Ethereal Ascendance: A Journey of Transformation(Vol 4)

Vol 4/ Chapter 137: Clearing the Scene

Various monsters had gathered by the Sun Lake shore, including flightless minotaurs, lizard-men, vampires, and some winged demons and dimwitted drakes whose names I couldn't place.

Though from different races, they were likely the elites of their respective groups, exceptionally powerful.

We saw less than ten of them presently, probably just a small portion secretly entering Parristol. According to intel, they were mostly 5th rank and above - a gathering of elites with sinister intentions.

Some patrolled around the lake, others sat around a campfire roasting some animal carcasses. Clearly on little guard, providing ideal conditions for my strike.

A minotaur raised its skewer, sniffed the meat, then took a few bites before spitting it all out.

"Yuck! The meat on this continent is so distasteful, with that numbing flavor. Probably only humans can stomach it!"

"You'll just have to make do!" A lizard-man opposite him waved helplessly with a sigh.

"After all, this isn't the Dark Continent. We've been lurking around Parristol over a month now, depleting all our rations with no other food source. I don't know why Lady Michelle insisted on sending us to this godforsaken place, having to pilfer scraps in humiliation day after day. Fortunately, these bitter days are finally ending soon."

"Haha, that's right! Lady Mirium told us we can return home and marry after finishing this last job!"

The minotaur laughed heartily, then half-jokingly warned his companion:

"But don't let her hear you saying that now, or she might punish me too by assigning extra missions - that'd be disastrous!"

"Hmph, to use Kurnel's words, you're just 'singing a rotten tree song'. Be careful it doesn't become a curse!"

The lizard-man chugged his bottle, belched, then furrowed his brow curiously.

"Speaking of extra missions, I heard a few days ago Kurnel's entire squad went missing during an assignment. The Dark Council has issued investigation orders on our end - you think he's dead?"

"Who cares about him! That short-sighted fool could mistake angels and humans. He probably barged into some True Church's nest!"

The minotaur waved dismissively, raising the bottle in a boisterous cheer:

"To victory!"

"You're right, to vict-"

The lizard-man echoed the boisterous motion, but his eyes bulged in disbelief when he saw his companion.

The minotaur opposite him had been cleaved cleanly in half from head to toe, blood spurting out in a shower.

"Damn it, who's attacking by stealth! Could it be..."

Smashing his bottle down, the lizard-man leapt up, realizing something was amiss as he glared upwards at me.

"I already took one down before you noticed me?"

I couldn't help but chuckle - these drunken monsters seemed to have severely dulled senses, not even detecting me flying overhead immediately. Without hesitation, I dropped down with the force of my sword cleaving towards him.

"An angel! Everyone, prepare to engage!"

The lizard-man bellowed a warning to his companions while dodging sideways from my descending blade.

Of course I anticipated his evasion, not panicking when my strike missed. My left hand immediately flung three prepared purification orbs at him.

At such close range, he couldn't react in time as all three orbs struck home, instantly paralyzing him on the ground. I swiftly followed up with a fatal strike.