Stray: Chapter 135 fading stars

Demons and beasts were the first to discover the mutation of the frontier forest, much earlier than humans.

It was a **** human arm. Randomly thrown into the damp underbrush by the garrison of Signpost, it would normally rot quickly before turning into a shattered corpse not uncommon in the frontier forests. But instead of rotting, it maintained its original state in the hot and humid woods, and faintly exuded an aura that made the demons very uncomfortable. Even ordinary insects and beasts without demonic blood subconsciously avoided the strange flesh and blood.

It just lays quietly among the rotting leaves and bark, the growing power tempts the surrounding creatures, but the aggressive power fluctuations turn them push away.

until a wounded earth dragon swallowed it.

Polkadysaurus has a medium IQ and is quite large, but its reactions are not quick and there is no overly complicated thinking. There's not much interest in this mid-level demon—earth dragons live in dark lair deep in the frontier forests, their flesh is thick and poisonous, and their scales, skins, and bones are useless. They will only swarm in small areas, hunting for other creatures' eggs, rotting flesh, and thick, juicy water mushrooms. Especially the latter.

Earth dragons often swarm through the bushes, sniffing rotting roots and marking stumps where mushrooms may grow. They are terribly cautious, and once a powerful predator approaches, the Polkadians will quickly withdraw under the command of the leader.

It all started with an accident.

Humans hold test activities in the forest from time to time, and the life in the forest has long been used to it. But not long ago, a superior demon appeared in this event inexplicably, but fortunately, he voluntarily sacrificed his flesh and blood. Aggressive predators succeeded in getting a piece of the pie, and their strength skyrocketed—the balance in the forest began to tip.

This certainly does not include the cautious earth dragons. It is a pity that after the Pandoratel left the broken flesh and blood, this cautiousness turned into the cause of disaster - under the judgment of the leader, no earth dragon went to grab the flesh and blood of the Pandoratel, so he also No one can resist a natural enemy that suddenly becomes stronger. The number of earth dragons has dropped sharply, and the survivors are running around on the way to escape all day long.

And finally nowhere to go.

The earth dragon leader lost an eye and a leg. The flesh on the chest was torn apart by the fangs, revealing the white ribs. Its companions screamed in its ears, and the young earth dragon didn't even have a chance to hatch.

Its population is about to disappear.

There was a vague and painful moan in the throat of the earth dragon leader, and his breathing became heavier and heavier. Regret tormented it along with the poison that seeped into the wound. The dying demon bowed his head and nosed the broken arm that arched the ground.

As a non-intelligent creature, its idea is simple and straightforward - it will die horizontally and vertically, it is better to try to become stronger and win a chance for its relatives.

The flesh and blood of the superior demon, isn’t there another piece here? Even if the instinctual repulsion and fear made its brain numb, the excessive power fluctuations almost took away its strength to stand. Even if it is afraid, very afraid. This is still an option. The instinct for survival and the responsibility of the leader were torn from each other in the small skull of the earth dragon, which was almost thrown into chaos.

The earth dragon let out a small whimper, struggled in place for a long time, and finally swallowed the broken arm into its belly.

Then it sank into thick darkness.

After some time, it finally saw the light again. The world has never been so clear, and the majestic power is constantly pouring out of the body. But what followed was pain, the pain of the body melting and deforming, and the heart almost bursting. The earth dragon instinctively sensed something was wrong, and it could smell the breath of death clinging to the front.

But that's okay. It thought in a daze, it still had time to clean up the opponents of the ethnic group. Despite being puzzled by the suddenly smaller trees and mountains, it looked up and began calling out to the Clan mournfully.

The Disciplinary Bishop Felix Waldron was in a state of rage.

Since arriving at Road Sign Town, he has not had a good night's sleep. The admonitions of the trial knights to the commoners didn't really work, and the number of adventurers who left was far less than the number of adventurers who came to inquire about the news. Under the instruction of the bishop of the precepts, the judge knights of the Rudd religion have set up the highest level of defense. In order to ensure a quick enough response, half of the troops were on standby in the area next to the meat cocoon, while the other half stepped up inspections and threw every nearby demon believer into the dungeon.

This thing is dangerous, the precepts bishop intuitively. The current situation cannot tolerate the people of the Abyss Church to disrupt the situation, although the Abyss Church has just been taken over to the headquarters, and its vitality is greatly damaged. You mustn't let yourself down because of this.

"Pull the Dragon Breath Stone Fort to the southwest corner, the defensive formation there is too weak and may be used as a breakthrough point." He ordered in a hoarse voice, "Where's the devil poison? It's all ready. ? We're going to prepare for the worst—"

A violent earthquake struck suddenly, and the sound of tearing flesh and blood resounded through the night sky. A mass of deformed creatures fell from the cocoon, and then the meat cocoon melted and disappeared like hot wax.

A strong sense of oppression followed, like a blacksmith hammer smashing all the ribs in his chest in an instant. Even under the protection of the magic circle, the preceptor bishop still vomited a mouthful of blood.

"Go to the place with the most people to stabilize the scene and guide them to evacuate! This is a superior demon, a complete superior demon..."

What slipped out of the cocoon looked like an immature dragon embryo, not a healthy and normal creature. It uttered a sharp and unpleasant howl, crawled on the ground, and seemed to be struggling - a black shadow-like liquid flowed out of the crack in the abyss, and quietly wrapped around the newly born demon, and the pain in the latter's howl instantly became heavier. point.

It is the law. Felix thought, the complete superior demon will never come. The devil who violates the law is about to die, but why does it feel more and more oppressive?

"Kenyatta's gunner should be in place, and the Dragon's Breath turret stands by." He raised a hand.

"Lord Waldron!"

"I said, stand by. This thing can't get out of hand, absolutely not."

"We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the glory of Chenni at any time, but if the fort comes over, you will..."

"Nonsense, I'm the commander!" The Discipline Bishop growled, the skin on his neck turning red with anger. "I've got to get hold of it all at once, stand by! Damn—"

The sense of oppression of the superior demon suddenly diminished sharply.

Under this extremely abnormal situation, the most terrifying changes were too sudden, and the preceptor Felix almost ordered to fire with a tremor. Until another steady and familiar sense of oppression appeared - Felix raised his head with a little difficulty, and subconsciously looked at another source of powerful force.

Dark omen.

He was still the same, a black robe made of black shadows, and he could not see his face. In his hand was a similarly pitch-black staff. The ominous figure floated in mid-air, with one hand poking in the direction of the superior demon, motionless.

This is the worst time ever.

Felix made a quick decision, he made a quick gesture, and the defensive array was activated layer by layer, like a blooming white short-lived. This is an excellent time to confirm the identity and position of "Ominous", he thought calmly. How lucky he may have the opportunity to die with the most terrifying demon.

Nemo stepped in the air.

He didn't have time to be afraid of this height, and he didn't even dare to be distracted by the defensive magic circle launched by the Rad Cult. At this moment, his attention was all pinned on the still struggling superior demon. The dazzling star flashed wildly in his mind, and its thoughts and shouts also pierced into his mind.

The leader of a Polkadysaurus. It is calling for what it holds dearest, its people.

But no one came.

Perhaps it slept for too long, and Nemo could perceive that there were few life responses in the forest. He dared not pass the news to the other party - it was still calling, more and more mournful.

Nimo closed his eyes, he cleared his mind, and tried to touch the dazzling star. Finally, under the light, he could clearly see the complicated magic circuits like capillaries.

Sure.

He always thought that magic was the ability of the creature itself, but now it seems that the opposite is true - it returns pure energy to him, and what flows from himself is the "abyss magic" ".

Like a transaction.

There was nothing wrong with the Jesse Dillon metaphor when they first met. Yes, no wonder only oneself can use the abyss magic without any spells and prayers... No, now it seems that those mysterious spells and prayers are just trading signals.

Of course he doesn't need to trade power with himself.

And the "stars" in his mind - whether they use abyss magic or not, the pure power return never stops. Although he didn't know why they kept twinkling like real stars, he had learned enough. Nemo carefully channeled the power within the demon so that it wouldn't be so violent.

The power of this demon is particularly strong, so that the subtle fluctuations of power are as obvious as the tide. The exchange and flow of power gradually became clear, and the starry sky in his mind began to expand. Wider and clearer.

This is the first close contact with the flow of power after he has a definite guess. Now Nemo's mind is drenched in ice water, and his knowledge has never been so real. That really isn't detection magic, that's not even magic, just pure... perception.

The perception of the beings that connect with him and provide him with strength. It's like sensing the petals falling on the skin. Just born, dying. Born as a demon, contracted with a demon. Countless stars appeared quickly, lit up one by one in his mind, and began to flicker.

Oliver who has contracted with him has the ability to use abyss magic. Now he can be sure - as long as he has this ability, even if he has not used it, Oliver will become his source of power. Then of course he could find the stars that belonged to Oliver.

He finally held on to a glimmer of hope, but he couldn't take back the limbs he abandoned - he still couldn't save the dying earth dragon.

The newly born superior demon didn't move, it roared sadly, and its voice became more and more desperate. Finally, a Polkadyosaurus answered the call. The weak earth dragon dragged its wounded body, looking up suspiciously at the unknown monster in front of him - while the dying superior demon lowered his head, wanting to sniff his kin as intimately as usual.

But it has not yet learned how to control its power.

Under the excessive pressure, the weak earth dragon instantly turned into flesh.

The deformed superior demon let out a sharp roar, and the light of the defensive circle suddenly became a little heavier. Its strength is still growing, but it may have recognized that sad truth.

That power no longer matters.

It began to struggle violently and growl with all its might, and only one could understand it. Nemo took a deep breath, the breath of the forest mixed with the stench of flesh and blood straight into his nostrils. With slightly trembling hands, he took out the communication crystal in his pocket, and glanced at the Knights of Judgement that had gradually gathered because of the abnormal situation.

"Ann." His voice was flat and soft. "You guys, go as far as possible. It can be dangerous here."

"Nemo?...What are you planning?" The female warrior's voice came from the other side of the crystal, "We just caught the **** you said—"

"I need to deal with that superior demon, you should be able to see it now. It will be over soon... Now I can find Oliver, and I will act as soon as it is over."

"And then?"

"...Then I'll go to you, with Ollie." He lied, "You can take this time to send the prisoner to the Island Court."

"But..."

"Promise me, okay?"

Nimo didn't wait for Ann to answer, he directly crushed the still flashing crystal. I'm really bad at saying goodbyes, Nemo thought.

And the superior demon in front of him was crying. Its power is strong enough to start corroding its body, strong enough for it to detect the condition of the entire forest.

It has long lost its reason to fight.

Unlike in the Black Badge test, Nemo no longer regards those thoughts as strange noises.

This superior demon, just like the original Pandora, found him and began to pray.

It says.

It keeps repeating.

"Okay." Nemo responded dryly. "I'm really..."

He didn't care about the judgement knights who gathered, and how many pairs of eyes were watching. Originally, he had only two choices—either let go of his power and restrain the explosion in a small space; or, before it exploded, wipe out this superior demon.

He shouldn't be so sad, it made a request, it was the least painful way. All will be safe, but…

"I'm really, really sorry."

Nemo repeated. He cut those circuits and extinguished the star, like gently blowing out a burning candle.

The giant superior demon disappeared.

No exploding flesh, no splashing blood. It turned to ashes quietly in an instant, and the gray-white powder fluttered in the night sky like snow in winter. It slid slowly over the armor of the knights of judgment, and fell to the ground, accumulating a thin layer.

And he didn't even have the slightest fatigue after consuming his strength, only the indescribable heaviness and depression.

Nimo turned around and felt the vast starry sky in his mind. The value of Virgil’s intelligence was even greater than he imagined—there is more than one dazzling star in the starry sky, but only one is in the territory of Waldun.

In other words, in the Wither Castle.

Oliver is there.

But before he could taste this rare little joy, the familiar despair struck again. The star was dimming, at an abnormal rate. It was going out, and he was about to lose it.

The ashes like snowflakes hadn't completely scattered on the ground, and it seemed that his surroundings really turned into a cold winter in an instant.

He has to hurry, Nemo thought. Go right away, he must hurry-

But as he expected, several surveillance spells and restraint spells came at the same time. The crisis is over, but the knights of judgment will not leave - a threat more terrifying than that superior demon is in front of you.

Compared to before, the atmosphere of the Knights of Judgement was even more tense. When power exceeds a certain limit, stance and motivation no longer matter. They would no longer base their judgment on whether his actions were good or evil, which Nemo fully understood, but right now he really didn't have the time or energy to entangle with the people in front of him.

What awaits him are only words to delay time, and more troops to come to support. The Knights of Judgment are still trying to protect Signpost Town and more people.

Protect from his hand.

There may be a peaceful solution. Nemo thought. As long as he is willing to cooperate, he will be caught without harm, and obediently dispel their doubts. But that takes time, maybe a lot of time—

He doesn't have time.

The black shadow rose into the air, and the sharp shadow blade pressed against the throats and eyes of the knights.

"Remove the interference of the binding circle." Nemo shouted as coldly as possible, "Please get out of the way!"

The knights did not move. They stopped there resolutely, guarding the twinkling town behind them. Numerous restraining spells swirled around Nemo, they slowly gnawed at the shadow, and his disguise was about to break.

They are indeed brave and upright men.

But the star that belongs only to him is about to go out.

"Get out of the way—" Nemo repeated, trying to suppress the cry in his voice. He cast restraint spells in vain, but the magic power belonging to the surface will not obey his instructions - the magic circles that have already been laid are hidden in all directions, interfering with his judgment. He couldn't find the right amount of strength, and he was likely to miss and hang everyone. "I don't want to fight with you!"

He can't.

He heard someone on the surface arguing about firing a cannon. Although Nemo didn't know what the Dragon's Breath cannon was, he probably understood what the other party meant - he didn't mean to compromise, and they wanted to die together.

"I don't want to fight you." He repeated, trying to repair the camouflage woven by the shadows, but when he lost his attention, the shadow blade threatening the knights suddenly began to shake. So more binding spells and distraction spells entangled.

Time is too tight, maybe there is only one way.

His disguise is about to peel, and this place is likely to be destroyed soon. All the magic circles that were used to deal with the superior demon were used on him. He doesn't like hurting others, and he may not have the strength, but serious injury is better than death.

He may never go back, Nemo finally glanced at the twinkling town not far away. Get ready to take the plunge.

And another force erupted earlier. After the loud explosion, the border forest instantly raised countless smoke and dust, and countless lightning flashed on the edge of the thick black smoke.

A hand reached out and took the staff from Nemo's hand.

"Go find your Oliver." Another voice came from not far away, "You've learned to lie all right, you bastard."

The female warrior turned the spear in her hand, "When dealing with these guys, I and Crosier know better than you."

She gave him a smile and raised her hand.

"These cigarettes can only help you interrupt the restraint for a while, so don't roll quickly."

(m..=)