Chapter Seventy-Three: Not a Single One Missing

This was a forest shrouded in deathly silence and gloom.

Here, there was not a trace of gray mist, yet the ground everywhere was scattered with things that emitted a soft, white glow.

At first glance, they appeared to be nothing more than a species of fungus.

“Sunlight mushrooms...”

Through the lingering white mist, Colin immediately recognized them.

These faintly glowing white mushrooms made the place seem less engulfed in darkness—imbuing it with an eerie, surreal kind of tranquil beauty.

Yet, as Colin and his companions stepped into this region and let the light of their lantern illuminate the woods, a chill ran down their spines.

The trees here grew in a manner that evoked a sense of distortion, wildness, and unrestrained chaos—the only way to describe them was twisted and clawing.

Every tree was crooked and misshapen, exuding an unsettling, nightmarish aura.

And though they looked far from healthy, neither were they dead; instead, they appeared to languish in a state of sickly weakness...

For a moment, Colin recalled that painting called “The Scream.”

But just then, as if something had occurred to him, he looked back over his shoulder and found nothing but endless stretches of gnarled trees behind them.

The white mist had vanished...

Colin frowned; this could only mean their way back was cut off.

[You realize that to pass through this region, you must once again locate the white mist. You do not know where it will appear—perhaps reaching the forest’s edge will yield a clue...]

“It doesn’t... seem all that difficult?” Colin glanced around, thinking the forest wasn’t overly vast; in the shadows, the faint outlines of mountains could just be discerned...

Wait—mountains?

Colin jerked his head up, and his gaze sharpened. There was no rocky ceiling above, but rather a seemingly infinite expanse of mist...

It was as if this place existed in some alternate dimension...

Was this what they called a zone where multiple perils overlapped?

How many such regions existed?

If memory served, the white mist’s teleportation was random...

He caught his breath, anxiety tightening his chest.

Would they still be able to reach the ruins of the High Court?

Beside him, Li Chou looked up at the mist overhead and couldn’t help but speak: “We haven’t crossed over again, have we?”

“Lord Colin, what are your orders?” Shana asked, turning to him.

Colin steadied himself. “Don’t rush; let’s first observe and count everyone—has anyone gone missing just now...”

“One, two, three... twenty-two.” Number One counted carefully, then said, “My lord, all are present!”

“Good, that’s a relief...” Colin nodded.

“Now, return to your positions. Extinguish your lamps—leave only mine burning.”

At his word, the group swiftly reorganized, forming a protective ring around him.

At this moment, they found themselves standing on what seemed to be an abandoned dirt road, with wilted trees crowding both sides.

The prompt had provided a direction, but surrounded by the oppressive atmosphere, Colin chose to wait and observe rather than move out at once.

Since they hadn’t come under attack yet, it meant nothing too dangerous had been triggered.

His gaze fell on the most numerous and peculiar of the trees:

[This appears to be an almost withered olive tree. You discover...]

[As you stare at it, it stares back at you.]

Stares back at me?

Colin’s pupils contracted sharply, a cold tingle crawling over his scalp!

Just as he was about to speak, a sudden, thunderous crash erupted.

On the edge of the group, a servant was struck by a sudden attack from the darkness, sent flying and crashing to the ground.

His long wooden shield splintered, but thanks to his sturdy build, he escaped with only a minor fracture.

He quickly abandoned the broken shield and rolled back into the ranks.

“Ambush! Hold your defenses!”

Number One shouted, and the formation tightened instantly.

Then, more whip-like objects lashed out from hidden corners. Number One charged forward with his solid wagon wheel and, with a crunch, smashed one apart.

It was a tree branch!

In the next moment, dozens of olive trees all around began to sway.

A sound like wind brushing through leaves filled the air.

Yet, there was no wind!

These olive trees had... come alive!

More and more of them, densely packed by the hundreds and thousands, an enemy beyond reckoning.

Colin hadn’t expected such trouble the moment he arrived!

“Follow me!”

He gritted his teeth and, seeing that the olive trees ahead had yet to awaken, charged forward.

The others dashed after him at once, and any attacks aimed at Colin were deflected by Shana.

Those few that broke through her guard, Colin managed to fend off himself...

But they dared not stop.

The “olive trees,” animated by some unknown force, did not sink back into stillness as the group fled; instead, they began to wrench their roots from the soil to pursue.

It was not easy for the larger trees, whose roots were deeply anchored.

But a few smaller “olive trees” managed to free their roots, scuttling after them on their root-legs.

Strangely, they were not slow at all!

Each root moved like a leg, a dozen or more churning over the earth, bringing them rapidly closer.

The fastest of the small “olive trees” was almost upon one of the servants at the rear when, with a crash, a chained “Bible” suddenly flew through the air and smashed it aside, splintering its trunk in two.

Shana gave the Solar Bible a sharp tug and drew it back to her side.

More and more “olive trees” were awakening in grotesque fashion, attacking Colin and his group.

Wailing sounds rose up—

As more olive trees awoke, the rustling of their leaves became eerily human, like a woman sobbing, sending chills down their spines.

Behind them, countless towering trees writhed and clawed, their shadows dancing wildly on the ground like a horde of demons.

At last, some of the massive “weeping olive trees” broke free from the earth and gave chase at terrifying speed.

Dozens of meters tall, the “olive trees” pursued with grotesque, exaggerated movements—strange, yet swift.

The ground quaked under their advance, filling the air with dust.

Each olive tree’s gait was bizarre, like a legion of mindless giants...

“Damn it, did I eat your mothers or something? Must you be so ‘enthusiastic’?”

Colin cursed inwardly.

These olive trees were filled with murderous intent—their numbers were overwhelming.

If caught by these monstrous plants, their fate was clear.

A quick glance behind showed that in less than ten minutes, hundreds of these “olive tree” monsters had amassed.

Abruptly, Colin stopped. If they kept running, they would be doomed.

“Number One, Li Chou—throw out the blood.”

Panting after their frantic escape, Li Chou quickly poured out the blood.

More than a hundred milliliters of rare, lord-level mutant blood!

Colin’s heart twisted with pain.

Almost simultaneously, Li Chou and Number One flung out the blood.

Number One was just about to prick his finger and throw out a drop to ignite the blood on the ground and halt their pursuers.

But Li Chou was faster.

He sucked in a breath, spat a mouthful of bloody saliva from his gums onto the foul pool of blood that refused to seep into the soil.

In an instant, flames soared more than ten meters high with a thunderous roar.

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