Unsealing Emptiness

Their group of around sixty people was surrounded by only around fifteen or so beasts. However, everyone was on edge since they couldn’t get into formation before they were stuck in this situation.

Moreover, there were two Rank-7 Beasts behind the ones which surrounded them!

Clive was banging his head around the situation, but nothing came into his mind. If he did not deal with the situation quickly and efficiently enough, it would turn into a deadly battlefield and he wouldn’t be able to assure Clara’s safety in the chaos.

Only fighting two Rank-6 Drakes had caused the situation earlier, and now they were surrounded by over tens of Rank-6 Beasts, so everyone was quite tensed in this situation. Not to mention, the Rank-7 Beasts!

The only fortunate thing in all of this mess was that the two Rank-7 Beasts, the pair of black and white snakes stood far behind the rest of the group. It seemed like they wouldn’t step in the game unless they were forced to do so.

However, it still wasn’t easy on Clive to quickly think of a way to divert the Rank-6 Beasts away from the group so they could finish them off at a safe distance.

.....

Clive didn’t see much space to move around in this area when he looked around him. There were no trees in the middle of this area, but vines dropped over from above. The ceiling though looked like a canopy of a tree. Altogether, it was a weird place to be in.

He was contemplating whether to deal with it themselves or call the group hidden in the shadows. Although he was confident in being able to deal with the beasts, it would cause casualties on his side as well. Moreover, the safety of Clara would be compromised if he ordered to go all out.

Just as he was thinking about his options, one of the weird walls made of vines and trees started to create noise. A few seconds later, everyone saw a metallic hand come out of the wall before a giant hole was created in it.

As the rubble and the dirt settled down, the group was eventually able to recognize who the new arrival was. Raven and Blaze both beamed with smiles which immediately put all the focus onto them.

Clara also had a bright smile on her face, but people had often seen her smiling. On the other hand, Raven and Blaze were the wooden dolls.

Raven had a figure and beauty that didn’t lose out to Clara in any way while also having that dangerous charm. While Blaze was a man that would easily come out as one of the most handsome men across the continent!

The only reason that the men and women were not already flocking around them was due to their cold response in whatever others had to say. So their smiles naturally attracted everyone’s attention, making them momentarily forget about their situation until they heard the cough.

*Cough*

Ozul coughed to bring them back out of their dreamlands. All of them seemed to forget how dangerous their situation was right now.

The Rank-6 Beasts outnumbered the Rank-6 Mages in the group. It meant that the Rank-7 Mages would have to quickly deal with them before the Beasts caused some heavy casualties.

Some of the mercenaries weren’t happy with Ozul appearing here such as Barry. All others, however, were more than happy to welcome him since they knew that he was just as strong or even stronger than the three Rank-7 Mages!

Be as that may, they were still unaware of how strong he was. So they were still afraid of the battle to come.

All the Mages at Rank-5 or below knew that they would only be cannon fodder in this. Even a stray Spell from a Rank-7 could kill them! So, they couldn’t rest easy while being surrounded by such strong existences. And no matter how strong Ozul was, would he be able to stop all the beasts himself?

The Rank-6 Beasts surrounding the group varied in races. There were giant Spes, Golems, Snakes, and even a Bear with antlers like a dear! None of them diverted their attention to Ozul’s arrival. Only because they did not sense anything threatening from him.

*Hissss*

As if already bored, the giant black snake suddenly hissed loudly at the crowd. Following the hissing, all the Beasts gave out a growl before leaping towards the Mages.

A little far from the group, Rufus was ready to give up the mission and had already ordered his subordinates. He had also seen that Ozul had arrived at the scene, but he did not stop this time.

Rufus knew that Ozul was more than enough to handle all of these beasts by himself, but he wasn’t sure if he could take them all on at the same time. There were just too many Beasts and too little of a space.

The chaos caused by fighting so many of them at once would confuse everyone and Clara’s life would be put into danger. Although he had a separate mission, protecting Clara was still the priority. Without hesitating, he had given the command to go all out and protect her first.

When Ozul sensed that Rufus was about to reveal himself and his men, he narrowed his eyes. He wanted to see what these guys had planned, and showing themselves now meant ruining his fun.

“Raven!” Ozul shouted. He continued when he noticed that she did not understand his intent, “Night’s Shade!”

Only then did Raven register that he wanted her to cast her Magic Spell. From the tone of urgency, she did not ask any questions as to why he wanted to do this.

The Beasts had already started their assault, and this Spell would put everyone in danger since no one would be able to see anything except for these two. Then again, she did not care much about their lives.

Dodging a Snake Beast, she quickly cast the Spell and the black smoke started to release out of her.

It didn’t even take a second before the black smoke covered the whole ten meters of the area around the group.

The Rank-7 Mages and Rufus who were coming to provide their aid all stopped in their tracks. Due to the commotion because of the Beasts, they did not see what had caused this smoke.

The only ones who even knew about this Spell were the trio. While the only ones who could actually see something were Raven and Ozul.

Blaze had once asked Raven as to why Ozul could see in the black smoke created by her Spell. He was curious since it wasn’t just any black smoke, it also dulled others’ senses!

However, as usual, her answer confused him further when she replied, “Why can he see in the darkness? They are old friends, he said.”

Although Raven could also just understand bits and pieces of what Ozul meant, she quoted what he had said to her when she had asked the same question.

Anyway, the mercenaries did not understand what was happening either. Hanry and Clive both sprang forward and arrived before Clara to protect her while the other mercenaries could only stand still and pray for the best.

Blaze understood that he, as a Rank-5 Mage, could only be considered a cannon fodder as well. He generated Ice pillars around him to avoid any sudden attack. Raven could see everything, so she did not worry much.

Although not as much as humans, the Beasts did not escape from the effects of the Spell either. Most of them were relying on other senses which also seemed to be a little difficult because the Spell affected almost all of their senses.

“Don’t approach!” Rufus commanded. In this urgent situation, he could only put his trust in Ozul.

When they couldn’t see anything from the outside, it meant that it was the same case in the middle of it. Madly rushing inside would only cause more confusion with extra men.

Moreover, he had yet to know what had caused the smoke. It could very well be a poison!

Taking everything into account, he once again decided to leave everything to Ozul since he was probably the strongest among them.

The Night’s Shade covered the area of 10 meters while this closed space had a little more than 30 meters of space in total. It meant that close to half of the whole area had become a mystery zone.

The leaders of the beasts, Rank-7 Snakes, still did not take any action. It was apparent that they found it beneath them to involve themselves in the battle. But the black smoke caused them to be curious as well.

Overall, everyone was either confused or afraid as to whatever was going to follow in the darkness.

However, they did not have to wait any longer when suddenly, everyone heard a Beast growl in anger.

*GARR-*

Having said that, the thing which made everyone curious was not the growl, but how the growl had stopped mid-way!

Just one second the Beast had growled, and in the next second, it was as if someone interrupted it in the middle of his roar.

Unlike others, Raven wasn’t as clueless. Only she could see in this darkness. Her eyes shined with a twinkle as she stood there watching her favorite dance moves...