Second Lead Syndrome (1-187) | ✓

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Warning: This chapter contains (mild) gory descriptions. For those who are easily squeamish, you can skip the descriptions.

The carriage arrived to an abrupt stop, Hana stumbled and fell right into Xue's arms, whereas, Cecil had already expected this to happen, stabilising herself easily.

"Cor-corpses! Dark magic!" The driver exclaimed in fright, and he jumped off the carriage, scrambling away.

The horse neighed noisily, as if it was unsettled by whatever it saw.

"Get off!" Xue warned, jumping out of the carriage with Hana in his arms.

Cecil jumped out right after that, and the horse immediately rode off with the carriage. Cecil shielded herself from the dust the horse kicked up from the stone pavement. She lifted her head up as she observed the scene before her.

Xue and Hana stood beside her, with Hana still rather dazed from the abrupt circumstances.

"...was this what you meant when you said to expect something bad?"

"Yes."

"Wh-what's happening, Xue? Cecil?"

The once prosperous town was in an entire state of chaos. Street stalls crashed and scattered, building burning, the tumult of shouting and screaming breaking out everywhere. Black smoke rose from every direction, and civilians of all ages were scrambling around, desperate for a source of escape.

The courageous and braver ones wielded blunt weapons and everyday tools to fight back against the enemies.

Cecil heard a panicked yelp just in front of them.

It was a small boy, roughly around the age of nine, scuttling backwards on the ground. The shadowy figure in front of him trudged awkwardly, grabbing onto his leg and the small boy shouted in terror.

Cecil moved instinctively, the earth insignia on her palm lighting up. She curled her fingers, shifting forward as she shot her palms forward, and then into the air. Almost immediately, the ground below the shadowy figure trembled, and a stone pillar struck the figure away from the boy, making them release his leg, and another pillar shot up from the ground, hurling their body hurling through the air.

The small boy was overcome with fright and relief, fainting on the spot.

The figure landed right in front of the three of them, and Hana upon seeing it, shrieked in terror, staggering back. Xue supported her, observing the figure on the ground coldly.

A man, or to be more specific, a corpse laid in front of them. Its body was already decaying, along with its tattered clothes.

The corpse had a large cut on its abdomen, and its internal organs were already spilling out. One of its arms were mangled beyond comprehension. Its right leg was almost coming off, a thread of flesh still attached, if one gave it a simple tug, the leg would have come right off.

The corpse's mouth was hung wide open, as if its jaw has been dislocated and there were maggots wriggling inside its mouth. The eyeballs of the corpse has been gouged out, the remnants of dried blood still present on its face.

The gruesome sight and the repulsive scent was enough to make one vomit.

...and Hana did just that.

Xue held her hair up, looking at the corpse coldly once again. He gave the corpse a harsh kick, sending it flying.

A few maggots dropped onto the ground, and the intestines scattered about, laying across the stone pavement. A few drops of blood, which was already darkened, also splattered onto Cecil's school outfit.