novelraw Chapter 182: Disappeared
Chapter 182: Disappeared
Aviel shifted into his beast form. Enduring searing pain, he tore out his own heart-protecting scale with his own claws. Blood soaked his fur as he forced himself to remain steady, then he took out the key to the treasury and held it out.
"Take it. Just let Nina go."
Odian stepped forward as well, producing the scepter. "You can have this—but you must lift Nina’s curse first."
The curse was notoriously complex, and their opponent was stronger than he was. Odian had no confidence he could undo it himself.
Lex and Dian each brought forth their merman pearls.
A satisfied smile spread across Yosan’s face. Today’s harvest was far richer than he had expected.
He had only meant to test them. After all, no one willingly handed over the very things that ensured their survival. And yet, these males cared so deeply for this small female that a mere threat had been enough to make them yield.
"Give me the heart scale and the scepter first," Yosan said lazily. "Once I lift the curse, you can hand over the rest."
He knew they would never surrender everything at once.
"No," Odian replied coldly. "Break Nina’s curse first."
Yosan raised the black stone in his hand. Dark witchcraft coiled around it like living smoke.
"I’ll give it to you," Odian said through clenched teeth. "Just stop activating the curse."
He knew too well how cruel the curse could be. He would not let Nina suffer.
Yosan chuckled, smug, and strode toward him. He had coveted that scepter for a long time. Who would have thought that today, through this small female, it would finally fall into his hands?
Once he unlocked its power, he would no longer fear that old monster.
But just as he reached out to take it, a powerful force surged toward his back.
Yosan’s expression shifted. He twisted aside at once, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Fortunately, ever since learning that the girl could resist the witch array, he had remained on guard. Otherwise, that strike might have truly caught him off guard.
What secrets did this little female hold... to suppress even a curse so quickly?
Nina lunged again, and the two of them clashed once more.
At the same time, Odian and the others struggled to break free from the suppression of the witch array. As he fought against its restraints, Odian kept his eyes on Nina—but his power was pressed too low. He couldn’t even activate the scepter.
Not far away, two groups of beastmen were approaching.
"It’s the power of the spirit pearl, Father," Hilan said.
"Mm. Let’s go take a look. We’ve finally found it."
Hilan led the fox clan swiftly toward Nina’s group.
Elsewhere, Drago sensed the same surge of power and frowned slightly. "Such a formidable force..."
There had to be something extraordinary ahead.
He, too, led Lina and the others toward Nina.
Yosan grew increasingly anxious. The time limit of the witch array was nearly up, and he had no way to defeat Nina quickly.
If those males regained their strength, today’s plan would collapse entirely.
His gaze settled on Nina, a flicker of ruthless resolve flashing in his eyes.
He slashed open his palm and rushed toward her. Nina immediately intercepted him, vines lashing out to block his path—but he severed them again and again.
After several deliberate advances, Yosan suddenly slammed his bloodied hand onto the ground.
In an instant, a massive black vortex yawned open beneath their feet.
Before Nina could react, the ground vanished beneath her. She fell—dragged down alongside Yosan—and both disappeared from sight.
At the same moment, the witch array shattered.
"Nina!"
Odian and the others lunged forward, but they were too late. The black void snapped shut the moment she fell, leaving nothing behind.
"Damn it—it’s a blood sacrifice teleportation!" Odian slammed his fist into the ground.
The destination of such a ritual was completely random. There was no way to know where Nina had been taken.
He tried to reach her, but there was no response.
For now, they could only wait for Nina to contact them. Searching blindly would be useless.
Clinging to the knowledge that she now had the strength to protect herself, they forced down the fear and dread clawing at their hearts.
Then they turned toward the Black Crow clan and the mutated beasts. Rage ignited in their eyes.
They would slaughter every last one of them.
Odian charged first, striking at Ino. Aviel and the others followed, cutting into the enemy ranks.
Hilan arrived just then. The moment he saw Taru and the others, he rushed forward to join the fight.
Not far away, Drago watched in silence. When he saw Odian and his companions, admiration flickered across his face.
Such powerful males.
With so many different races gathered, these must be the very beastmen they had been searching for.
A gleam of certainty flashed in his eyes.
Lina’s eyes shone brightly as well. They truly were strong.
After such a long pursuit... they had finally caught up.
Meanwhile, Nina had been taken to an unfamiliar place.
Yosan lay not far from her, his face far paler than before.
The witch array and the blood sacrifice teleportation had drained him severely.
Nina narrowed her eyes.
Today... she would kill him.
Sensing his weakened state, she struck without hesitation.
Yosan countered immediately. Though he had suffered heavy losses, facing this small female alone still gave him a chance.
After all, this was exactly why he had dragged her here.
Yosan pulled out a handful of dark, ominous crystals and began absorbing their energy at once. Power surged back into him as he launched a fierce, relentless assault on Nina.
But Nina met him with effortless ease.
With the spirit pearl empowering her, her strength remained at its peak, while Yosan gradually began to falter.
He clenched his teeth in frustration. This little female was far more troublesome than he had expected.
Sensing his disadvantage, he immediately searched for a way to escape.
But Nina had no intention of letting him go.
Vines burst from the ground, weaving themselves into a cage that sealed off every path of retreat. At the same time, more vines—and the eerie, wailing ghost-cry vines—lashed toward him in relentless waves.
Hemmed in from all sides, Yosan struggled to defend himself, his movements turning frantic and disordered.
Meanwhile, Nina remained calm and composed, waiting patiently for the perfect moment to strike.
At last, a flaw appeared.
In an instant, countless sharp spikes erupted toward him.
Yosan tried to dodge—but it was too late.
The spikes pierced straight through his heart.
His strength drained away as he collapsed to the ground. He stared at Nina, unwilling to accept it—never imagining he would fall at the hands of such a small female.
Soon, his breath stilled.
And then, something strange happened.
His body dissolved into a swirl of black mist and vanished completely.
Nina frowned slightly.
Why hadn’t the contents of his storage space fallen out?
Logically, with his death, the mark on the spatial stone should have disappeared... unless—
He wasn’t truly dead?
"Little Bun, can you get the items out of his spatial stone?" Nina asked.
Little Bun quickly scanned it. [The imprint can be broken with a special method.]
Moments later, everything inside the spatial stone was released.
Nina glanced through the pile—some animal hides, a large number of strange crystals, and various miscellaneous objects.
As the crystals spilled out, the spirit pearl suddenly grew unusually excited.
Master, there’s something good here.
A green crystal, tinged faintly with dark energy, flickered as if responding to the pearl.
Nina picked it up, studying it carefully. "You mean this one? But... something about it feels off."
The spirit pearl glowed.
The dark aura clinging to the green crystal dissipated instantly.
The pearl pulsed again, brighter this time.
Master—quick, form a contract with it.
Nina pricked her finger and smeared a drop of blood onto the crystal, but suddenly, a small, flame-colored figure shot out from the side, knocking the crystal from her hand.
The remaining blood on her fingers smeared across its body instead.
At that very moment, a tall, strikingly handsome male came rushing after it.