Chapter 2055: Chapter 686: Schemes of the Split Claw · The Day of the Star-Shattering Earthquake

Veylanther did not follow the warriors through the Ratman Tunnel to return to the Blackflame Mountain Pass.

She had more important matters and directly returned to the Crimson Castle in Transylvania through a teleportation ritual personally hosted by Triss. While handing over the Abyss Diamonds to Triss for the preparation of the antidote, Veylanther also informed Triss of the players’ discoveries.

Upon hearing that the mysterious Ratmen were highly likely to merge with the Wolf People, Triss’s head began to ache.

Ratmen are not Gnolls or Werewolves; they are a new species!

The continent’s various forces know very little about them, and currently confirmed information is scarce. It is only known that Ratmen reproduce quickly, have excellent digging skills, and possess strange abilities that can avoid detection by the Earth Priest.

But just knowing this is enough to make one feel both astonishing and incredulous.

After all, theoretically, all land and mountains belong to Gaia’s territory, and anything happening beneath the earth cannot escape the Mother Earth’s observation. However, now there emerges a species that can bypass Gaia’s divine power; this truth alone is enough to make all Earth Priests cough up blood.

Yet, aside from the headache, Triss felt a sliver of relief.

Murphy never believed from the start that the Blackflame Mountain Pass could fend off the Wolf People. He said it was just a gut feeling, but now, Murphy’s continuous preparations have finally come into play.

While the defenses of Shadow Valley are certainly not as solid as the Blackflame Mountain Pass, they can at least provide refuge for the evacuees there, preventing another complete annihilation of the Guard Army stationed at Blackflame Mountain Pass like the tragedy that happened 100 years ago.

Kudell died in that hopeless battle at that time, when tens of thousands of warriors stood against the King of Bone Biting at Blackflame Mountain Pass, and not a single person returned alive.

“You must return to Shadow Valley immediately; it needs someone substantial to oversee.”

Triss quickly prepared the antidote in the laboratory and said to Veylanther:

“Go there and secure the position. Let Lisa help you prepare to receive the soldiers retreating from Blackflame Mountain Pass. Murphy and I will arrive there by the afternoon at the latest.”

“This is a grand conspiracy, Grand Duke Triss!”

Veylanther shook her head worriedly and said:

“I don’t know if this is the handiwork of the Wolf People, but I am more inclined to believe it is definitely Twilight secretly stirring trouble. They never act in one-shot deals. If the Ratmen are their secret weapon, deploying them now is certainly not just for Blackflame Mountain Pass.

You should immediately alert Lord Paryen and the Brass Fortress!

The same strategy is likely to be playing out there.”

“Hmm, your thinking is very correct, I will… Hmm?”

Triss took out the Blood Crystal Stone to contact Lord Paryen, but no reaction occurred upon the infusion of spiritual energy, causing Triss to furrow her brow and say:

“Even the communication with the Blood Crystal Stone has been interrupted? Damn it! It seems that some higher power has already intervened in this Black Disaster. They won’t allow the bloodshed and death they wish to see being prevented prematurely.”

“So, are the Brass Dwarves and their prized fortress doomed?”

Veylanther asked further:

“Is there no other way to contact them?”

“There is!”

Triss thought for a moment, as the Abyss Diamonds were heated in the beaker and mixed with various extraction agents, she retrieved another Blood Crystal Stone, and upon infusing spiritual energy, it successfully connected.

Lady Shani’s projection appeared centered on the Blood Crystal Stone in front of Triss.

She was fully armed and marching somewhere unknown at this moment.

“I have something that needs your assistance.”

Triss straightforwardly conveyed the news of the Ratmen entering the battle to Shani, saying:

“Utilize the channels of the Thieves Guild! Quickly send this to the Brass Fortress, but don’t give it directly to the Dwarves, send it to the Blood Covenant Knight Order. The Brass Dwarves, those money-obsessed fools, are already beyond saving, and the Mother Earth has decided to abandon them.

I suspect this is to avoid a situation like Avalon being polluted.

Though the situations are not the same, perhaps even to say the opposite, as I mentioned before, the power of faith is undoubtedly strong, but, as expected, it’s not a good thing!”

“Understood! I’ll arrange it immediately.”

Shani responded crisply.

She said:

“Klim Fortress has requested reinforcements; I am currently leading a team there. General Baldwin reportedly sent close to twenty thousand to Shadow Valley, your Transia people are quite adept at diplomacy, huh! You actually managed to persuade such a hard-headed figure like him.”

“Just in time.”

Triss nodded satisfactorily and said:

“This finally alleviates the manpower shortage situation in Shadow Valley, but I advise you to prepare for a tough battle, Shani. The Wolf People are staging a real lethal act. Be careful, lest a beauty like you meets an untimely end.”

Facing Triss’s malice, Shani couldn’t even be bothered to respond and interrupted the communication via the Blood Crystal Stone to continue her business.

Witnessing that the warning had been sent out, Veylanther no longer lingered.

Lady Spider’s KPI was weighing on her mind.

She must do her utmost to aid Transylvania through the Black Disaster as a righteous partner, a difficult period for one who enjoys manipulating conspiracies like the Weaver of Destiny.

Triss had a foreboding premonition at this moment.

Yet, as a Scarlet Witch who had weathered many storms, she reliably completed the antidote preparation and returned to the Swamp Forbidden Area one hour later.

Murphy was then completing detoxification from the biological cabin, faced with the antidote handed by Triss, he decisively twisted off the cap and gulped it down.