89: Demon

Chapter 89: Ghoul

Arthur was also watching him; judging by the wounds on this person’s body, he shouldn’t have been able to survive.

Raul remained silent, his hands clasped around his knees trembling uncontrollably.

He couldn’t calm himself, his gaze flickering between these people and the entrance to the chapel.

Airo climbed onto the roof again, and everyone else returned to their positions.

Arthur walked over to the man and asked gently, “How did you survive?”

There was no response. Raul began to rock back and forth on the ground.

“Eat something,” Arthur offered a piece of bread. “Perhaps it will help you.”

Raul stared at the bread for a long time, his eyes somewhat unfocused.

One of his hands released the other hand that was tightly clutching his knees.

The hand, covered in cracked blood clots, reached for the bread, trembling like a spiderweb in the wind.

Suddenly, he stopped.

He pulled his hand back, trembling even more violently.

“Did you hear that?” Raul asked.

His voice was eerie, as if he wasn’t speaking his own words, but imitating someone else.

Arthur straightened up, frowning as he looked towards the church door.

“They’re here,” Raul said.

He spoke in a prolonged, falsetto voice, as if imitating a woman’s voice.

The voice was sinister and chilling.

“They’re here,” he repeated.

No sooner had he spoken than Airo shouted down from a hole in the roof, “Get ready. Those bastards are here.”

Philip, guarding the door, couldn’t clearly see what was left of the village.

Until things started limping out of the houses.

They dragged their mutilated limbs, their mouths grinning with only bones.

Some were still wearing tattered clothes.

Others were just skin and bones, with flesh and sinews wrapped around their joints.

Some whispered as they walked, muttering nonsense over and over again.

Others remained silent, emerging from the shadows like translucent specters.

Arthur quickly came to the door, checked it, and then ordered, “Block the door, and watch those windows.”

Everyone immediately complied.

“I’ll guard the door; you all watch the windows.”

Drax said, moving a long bench to the doorway.

Bruce turned to assess the situation. The hall had eight windows, four on each side.

Three of them had broken glass; the rest were open.

The windows were high on the wall, far beyond his reach, but he knew they wouldn’t stop those things.

Raul began to sway again, emitting a low moan.

“Watch out for those ghouls, especially the two leading ghouls,” Arthur warned. “If we can take care of those two ghouls first,”

“The other undead creatures will be nothing to fear.”

With that, he walked towards Raul, sighing softly, “I’m sorry, young man.”

He handed over the Holy Scripture.

The eyes of this man, who had lost everything, suddenly became clear.

He stretched out his arms, reaching for the Holy Scripture, as if it were a cure that could bring him release.

“For Mother Earth!” he cried out, trembling violently all over.

Arthur had guessed correctly; an ordinary person couldn’t survive in this place.

The residual power of the Ley Line had taken root in this poor fellow.

It protected him, and in the same way, he perpetuated it.

As if by a summoning, Arthur also reached out and placed his hand on the Holy Scripture.

He felt that power, though faint, it was like a spark, enough to ignite other Ley Lines.

The whispers of the earth echoed in his ears, gradually making him understand everything.

The ancient giant oak, nourished by the Ley Line, had become a Tree of Enlightenment.

It guarded the Ley Line, isolating all outsiders, friend or foe.

This meant Arthur had to use the power of the Ley Line to communicate with it. Others noticed the light emanating from Arthur’s side.

This light made them feel secure and boosted their confidence.

Flora walked over to Arthur and said to the others, “He needs time.”

“Then let’s get to it!” Jerome shouted loudly.

Bruce stood in the center of the hall, longsword in hand, slowly turning, looking from one window to another, keeping a close watch on his surroundings.

He had clearly become the commander of this small team.

The first wave of zombies rushed to the door.

Drax’s massive body blocked Bruce’s view.

But he could hear their thudding footsteps, their growls, and their scratching.

Then, he heard heavy impacts.

The blocked door didn’t hold for long; under the continuous assaults of the ghouls, it was quickly broken open.

Drax roared and began his work.

He wielded his battle-axe steadily and skillfully, his movements fluid.

He stepped back to dodge a ghoul’s claw, then charged forward, scattering the enemies.

Philip moved around him, dealing with the straggling monsters.

More and more zombies entered through the door, approaching the Orc in rows, limping.

They lunged haphazardly at the tall figure, eager to taste fresh flesh and blood.

The Orc brought his axe down hard, the heavy axe seeming weightless in his hands.

Then he quickly turned, adjusted his direction, and swung horizontally at the optimal angle, before pulling the axe back, preparing for the next attack.

Amidst the clamorous growls, Bruce heard a scratching sound from one of the windows.

He quickly turned and pinpointed that window.

A slender finger rested on the windowsill, then another, then another. Until a bony, scaly hand gripped the window ledge.

A greenish-gray skinned ghoul poked its head in.

It was quickly drawn to the glowing Arthur.

Out of instinctive hatred, it lunged at Arthur.

“Above!”

Bruce ran to provide support, warning Flora.

Another crisp sound of shattering glass, a smaller ghoul leaped in from another window.

It blocked Bruce’s path and lunged at him.

Bruce quickly stopped, thrusting his sword, the metal blade cleanly piercing through the creature’s withered flesh.

The ghoul let out a shriek, its claws leaving a hideous mark on Bruce’s leather armor.

Jerome arrived to assist, swinging his hammer and striking the filthy monster, knocking it aside.

The Dwarf let out an excited roar, successfully attracting another ghoul that had broken through a window.

Too many windows, Bruce thought to himself; they couldn’t possibly guard them all.

He swung his sword to help the Dwarf force back the ghoul, then looked towards Arthur.

Flora was entangled with the green-skinned monster, which must be the ghoul Arthur had mentioned.

This thing looked like a ghoul, but it was far stronger and more agile than a ghoul.

It deftly dodged Flora’s punches and kicks, patiently looking for an opportunity to counterattack, like a living person.

Bruce had fought ghouls before, but this kind of monster was new to him.

Now, he hoped his lord could support them with magic, as he had last time.