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Chapter 53: Necromancer
🕑 Added 2021-08-28 18:17:14 +0000 UTCScarlett and her team spent the last 8 hours making their way through this dense jungle. Although the distance was only 2 miles, due to the occasional fight and then rest time, the group’s speed was very slow. The dense fog also greatly reduced their vision and caused them to move with more caution.
All eight members were drenched in sweat, even with their suits' air conditioning function cooling their bodies down.
One bizarre thing that the team noticed was that no matter if they were in direct sunlight or the shade, the temperature would always remain at 25 degrees (77f).
The clouds in the sky also seemed fake as they never moved even though there was a permanent gentle breeze.
They could even look directly into the sun and it caused no pain to their eyes. What was going on?
The group used up two more of their weapons fighting off a demonic-looking bear and an insect creature that was the size of a car during this 8-hour journey.
Only one soldier still had one of those mana weapons and it had a white crystal, apparently, it could shoot ice crystals.
The group really wished to turn around and abort the mission but it became just as dangerous to turn back as it was to go forward. Also, HQ had told them to complete the mission no matter what.
Therefore this small castle became a beacon of refuge for the tired humans. They prayed in their heart that the person living in the castle was some harmless old granny that would feed them well.
But when they remembered the castle owner lives in the middle of such a dangerous forest they threw that idea away.
There could be a hundred bandits living in that castle for all they know.
After 8 hours the remaining 8 humans gathered at the entrance of the castle.
Scarlett reached out to try and push the front gate open, but an invisible wall blocked her.
(Scarlett) “Huh?”
(Timothy) “What’s the problem commander? Is the door locked?”
Scarlett looked at her hand in confusion and tried again but was met with the same invisible wall.
(Scarlett) “I can’t even touch the gate, something stops me before I can touch it…”
Everyone looked at Scarlett in confusion. They then took turns and attempted to touch the gate but they all met the same invisible wall.
(Soldier) “It seems we can’t enter, what should we do now?”
A 6ft5 mountain of a man seemed deep in thought, he even tried using martial arts on the invisible wall but nothing seemed to work.
(Brad) “Hmmm, what if we call out to the people inside and ask if they can let us in?”
Everyone thought over the idea.
A soldier then quickly tried to stop the idea, “That should be our last resort as we will lose the element of surprise, we have no idea how many people are inside the mansion, nor do we know if they are friendly or not.”
A beautiful woman then spoke up, (Imogen) “Would they even understand us? The only example we have is that Goddess-like woman who killed the snake on earth. Actually, now that I think about it… she seemed to understand us but we didn’t understand her until that woman was given that white ring.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, what Imogen said made sense.
(Timothy) “Well if we stay out here we should be fine since monsters avoid this place, shall we rest up for a bit and then try communication?”
(Scarlett) “Yea that works for me, we should rest up to be in the best fighting condition, alright everyone let’s wait 20 minutes.”
The team then rested near the gate and ate some packaged food. They, of course, kept their guard up still but the scene was peaceful so they were able to relax a bit.
During these 20 minutes, they brainstormed ideas to get past the barrier. The only option they had left was to shoot it with their last mana weapon but they decided against using their only remaining weapon as they couldn’t guarantee success.
After a while, Scarlett stood up and brushed the dirt from her suit. Everyone else followed suit and then prepared for battle.
Scarlett then cleared her throat and shouted towards the castle behind the walls, “Excuse me, we are sure you don’t understand but is anyone home?”
Everyone braced their weapons but nothing happened. They were so tense that if a pin dropped they would all jump up in fright!
After a minute the front door to the wooden building slowly swung open.
A tall person seemed to emerge wearing a butler uniform.
It calmly walked towards the gate and its glowing red eyes looked towards the group.
Once the group noticed its polished white boney face and red eyes they were extremely frightened.
Yet despite their fear it spoke in a calm genderless voice “Greetings guests, the master is waiting inside.”
The large metal gate then swung open by itself much to the astonishment of the group. Scarlett then reached out and noticed the invisible wall seemed to have disappeared.
Scarlett’s expression then turned gloomy. Before her was a possibly haunted mansion where a necromancer lived, judging from the undead butler.
Yet behind her was an endless jungle filled with incredibly strong monsters where death was almost guaranteed!
After a moment of hesitation, she stepped forward and began following behind the tall skeleton butler.
Everyone else in the group was also hesitant but seeing their leader step forward they also followed suit.
What terrible fate awaited them inside this mansion? They all started forming their own theories. Scarlett imagined a terrifying old man was the master of this castle. He properly planned to kill them and use them in some necromancer ritual.
Scarlett unconsciously shuddered in fear. Would these be her final moments?
