342 Escaping The Crumbling Manor!
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Raven was a small bird monsters that Maria raised into an undead crow, it was a very intelligent creature even after death, and served as recon most of the time. But over the months, Raven managed to slay many monsters and level up, evolving and growing as large as a person. His flying style was rather normal, but once he learned how to conjure phantasmal flames through the [Phantom Fire] Skill, he managed to create a new fighting style. Most birds that hunt prey usually fly up into the skies and then fall down to catch what they had seen. Raven was one of such birds. He covered himself in phantom flames and practiced hunting prey for a long time, many times failing. However, Kuro and the other Undead were there to cheer him up, alongside Maria.
Now it was the time to unleash all of this hard work, Raven unleashed his fury as phantasmal blue flames covered his wings, and a storm of black feathers and phantasmal flames was unleashed against the dozens of vampires in front of the escape route! Raven knew very well that Julia and her maids were the priority of Maria, and her phantom clones were fighting to try to get through, this was the time of truth!
BOOOOMMM!!!
Raven’s powerful attack was successful right away, as his phantasmal flames covered the vampires entire bodies and began to burn through all of them. The Vampires despite being half-undead were very affected by such phantasmal flames, which not only burned flesh but also their souls! Being hit directly into their deepest selves, the vampires groaned in agony, the majority of them were weak fodder recently raised into Vampires, so they quickly fell down into the floor, opening the path for Julia and her maids to go through as Raven unleashed his storm of flames and sharp projectile feathers.
“Let’s go through Raven’s path!” Julia commanded her maids, as the two half-elves attacked the furious bloodsuckers while running through the corridors, finally, they saw the door.
“T-The door’s there!” Cried Faire.
“Let’s go then!” Faerie shouted, running straight, but the vampires were faster and although many were defeated or wounded, they simply stood up again and chased them down while regenerating!
However, the smaller phantom clones of Maria quickly unified together, forming a gigantic six-meter big phantom snake that quickly caught the three girls and jumped out of the door thanks to Raven breaking it beforehand!
FLAAASH!
“Uwaaaaah!” Faire cried in surprise, as they were high up in the skies!
“T-This is too high!” Cried Julia.
“But this is good, let’s escape through the sky and then let’s regroup with Lady Maria!” Said Faerie.
The phantom snake clone nodded, flying upwards and happily imagining a successful and perfect escape. However, in a mere instant, they hit something invisible, the barrier!
BAAAM!
“Ouch!” Julia cried, as the girls suddenly realized they were trapped within the barrier, which always let them walk in and out… but now it was caging them inside!
“T-This is impossible! Not only the traitor let them in, but he also trapped us inside?!” Asked Faerie, as she suddenly noticed the snake getting tired, the barrier had some strange ability that was draining the mana of those close by!
“Q-Quickly move down, we can’t stay too close to the barrier or our mana is going to get drained!” Cried Faire, as the snake nodded and flew down, flying around as she saw the vampires running out of the manor. The snake suddenly began to grow even weaker, without mana, it was losing its own phantasmal mass, slowly falling into the floor.
BAAAM!
“A-Ah, Familiar! Are you okay?” Asked Julia, as the snake suddenly dissipated into particles of light without being able to speak, it had all its mana drained and dissipated just like that! the barrier was hit head-first by the unsuspecting phantom clone, so she ended receiving a lot of the drain damage.
“It’s gone…” Sighed Faerie. “And the damn bloodsuckers are getting close again… Lady Julia, prepare yourself for battle- Ah!” Faerie suddenly noticed Julia falling into the floor, kneeling and barely being able to stand, the phantom clones inside her body ended dissipate as well, and all the burden she had been resisting quickly hit her, weakening her severely. Thanks to the phantom clones possessing her, she had been able to go all out, but now all of that exhaustion hit her like a truck.
“Lady Julia!” Faire and Faerie both yelled at the same time, reaching their lady as she was gasping for air over the grassy backyard, the vampires had yet to reach them but their presences were quickly approaching, it was a matter of minutes before they came here and caught them.
“Ugh… The phantom familiar of Maria possessed me like a ghost, helping me go all out, but now that it is gone as well, I was hit with all the exhaustion… You two, escape… T-There’s an underground route where we can escape directly out of the fiefdom… I don’t know what’s happening with Maria and her crew, but if you find them, tell them to come quickly…”
“W-We can’t possibly leave you behind, that’s never going to happen!” Faire cried.
“M-My lady, I prefer to die at your side that live knowing you died due to my weakness…” Cried Faerie.
“Y-You two are so stubborn…” Sighed Julia while smirking a little bit, holding into her rapier and using it as a staff to slowly stand up. Dozens of black-robbed vampires quickly reached them, circling the manor, and reaching the backyard, led by Agatha and the Werewolf… who was holding a large femur with his jaws, Darkbound was nowhere to be seen.
“D-Darkbound… Was he defeated?” Muttered Faire in between tears.
“H-He fought well… but that werewolf… just what sort of monster is he?!” Asked Faerie while gritting her teeth, her Mana was low, and so was her sister’s, but the two would fight to the death no matter what.
Agatha came sitting over her werewolf servant, as she laughed at the three girls.
“Fufu, I am surprised you’ve not noticed something…” She laughed.
“W-What?!” Asked Julia.
“Look behind you, into the city.” Agatha said mockingly.
When Julia directed her gaze to the city, she saw something that left her speechless…
People screaming, houses burning, and pale, ghoulish creatures in the shape of humans hunting down the citizens…
“N-No… W-What is happening?!”
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