the trouble to prepare all of this to avenge her master, just let these people walk away?

Needless to say, she had already foreseen the situation and had prepared something beforehand. As the humans slowly retreated, their backs suddenly collided with an invisible wall that wasn't there when they came here.

"What is this?"

BANG… BANG… the wall rippled like water in a pond when attacked. However, no matter how much force they used or punch they threw, the invisible wall refused to budge.

"Everyone get back. I'll use an advance magic and force it to budge down" Lucas spoke waving his staff.

"No, wait" Just as he was about to conjure his magic, he was stopped by Benny.

"Don't bother, you can't break the wall with brute force. This is an array, to break it you need to either go for the person who laid it or destroy the formation core".

Being the most knowledgeable one amongst the lot, Benny quickly realised that the invisible wall barring their retreat was a formation.

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