Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Harbingers Again
The bright moon hung high in the sky, its pale light casting long, cold shadows across the rubble-strewn streets and scattered monster corpses.
Linna’s heart was heavy, knowing that her former teammates had perished, even transformed into Distorted Beasts.
As Frick had said, few pustule monsters remained in the outer areas, but trails of foul bloodstains marked their path towards the core of the Incubation Barrier.
Despite the grim situation, Linna pressed on, cautiously approaching the core area.
“Mr. Frick, what else do you know about this Grotesquery Incubation Barrier?” Luo Ling asked from behind them.
“Unfortunately, when we entered the Incubation Barrier for the rescue operation, we only roughly estimated the dormant Grotesquery’s rank, but we didn’t know its specific Sequence or true name.”
Frick shook his head regretfully. “Furthermore, our initial assessment was wrong. This isn’t just a Dangerous Grotesquery within the top 150 Sequences. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have wiped out half of the ‘Hunt’ team.”
“If it’s not just a Dangerous Grotesquery, I have a guess.” Linna pondered, having memorized all the publicized Grotesquery information from the Taboo Slate. “Grotesquery Sequence 41, ‘Purgatory’ of the Silent Demise path… but for Purgatory, this Incubation Barrier is too weak.”
“Purgatory?”
Luo Ling frowned, the name sounding familiar.
Seeing Luo Ling’s reaction, Linna looked at her intently.
“It seems Miss Bai has dealt with the infamous Harbingers of Calamity… or rather, encountered that dwarf, haven’t you?”
“Dwarf…”
Luo Ling paused.
Mentioning the Harbingers and a dwarf, she could only think of one person, the gentleman who had died by her hand, his memories devoured.
But in this current timeline, he was still alive.
“Artist.”
Linna’s voice was filled with resentment. “He obtained a portion of Purgatory’s Sacred Relic and crafted it into a Sacred Tool called ‘Withering Flower.’ It seals one of Purgatory’s most terrifying abilities, turning flesh and blood into corpses… He also possesses the ability to manipulate the dead, making him even more dangerous.
“Many of us have fallen victim to that ability, half our bodies turned into rotting corpses while still alive. Even those who were rescued… their lives were ruined.”
Luo Ling remained silent. She hadn’t just encountered Artist, she had clashed with him directly.
Unfortunately for Artist, he had encountered Luo Ling empowered by her sister, and after a brief struggle, he had retreated.
Hearing Linna’s assessment, Frick pondered for a moment, then nodded.
“Now that you mention it, Captain, it does seem so… the scene in the core area does resemble Purgatory’s characteristics. We initially thought it was a tangible Grotesquery, but it seems to be a phenomenon-type Grotesquery.”
Purgatory, Sequence 41, was unlike other Grotesqueries. It was a phenomenon, not a tangible entity.
Within Purgatory’s influence, all corpses would become undead-like beings, along with other grotesque phenomena. What they were currently witnessing was just one aspect of it.
“If that’s the case… it makes sense.”
Luo Ling’s eyes flickered. No wonder her domination abilities were less effective against these pustule monsters. They were created by Purgatory’s influence, already under its “control.”
Purgatory’s Sequence was even higher than the Puppet Ballad’s. However, this difference in Sequence didn’t directly translate to combat power.
Due to the varying nature of Grotesqueries, it was difficult to compare their strength based solely on their Sequence, unless it was a significant difference, like between Dangerous and High-Risk Grotesqueries.
The reason for classifying Grotesqueries into Taboos, High-Risk, Dangerous, and ordinary was because of the vast difference in power between these categories.
Only Dangerous Grotesqueries could create Incubation Barriers, only High-Risk Grotesqueries could wield Authorities, and Taboos were untouchable.
“However, if it’s the High-Risk Grotesquery Purgatory, the Incubation Barrier shouldn’t be this small, even if it’s just an ‘egg’.” Linna frowned. “Damn it, it must be the Harbingers of Calamity again…”
Phenomenon-type Grotesqueries like Purgatory were different from tangible Grotesqueries. Its existence itself was like a domain covering an area, unlike the Puppet Ballad. Even its “egg”… its Incubation Barrier should cover a vast area.
According to the recorded cases, the smallest Purgatory Incubation Barrier covered at least half a district, and in most cases, the entire district would be affected. It wasn’t called a High-Risk Grotesquery for nothing.
That was why they had made the wrong assessment earlier.
However… even facing Purgatory directly, the heavy casualties suffered by the “Hunt” team were still unusual.
But connecting Purgatory to the Harbingers seemed to provide an answer.
Yes, it must be the Harbingers!
Artist possessed a Sacred Relic from Purgatory itself. With their understanding of Grotesqueries, replicating a Grotesquery and its Incubation Barrier using a Sacred Relic wasn’t difficult.
This also explained why this Purgatory Incubation Barrier was so weak and incomplete.
Because… it was a downgraded version created by the Harbingers. It was natural for it to be weaker.
After Linna explained her theory, Frick exclaimed, “As expected of the Captain! Why didn’t I think of that?”
“If you could think of that, you’d be the captain.”
Linna muttered, not pleased by Frick’s compliment, her heart heavy.
This meant they were facing not just a Grotesquery, but also the Harbingers, lurking in the shadows.
Luo Ling also found this theory plausible. It fit her understanding of the Harbingers, something they were capable of.
But she couldn’t help but think of the tea party leader, her words and enigmatic smile.
…Annoying.
Luo Ling shook her head, trying to banish the thought.
“We’re approaching the core area… If this Incubation Barrier truly belongs to Purgatory, we’re entering not just the core area, but also the area enveloped by the grotesque phenomenon, Purgatory.”
Frick’s calm voice brought Luo Ling back to the present.
Linna, forcing herself to focus, raised her firearm.
With Frick, a skilled knight, covering her, she could focus on sniping, confident in her ability to unleash even greater power.
“Miss Bai, just focus on protecting yourself. There’s no need to help us.”
Linna leaned down and whispered.
She didn’t want this newly acquainted girl to be involved in such a dangerous operation, but since she insisted, she would try her best to keep her safe… whether she could help or not was secondary.
Although Luo Ling had demonstrated impressive combat skills earlier, they were now facing not just a Grotesquery, but also… the Harbingers of Calamity.
The Harbingers were far more cunning and dangerous than this downgraded Purgatory.
“Don’t worry, I know.”
Luo Ling understood Linna’s concerns and appreciated her kindness.
However, she had underestimated Luo Ling’s true strength.
After a brief rest, they cautiously entered the core area.
“…”
Although there were no visible markers, upon entering the area enveloped by Purgatory, Luo Ling sensed a distinct change.
An indescribable “malice” observed her, yet it seemed cautious, as if aware of her identity.
The other two weren’t so lucky. Linna and Frick were both enveloped in a grey mist.
They immediately activated their protective Sacred Tools, warding off the Grotesquery’s influence.
Linna had intended to protect Luo Ling as well, but seeing the starlight shield surrounding her, she remembered that Luo Ling possessed “Gloomlight,” a Sacred Tool gifted by her mother, even superior to her own.
Actually, Luo Ling wouldn’t be affected by the grotesque phenomenon even without a Sacred Tool, but within Purgatory’s influence, her spores’ range was further reduced. It was best to be prepared.
Agonized cries echoed around them, corpses visible everywhere, slowly dissolving into grey mist, as if being digested.
“This is where I fought my way out.” Frick said seriously, scanning their surroundings. “Be careful. There are fewer pustule monsters here. I’m afraid…”
Before he could finish, two figures lunged at them from the shadows.
“Look out!”
Linna shouted, raising her firearm.
Two gunshots echoed, forcing the attackers back.
Frick raised his sword, his heart pounding.
“Thanks, Captain… wait, are they…”
Linna’s expression was complex as she looked at the two figures, sighing.
“Helen, and Lucia.”
Two members of the “Hunt” team.
As Frick had said, they had transformed into Distorted Beasts, becoming part of Purgatory.
Helen had been a beautiful woman with blue hair. Now, her once-prized face was riddled with holes, her nose missing, her once bright blue eyes rotted, her smooth skin replaced by putrid flesh, her body withered like a mummy.
She had been an Elemental path Awakened One, capable of manipulating water.
But now, her flesh and blood had transformed into a churning mass of foul blood, corroding everything it touched.
“…Helen was always so vain.”
Linna’s voice was filled with sadness, seeing her former teammate’s grotesque form.
Lucia’s condition was even worse.
Lucia was the youngest member of the “Hunt” team. Although the weakest, she was a Myriad path Awakened One with exceptional survival skills.
Unlike Wilson, a half-baked healer, Lucia specialized in healing Grotesquery-inflicted injuries. At her full power, she could even heal someone infected by a Grotesquery.
With her abilities, they shouldn’t have reached this point.
At least she shouldn’t have been corrupted.
But now…
The once petite Lucia had become grotesquely obese, her 1.5-meter frame swelling to over three meters tall.
Her body was covered in oozing tumors, even her once lovely face distorted and repulsive.
Recalling Lucia’s cheerful smile, Linna closed her eyes in pain, seeing her current monstrous form.
When she opened her eyes again, only hatred and rage remained.
“Frick!”
“Captain, I’m here.”
Frick stood before Linna, his longsword raised, shielding her from the two Distorted Beasts.
“Let’s end our teammates’ suffering… with all our might.”
Linna whispered, the ritual she had used earlier unfolding again, a powerful aura of Inspiration emanating from her.
She would end their suffering in the most painless way possible.
“Yes.”
Frick understood Linna’s intentions.
He charged towards the corrupted Helen and Lucia.
Luo Ling stood beside Linna, “Severance” in her hand.
Numerous pustule monsters, attracted by their life force, shambled towards them.
Frick, facing two Distorted Beasts alone, couldn’t be bothered with these pustule monsters, leaving them to Luo Ling.
Luo Ling didn’t use domination, instead slicing through the pitiful creatures with “Severance.”
Rivers of corrupted blood flowed on the ground, then gradually dissolved under Purgatory’s influence, becoming a part of it.
Night had fallen, but this long battle had just begun.
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