Chapter 1277 The Perils of the Night <TOC> Chapter 1279 The Crown Reappears
Translator: SumTLMan
A streak of crimson flashed, streaking across the open sky.
Amidst the whistle of the wind and the flurry of snow, a sharp and chilling laughter pierced the tranquil night, echoing eerily in everyone’s ears.
Descending with that laughter was a shadowy figure, its specific features unclear. She alighted atop a grand old tree within the mansion grounds, located a mere tens of meters away.
On that snow-covered tree, illuminated by the moonlight, one could discern the figure’s opulent gown. The dress was speckled with deep red spots, reminiscent of fresh blood spatter.
Though her face remained hidden in shadow, the prior crimson glow had unmistakably emanated from her eyes. Against the backdrop of this dark, snowy night, it was profoundly glaring.
“It’s her, there’s no mistaking it! That’s Lady Eureka!” Auchanchan exclaimed, her eyes filled with dread and her voice quaking. “Just as the Viscount warned, with nightfall comes peril!”
Auchanchan was gripped by fear. She wanted to urge Angel to retreat, but as she lifted her gaze, she found Angel and Sanders engaged in a hushed conversation, appearing undaunted.
Auchanchan opened her mouth to voice her concerns, but upon seeing the unperturbed expression of Sanders, she swallowed her words.
From the side, an individual Auchanchan had previously disregarded, dressed oddly in a white bear costume, suddenly inquired, “The Lady Eureka you speak of, is she the ‘Tainted Blood Shadow Dagger’ Eureka?”
Turning to face White Bear, Auchanchan noticed a peculiar glint in its eyes, as though it was suppressing some profound emotion.
Auchanchan shook her head, “I’m not familiar with this ‘Tainted Blood Shadow Dagger’ you mention.”
White Bear seemed poised to ask more, but suddenly, a distant shout interrupted them.
“Is that Angel? Has Angel returned? This is bad. Do not enter! Head back to Grud Town and stay away from the Sealing Circle!”
Following the source of that voice, the group’s attention shifted to a watchtower near the mansion. A figure clad in armor emerged from a room within the tower, crying out to Angel.
A glint of recognition and joy flashed in Angel’s eyes.
The figure was holding a torch, its blazing flame casting sharp contrasts on his facial features.
“It’s Leon,” Angel exclaimed joyfully, “My brother, Leon.”
“Lord Viscount!” Auchanchan and Pasha exclaimed upon spotting the silhouette on the viewing platform.
Bathed in moonlight and illuminated by fire, Angel meticulously studied every subtle expression of his elder brother, Leon. Each nuance of his visage was vividly animated.
From what Angel could gather at the moment, Leon seemed unharmed.
A surge of relief filled Angel, urging him to approach, but just then, an increasingly anxious Leon shouted, “Step back, Angel! Stay away! Do not enter the Sealing Circle — it’s dangerous!”
Sealing Circle? Angel paused, initially taken aback. It was only when Leon kept gesticulating that Angel realized Leon was referring to the crimson luminescence enveloping the mansion.
Angel recalled Sanders mentioning that this peculiar red glow resembled the projection of a seal.
Could this red light indeed be the infamous Sealing Circle?
“It appears that this crimson radiance is indeed a type of seal, restricting Eureka’s movements,” Sanders confirmed, shedding light on Angel’s suspicions.
While Auchanchan and Pasha couldn’t perceive the red light, their baffled expressions were evident. Angel began to piece things together, realizing why, amidst Eureka’s madness, Grud Town remained undisturbed. This protective barrier of crimson light must have obstructed Eureka, granting the town its temporary tranquility.
However, this semblance of peace was like a safe haven within a perilous zone.
Although this sanctuary might seem secure now, enveloped by danger, if the lurking threats ever breach this fragile shield, the sanctuary would swiftly transform into a deathtrap.
The only resolution would be to eliminate the lurking threats from the shadows.
“Watch out, Lord Viscount!”
Deep in thought, Angel was jolted by Auchanchan’s sudden outcry. Whirling around, he saw Eureka atop a tree. Initially, her eerie gaze was fixated on them beyond the crimson barrier. But now, her attention shifted to Leon on the viewing platform.
Clearly, Leon’s earlier shouts had drawn her attention.
Leon’s gaze locked onto Eureka’s glowing eyes, which shone a haunting shade of red. As he peered into those terrifying orbs, a rush of dread washed over him, vividly recalling the chilling events that had recently transpired in the manor. Every single detail of that tragic incident felt vivid, replaying before his eyes as if painted afresh.
Leon’s face was a mask of trepidation, but from his lips came an involuntary murmur, “Don’t come in, don’t come in.”
Backing away step by step, Leon sought the sanctuary of the lookout’s protective formation. However, just then, Eureka let out a chilling, manic laugh, her voice resonating with lunacy.
Suddenly, Eureka seemed to levitate, transforming into a streak of red light that seemed to taint the very fabric of the night. With the swiftness of an arrow, she lunged toward Leon on the lookout platform.
Leon’s heart missed a beat, an internal alarm screaming danger.
Without hesitation, he dropped his torch and fled. But he’d barely made it a few steps when the ominous sound of rushing wind reached his ears from behind.
“It’s over!” Despair gripped Leon’s heart.
However, at that exact moment, a powerful gust of wind surged from behind, hitting him before he could react, sending him tumbling and crashing hard against a wall.
The impact created a visible crack in the wall. Leon sat slumped below it, gasping for breath.
“Are you alright?” A voice, tinged with urgency, reached his ears. Lifting his head, Leon’s eyes met Angel’s, who was standing not far from him. Eureka, who had been charging toward them, was now mysteriously dozens of meters away.
“I’m fine,” Leon replied without deceit. In his quest to transcend ordinary limits, he had acquired the —Will Forging Method— from Suis. The agonizing trials he’d endured to cultivate his body back then were far more severe than this mere collision. And although the wall behind him showed a spiderweb of cracks, he hadn’t sustained any significant injuries, especially given the protection of his armor.
After responding, Leon, looking at Angel with evident concern, said, “Why did you come in? Didn’t I tell you to stay out? Entering the Sealing Circle might be easy, but leaving it is a completely different story!”
Angel had learned from Sanders that this Sealing Circle seemed to operate on a one-way principle. It restricted exit but not entry, and apparently, it was only active at night.
For this very reason, Uncle George and Chief of the Kulakuka had warned the townsfolk never to venture out after dark.
Angel turned her head, intending to reassure Leon. With Sanders around, there was nothing to worry about.
Yet, before he could utter a word, Angel caught a glimpse of Leon’s visage, overwhelmed by panic. Mirrored in his eyes was a steadily intensifying crimson glow. Sensing imminent danger, Angel instinctively pivoted, narrowly evading a catastrophe, for where he once stood, a gaping chasm soon appeared.
And hovering above this fissure was Eureka!
With a wicked laughter echoing, Angel, for the first time up close, beheld Eureka’s transformed countenance. Contrary to her previously enchanting features, her face now bore an almost grotesque distortion, exuding an eerie malevolence.
Not affording Angel a moment’s respite, and ignoring Leon to her side, Eureka, with a triumphant laughter, lunged straight at Angel.
“Angel, watch out!” cried Leon.
However, Angel, rather than evading, stood his ground with a steely resolve. Stretching out his hand, he stood unyielding before the advancing danger.
Leon’s pupils constricted in realization. As Angel’s elder brother, he knew Angel’s every move like the back of his hand. Was Angel truly intent on… confronting Eureka head-on?
While Leon was still mulling this over, Angel, instead of retreating, engaged in a direct collision with Eureka.
Blinding flashes ensued as their silhouettes danced around each other, culminating in a powerful shockwave that emanated in ripples, extending dozens of meters around them!
Even Leon’s position wasn’t spared its wrath!
Such was the force of the blast that, had Leon not been shielded by walls several meters thick, he would have been thrown off his feet once again.
It then dawned upon Leon the origin of the previously felt shockwave from behind.
Observing the distant intertwined figures, their movements too swift to discern, a wave of confusion washed over Leon. Was it a trick of the eye? Why did it seem as though his younger brother Angel and Eureka were evenly matched?
Outside the crimson aura, Auchanchan anxiously watched the sudden confrontation unfold. Casting her eyes to Sanders ahead, she softly implored his assistance.
Upon hearing this, Sanders reassured Auchanchan, “Fear not, Angel remains unharmed.”
Yet, White Bear standing behind Sanders wore an expression of bewilderment. Regardless of whether Eureka was the person he’d sought for years, what truly astounded him was Angel. His experiences and insights far surpassed those of Leon. Though it seemed Angel fought on equal grounds with Eureka, in reality, he was at a disadvantage.
However, this disadvantage was largely of Angel’s own making. His combat techniques weren’t particularly powerful, and even though Eureka was in a frenzied state, her innate combat instincts and experiences surpassed Angel’s by a significant margin.
But when it came to sheer power, Angel didn’t appear to be losing ground.
In other words, Angel’s physical power was nearly on par with Eureka’s. If Angel could find inner tranquility and spend several years, even a decade or more, honing his combat techniques, the one truly threatened might indeed become Eureka.
White Bear still privately believed that in the end, victory would be Eureka’s. Yet, he was profoundly taken aback by Angel’s capabilities.
Years ago, at Sky Tower, White Bear had witnessed a duel between Angel and Blackjack. Back then, Angel almost solely relied on Toby’s overpowering presence. Without Toby’s assistance, White Bear even believed he could best Angel.
Now, however, the contrast was as vast as the sky and earth.
Angel had experienced an almost meteoric rise in strength, while White Bear felt as if he had been marking time for all these years.
These thoughts cast a shadow of melancholy over White Bear’s heart.
Chapter 1277 The Perils of the Night <TOC> Chapter 1279 The Crown Reappears