As the sky gradually darkened, the mist in the marsh showed no sign of dissipating; instead, it grew thicker and thicker.
Mercenaries and the old mage Simon. Xia discussed and decided to rest here until dawn. They seemed completely lost, rather than fumbling around in such a foggy night, it would be better to rest there and wait until dawn to make plans.
Some special phosphorus powder was scattered along the edge of the raft to serve as a warning against the monster's attack and for his side to go out of the safe zone.
The food was already low, and now everyone was hoping that LAN could find them quickly. For someone who knew the "wind dance technique", it was still easy to find a large group of them within the appropriate range. But the reason for his quick appearance is the food, because neither the mercenary nor the old mage has the skill to cook the monster to a perfect color, aroma and taste.
In the pitch-dark night, Karen, who had transformed into a beast, was the first to notice the blue light in the night sky, the mercenary mage who had been on the raft with LAN.
Suddenly, a strange rhythm of singing came from all around. The mage, as if immovable, opened his mouth but could not utter a single sound. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of his sleeping companions, who were also awakened by the singing but also unable to move.
In the blink of an eye, the blue steed was already on the raft, and the song came to an abrupt halt. Those who had regained their ability to move stood up, but did not dare to move at all.
"Your companion is really bad." The notorious terrifying monster, Kelby, blinked his beautiful blue eyes and said disdainfully, circling the nervous mage twice.
"That's because you're too powerful." With a moistened, raindrop-like voice, the crowd discovered LAN behind the monster, and beside him, the girl who was perfectly beautiful.
The beauty of the girl was beyond human comprehension, even making people forget the monster beside them.
"What beautiful horses!" A shrill, thin voice came from Emilia, who had already put her arms around Karen's neck before anyone could react.
"What a funny little girl!" Karen gave a slight nod and did not refuse.
"And talking, so much fun!" Emilia didn't care at all about the increasingly ugly faces of the mercenaries.
"Let me introduce you all," LAN took the blue horse from Emilia's hand, "this beautiful lady is called Karen and she will be our compass in the swamp."
With LAN's introduction, the beast reappeared as a woman, but in the eyes of humans, her blue skin was extremely strange.
"As for this one," LAN led the girl beside him to him, "she is my sister Anita."
For a moment, several key members of the Little Black Cat Adventure Team were all stunned. LAN had lived with them for four years and had never heard of any brothers or sisters, even when he had just left the village and met Zuo Tianhu who claimed to be his sister, he strongly denied it. How could there be a sister this time? !
"You... Ok." It seemed that the girl had not been in contact with the world for too long, and even the language seemed strange. She looked a little unnatural at the sight of the crowd and turned her head to look at LAN, hoping to get some help.
"Let them be silly, because Anne is so pretty." LAN chuckled and took Anita into his arms, his gaze fixed on Garcia, whose companion seemed to have something to say, and waved his hand to join him.
Anita, as quiet and contented as a kitten, curled up in LAN's arms. Her curious gaze looked around for a moment and then fell on Garcia, her eyes clear and discerning.
Gasiah felt as if he were transparent under the girl's gaze, not knowing whether what was on his mind was appropriate to be spoken.
The girl stared at him for a while, and seemed to be tired. She changed her position and fell into LAN's arms, squinting her eyes as if she were about to fall asleep.
"We..." Gasiah spoke but did not know what to say.
"With Karen leading the way, we'll be out of the swamp before it gets dark tomorrow." LAN seemed to know what he was going to say. "I'll take good care of Anne and not cause any trouble for anyone."
"Well..." Gasiah found it strange that he and LAN were supposed to be the closest companions, but he felt that they were getting farther and farther apart.
LAN looked at Garcia, even hoping that he could say something, to ask about him or about himself.
"Your memory has been restored?" It seems that Garcia has finally found a topic.
"Part." LAN said, "That doesn't matter. A lot of the past is something I want to get rid of. It's better not to remember." Since Gasiah can't speak, let him ask, "Gasiah, I've known you for quite some time, but you've never mentioned your own affairs or the purpose of entering the temple."
Gasiah suddenly looked up at him, seemingly stunned for a moment, then averted his gaze, "I was abandoned by my parents and adopted by the temple. It's natural for me to stay in the temple as a guardian knight."
"Oh, I see." LAN looked down at Anita's golden little head. "It's getting late. Go to bed early."
Gasiah seemed to have run away, and he couldn't understand why LAN was going back and forth and suddenly wanted to investigate his past, thinking he wouldn't ask anything...
"He's lying." Anita Talia suddenly raised her head. "He's not human."
"I know." " LAN patted her little head. "If it's not too much, don't stop him. At least for now or for some time to come, he won't be my enemy."
"But isn't it okay to keep it a secret? You must be sad..." Anita, with her cold little hand, cupped LAN's face, examined it carefully, and then put her hand around his neck. "LAN is the gentleest... It doesn't matter, Anne will protect you..."
"Yeah, I have Anne." LAN smiled, her gaze soft like a veil, "We have a promise..."
"Yes, promise..." The girl slowly closed her eyes, and this time she was really asleep.
Just as LAN said, with Karen's lead, they managed to cross the swamp before dark, even less than five days later, and of course, because of Karen's presence, ordinary monsters dared not approach at all.
Behind the deep water swamp was a low bush, and on both sides of the bush, north was the foot of the sacred mountain, where the so-called divine path was hidden among the rocks. Anyone who could reach the summit of the sacred mountain was said to be a god; On the other side is the treacherous Seal Forest, which is as famous as the Blue Forest of Pisan. It is named for the seal of the exit of the demon world in the forest, and it is no less perilous than the Blue Forest.
The wormhole that connects to the demon world is sealed, but the seal is only for the entry and exit of the high demonic monsters. It is almost useless for the low demonic monsters and monsters. This has led to a large number of monsters gathering in the forest, swamps, sacred mountains, cliffs, seas, and the environment with limited living space. In order to compete for territory, the monsters that came to the ground grew stronger in the battles and eventually became an indissoluble existence.
And the mission's Red-tailed vulture is in the depths of the sealed forest.
The first obstacle comes from a pack of three-eyed magic wolves, whose silver-glowing Wolf skins are fine fur, but it's almost impossible to kill the magic wolves without destroying their skins, as the third eye in the middle of the Wolf's forehead will attach all kinds of negative states to the opponent.
Although it was just a small group, the thirty or so wolves still outnumbered the adventurer team. Karen did not go with them, for a simple reason that her abilities would be greatly compromised if she left the water source. Besides, it was a violation of non-aggression among high-level monsters. For her, leaving the swamp was stepping into someone else's territory.
As usual, Anita was snuggling up to LAN, and perhaps because the girl was so beautiful, Ossirena and Emilia soon accepted her and called her "Sister Anne" with enthusiasm.
Gasiah stood behind LAN, her long sword unsheathed, and the others drew their weapons, or prepared their most proficient magic.
The Three-eyed Wolf is a relatively advanced beast. When fighting, it knows how to dodge magic, attack the threatening mage first, and also knows how to divide and intercept when the enemy runs away. Although it cannot speak human language or take human form, it indeed has wisdom no less than that of humans.
Anita looked at her empty hands, then raised her head and whispered something in LAN's ear, and in the next moment her fair hands were covered with a pair of very suitable keel thin material gloves, and there was also a pair of thin daggers in them.
Anita looked closely at the dagger in her hand, and then laughed with great joy. Suddenly a golden light shone on her body, and she vanished from her spot.
Gasiah tried to catch her, but reached out and missed, and couldn't help but look astonished.
Once the deadlock was broken, the wolves couldn't hold back any longer and all pounced on the seemingly delicious girl. Oselena couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, while Emilia had already rushed out.
Each of those who rushed out would have several auxiliary spells on them, but LAN, who should have been most worried about the safety of the girls, was still leisurely instructing everyone not to panic.
Gasiah did not rush out. As a warrior who grew up in the temple and would soon be able to enter the ranks of the powerful, he knew very well what the golden light on the girl meant - the divine spirit of war that had been lost for 200 years and could freely transform attributes.
There is no denying that the temple is a good place, especially when it comes to learning about something lost.
To cultivate the spirit of the God of War to gold, one must be at least a level twenty-two warrior. The higher the rank, the more difficult it is. A level fifteen warrior is a strong one, and a level twenty-two is a saint.
Gasiah is only at level 14, and although he has been practicing very hard to become a strong man, he has never succeeded. It is not enough to be a strong person or a saint with just power, though power is necessary, but also understanding, understanding of the use of power, and understanding of one's own goals.
Compared to the almost foolish slashing of the mercenaries, Anita's movements were like dancing, showing that a light tap had already passed past the Wolf, and at the same time, a bloodline was drawn, the wrist was turned, and the dagger easily opened a tiny wound in the Wolf's throat. In less than a moment, more than half of the Wolf was killed by her sword.
More than half of the rest were killed by the mercenaries, and a few smarter wolves, seeing the situation was not right, immediately turned around and fled.
Clearing the battlefield, LAN peeled off large chunks of Wolf skin, and Anita followed him, playing with the daggers in her hand. The sharpness of the daggers seemed ordinary at first glance, but upon closer look, it was not difficult to find that the two black daggers, of unknown material, had no reflection at all, the blade was extremely sharp and had blood grooves, the handle and the blade were one, It seems to have been made directly during the casting process, and has been carefully processed to fit perfectly in the grip, even if you sweat or get wet, it won't slip.
Some of the Wolf's body was made into food by LAN, and the rest was set on fire and burned.
Anita offered the pair of daggers to LAN, but LAN turned them back. "I'll give them to you. Anyway, I won't use them."
"Thank you." As she spoke, the girl tied the dagger to the side of the small leather bag at her waist and gave Ran a sweet kiss on the cheek.
The mercenaries who judged people by their appearance once again put away their contempt. Who would have thought that a girl who looked no more than sixteen years old would have the strength of a twenty-second-level warrior? ! But it has been a great benefit for the mercenaries, at least after the incident with LAN and Anita, they no longer look down upon anyone who seems insignificant.
Anita doesn't speak much, and even if she needs something, she just whispers to LAN alone. But when everyone's actions fall into her eyes, whether actions or thoughts, they seem to have nowhere to hide under such clear gaze. And because of the sudden addition of an exceptionally powerful helper, all the monsters along the way were easily dealt with.
LAN is a mystery, a priest, a priest who can use divine arts without faith, a priest who can drive divine artifacts, a priest who claims to be an apprentice but has bottomless power. Anita is also a mystery, a warrior of at least twenty-second rank who suddenly appears, of unknown origin. But most importantly, they all seem to be no more than 20 years old.
For the mercenaries or the other members of the Little Black Cat Adventure team, the gains from this operation are far greater than its value. The path of cultivation is long and there are no shortcuts, but that doesn't mean the pace of cultivation is fixed.
From the sky came the hoarse call of the crested vulture, and the birds with brilliant colors could already be seen passing by...