Two figures streaked through the forest, each carrying two massive figures on their backs.
“Are you saying the village might have been raided by a Dream Eater? Don’t the Takin Elders have the Holy Lantern from the Churches?”
Lance and Astrid carried the two Takins as they ran, their conversation unfolding rapidly through a mental connection.
Lance shook his head. Falia had not told him anything about this, but he felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
As long as one carried that Holy Lantern, it provided incredibly potent mental protection.
At the very least, one would not be easily dragged into a Dream by a Dream Eater.
Logically, as long as even one of the Takin Elders possessed the Holy Lantern, a Dream Eater should not have had any opportunity to strike.
After all, that Holy Relic was remarkably effective when it came to attacking the Undead!
While they spoke, the two had already crossed through the dense forest and reached a relatively open area.
The solid wood fence of the Takin Village was visible in the distance.
However, at this moment, the Takin Village was shrouded in a deathly silence, appearing unnervingly peaceful.
But that was exactly what was wrong!
Such a display only pointed to one possibility — everyone had entered a Dream!
According to the descriptions from the Takin Elders, once those in a Dream Entry passed a certain threshold, the Dream would become incredibly realistic!
It would be extremely difficult to break free!
Right now, the young people with higher resistance to Dreams had been sent out to sweep for the Dream Eater’s Split Souls!
Those left in the village were all individuals whose mental strength was not powerful enough!
Lance and Astrid glanced at each other.
They immediately stopped and placed the two Takins they were carrying at the edge of the woods.
“If we get closer now, won’t we fall into a Dream again?”
Astrid’s eyes betrayed her worry; she had already developed a slight fear of the Dream.
“Don’t worry. The Dream won’t bother us again for a short while.”
“We need to use this window to quickly find the Takins’ Holy Lantern. The two Purification Talismans we have simply won’t be enough!”
Hearing Lance’s calculated reassurance, Astrid nodded.
Following their previous plan, the Elf Girl leapt lightly, speeding toward the south gate of the village.
Lance also immediately mobilized his Force, activating the Knight skill [Charge].
He shot forward like a bolt, heading straight for the west gate of the village.
They had to locate the Dream Eater immediately and find a way to stall it!
Meanwhile, the other person had to find the Holy Lantern held by the Takin Elders as quickly as possible!
Thud — thud — thud —
Astrid reached the southern side of the village in a few leaps. Her footsteps were light, like a narcissus floating on a lake.
The moment she entered the village, the Elf Girl felt the atmosphere drop by several degrees.
The surroundings were silent, save for the crackling of the burning braziers and torches.
Astrid did not dare to be careless.
She had already quietly infused Mana into her unique Amethyst Magic Greatsword, scanning her surroundings with a tense expression.
Although she had been told that the Dream Eater had lost most of its strength and was only a High Rank capable of using the Dream Law, Astrid still could not afford to underestimate it.
After all, she was only a High Rank herself, and she had been stuck at that rank for a long time!
She couldn’t even use the Elements yet!
Suddenly, Astrid felt a sense of urgency. She instinctively looked toward her rear flank.
Thump!
A scrawny Takin with hollow eyes stood there.
When it realized Astrid was looking, its silent, creeping footsteps paused for a moment before it exploded with full force.
In that instant, it seemed as though infinite potential had been ignited within the scrawny Takin.
It shot toward Astrid like an arrow, its face distorted and its expression terrifying!
Astrid was startled. Without a moment’s hesitation, she flickered to the side.
The Takin that had come to ambush her was neither angry nor frustrated. It simply braked, and without taking a moment to adjust, it shot toward Astrid once more.
Astrid instinctively wanted to use her sharp Amethyst Magic Greatsword to cut the incoming enemy in two.
However, she realized this scrawny Takin was someone she had met a few days ago.
She immediately withdrew the Mana she was infusing and dodged to the side again.
But this time, Astrid was clearly not so lucky!
Just as Astrid landed and stabilized herself, an angry roar suddenly erupted from inside a house with tightly closed doors.
“Roar — !”
With a loud crash, the wooden door behind her was smashed to pieces.
A young Takin, several times stronger than the small one before her, attacked Astrid with clear intent.
Astrid thought to herself that things were looking grim.
Although she had already instinctively leaped to the side, she was still within the enemy’s attack range!
Astrid hastily channeled Mana into the sea-blue gem gripped between the guards.
A faint blue light coalesced. Clearly, this magic shield was rushed and fragile! But it was enough to buy her time to escape!
“Ah — !”
Realizing that a controlled Takin could be anywhere, Astrid no longer dared to stay in the densely packed residential area.
She immediately sprinted toward the open plaza in the center of the village.
At that moment, a pale gray mist quietly condensed behind a detached building.
His form was now complete, no longer possessing the ethereal quality from before!
Seeing Astrid heading toward the center of the village, the figure made of gray mist revealed two rows of ghastly teeth in a grin.
His body dissipated, turning back into a cloud of mist to follow her.
……
The color drained from Astrid’s face as she watched more and more Takins gather around her.
Fortunately, her inherent flexibility was excellent.
After being cornered in the plaza, she was able to handle the assaults of the controlled Takins with ease.
But this was not a solution!
‘I can’t just stay here and take hits passively! I need to go regroup with Lance first!’
She had been under siege for two minutes, yet there was no movement from Lance’s side! ‘Is it possible he fell into a Dream again?’
‘At the very least, I have to get him out of here!’
Purple light suddenly flared from the magic circuits on the two Ring-shaped Spaulders on Astrid’s shoulders.
It was as if two giant hands made of wind appeared behind her, lifting her as she charged forward.
The Takins in her path were blown aside by the powerful wind. Astrid was about to break through the encirclement!
However, the gray-white mist surged. As if summoned by the wind Astrid had released, wisps of mist were drawn in, suddenly blocking her vision.
The Elf Girl was startled, but she did not hesitate. With a swipe of her left hand, she summoned the remaining Purification Talisman from a Spatial Rift.
Throwing it forward, Astrid immediately retreated from the wind’s control zone.
At the same time, she manipulated the wind to carry the mist further away!
The moment the Purification Talisman touched the gray-white mist, it released a surge of energy.
Astrid thought that even if it didn’t defeat the attacking Specter, it would at least severely wound it!
Ding — !
Once the light faded, Astrid looked toward the wind.
She found the area empty, with only a gust of wind continuing to swirl with thatch from the rooftops.
‘Wait, where did he go?’
While Astrid’s gaze was fixed ahead, a pair of gray-white hands had already quietly materialized, preparing to climb onto her shoulders…