Chapter 439 The Reaching Claw

Amidst the violent explosion, the magical darkness shuddered intensely. A figure wielding a greatsword tore through the shadowy veil, tumbling across the ground to escape. They scrambled back through the barrier to the other side of the door.

It was Sera.

Having escaped danger, the barbarian sprang to her feet. She shook off the dust and plant debris, then spat out a mouthful of grit. Her actions proved to everyone that she was still their companion, her mind completely unaffected.

"Something’s strange in that darkness!" were the first words out of Sera’s mouth. "It’s full of a bunch of wooden figures, and they’re all alive!"

"Spore People? Or those Delusional Plant People?" Victoria asked. "Did they attack you on sight?"

"Both," Ron replied. He began Casting to help Sera remove the plant residue clinging to her. "Based on the fragments, there were more spores, but there was also tissue similar to the Delusional Plant People from the two floors above. But it’s strange... The spores’ morphology is very different from those on the Spore People outside, while the Delusional Plant People tissue is identical to that of the corpses upstairs."

"Isn’t that perfectly normal?" Anastina asked, watching Ron as he began to examine the samples. "After all, we’ve seen quite a few types of Spore People, but so far, only one kind of Plant People, right?"

"It’s not an issue of type," Ron said, waving his hand with a strange expression. "I’m referring to their state. Neither the spores nor the Plant People tissue are active or dormant. They’re completely dead matter—every single one of their cells is dead."

"They’re identical to the corpses upstairs. Logically, they shouldn’t have been able to attack Sera."

Ron stared intently at the darkness behind the door. It roiled like a living thing, constantly churning as if something were about to crawl out. In the end, however, nothing left the shadowy domain.

"This is definitely not ordinary Dark Magic," Victoria said, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I doubt Daylight Magic will be able to dispel it. Sera, did that arrow Ron shot in earlier have any effect? Can we just bombard whatever’s inside from out here, so we can finally get through?"

Dark Magic would obstruct the line of sight for Casters and archers, making it difficult for Magic and projectiles to hit targets inside accurately. However, that wouldn’t matter as long as the spell or explosion’s area of effect was large enough. Ron’s Cloud Burst Arrow was clearly capable of achieving this, as were other spells like Fireball Magic.

That was precisely why Sera had been sent in to scout. Others, like Aive, were encumbered by heavy equipment and might not be able to get out in time. Silvia, while agile, would have difficulty escaping if she got pinned down.

If Ron had to use a Cloud Burst Arrow to help a companion break free, that person needed to be able to avoid getting tangled up and escape the blast radius in time.

As for Jilannis, while she was theoretically capable of it, no one knew what truly lay beyond the darkness. If the being that branded the Giant King was still present, the rest of the party would have no way of rescuing her.

"Could you all... let me give it a try?" Count Richthofen suddenly spoke, drawing everyone’s gaze. The intense stares made the Vampire’s skin crawl, and he quickly lowered his head, rushing to explain. "I think... this darkness seems familiar to me. I might be able to find a way to break it!"

"Are you sure?" Silvia challenged him. "What if you use this as a chance to escape? We don’t have the time to hunt you down in a place like this!"

"My dear lady, do you really think I would dare to escape all alone in a place like this? If I had a death wish, I’d have plenty of time to pick out a much nicer tomb for myself!" the Vampire said, baring his fangs. "I came into contact with that being long before you did. This is very likely one of Its creations, and I should be able to gain some insight into it."

"And even if I can’t, I can at least offer some suggestions. With so many Casters here, you’re bound to figure something out, aren’t you?"

Ron and the others exchanged glances, and in the end, decided to let him give it a try.

"Victoria, take him a little closer," Ron said with a wave of his hand. Sera stepped forward and untied the Vampire’s bonds, and the Priest of Heim led the Count slowly toward the patch of darkness.

If he dared to try and escape, the Priest who was meant to protect him would instead become the Death God who ended his life.

However, Richthofen himself was extremely wary of the Dark Magic, which was so thick it seemed almost solid. He stopped in his tracks while still two or three meters away, prompting Victoria to ask if this distance was sufficient.

"Miss Silvia, if you please. The scepter I gave to my daughter, could you return—ah, *lend* it to me for a moment?" The Vampire reached a hand out behind him. Silvia had barely taken a step when the Walking Stick in her hand flew into the Count’s grasp. After all, he was the creator and original owner of this Magic Item and held the highest level of authority over it.

"When I began to craft this scepter, I had just received that being’s ’boon’ and was immersed in a state of immense bliss." The Vampire Count sighed softly. "Back then, I had a fiefdom, a castle, a wife and daughter, knowledge... Though I was in the back of beyond, I felt like a true king." His long-nailed, claw-like hand caressed the scepter, which quickly returned to its standard size. He only needed to take another half-step forward for the crystal at the scepter’s tip to touch the Magic-infused darkness before him.

As if sensing its presence, the monsters within the darkness grew restless once more. Now and then, a few claws like withered branches would snake out, trying to snatch the uninvited guest.

"Miss Priestess, could you do me a favor and drive them back for a moment?" the Count asked, cautiously pulling the scepter back a bit. "Don’t let them touch the crystal. The consequences could be... unpleasant."

Victoria nodded. She raised her Holy Emblem, bathing the darkness ahead in light. The brilliant flash sent all the ghouls and fiends reeling. Even the Vampire Count’s body began to smolder, emitting wisps of black smoke. But he endured it without retreating, instead taking a half-step forward and plunging the scepter’s crystal tip into the darkness.

"Richthofen Dark Magic!"

In an instant, a plume of viscous Dark Magic erupted from the scepter. It crashed into the ancient magical darkness like a basin of boiling water thrown onto a frozen lake. Under the sudden shock, the ambient Magic in the room, like ice-covered glass, instantly shattered!

The Vampire Count’s face fell, and he immediately tried to retreat. But as the darkness before him blew apart, a giant, black-scaled claw shot out faster than he could move! It snatched the Vampire and held him fast in its grip. At the same time, everyone heard an enraged roar:

"Failure! You dare show your face before me again?!"