Chapter 112: Rat People Attack and the Plan

Vivian suddenly stepped out from the tree.

Her pretty face remained expressionless; her single white-glowing eyes blinked curiously.

“Outside the forest, enemies—rat people.”

Luo De immediately understood her meaning.

It was the rat people—they were attacking the forest.

But why?

They were a bunch carrying corruption and plague; towns held far greater appeal than forests.

The witch Dimeya frowned slightly, then drank another potion; her condition improved somewhat.

“I was followed.”

Not long ago, she had been robbed by rat people who attacked the mine, and after venting her accumulated frustration, she unleashed a massive spell.

Presumably, these rat people held a grudge and were tracking her for revenge.

“Panni should be holding them off—wait, don’t ghouls know [Telepathic Link]?”

But even if they did, Luo De couldn’t respond.

This spell was one-way; if he could share [Far-Link] with the Dragon Soul girl Naulin, it wouldn’t be this troublesome.

After all, even within the Windwall Forest, Luo De sometimes received messages from Naulin—though sporadically.

“I’ll deal with them.”

Dimeya struggled to rise, but her face was still pale; she needed Sharon’s help just to stand.

“Stay here. Vivian, take Bond to handle them.”

The tree spirit nodded, used [Tree Walker] to appear on a distant tree, and vanished with the little mare.

Kalist was checking Dimeya’s condition when she said:

“Be careful. As frequent spreaders of plague, some evil plague mages deliberately track rat people.”

Now that she mentioned it—

Why were the rat people attacking the mine?

Was stone something that suited rat people?

Luo De had no interest in this race.

Like jackal-men, rat people were bipedal giant rats, mostly active underground.

They wielded wooden spears and rusted blades; though their individual strength was weak, they fought in swarms and carried innate aura-based corruption or plague magic that grew stronger with numbers.

Over five hundred years ago, a northern nation called Faye, surrounded by sea on three sides, was overrun by massive black rats, creating a vast “Plague Zone” that attracted countless plague mages.

Even now, Faye remained the stronghold of plague mages.

“If the companion creature of [Dark Vortex Rift] can be a cosmic entity like the Gripejaw, does that mean this ritual is nearing the point of opening a portal to another dimension?”

Back to the sand tornado.

Luo De raised his question.

“Not necessarily, but the ritual’s continuous expansion is undeniable.”

The elf replied.

She pressed her right hand against Dimeya’s forehead, emitting magical light.

“This is the first time I’ve used a healing spell on a witch—if anything feels wrong, tell me immediately.”

Dimeya nodded gratefully.

Luo De saw the dog-girl Sharon cradling her, her face showing no annoyance.

Instead, she looked tense and worried, gripping the witch’s small hand tightly.

Their relationship clearly wasn’t as bad as it seemed—perhaps it all stemmed from a misunderstanding.

The sight of beautiful women cuddling always lifted one’s spirits; Luo De couldn’t help but watch a few more times.

“Who?!”

Tally suddenly cried out.

She flung several shadow daggers.

Enhanced by [Shadow Insect’s Feather], her understanding of shadow magic had improved greatly.

After all, succubus shadow magic was primarily meant for sneaking into victims’ homes or abducting them.

Luo De instinctively sensed.

He detected nothing.

Only when he turned his head did he notice beside the willow tree marked with [Invisibility Detection], a tall, slender humanoid made of black silk, wearing a hooded cowl, revealing half its body.

A high-level concealment spell?!

The shadowy figure deflected Tally’s daggers and hastily retreated.

Luo De wouldn’t let him escape—he used [Swift Shadow] to teleport instantly in front of it.

Around him were trees, so he didn’t use the wider-range [Giant Slash].

The golden sword radiated intense spiritual light.

[Aetheron Flash]. [Five Flash]!

In an instant, five blades converged into one point.

The tall, slender figure had no time to react—it was torn to shreds.

But in the next moment, it reformed.

And swiftly dove into the shadows beneath the ground.

Tally reacted instantly, cried out, and punched the ground.

Countless spiritual spikes formed from shadow erupted upward, impaling the tall figure into the air, its limbs flailing.

[Shadow Spike Break Invisibility] activated!

“Well done, Tally!”

Luo De now saw the figure’s left hand connected to a thread extending deep into the Death Desert.

*Ssssh!*

A flash of blade—the thread snapped.

Immediately, [Five Flash] activated again!

The figure was torn apart like silk.

This time, it did not reform.

“It’s a Shadow Weaver—another cosmic entity.”

Kalist’s face darkened; as the most knowledgeable person present, she recognized its origin the moment she saw it.

She raised her hand and released a glowing orb.

The orb floated slowly upward, then scattered pale blue magical powder.

As the powder fell, another Shadow Weaver’s form became visible.

Luo De rushed forward and dealt with it the same way—easily.

The Shadow Weaver’s body was shredded, but its curved blade remained intact.

“They’re not strong, but their concealment is absurd—I felt nothing at all.”

He remarked.

“Same here. They’re extremely skilled at concealment. My [Reverse Light Veil] won’t last long, and it has a five-hour cooldown.”

The elf meant: we can’t guard against them constantly.

Luo De looked at the three mages present.

“Speak up, mages—what’s a way to deal with these things quickly?”

Magic must be countered with magic; expertise lies in specialization.

Asking a spiritual warrior who barely knew basic continent Changshi to devise a solution was too much.

Luo De picked up the Shadow Weaver’s curved blade.

Entirely black, covered in dark-gold patterns, ancient in design, forged from an unknown metal as a single piece.

“Three days ago, I submitted a proposal to headquarters using [Spatial Binding Spell]—requesting high-level casters to weave a complex, resilient spatial net to rapidly envelop and seal the rift created by [Dark Vortex Rift].”

Sharon gave a bitter laugh.

“Unfortunately, headquarters rejected it, citing excessive cost.”

[Spatial Binding Spell]?

Luo De rubbed his chin, recalling he’d seen it in the “Fun Rankings” section of the Snow Hill Evening News.

It ranked seventh on the “Most Expensive Spells” list—required thirty or fifty Jin Along worth of casting materials.

The Magic Control League wasn’t a charity; they wouldn’t spend that much on a demonic ritual in the desert.

(End of Chapter)