CHAPTER 203: 203. EVIL TOTEM SPIRIT

"Underworld Ritual!"

Immediately after Minerva pointed her staff toward the elves, a multitude of ghosts rose from the ground and flew in that direction, howling and hurling various attacks.

In that same moment, the dark claw that reached out from the summoning portal suddenly clenched and the incoming ghosts exploded.

"What?!" Minerva couldn’t help but be shocked at this scene.

She had previously fought against 5th Circlers and knew that this skill of hers couldn’t be easily countered. However, right now, this summon just neutralised a large chunk of the ghosts with just a gesture.

Even though more ghosts were rising from the battlefield, nobody couldn’t deny the power of this new summon.

While that thing was crawling out of the portal, the dogfight between the wyvern and the serpent came to an end. After multiple Wing Hurricanes, the fire-breathing spiritual snake finally dissipated.

But Droge was also injured in various places due to the fight. Although not severely wounded, these injuries still hindered his ability to fight at his peak.

Right now, nobody was celebrating when the commotion above ended. Instead, everyone felt an unease in their hearts looking toward the elves’ side.

"W-What is that..." Calliya stumbled backward as the summon fully exited the portal. She’d never feared anything this way.

Ash’s expression was grim as he stood at the forefront of the monster force, looking at a giant, nearly 20 feet tall abomination swatting away Minerva’s ghosts.

Any attacks that landed on its body only did miniscule damage and even if wounds opened up, they healed quickly before other attacks could land.

This new summon was almost all black, with some patches of gray. It looked somewhat like an ogre but that’s where the similarities ended. Built like a primate but having three eyes and snout horn like that of a rhino — Its mouth was full of long, razor-like teeth through which a nasty, red tongue slithered.

"An Evil Totem Spirit!" Her expression was exceptionally grim. As a necromancer, she quickly identified what those summoners had brought up.

Even for someone who dealt with aspects of death, corpses and souls, this thing was almost a taboo.

"I can’t believe it... Are they not afraid it’ll turn on them?" Irene, who was beside Minerva, asked in concern.

"They must’ve had a prior agreement." The necromancer replied, pulling out a mana recovery potion. That AOE spell had almost completely drained her.

But since the twin sisters, Numa and Mary, were also casting support spells on her, Minerva managed to regenerate much of her lost mana. However, she didn’t feel secure in the slightest.

Looking up, she saw the Dark Knight floating alongside the wyvern. Below them, a horde of frightened monsters howled. Even the brave tribal orcs were looking grim at the moment.

On the 66th Floor. When Lena sensed the presence of that Evil Spirit, she promptly went to notify Yvonne.

Although the crimson dragon was at the 5th Circle, she didn’t have the connection to this dungeon like Lena had. So, when the fairy came to her looking all anxious, she was amused.

"You’re not seriously telling me to go there, are you?"

"Yes!" Lena huffed. "T...They’ve summoned another spirit!"

"Is it powerful?"

The dungeon fairy closed her eyes at that question and opened it a moment later, mustering up all the seriousness on her face.

"You must go."

Seeing this, Yvonne stopped smiling. "Since my master has told me to accept your requests if it’s urgent, I’ll go this time."

Scales began forming on her delicate, hourglass body which soon expanded in size. Suddenly, a terrifying, draconic aura spread from her. It was as if an apex predator had awakened.

"Open a passage." Yvonne roared after transforming into her true dragon form.

...

"You should just surrender!" Fiona sat on the galleon’s lifeboat with legs crossed, smilingly looking at the five pirates who surrounded her. All of these 3rd Circlers held great positions in the pirate crew.

The purser and the boatswain each brandished their daggers, circling the homunculus. The short quartermaster held a long staff which she pointed at Fiona, its orb glowing with a dangerous light.

The sailing master was almost completely naked and wore large gauntlets. Lastly, the gunner held an unusual launcher with magical patterns on it.

A normal 4th Circler would rather negotiate with such an armed group of pirates, but Fiona’s expression was lax. Afterall, she just had to keep them occupied for the time being.

The pirate girls knew this. At the moment, they could see that their captain was having a hard time against that demon.

’We can’t get tied up with this woman. You three attack at once. When she’s distracted, Rosy and I will go aid the captain!’ Jocelyn, the quartermaster, discreetly casted a mental spell to inform her mates.

Fiona, despite her rank, wasn’t aware of these pirates’ plot. However, she was hyper cautious. So, when she sensed a minuscule movement in the surrounding mana, she immediately pounced at the quartermaster.

"Now!" Jocelyn shouted and cast a barrier, which only lasted half a second before breaking.

However, that much time was enough for the dagger wielders to clash against the homunculus.

Shiiing!

Fiona’s hands turned into curved swords with which she blocked her opponents. A loud shockwave and bright sparks were generated. Overwhelmed by Fiona’s strength, the two 3rd Circlers crashed against the weather deck’s mast and railing.

Grabbing the chance, Jocelyn activated the legacy spell of her magic staff, her hands trembling in nervousness.

"Vines of Agony!"

A superior-grade magic circle conjured endless green vines, but Fiona cut through them like butter. While this fearsome abomination was occupied for a couple of seconds, Jocelyn swapped position with the sailing master.

"Quick, Rosy!" She cast a haste spell on herself and her fellow pirate, dashing toward where the captain was.

But before they could reach far, a violent stream of mana burst from behind and a thundering sonic attack hit both.

Meanwhile, Jake, who was grabbing the struggling Pristina by her neck, looked back to see the commotion.

"Ugh, she’s taking too long."

"A demon, huh... Do you really believe you’ve won?" The woman he held spoke in a different manner at this moment, causing him to turn back.

"You, a man..." Pristina’s previous shocked and dreadful eyes now only contained hatred.

Boom!

Lightning pierced through the stormy clouds, highlighting a set of bizarre patterns on the pirate captain’s cleavage and neck area.

Suddenly, a thick evil mana burst out of Pristina, repelling Jake several feet away. The mana turned into a black miasma which spread all over the deck.

Jake could feel as if he was back in his dungeon. But this feeling only lasted for a brief second as Pristina let out a feral cry. All of the evil mana began converging on her.

"It can’t be..." Jake finally realised what was happening.

As the mana entered her body forming unknown, dark patterns and transformed her, the pirate woman’s demeanour changed. Now, her irises were crimson red, lips black, and skin pale. Her long hair was freely flowing with the stormy wind.

All of her wounds had healed but her dress was cut in various places. Pristina held a dangerous but smiling expression which had a gothic charm to it.

"I should thank you." She said, stretching her right hand at her sword which trembled and shot toward her.

"So it’s like this." Jake’s expression was grave.

This pirate woman was a natural corrupt.