— Blood and Black Mist —
The black mist seethed wildly, and the sound of chaotic footsteps surged forward like a tidal wave.
In the next moment—over thirty Shadow Fiends appeared simultaneously!
Some walked upright, others moved on all fours, scuttling with spider-like speed, their eyes gleaming with a bloodthirsty red light.
The grotesque sight made scalps crawl.
"Rooaaar!!"
The horde of Shadow Fiends charged like a frenzied wave!
"They are no longer alive—kill them all!"
Cael roared. With a flash of his blade, two heads instantly tumbled to the ground.
"Exhilarating!" He laughed heartily, like a berserker unleashed on the battlefield.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Rowan released three throwing daggers in quick succession, slicing off three more heads. He grinned, "Haha! This is as easy as mowing grass!"
Eren joined the fray. The silk thread danced between his fingers like a scythe of death, sending heads rolling with precise strikes. The feeling of unrestrained execution was almost intoxicating.
Unconsciously, a bloody tint crept into everyone's eyes. Killing intent ran rampant, and even Nadia and Aveline were touched by the rising frenzy.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
"Meow—!!!"
A piercing cat screech stabbed into their minds like a needle.
Eren jolted back to awareness, a cold sweat breaking out on his back.
— The Shadow energy could silently erode their minds!
He immediately shouted, "Hold your minds steady! Don't let the bloodlust take over!"
Nadia caught on immediately,"The Shadow Fiends feeds on emotion—recite the Heart-Cleansing Mantra!"
The others snapped back to reality, hearts pounding with belated fear. Fortunately, the enemies weren't overwhelmingly powerful, and they were soon all eliminated.
"Eren, we have you to thank for that."
Nadia's tone remained even, but it carried a note of genuine appreciation.
Eren smiled wryly. "To be honest, I almost fell for it too. If not for Black Boss's reminder..."
He bent down and offered a formal bow to the black cat. "Black Boss, my thanks."
The black cat let out a "Meow," then perched arrogantly on Cael's head, crossing its legs and leisurely lighting a cigar.
And then—
"Swish!"
A shadow flickered behind Eren. A blade howled toward his neck like a streak of lightning.
Before Eren could even turn, the air vibrated violently—
— When Sanity Breaks ——
"Meow—!!!"
The black cat let out a sharp, explosive roar. The sound wave blasted out, sending the dark figure flying back several meters before it crashed heavily to the ground!
Cael rushed forward. "Eren! Are you okay?"
Eren raised a hand. "I'm fine."
In that split second, he had already gathered protective energy around himself; even without the cat's intervention, he might not have been injured.
The dark figure staggered to its feet, trying to escape into the black mist.
Swish!
Two throwing knives shot through the air, precisely piercing both its calves!
"Nice shot, Rowan!" Cael yelled, charging forward with his blade.
"Dare to ambush my brother? Seeking death!"
Clang—!
Blades met, sparks flying.
Cael froze. The weapon in the dark figure's hand was actually—a Vigil-Wyrm standard-issue straight sword!
His face changed dramatically. "You... you're a Vigil-Wyrm?!"
The dark figure let out a low, grating laugh. The black aura around it suddenly receded, making it appear even more sinister.
It was a distorted human face.
Deathly pale skin, eyes glowing with bloody red light, lips black as ink, and strands of hair a stark crimson, as if soaked in gore.
He wore the standard Vigil-Wyrm Order cloak.
Ethan gasped in shock. "Carlos?! It's Carlos Mendes from the First Combat Squad!"
"Thud!"
Carlos kicked Cael away, using the momentum to charge once more toward the black mist.
But he didn't escape.
From all sides, the Vigil-Wyrmmen had already formed a tight encirclement.
Nadia's gaze was sharp as a blade, her voice low and heavy as she spoke:
"Carlos... are you still in control of your senses?"
Facing Nadia's questioning, Carlos let out a fit of hysterical laughter:
"Clear-headed? Of course I'm clear-headed! I'm more clear-headed now than I've ever been!"
"If you're so clear-headed, why did you attack Allen?" Cael climbed to his feet, dusting off his clothes—his ample frame had cushioned the blow, sparing him from serious injury.
Carlos turned to Allen, a sinister crimson light flickering in his eyes. "Why kill him? Because he can not only see through the black mist but also remain sane amidst the slaughter. In this fog, I cannot allow such a special existence. So, he must die."
Allen stared back at him. "Are you sure you're truly clear-headed?" Though his words were logical, his frenzied eyes betrayed his true state.
"Of course I am!" Carlos waved his arms fervently.
"This black mist grants power far beyond what a Vigil-Wyrm Order could ever achieve!
Once the mist envelops the entire world, I will become the supreme being!
Power, wealth, beautiful women... everything will be within my grasp. Give up your resistance. Merge with the black mist, and you too can have all you desire!"
His voice carried a sickening fervor, like a cultist bewitched by a sinister doctrine.
"You've been corrupted by the shadow energy," Allen said sharply. "The you right now isn't the real you!"
"So what?" Carlos spread his arms, reveling in the black mist.
"I willingly accept this corruption. You say I'm mad?
I believe I've finally found true freedom.
No longer bound by the Vigil-Wyrm Order's rules and regulations, I can do whatever I want!
This is truly living! Come, join us, and you will feel this unparalleled freedom too."
The group exchanged uneasy glances. None had expected an experienced Vigil-Wyrm Order to be corrupted to this extent.
Nadia looked at Cael. "Cael , check his vital signs."
A golden light flashed in Cael's eyes, and his brow furrowed. "His life force is abnormally vigorous, but... the flame is actually black. Is he even still alive, or is he already..."
"We capture him alive first," Nadia decided without hesitation.
---
—— Nadia Struck Down ——
"Capture me? With what?" Carlos sneered. "I told you, the mist has given me unimaginable power. Nadia, even if you're a Field Commander, I'll kill you all the same!"
Before the words faded, a pitch-black spike materialized before him and shot toward Nadia with lightning speed. She tried to dodge, but her feet became entangled by tendrils of black mist.
"Thwump—"
The spike pierced through her chest, then violently shuddered. Nadia's body exploded on the spot.
"Sis Nadia!" Allen cried out in disbelief, unable to accept that a Field Commander had fallen just like that.
The others tried to rush to her aid, but horror struck as they found their own feet firmly rooted to the ground by the dark fog.