CHAPTER 223: 106 INTRUSION (PLEASE COLLECT)_4

THUMP!

THUMP!

Kroening’s eyes glazed over and his body stiffened. His heart pounded rapidly as an uncontrollable fear crept into his mind.

This fear shattered his reason almost instantaneously.

"Ah!"

He screamed uncontrollably and stumbled backward, a flicker of clarity passing through his chaotic thoughts.

Witchcraft!

Soul-shattering witchcraft!

Although he realized something was amiss, no matter how he tried to adjust his emotions or cast Secret Techniques, it was futile.

Fear!

Chaos!

Desperation!

Negative emotions completely submerged his reason.

Carl grabbed Kroening by the collar with one hand, his eyes emitting a dark glow as he stared at him and asked, "Why are you targeting me?"

"Why!"

His voice was deep and forceful, echoing in Kroening’s ears, wave after wave assaulting his consciousness.

Fear Aura!

"Ugh..."

Kroening’s body struggled wildly. His flesh and soul withered as if scorched by fierce flames.

His vitality was also rapidly weakening.

Hmm?

Carl raised an eyebrow.

Could the Fear Aura also have this effect?

He could clearly feel that as Kroening’s vitality faded, his own body developed a sense of satisfaction.

It was like savoring a delicious delicacy.

His spiritual power even showed a slight increase.

Could it be that this ability, said to be enjoyed by Abyss Creatures who feed on fear, has manifested in me?

"It was you!"

Kroening finally recognized Carl’s face. He opened his mouth, his eyes slowly filling with despair and fear.

"Why?" Carl asked in a muffled voice, "Why are you targeting me?"

"No... it’s not me." Kroening’s face was withered and his skin sunken as he pleaded desperately, "Anslot!"

"It was..."

"It was Anslot... who made me do it. Please, spare me... Spare me."

Anslot?

Tim’s friend?

Tim has been dead for three years, and his friend still harbors thoughts of vengeance against him. How... admirable.

CRACK!

Carl’s eyes narrowed. With a forceful squeeze, he twisted Kroening’s neck.

Then he skillfully searched the two corpses, took a few items, and disappeared in a flash.

「Shortly after.」

"Ah!"

Amy’s scream echoed through the area.

She struggled up from the ground, her face filled with horror as she looked around. She only saw two corpses.

One violently torn in half.

The other looking like a mummified corpse that had been buried for decades and then dug out.

What had happened?

Who saved her?

Amy was bewildered. When she regained her senses, she quickly called out for ’Little Wind’ and hurried off into the distance.

...

The wooden boat moved slowly through the Swamp.

Anslot held a Magic Wand that resembled an old man’s cane. Propped on the boat, he gazed into the distance. His eyes betrayed his impatience.

"Still no news."

"Master."

The ferryman was a Knight in armor, who spoke upon hearing this, "You needn’t worry, Master. Since the Shadow Hand absorbed Kolon’s Fire-Thief, their strength has greatly increased."

"With the price you offered, even an Advanced Wizard Apprentice could be killed if careless. How much more so when merely sending them to an uninhabited island to retrieve an item?"

"I hope that’s the case," Anslot’s gaze shifted. "However, I always have an ominous premonition. You know I have dabbled in divination and astrology; my hunches tend to be very accurate."

"This..." the Knight hesitated for a moment. "With both the Black Wizard Kroening and the Shadow Hand making preparations, and the target being only a Basic-level Wizard Apprentice, you will certainly get what you want, Master."

"Even if it’s not acquired, it doesn’t matter. No one knows it’s connected to you, and there will be other opportunities in the future."

"Heh..." Anslot chuckled softly. "If it were someone else, I wouldn’t be in a hurry. But this Carl... he’s hardly ever left the island in three years."

"If we don’t succeed this time, who knows when the next chance will be."

"I can’t wait!"

Three years!

He had waited three years for this opportunity. Even someone as patient as he would feel the urgency.

"That’s true," the Knight nodded. "This man is indeed strange. Even for a Wizard Apprentice absorbed in research, few remain cooped up for years like he does."

Anslot’s expression suddenly changed. "Hmm?"

Almost simultaneously, the Knight yelled, "Be careful!" The words had barely left his mouth when he drew his sword.

At the same time, the wooden boat beneath them blasted apart, and a figure with tendrils growing from its back burst out of the Swamp.