Chapter 253: Brace for Impact

A candelabra burning with an Eternal Bright Flame illuminated the perilous darkness ahead. A tall figure cast an even more imposing shadow upon the rock wall. At that moment, the humanoid monster was gripping a Night Howling Hound that had failed to dodge. With a wrench of its two arms, it tore the hound’s head and part of its spine clean off!

The leader of the Night Howling Hounds tried to use this opportunity to circle around to the enemy’s back and launch a fatal strike. However, it was as if the monster had eyes in the back of its head. The thick, third arm stitched onto its back suddenly moved, snatching the hound leader in its grasp!

’Wait... a third arm?!’

Elden tore open a Scroll. Countless writhing black tentacles immediately erupted from the ground beneath the monster, frantically pulling at its body. However, the four legs on the monster’s lower body granted it unparalleled agility. It snapped several tentacles, nimbly scrambled up the surrounding rock wall, and hung there upside down. Its nauseating, grayish-green face twisted into a sinister smile, its green eyes staring maliciously at the bow-wielding Ron.

"You... you’re not Polly. Who are you?"

Ron stared for a long moment before slowly asking his question.

Ghost Witch Polly’s relationship with them was certainly not friendly, but Ron didn’t think she would resort to such extreme measures—modifying her own body and creating hordes of Flesh Golems—just to stop them from coming to punish her.

From what she herself had said, she seemed to have no ambition to attack Ron’s villages.

And most importantly... ’The extra parts on this "Ghost Witch" look just like her own. Did she just... rip them off another Ghost Witch?!’

"It’s you. You’ve come. Again."

The ’Ghost Witch’ with a total of seven limbs dropped the Night Howling Hound leader from her hand, letting it flee back to the Ethereal Plane with panicked yelps—these creatures don’t care who their master is, as long as they are sufficiently evil.

The ’Ghost Witch’ was certain that as long as she killed these bitter enemies, the hounds that had turned against her would surely return to her side!

"Last time, I was ambushed by Polly and that other bitch! And I never expected a gold dragon disguised as a Black Dragon would be helping you!" The creature’s face twisted into a series of grotesque expressions. Her resentment for Ron and the others was so deep that it hadn’t faded even to this day.

"But this time is different! I first destroyed Polly, then I found the remains of my other daughter, and I’ve sewn both their bodies onto my own!" The monster cackled as if she’d lost her mind. "Do you know what that means? They can never betray me or defy me again! Never!"

"I was originally planning to use this place as a forward base. When the time was right, I would launch an all-out attack and raze your pathetic little settlement to the ground! But I never thought you’d just waltz right in here yourselves!"

"Think those Golems are cute but hopelessly stupid? It doesn’t matter, because soon enough, you’ll be joining them—now all of you, die here!"

The monster, which could hardly be called a Ghost Witch anymore, let out a magic-infused shriek. Its four legs propelled it forward with a speed that completely defied its size, and it leaped down at the group from above!

Aive’s tower shield was instantly in the Ghost Witch’s path, but the combination of its terrifying speed and bloated body meant the pounce immediately smashed Aive down to one knee. She struggled to hold her ground, with no room to retaliate.

But thankfully, they weren’t fighting alone. As the Ghost Witch attacked, Sera and Victoria closed in from the left and right, flanking it!

"A barbarian, and a Priest?" the Ghost Witch let out a vicious laugh, grating on their nerves. She engaged Sera with two of her claws while sparing only the claw on her back to block Victoria’s advance. "I have returned from the Nether River’s Edge, yet you’ve made no progress at all!"

"And you lot," the bizarre trinkets tied to the Ghost Witch’s four feet exploded one after another, bursting into flares of Arcane Spiritual Light. The light protected her from harm while she unleashed a frantic barrage of various rays at Ron and the others. "The strength of all of you combined isn’t even a match for my lower body! You pathetic worms! You trash! You shouldn’t even exist in this world! Just die!"

"Don’t get so cocky!" Sera roared. The Grip of the Vast Wave in her hands roared in response. Woman and sword became a surging thunderstorm, relentlessly striking the Ghost Witch’s defenses. But it had little effect; the only result of her efforts was trimming the Ghost Witch’s claws, with no further progress.

"Or what? You can’t possibly defeat me!" the Ghost Witch cackled, punching Sera and sending her stumbling back several steps. "Planning to have Heim’s little Priest sneak up behind me? What’s she going to do, give me a back-scratch with that ridiculous weapon?!"

But just as the Ghost Witch was freely mocking them, an eerie glow lit up behind her. The Ghost Witch immediately tried to dodge, but the black tentacles on the ground had wrapped tightly around her four legs, making it impossible for her to break free quickly.

"You know what? That’s exactly the plan!" A string of twilight also lit up at Victoria’s feet, making her movements incomparably swift, as if she were flying. The Hard Head Hammer, carrying a momentum that belied its size, smashed viciously onto the hand on the Ghost Witch’s back.

At that moment, everyone heard a crisp CRACK of bone. The Ghost Witch’s massive, bloated body was instantly devoured by the endless twilight.

"Holy Strike!"

"Is it over?" Elden asked, his hand resting on a Scroll. His Spellbook floated before him; the Dean was clearly prepared for any contingency.

"I think so... No!" Before anyone could understand what was happening, a toll like a warning bell rang in Ron’s mind. Deeply shaken, he immediately drew his bowstring. "Everyone, get away from her! All of you!"

"Defense Array! Get your Protective Energy up!"

"What in the world is in that arrow?!" Aive and the others wouldn’t question Ron’s caution in a situation like this, of course. But even though they had managed to set up a series of defenses before the twilight devouring the Ghost Witch faded, the moment Ron drew his bow to its limit, a terrible premonition rose in everyone’s hearts.

"HAHAHAHAHA!" The Ghost Witch’s arrogant laughter rang out once more. "You little brats, don’t think you can kill me that easily! I—"

In the end, no one heard what the Ghost Witch said next. Partly because Ron’s hoarse roar drowned out her rambling, but mostly because at that same instant, with the THRUM of the bowstring, a scorching, blinding radiance overwhelmed everyone’s senses. What followed was a thunderous explosion that nearly collapsed the entire cavern, and an endless, ringing drone in their ears!

Only after that fleeting yet earth-shattering attack did the group finally hear Ron’s belated warning:

"Brace for impact!"