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Chapter Image Source: Pixiv Artist Code "85698568" / Pixiv Image Code "111783347"
Jingliu had embarked on her mission to investigate the Bloodshot War Wyverns, leaving the opulent capital behind for the rural areas of Xianzhou Luofu. The transition between these two worlds was palpable. Here, the villages clung to their ancient traditions, and life felt like a journey back in time, as if she had stepped onto a different planet altogether.
As she journeyed deeper into the region, Jingliu couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between the capital's splendor and the simplicity of rural life. The people here lived close to the land, their clothing woven from natural fibers, and their homes adorned with traditional symbols. Each step she took seemed to transport her further from the technological marvels of the capital and closer to the heart of Xianzhou's cultural heritage.
But what struck her most profoundly was the palpable sense of hopelessness that hung over the villages like a heavy, oppressive cloud. The villagers' faces carried the weight of despair, etched with lines of worry and exhaustion. Their eyes, once bright with vitality, were now clouded with a weariness that spoke of daily struggles.
Approaching one of the villagers, Jingliu inquired about the situation, concern etched on her face. The villagers responded with a feverish intensity, their eyes filled with anger.
"You see, warrior, we've been living off this land for generations," the villager began, voice trembling with frustration. "Our families have toiled in these fields, our ancestors before us. But now, it's all rotting away, and we can't explain why!"
Another villager, overhearing the conversation, chimed in with bitterness in their voice. "We sent word to the capital, to the officials who sit in their grand chambers, but what help have they sent? None!"
A third villager, their hands clenched into fists, added, "We've lost our livelihoods, our way of life. It's not right, I tell you!"
Listening carefully to their grievances, Jingliu frowned, comparing the dire conditions she witnessed to the reports she had received just a few months ago. The discrepancy was unsettling. She knew that something was amiss, and the suffering of these communities weighed heavily on her heart.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Jingliu asked, her voice gentle.
The first villager sighed, a mix of frustration and resignation in their eyes. "We appreciate your concern, but these are troubled times. We've tried everything, and nothing seems to stop the rot from spreading."
When she asked about the Wyverns, the villagers responded with open fear, their voices trembling.
"Those accursed Wyverns," one of them said, "they've been terrorizing us. They're just a few kilometers away, and we fear for our lives. We seek shelter whenever they come."
Jingliu took in the information, understanding the gravity of the situation. She thanked the villagers for their openness and assistance, realizing that her mission to investigate the Wyverns would not only involve confronting these creatures but also unraveling the mysteries behind the sudden turmoil that had befallen these rural communities.
With a heavy heart and a renewed sense of purpose, she continued on her journey, determined to uncover the truth and bring an end to the suffering that had befallen the villages.
-Timeskip-
As Jingliu delved deeper into her investigation, her keen eyes and sharp instincts led her to discover mysterious clues that hinted at a larger, hidden threat. These clues would eventually point her towards a more significant conspiracy lurking in the shadows.
While tracking the movements of the Bloodshot War Wyverns, Jingliu stumbled upon something that sent a chill down her spine. Deep, enormous gashes marred the landscape, their size and shape entirely different from the wyverns she had been instructed to annihilate. These gashes seemed to be the aftermath of a brutal and powerful force, one that didn't belong to the creatures she was pursuing.
"By the heavens," Jingliu muttered, her eyes narrowing as she examined the gouged earth. "These marks are far too large to be the work of Wyverns."
Continuing her exploration, a horrific stench assailed her senses, a rotten and putrid smell that threatened to make her gag. It was an indescribable odor, one that she had never encountered before in all her battles and travels. The source of this vile stench remained a mystery, but it was undoubtedly connected to the unfolding events.
"Something unnatural lingers here," she whispered to herself, her hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of her lightsword.
Then, she stumbled upon another unsettling sight. The crops and livestock in the area exuded a slimy black substance, and they appeared to be partially or almost fully consumed. The livestock carcasses were a grim testament to the savagery that had befallen the rural communities. It was evident that something else, something far more sinister than the Bloodshot War Wyverns, was in the vicinity, preying upon the land and its inhabitants.
Jingliu couldn't ignore the ominous implications of these clues. There was a hidden menace at play, and her investigation had taken a darker turn. She knew she had to delve deeper into this mystery to uncover the truth and put an end to the suffering that had befallen the villages.
-Timeskip-
As Jingliu continued her journey, the landscape around her began to change. The air grew thick with an eerie, greenish miasma that clung to the trees and enveloped the land like a sinister fog. It was a sight she knew all too well, a miasma that had once wrought havoc on the village she had visited at the beginning of her mission.
The memories of that fateful moment came rushing back—the helpless cries of the villagers, the decaying livestock, and the ruined crops. The miasma had been a harbinger of doom, and its resurgence filled Jingliu with a sense of dread.
"Could it be?" she muttered, her gaze scanning the tainted landscape.
The question hung in the air as she pressed forward, determined to uncover the truth. Was this malevolent phenomenon somehow connected to the Bloodshot War Wyverns, or was there a more sinister force at play?
-Timeskip-
After a few minutes of fast-paced sprinting, Jingliu eventually encountered the Bloodshot War Wyverns. Their monstrous forms loomed before her, their crimson-scaled bodies adorned with jagged spines and piercing eyes. However, instead of the aggressive stance she had expected, they were howling as if whimpering in fear.
"What's going on here?" Jingliu wondered aloud, her steps cautious as she approached the Wyverns.
The Wyverns' howls were mournful, their eyes filled with terror. It was a stark contrast to the fierce aggression she had anticipated.
"Face me," Jingliu demanded, her voice carrying a tone of unwavering seriousness. There was no room for games or hesitation; her motives were clear—to end the battle swiftly and decisively.
As she clashed with the Wyverns, the true extent of Jingliu's combat prowess was on full display. Her movements were a mesmerizing blend of grace and power. With unmatched agility and precision, she parried the Wyverns' wing slashes with ease, her motions fluid and efficient, with no unnecessary movement to be seen.
Her lightsword, an extension of her will, was a masterpiece of cerulean light. It sliced through the air with grace and power, leaving trails that shimmered like ethereal ribbons. The Wyverns, initially taken aback by Jingliu's prowess, soon found themselves outmatched.
Jingliu anticipated their every move, her instincts honed through years of rigorous training. She moved with the grace of a dancer, her lithe form flowing seamlessly between attacks and defenses. Her strikes were precise, aimed at disabling the Wyverns' wings and incapacitating them without causing unnecessary harm.
But it wasn't just her agility and precision that made Jingliu a formidable warrior. Her swordsmanship had reached a level where she could split the fireballs roared by the Wyverns with astonishing ease. As the fiery projectiles hurtled towards her, she met them head-on, her lightsword cutting through the fire with a dazzling display of skill.
The battles were a symphony of motion and skill, a dance of blades where Jingliu emerged as the undisputed victor. Her combat skills had reached new heights, a testament to her unwavering dedication and the lessons of her past. Every parry, every strike was a testament to her mastery of the art of the sword.
As the last of the Bloodshot War Wyverns fell to the ground, their once-mighty forms now lifeless and still, Jingliu stood at the center of the battlefield. Her lithe figure was bathed in the cerulean glow of her lightsword, the only source of light in the darkening twilight.
Around her, the ground was littered with the corpses of the defeated Wyverns, their crimson scales now dulled and marred. The scene was a stark testament to the fierce battle that had unfolded, with no survivors among the once-ferocious creatures.
Jingliu's breaths came steady and measured, her gaze unwavering as she surveyed the aftermath of the clash. She had emerged victorious, but the mysteries surrounding the Wyverns and the looming threat to the villages remained unsolved. With a sense of determination burning in her eyes, she knew that her mission was far from over.
After a fierce battle with the Bloodshot War Wyverns, Jingliu's keen senses detected an anomaly in the vicinity. Her footsteps led her to a clearing, and there, she stumbled upon a sight that left her breathless.
Before her loomed a massive, dark-scaled beast, its gnarled and twisted form resembling that of a corrupted tree. Its presence exuded an unnatural cold, like the icy grip of permafrost. Jingliu had encountered many creatures in her life, but this one defied all expectations.
"This... this is no dragon of Xianzhou," she murmured, her hand instinctively reaching for her lightsword.
The creature remained motionless, its crimson eyes fixed on her with an eerie intelligence. It seemed to regard her with a mixture of curiosity and caution, and Jingliu couldn't shake the feeling that it held the key to unraveling the mysteries that had plagued the region.
As she cautiously approached, she knew that this enigmatic entity might be the linchpin in understanding the resurgence of the miasma and the true threat it posed to the land. The creature took a stance that sent shivers down her spine. Its massive form widened, creaking like logs being torn by the roots of the ground. Its wings fully spread, resembling the branches of a grotesque tree, and the miasma emanating from it resembled leaves in a nightmarish forest. The overall image was that of a horrifying eldritch entity—an ancient tree of malevolence.
The confrontation with the massive dark-scaled beast escalated into a battle of survival. Its branched wings unfurled with a menacing grace, and to Jingliu's shock, they were not just for show. With a powerful flap, the creature released a torrent of corrosive, acid-like substance that hissed and sizzled as it rained down upon the land.
Jingliu's agility and reflexes were put to the test as she maneuvered with unmatched skill to avoid being hit. The acidic substance left steaming craters wherever it touched, and she knew that even the slightest graze could spell her doom.
"I won't fall here!" she vowed, her determination unwavering.
The battle raged on, a deadly dance between the warrior and the monstrous dragon. Jingliu's lightsword sliced through the air, deflecting streams of acid with precision. She had faced formidable adversaries before, but this encounter pushed her to her limits.
As Jingliu continued to dodge the dragon's relentless assault, the colossal creature unleashed a new weapon—an exhalation of noxious breath that darkened the sky above. It was as if ominous storm clouds had gathered, foreboding a tempest of destruction.
But instead of rain, the clouds released a torrent of acidic oil-like substance that rained down upon Jingliu. The once-clear sky was now obscured by the deadly deluge.
With no other option, Jingliu was forced to go on the defensive. Drawing upon her training and unique skills, she conjured a protective barrier of ice that enveloped her like a shimmering cocoon. The acidic rain battered against the icy shield, hissing and steaming as it made contact.
The battle had become a test of not only her strength but also her wits. She knew that she couldn't maintain the ice shield indefinitely, and she needed to strategize to overcome this deadly natural assault while still facing the monstrous dragon.
As Jingliu's ice shield approached its limit, she looked visibly exhausted, her energy drained from the relentless battle against the monstrous tree-like dragon. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, and her muscles ached from the strain of the ongoing conflict.
Just when it seemed like the acidic rain might overcome her defenses, the downpour suddenly stopped. The clouds dispersed, revealing the pale light of the sun breaking through the canopy of trees.
Jingliu lowered her guard, catching her breath and scanning her surroundings. The respite in the storm was unexpected, and she couldn't help but wonder about the reason behind it.
Then, in a guttural voice that scratched at her ears like ancient whispers, the colossal tree-like dragon began to speak. Its words were slow and deliberate, carrying a sense of ancient wisdom and ominous intent.
"Your scent," the dragon rumbled, its crimson eyes fixed on Jingliu. "It reminds me of one who has overcome the darkness. Your presence here is no coincidence."
Jingliu's brows furrowed as she tried to make sense of the dragon's cryptic words. The mention of someone who had conquered the darkness struck a chord within her, stirring memories of her own past.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the uncertainty that gnawed at her.
The dragon's response held the key to unlocking the secrets of this perilous encounter and the mysteries that had unfolded before her.