Arcane Journey

5.Sudden Change

Faced with this strange and terrifying scene, Lucien felt his hands and feet trembling, his mind foggy. Thoughts about what to do or what not to do became a tangled mess. On the surface, Lucien was paralyzed with fear, completely unresponsive.

"The Holy Emblem, wait, I still have the Holy Emblem of Truth!"

In his panic, Lucien remembered his greatest reliance. Instinctively, he focused his mind, trying to chant the incantation to activate the first-rank divine spell "Holy Light Shield." No matter what, protecting himself was most important.

"Ha!" Suddenly, a thunderous shout echoed in Lucien's ear, causing his back to tense and his hair to stand on end. His panicked, chaotic thoughts abruptly halted.

"Light Spell." Gary's steady voice reached Lucien's ears. It was Gary who had shouted earlier, waking Lucien, Correa, and Hausen from their confusion and shock.

Gary's calm and composed demeanor affected Lucien, helping him regain at least some semblance of a reaction. Without thinking too much, he rubbed the Holy Emblem and softly uttered a strange syllable: "Gaye."

A ball of white light appeared in front of Lucien and the others, dispelling the deep darkness.

Lucien then saw a swarm of black rats. They were of normal size but had bright red eyes. They were gathered on the floor, walls, and some humanoid-shaped strange plants in a secret room, densely packed, making Lucien's scalp tingle.

As soon as the white light appeared, these rats, as if seeing their natural enemy, squeaked and surged towards Lucien, Gary, and the others like a tide.

As the red-eyed rats scattered, the layout of the secret room became clear to Lucien and the others. In one corner was a desk with three books emitting a strange dim light. In the center was a flat, wide table with various odd patterns painted on it—some red, some blue, some green. These patterns bore an inexplicable resemblance to the designs surrounding the cross of the "Holy Emblem of Truth," and on top of these patterns were small stoves, pots, glass bottles, and other objects.

Neither Lucien nor Gary had time to examine these details, as the frenzied rats, reeking and strange, were already upon them.

The silent Hausen and the sharp-tongued Correa, awakened by Gary's shout, skillfully held their swords and shields. They positioned themselves on either side of Gary, forming a simple battle formation.

Facing rats rather than bizarre monsters, Lucien, who was influenced by Gary's steadiness, gradually relaxed his tension. However, the sheer number of rats, coupled with their eerie nature, still caused his heart to palpitate.

The leading red-eyed rat leaped up, lunging at Lucien with its mouth wide open, revealing two long, sharp teeth.

Lucien, holding the Radiant Sword with one hand, hurriedly swung the sword of light towards the red-eyed rat.

The divine light sword, summoned by magic, was far sharper than an ordinary knight's sword. But in his haste, Lucien misjudged the rat's leap speed and odd movements. The sword of light merely grazed past it.

Where the red-eyed rat brushed against the sword, its black fur quickly scorched, and the burn spread into the flesh. But by then, the red-eyed rat was already in front of Lucien, its cold, indifferent red pupils glaring at him. The rotten stench from its mouth was faintly discernible.

Lucien panicked as the rat drew near, unsure whether to swing the sword back or extend his left hand to block. In his indecision, he almost dropped the Radiant Sword.

The red-eyed rat was about to bite his chest, and Lucien was utterly helpless, unable to react.

Suddenly, a cold, gleaming longsword appeared from the side, striking the rat's neck and slicing it in two.