Chapter 86

"Everyone, gather together, back to back!"

Hearing this deep roar, Rod immediately tensed up. He raised his longsword and loudly issued orders.

"Annie, on the left, deploy the impact shield, take a defensive stance! Marin, on the right side of the team, cast the Ice Shield, five layers! Release it immediately! Serek, the back is up to you. No matter what, don't let them through. All Spirit Masters, prepare the Guardian Shield, and cast it on us four in three seconds! Celia, return to my side and set up the protection! Riz, follow my command and prepare to cast a group healing spell centered on us! Walker, you're responsible for covering the blind spots!"

"Understood!"

Hearing Rod's orders, everyone immediately responded. Annie took two steps forward, and her shield made a crisp separation sound. The outer surface suddenly slid down, and sharp metal spikes rotated out from the bottom. Then, four streams of steam burst from the exhaust ports on both sides of the shield, driving the heavy shield down with a loud thud. The massive shield, under the impact, sank deep into the ground. Annie bent down, gripping the metal handle, leaning against the inner side. With a "swish," sharp spikes emerged from the decorative patterns on the shield's surface. In an instant, the heavy, large shield transformed into a hedgehog bristling with spikes.

Behind Annie, Marin's expression was serious. She raised her staff, chanting incantations, and sturdy ice barriers erupted from the ground, layer upon layer, spreading out. Then, Marin's chanting voice rose, and the ice barriers, which had been independent, suddenly twisted. Moments later, sharp ice pillars shot up from the ground, like spears, aiming forward.

The angelic girl spread her wings and flew to Rod's side. She held her sword with both hands, forcefully planting it in the ground. Her beautiful face was cold as ice, her golden eyes burning brighter. Her snow-white wings slowly unfurled, emitting a soft, bright light, like two banners.

Serek didn't act as formally as Annie and Marin. After hearing Rod's orders, he seemed to do nothing, but a closer look revealed that the swordmaster's expression was exceptionally serious. His eyes narrowed, and his hand, which had been resting on the hilt, now slowly extended, gripping the hilt and drawing the sword...

Golden light flashed, and soon, a circular barrier formed around the four of them, thanks to the Spirit Masters' efforts. Riz raised her hand, focusing intently on the man in front of her.

The roars grew clearer and closer.

"Stay firm, no matter what you see, don't panic! Pay attention, absolutely do not retreat, stay calm!"

Rod could only remind them. The Silent Highlands were the most challenging part of the area, and frankly, this was not a place for beginners. If they had already cleared it several times, they could challenge higher levels, but now—how could you expect a group of elementary school students to take a postgraduate exam?

The figures began to become clearer. They were about the same size as the giant infant from before, but their movements were very agile. They darted between the dead trees, almost blurring the eyes. Marin gripped her staff tightly, not daring to breathe, and the once cold air now carried a foul, nauseating smell, making even breathing a cruel punishment.

"Don't pay attention to them, don't follow their movements."

Although Rod didn't turn around, he clearly noticed that the others were observing the enemies' actions.

"Just focus on your front. Our range is small, and they have no other space. Don't let your guard down. Anything that appears in front of you is an enemy... Mr. Serek... we're short-handed, and the sides need your support. I think this shouldn't be a problem for you."

"I'll do my best."

The Phantom Blade responded, leaving a beautiful, ethereal trail of light in the darkness.

The black shadows moved faster, almost too fast to see, but after receiving Rod's orders, everyone only stared intently at their front, even the Spirit Masters, who were required to focus on their respective guardians to reinforce their Guardian Shields when necessary.

"Breath... breath..."

The panting sounds came with the night wind.

Then, the black shadows disappeared.

The black shadows that had been faintly visible in the distance suddenly vanished, and their bone-chilling sounds disappeared as well. Everything seemed to return to calm, but the increasingly thick, putrid smell in the air indicated that the danger was still around them.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven..."

Rod silently counted down in his mind, raising his longsword and looking at the empty space in front of him.

"Three, two, one... Riz, group healing!!"

Hearing Rod's command, Riz immediately raised her hand, and the prepared group healing spell was cast. Sacred energy formed a white halo that instantly spread, enveloping everyone. Warmth dispelled the cold, and calm replaced fear. At that moment, a wonderful feeling filled everyone's hearts and minds.

The black shadows suddenly lunged out.

As if they had agreed with Rod, they lunged just as Riz's group healing halo enveloped everyone and spread outward. The black shadows, as if in response, rushed in one after another!

The abundant positive energy immediately caused the black shadows great pain. Although they continued to advance, their movements and expressions showed that they were significantly affected.

But that was enough for everyone.

Serek snorted coldly, and his Phantom Blade flew out again, slicing through the darkness. The sword rain, like lightning, was dazzling. His swordsmanship was always like a luxurious chandelier, beautiful to look at, regardless of its lethality. With added power, it was even more impressive...

The giant infant raised its right hand and hammered down, smashing into the spiky shield.

If it were a living creature, that blow would have made it cry and retreat, but for the undead, which had no concept of pain, it only provided a minor obstruction. The giant infant, undeterred by the blood on its fist, shook its body and raised its right hand again.

At that moment, Annie kicked the bottom of the shield with her foot.

The lower part, buried in the soil, flipped up with the powerful force, rotating upward and lifting a large amount of dirt and rocks, forming a dense cloud of dust in front of the giant infant. The flying dust temporarily hindered its movements. At that moment, Annie pressed the mechanism on the handle again.

"———!!"

A powerful gust of air burst from the edges of the shield, propelling it forward. The thick metal spikes mercilessly pierced through the air and penetrated the giant infant's head.

"Boom!"

With a loud explosion, the headless giant infant lost its former might. Its body wobbled for a moment and then fell to the ground, silent.

Marin raised her staff.

An icy carpet instantly spread from her feet, flowing forward like a river. Stepping on the cold, slippery ice, the giant infant, already in pain from the positive energy, finally lost its balance and fell forward.

The ice barriers in front of it shattered, and thick, sharp ice pillars pierced its body. When the giant infant reached Marin, it was already completely incapacitated, pierced all over. It raised its head, its empty eyes looking at the young mage, its mouth opening as if to smile or roar in anger. But this time, facing this terrifying and pitiful monster, Marin did not show fear. She raised her staff with a determined expression, and the energy that had condensed in the large ruby was finally released.

"Airy, ari!"

Burning flames instantly enveloped the giant infant's body, consuming it along with its cries.

When the heavy black shadow descended from the sky, Celia, who was already prepared, immediately raised her longsword.

This time, she was not knocked back. The sacred patterns formed a sturdy shield, blocking the incoming enemy. Celia, expressionless, gritted her teeth, and with both hands on her sword, she firmly resisted the impact. The giant infant, descending from the sky, did not easily succeed this time. It pressed down on Celia's defense, trying to crush it.

Rod drew his longsword, his left hand on the blade, and swiped forcefully.

The sword, now soaked in blood, glowed a brilliant red. The undead, smelling the blood, became even more frenzied. It roared and pressed down again, and the sacred patterns, which were already struggling to hold, began to warp and deform.

Celia canceled her defense and stepped back—not because she couldn't hold on.

A shining blade of destruction shot out from Celia's side, striking the undead's chest with great force, pushing it back. It reared up, its iron-gray body covered in shocking wounds and blood, but for the undead, this was no problem. It rolled its eyes and laughed evilly from its toothless mouth.

Then it stopped abruptly.

The silver moon's blade pierced its neck without hesitation, disappearing into the darkness.

In the sky, the angel held her longsword, her cold eyes showing no emotion.

Everything returned to calm.

"They have temporarily retreated."

Rod sheathed his sword, wiping the blood from his hands, but his expression did not improve.

"We continue forward. Hopefully, before we are attacked by these things again, we can at least find the bodies of those idiots."

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