“Hehe, Liyakade, you’re right.”
Darkness let out a mocking laugh, her eyes filled with scorn as she looked at everyone.
“But this woman was thinking about how to take revenge on you all, how to pin you down and toy with you. I got rid of a piece of trash for you.”
“That woman even wanted to copulate with you, Field.”
Darkness cradled her own face, her figure twisted, expression manic, with a hint of obsession in her gaze.
“The expression and posture of that woman being ravaged by insects was just… too delicious. Watching it almost made me climax…”
“Liyakade… you’re next. Isn’t this exactly what you Succubi like most? I’ll let you mate with bugs nonstop until your last moment of life, letting you feel endless pleasure. How about it?”
“So disgusting… Is this woman insane?”
Field listened to Darkness’s deranged words, feeling a wave of nausea. She couldn’t help but grip her sword tighter, ready to attack at any moment.
Alice and Chloe were clearly less mentally resilient than Liyakade and Field. Watching Darkness’s near-crazed state, the two unconsciously took half a step back.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Liyakade shielded everyone behind her, her voice steady as a needle, calming their nerves.
“This person deliberately led us here to show us these two corpses, just to scare us and shake our resolve.”
“She’s just bluffing. She doesn’t dare to confront us head-on, so she’s playing these petty tricks.”
“…What did you say?”
Darkness’s expression instantly turned cold.
A sound like wind tearing through the air echoed as Darkness’s sharp claw closed in on Liyakade. At the same time, countless slender black threads shot toward Liyakade from the shadows.
“I said…”
“Clang clang clang—”
“You’re nothing but a coward who hides in the shadows, afraid to face us directly.”
Liyakade’s claws clashed with Darkness’s, sparks flying. Awakened by Liyakade’s words, everyone launched their attacks.
Alice cast magic, creating a massive Magic Circle around them, illuminating the cave, restricting Darkness’s movements, and burning away some of the black threads.
Chloe raised an Earthen Wall, blocking the remaining black lines aimed at Liyakade.
Field circled to Darkness’s side, both hands gripping her sword, flames covering the blade as she slashed at Darkness.
“Overestimating yourself.”
Darkness tried to bat Field away with her other claw, but as Field attacked, Liyakade moved forward in sync, both claws striking together.
Darkness was indeed a bit stronger than Liyakade, but only slightly. Using one hand to block both of Liyakade’s claws would guarantee injury, while using both hands would leave her vulnerable to Field’s attack.
So, with a flash of shadow, Darkness’s figure sank into the darkness below, causing both Liyakade’s claws and Field’s strike to miss.
“Shhh—”
“So fast!”
As Field’s sword cut through empty air, Darkness immediately reappeared from below, her sharp claw sweeping upward toward Field.
Liyakade reacted quickly, yanking Field back by the collar, and with her other claw, slammed Darkness back into the shadow from above.
Alice’s Light Sphere spell followed, and with half of Darkness’s body still in the shadow, a direct hit would have been devastating.
However, Liyakade clearly couldn’t restrain such a nimble Darkness. She melted into the shadow once more, retreating to a distance a second before the Light Sphere struck her shadow.
Yet, as she pulled away, rings of light swept across the ground and walls, leaving no gaps in the shadows for Darkness to hide.
Though Darkness could barely withstand this, the pain was still real. After several rounds, even she couldn’t endure it, so she had to leap out of the shadow.
“What a hassle…”
Restricted by Alice’s magic, Darkness couldn’t use her agility at all. After several exchanges, she had gained no advantage.
A crimson arc, laced with blue Wind Blades, shot toward Darkness. At the same time, golden rings of light swept along the stone walls and ground.
This time, Darkness had nowhere to escape. Hiding in the shadows would mean being struck by Alice’s Magic Circle; the only option was to block Liyakade’s attack head-on.
Black threads sprang from Darkness’s fingertips, weaving into a pitch-black barrier in front of her to block the crimson arc.
However, at the instant the barrier shattered, a petite white figure emerged from behind.
Liyakade’s claw slashed at Darkness’s face. Unable to parry in time, Darkness could only cross both arms to block. Liyakade flipped over her, kicking Darkness in the shoulder and sending her stumbling back several steps.
“Tch…”
Black light flared in Darkness’s eyes as countless black threads erupted from all directions, aiming to entangle and tear Liyakade apart.
But as the black threads soared, golden light erupted behind Liyakade, instantly incinerating the black threads once more.
Even her own magic was easily neutralized by Alice. With Alice’s interference, Darkness could only be chased down by Liyakade, unable to use her strengths.
So, Darkness switched tactics again, stomping her left foot and sending a jet-black shadow racing toward Alice.
But Alice and the others were already shrouded in light. As Darkness’s shadow approached, it was immediately detected and obliterated by Alice’s Light Sphere.
Meanwhile, Liyakade kept up her relentless assault, giving Darkness no time to cast more spells.
Forced to rely on physical strength, Darkness clashed with Liyakade, but she was growing weaker, fresh claw wounds appearing on her body.
“Is that all you’ve got? No wonder you always hide in the shadows.”
Liyakade taunted Darkness while pressing the attack. From their clash, she estimated Darkness was about LV.63—lower than she’d expected. With Alice’s interference, Liyakade could even suppress her.
“Crash—”
Darkness suddenly surged with power, knocking Liyakade back several steps.
“You think… this is all I prepared?”
Darkness glanced at the Fourfold Element Amulet hanging from Alice’s neck, a mocking smile on her face.
“Such a rare amulet that quadruples experience—I’d have thought you’d wear it yourself. I didn’t expect you’d give it to Alice. How generous.”
Liyakade immediately sensed something was wrong.
Before entering Bibo Gorge, they had checked the Guardian Amulets given by the teacher, confirming there was no problem before entering.
But… this Fourfold Element Amulet was awarded to Liyakade as a prize during the Cultural Festival. They had never examined this particular amulet.
If Darkness had been planning to target them even then, and tampered with the Fourfold Element Amulet…
“Alice! Throw away the amulet on your neck!”
“It’s too late! Shadow Bind!”
Under Liyakade’s desperate gaze and shout, the amulet on Alice’s neck shattered with a loud crack.
The four-colored elements were instantly tainted black, and black threads tightly bound Alice, wrapping her at blinding speed.