Chapter 317: The Insect Swarm Attacks (Part 3)

—

“Why do you call her ‘The Hero of the Gale’, but you don’t call me ‘Ironhead Lailai’?” Bemore questioned.

“Wang Beibei, aren’t you annoying?” Samimi ignored her, staring nervously in the direction her teammates had left.

Night battles were not Samimi’s strong suit, but she wasn’t completely inept either. She possessed a fully mastered [Clear Vision Technique], and her perception far surpassed that of an ordinary person.

However, she knew her limits—in the dead of night, a Divine Official had better not wander around carelessly, lest she get ambushed and backstabbed.

She still had confidence in the strength of the Hero of the Storm, the Sword Saint, and the Twin Demons. Niubao tagging along with them shouldn’t lead to any trouble.

The ones who truly needed to worry were those of them who stayed behind.

The Red Ghost was crouched there motionless, gripping her black blade, staring intently into the depths of the darkness, which sent shivers down Samimi’s spine.

She had left the Red Ghost behind precisely to guard against unexpected situations.

But now, it seemed the worst-case scenario had arrived.

Samimi pushed her [Clear Vision Technique] to its limit, faintly sensing something stirring in the distance.

“Red Ghost, have you noticed anything?” she asked in a low voice.

“Pastoralist, Magic User, take cover. There’s a skilled opponent,” the Red Ghost said gravely.

“I can’t see clearly, but I can feel it.”

“What is the enemy? Can you make it out?”

“Only sense it. Can’t confirm the location or identity.”

Samimi’s expression turned grim—she was in the same situation.

The Red Ghost’s Wild Beast Instinct was even slightly sharper than hers.

Though she looked like a reckless brute, in reality, the Red Ghost was much calmer than the Blue Ghost and was a reliable person.

Samimi took a deep breath and steeled herself.

“This is probably a diversion,” she whispered. “Serina, protect the alchemist. Wang Beibei, you’re on your own.”

“?” Bemore had a face full of question marks, already huddled behind Serina’s twin shields.

“Don’t rush.” Samimi pressed down on the Red Ghost’s shoulder. “We can’t let you go out alone.”

“There’s only one enemy. I’ll lure it out,” the Red Ghost suggested.

“Anyone daring to act alone usually isn’t easy to deal with,” Samimi shook her head. “We hold our position and wait for the main force to return.”

“Could it be… him?” the Red Ghost asked.

“Magic Sword Red?” Samimi broke out in a cold sweat.

She couldn’t be sure.

This World loved making BOSSes appear ahead of schedule.

An Abyssal Heavenly King directly appearing before them—it wasn’t impossible.

—

The surroundings fell into a prolonged, deathly silence.

Only the wind howled.

Suddenly—

The sharp sound of a weapon cutting through the air came from afar.

Everyone tensed up instantly.

That was the direction The Hero of the Gale and the others had gone.

Judging by the sound, it didn’t seem like a successful ambush, but more like a frontal clash.

The Red Ghost’s fingers twitched slightly, clearly itching to join the fray.

But Samimi held her down firmly.

Her own hands were slick with sweat.

In this moment, she truly understood the fear of a backline class—

The feeling of being targeted by an assassin.

She had never been afraid of enemies trying to flank her before.

Now—it was different.

“If they let their guard down when they return and get ambushed, it would be very dangerous,” the Red Ghost analyzed calmly.

Samimi was silent for a long time before sighing:

“You’re right… I’ll cover you.”

She released her grip.

The Red Ghost shot out of the tent like an arrow from a bow.

Simultaneously—

Samimi layered her with a full set of defensive Amplifications, even adding the [Thorn Crown].

But she didn’t Enchant her weapon.

Too conspicuous, not conducive to an ambush.

—

The Red Ghost quickly locked onto her target.

A “human figure” crouching behind a tree root.

Thud!

She swung her blade down—

Slicing it cleanly in two.

However—

It was just a wooden dummy.

And it was still emitting a “life force aura.”

A Magic disguise.

The Red Ghost realized the problem instantly.

‘Damn it! Shalum, be careful! It’s a Trap!’

She turned her head and shouted back.

—

It was already too late.

The darkness behind Samimi erupted with Blue Magic.

Clang!

[Magic Blade Assault]!

She instinctively activated her [Crimson Magic Shield]—

The shield was instantly pierced.

But it bought her an extremely brief moment.

She completed the incantation for a second Magic Ritual, her [Rune Staff] transforming into a blue light-sword, forcing a block.

Bang!

She was sent flying by the impact.

But—

She survived.

The next moment, Serina charged forward, shield and sword counterattacking, forcing the assassin back.

The entire process took less than 0.05 seconds.

Had she been a split-second slower—

She would have been impaled.

—

Samimi gasped for breath as she stood up.

By the faint magical light, she could see the enemy clearly.

Her pupils contracted sharply.

“You… how?”

It was—

The Lead Maiden Demon she had beheaded earlier.

There were still crude stitch marks on its neck.

It was missing one arm.

Its entire body was covered in sword wounds.

Without a doubt—the same individual.

“Resurrected?” Samimi gritted her teeth. “It can survive even that?”

“Combat… Pastoralist… Shalum…”

The Lead Maiden Demon let out a hoarse voice.

Then—

It instantly retreated, vanishing into the darkness.

—

“What happened?” The Red Ghost rushed back, looking bewildered.

Samimi was drenched in cold sweat.

She wasn’t injured.

But this was worse than being injured.

She had been targeted by a top-tier assassin.

“I was almost killed,” she said with a bitter smile. “A double diversion.”

The Red Ghost tossed down the wooden dummy.

“This thing emits a life force aura.”

Samimi crouched to examine it, her pupils contracting again:

“This is… [Healing Light].”

“Demons know Healing Spells?” Bemore gasped in shock.

“No wonder she could come back to life…” Samimi’s face darkened. “I was careless.”

—

Not long after, the four who had gone out to fight returned.

They had successfully annihilated a Scout Squad.

But the real problem—

Was right here.

They had been targeted.

—

The group lit a campfire.

To dispel the darkness.

Even if it meant a higher risk of exposure.

But darkness was even more disadvantageous for humans.

—

“Ordinary Demon Humans have intelligence, but not much; they rely more on instinct.”

“But that Lead Maiden Demon… is different.”

Samimi sat by the fire, her tone grave:

“Her intelligence is already close to Niubao’s level.”

“?” Niubao looked displeased.

“I’m not insulting you, it’s a fact,” Samimi continued. “She will come again.”

“A second time.”

“A third time.”

“Until—she kills me.”