Chapter 201: Land of Dragons (Part 8)
“Wuwuwu…”
A bizarre cry was gradually getting closer.
Before long, amidst the fog ahead, I spotted a pair of glowing purple eyes.
No, not just one pair—there were more on the left… and another on the right stone… so many eyes… they were all staring at me… What are they… fairies?
As the eyes flickered in the thick fog like will-o’-the-wisps, I got so tense that my palms started sweating. I gripped Captain Gray tightly, gulping down the lump in my throat.
Whatever you are…
“Don’t get any closer!”
I raised my tiny hand, a blue light shimmering in my eyes, as sharp ice spikes formed above my head, ready to sh**t at the spot with the most eyes as a warning. I wasn’t planning to hurt them yet; I just wanted to show a bit of my power, to let them know I wasn’t some soft kumquat they could bully.
But then, something unexpected happened.
“Mmm…”
Just as I unleashed the Frost Order, a wave of dizziness hit me, and a sharp pain pulsed at my temples. I couldn’t help but let out a grunt, clutching my forehead as my vision blurred for a moment. The unshot ice spikes “bang bang” exploded above my head.
My heart suddenly raced.
What’s happening…
It felt like the Power of Order surging within me was suppressed by some unknown rule the moment it was about to be released—my strength swiftly dissipated. Before my head could catch up to this reality, my body instinctively reacted. I “whooshed” Captain Gray in front of me and leaped backward with a Moon Step, creating a distance of over ten meters from those things.
Power…
Unavailable…?
This is bad, this is bad…
No, wait—this isn’t that bad; at least my physical strength is still intact. If those are fairies, I feel like I could take one down with a single punch. No need to panic! Besides, I have two more powers to try out…
In the next moment, I raised my hand again, the blue glow in my eyes fading and shifting to a fierce red. With a “whoosh,” the blazing Infernal Fire engulfed my palm, and I swung it forward.
Boom! —
The roaring Infernal Fire exploded the moment it was unleashed. The turbulent waves of heat erupted, spitting flames that vanished into the fog like they were swallowed by some invisible force, disappearing without a trace.
“Aw—!”
My ears were still ringing, and I staggered from the impact. While I was still regaining my balance, the smell of beastly musk and the savage roar surged from behind. I jolted, turning around without a glance and delivering a desperate punch.
Bang!
The punch connected right with the beast’s face, exploding its head into a bloody mess. Clumps of bl**d and white, gooey stuff erupted, showering my eyes in an instant. I was so shocked my hair stood on end, my pupils dilating as I instinctively darted backward with a Moon Step, “boom”—crashing a distance away and almost colliding with a rock.
“…Ugh!”
But even though I backed away quickly, the viscous, disgusting stuff still splattered on me—there was some on my arms, and I definitely wasn’t about to forget about my fist. This stank worse than normal bl**d, reeking like a mouse that had been dead for ages, nearly making me cry.
Gross…
Way too gross!!!
“Roar!”
Another eerie roar echoed, and two beastly shapes bolted out of the fog—one jumped onto a nearby rock, while the other flanked me, pouncing with bared fangs straight for my head!
In the blink of an eye, I recognized this beast: it was the dog I’d seen before among the corpses.
Alive, it was even more repulsive; its fur was a sickly blue-black, its white eyes resembling a blind person’s, no ears in sight. Its skin was riddled with infections, the flesh oozing, faint muscle and ribs barely visible beneath the gory wounds, and its head was adorned with spikes like a horror movie gone wrong.
As it opened its bloody maw and lunged at me, I swung my scythe down. The wickedly sharp blade glinted coldly as it sliced open the dog’s belly. bl**d and guts splattered out as I quickly retracted, and the wolf let out a distressing yelp, crashing into a mud puddle nearby and twitched a few times before going still.
Physical attacks work…
I quickly assessed the situation in my mind.
At least this creature wasn’t beyond the realm of biology—it could be easily taken down… just a bit too gross…
“Grumble grumble…”
On the other side, the wolf perched on the rock was pacing back and forth, low growls of intimidation rolling from its throat. It didn’t seem scared by its companion’s demise, but it was also hesitating to act. I shot a glare at it, but every time I glanced at its oozing, rotten flesh, I felt the hair on the back of my neck rise. I had zero desire to engage, simply yelling at it, “Get lost! Leave!”
As I shouted, I saw more wolf dogs slowly emerge from the fog, their low growls surrounding me until I was effectively encircled.
cr*p…
I rolled my eyes, calculating how to escape.
I really didn’t want to fight these creepy things; I didn’t even want to touch them…
“Go away!”
I swung my massive scythe, my weak voice lacking any real intimidation. Turning to take my Moon Step away, I suddenly locked eyes with a pair of pale eyes that had approached unbeknownst to me, less than five meters away.
“…Ah!”
It’s a fairy!!!
I was startled by its creepy face, letting out a horrified scream as my scythe swung through the air. The scrawny, bizarre fairy, clearly trying to ambush me, jumped back in a hurry, but it was no match for my speed; the black blade cleanly severed its head, “bang,” it dropped to the ground.
“Awoo!”
“Roar—!”
“Duka daka! Duka daka!”
With that, the surroundings erupted into chaos.
I darted back to avoid the bl**d spraying out from the headless fairy. Around me, the wild howls of beasts, rage-filled breaths, and the sharp, barbaric cries mixed with unintelligible chatter flowed from all corners of the fog.
More wolf dogs appeared, and the dark-fleshed fairies scuttled out. They clung to the stones, lurked in the mud, looking at me with savage faces and putrid, rotting flesh hanging from their bodies, swiftly closing in.
“Stay back…”
A putrid, decaying stench hit my nose as the “shuffling” sounds drew near. My nerves were taut, reaching their breaking point, and I could no longer suppress the overwhelming nausea swelling inside me.
“Don’t! Touch! Me—!”
Whoosh—
A dense black mist suddenly surged from my feet, wrapping me entirely within, spreading quickly around.
“Kabaku daka!”
“Yousira—”
In an instant, as the Dead Smoke spread, the wolf dogs and fairies suddenly changed their aggressive demeanor. They became terrified, yelling out words I couldn’t decipher, retreating like a tidal wave.
“…Eh?”
Inside the black mist, I looked at my hand in surprise.
Even though it felt a bit off…
The Abyssal Power seemed to be working fine…
Realizing this, joy flooded my system as confidence burst forth like never before—chaotic power was fine, meaning I didn’t need to engage these creepy creatures in close combat. I could turn them to dust with a snap of my fingers without a hint of nasty stench.
If you dare come near me now, you’ll be looking for d*ath…
Whoosh—
I commanded the black mist to dissolve around me, forming several thick smoke serpents that writhed like swimming dragons, then raised my head, glancing around once more.
The creatures halted in their tracks.
They seemed genuinely fearful of the Dead Smoke. Though they still surrounded me, they spaced themselves out, keeping a safe distance. The fierce roars of the beasts morphed into whimpers of fear, countless restless shadows obscured by the mist, nearly invisible.
“Kabaku daka! Kabaku daka!”
In the fog, unintelligible shouts echoed, as if the fairies were communicating. Before long, they parted to reveal a clear path.
…Hmm?
Were they inviting me to leave?
No, wait…
Something’s coming.
Moments later, a larger shadow broke through the fog, riding on a fearsome wolf dog.
With a gaunt, deformity-like body, dirty, matted white hair, half a face corroded like it had been in acid, and skin riddled with folds and various sores, there stood an elderly fairy—if one could still call it a fairy.
The old fairy held a strange black stone spear, stopping about ten meters away from me. Dismounting from the repulsive wolf dog, it raised the spear in front of itself, bent over, and assumed a position that seemed extremely awkward in my eyes.
This guy didn’t mean harm…
It seemed like it was trying to salute me…
“Dongkalaya!”
“Duka daka—”
The fairies behind it stirred up some emotion due to the old fairy’s actions, beginning to yell until the old one commanded them to be quiet again.
“Guluka ta…”
The old fairy squinted its murky yellow eyes, speaking in a raspy, eerie voice.
“…What?”
I was a bit dazed.
This thing wants to communicate with me… but what language is it speaking? Fairy language? I couldn’t understand a single word. It wasn’t planning to pull a fast one, was it?
Zing—
Captain Gray pointed forward, the sharp blade aimed at the old fairy, and I kept my guard up, softly warning him, “You stay back, a bit further.”
The stench wafting from it was already creeping in…
What is wrong with these guys…
Is this even the Land of Dragons…?
As I moved, the fairies around me grew agitated again, with hints of fear mixed in. I couldn’t tell if it was my imagination, but I noticed a trace of awe on the old fairy’s twisted face—it seemed to hold me in high regard… or perhaps it reveres the chaotic power I possessed.
Under my intense gaze, the old fairy took two slow steps back.
Then it spoke again.
“‘Abyssal Language’ Great… Rabishixemos…”
Those two short words made my eyes widen instantly.
It can speak Abyssal Language…
It knows my name is Rabishixemos! This “end name” had been embedded in my mind since awakening in the Abyss. I hadn’t mentioned it in ages, and I was about to forget it myself, yet it knows that name!!!
In an instant, my breath quickened.
Promptly gathering the swirling black mist around me, I lowered Captain Gray and suppressed the swirling, indescribable emotions within, clearing my throat, and with a cold tone, I quickly spat out words mirroring the old fairy’s language.
“‘Abyssal Language’ Who are you?”
