When Lito followed Ventus to the place where the sound came from, she was surprised to find that there was nothing there, only the flames she had just released flickering in the air.
Lito's palm was still tingling. She had just rushed out of the living room of Ventus's house and ran to this secluded corner. This was the backyard behind Ventus's house. It was fenced with some rough stones and separated the backyard from the outside world. The backyard was empty except for some dust.
In such a short time, what could disappear without a trace? It was only ten seconds.
Lito stood in the backyard and looked around. The stone houses here were not dense and were separated by a certain distance. She could clearly see the stone wall of the village not far away. That was the barrier that the villagers used to defend against enemies. She could also see that some people were busy and moved the leather walls that had just arrived to the top of the wall to add a layer of protection.
She jumped over the fence of the backyard and landed on the fine sand. She looked around the backyard. It was very clean and there was no mess.
Ventus squinted his eyes and scanned the surroundings with his sharp eyes. He suddenly found something wrong.
"Lito, look over there." Ventus said in a low voice. He pointed lightly to the window where the leather had been burned.
Lito looked in his direction and saw that there was still a trace of fire there. It seemed that the fire bounced out from there and finally accidentally bounced onto someone's body in the backyard. Was that person eavesdropping on their conversation?
Lito's heart moved. She quickly walked to the window and tried to find out who it was. She walked on the sand and left a clear footprint every step she took. Her feet were bare in the air. But she soon found a problem. She only saw her own footprints on the sand, but the footprints of the eavesdropper were gone.
This was too strange. Lito looked back at Ventus and he was also looking at her with a puzzled look. She shook her head and indicated that she had not found any clues.
Ventus continued to say, "Did you see it too? But I have to tell you first that I hardly ever stepped into this backyard." Ventus said, his eyes flickered for a moment and Lito caught his subtle expression change.
Who was it? Was it a ghost who could climb silently to the high window and spy on what was going on inside?
Lito walked to the bottom of the window and found some strange things there. She bent down and looked carefully. She saw some burnt pieces with hair scattered on the ground.
Lito felt they were disgusting and didn't pick them up but just glanced at them with her eyes. But she found an important clue that the pungent stench came from these pieces.
"If it's nothing serious, let's forget it… Lord Lito." Ventus said and then put his hands behind his back with an indifferent look.
Lito stood up and looked at Ventus. She caught a hint of hesitation in his eyes. Was Ventus hiding something from me? She thought to herself.
But just as Lito was thinking, an urgent male voice appeared at Ventus's door. "Master! Something happened!" The voice knocked for a while and found no one answered so he hurried to this side of the backyard.
This man with messy black hair looked panicked. He ran to Ventus's front and just as he wanted to speak he saw Lito standing next to him listening too. He didn't know if he should say it or not.
Lito turned around and went back outside the yard.
"Speak." Ventus squinted his eyes, his hands behind his back, his chest straightened and stared at the man seriously.
The man looked at Ventus and then looked at Lito. Lito stood next to Ventus.
The man finally stopped his eyes on Ventus's face.
"That… one of our leather walls is gone!" The man said anxiously. He knew how important this matter was for the whole village.
Ventus thought for a while and said, "How did it disappear?"
"I don't know… Kazan and CrehAnn and Erin were in charge of transporting that leather wall but then they ran into the desert later. When they came back only Kazan and CrehAnn were left. They said Erin went crazy! She took the leather wall and ran away… Although it doesn't matter to us whether Erin is dead or alive, what about the leather wall? Without it, there's a gap. The sandstorm…" The man kept talking and Ventus interrupted him.
"Fine, you can go." Ventus squeezed a few words out of his mouth. The man was incredulous. When Ventus heard that the leather wall was gone, he didn't even change his expression. Didn't he worry about the sandstorm?
But based on his fear of the old man in front of him, he still ran away without looking back.
After a while, Ventus finally spoke. "Sigh… it's this kind of thing again." Ventus sighed. He seemed to be used to this kind of trouble.
Then he turned around and looked at Lito. "Lord Lito… there's something I need to tell you." His tone was heavy.
Soon Ventus took Lito back to his house. After returning to the living room, Ventus sat back on the sofa by himself. His eyes showed a trace of worry.
Ventus cleared his throat and then lowered his voice. "Lord Lito… can you tell that I'm the leader of this village?" Lito looked into Ventus's eyes and then combined what she had seen so far. She nodded to Ventus. She felt that Ventus had a high prestige and influence here.
"But… recently there have been some undercurrents in the whole village…" He paused. "What I mean is that someone is trying to break my jurisdiction." Ventus said with a hint of helplessness in his voice.
He came to this village not long ago. At that time, the atmosphere in the village was very bad and even scattered. Because Adras village was in a very remote location, in the corner of the north of the white plain.
Facing the Solaltus Brevmontes mountain range not far away and behind it was an endless and lifeless stone beach. The nearest big city Albapetra, the great city of mankind, was also about 50 kilometers away. Except for refugees or prisoners who were exiled here, few people would come to this place voluntarily.
Speaking of this, Ventus pulled open the inside of his robe and showed Lito a seal. Ventus said that this was the seal of Fith Ticket town. The pattern on it was a needle with a thread through it that strung together the river pattern on the bottom. This seal represented the glory and faith of Fith Ticket town. He paused and continued to say that he had traveled more than 500 kilometers from Fith Ticket town to here.
He said he came here only because he was driven out of Fith Ticket town for violating a taboo. After that he traveled around until he arrived at this Adras village. Only this village would not reject him or drive him away.
Lito looked at Ventus with curiosity. She wanted to know what taboo he had violated.
"Ventus!" A young female voice came from the door, like a sharp knife cutting through the silent air. Before Lito and Ventus could react, she pushed open the door and rushed into the living room.
The woman in front of her wore a black leather armor that looked a bit loose with some metal ornaments and buttons on it. Her hair was golden like Lito's but slightly curly and tied behind her head exposing her forehead and ears. Her skin looked pale and dry as if lacking the moisture of life.
Her deep blue eyes frowned and looked very anxious. She walked quickly with her long sword hanging at her waist making a clanging sound. Lito looked at the sword which looked very gorgeous and out of place in this broken village. There was a double hammer emblem carved on the blade and a red gem embedded on the hilt. That was a weapon for killing not a decoration.
"Who is this?" The woman saw Lito this stranger sitting next to Ventus on the sandstone sofa and asked. There was a hint of alertness in her tone.
Lito stood up and looked at the woman who looked older than her about 23 years old. She had some freckles and burn marks on her face.
Seeing Lito staring at her she smiled awkwardly "My name is Bell… Hello!.." and stretched out her right hand to Lito. She tried to show friendliness and politeness but it seemed very reluctant.
Lito stared at the woman in front of her. She found that there were some unnatural emotions hidden in those eyes. Was it fear? Was it anger? Or something deeper? She couldn't tell. She only felt that those eyes were like a distorted mirror, reflecting her own uneasiness. And this woman named Bell could only see endless emptiness in Lito's eyes. She felt a suffocation as if she was oppressed by an invisible force.
Lito didn't respond to her. Bell awkwardly withdrew her hand. Ventus pretended to cough and then said, "This is the Old God… What's wrong, Bell?"
Just as Bell was immersed in the embarrassment just now, Ventus reminded her and she almost forgot what she came to do.
Old God…
But the current situation was more important. Bell continued to say.
"CrehAnn set the craftsman's shop on fire with a blast of flame! This useless thing!! There were probably… probably about 20 leather walls inside the shop." Bell said, getting nervous and pacing back and forth. "Damn it! It's too late to start over now."
Hearing this, Ventus suddenly started coughing violently. This time it didn't seem like a fake. It was as if he wanted to cough out his lungs. He saw his chest bulge and a faint blue light began to emerge.
"Ventus… CrehAnn has been restrained. You go and see him quickly. If you don't go… I'm afraid the villagers will lose control…" Bell anxiously walked towards Ventus and grabbed his arm.
Bell only felt that Ventus's hand was very cold like a corpse. She felt a fear in her heart and didn't know what was wrong with Ventus.
"Lito! Please! You go with Bell and take a look." Ventus said and then screamed in pain. He sweated profusely from his forehead and saliva came out of his mouth. The bulge followed Ventus's heartbeat and flashed blue light.
He didn't expect Lito to help him but Bell pulled Lito's arm and took her out of the door running towards the craftsman's shop.
Ventus saw them leave and smiled faintly with his teeth clenched.
…
They ran for nearly ten minutes in that direction. The sky was covered by the shadow of the sandstorm and it was pitch black. The wind howled and the sand stung their skin.
"Almost there! We're almost there!" Bell urged breathlessly. Her voice was almost drowned out by the wind and sand.
Lito followed Bell closely. The two of them shuttled through the narrow alleys. Bell felt that her physical strength had reached its limit but she couldn't stop.
Just then Lito felt a strange feeling surge up in her heart. She quickly pushed Bell's back making her lean forward.
Bell looked back in horror and saw a black flash like a blade slashing at her face. It was a short sword very sharp and shining with cold light.
She had no time to react and felt herself being pulled up by a powerful force. Her body lost gravity and flew in the air. She opened her arms subconsciously trying to grab something.
Lito agilely caught Bell and held her. She jumped hard and instantly leaped onto the roof of a towering stone house nearby. Her movements were like a cheetah's, full of speed and strength.
Lito felt Bell's heartbeat speed up and she was too nervous to breathe. Bell couldn't believe that she had just escaped a disaster and didn't know how Lito did it.
Lito put Bell aside and then stared hard at a certain place on the street. Bell sorted out her clothes and also looked at the direction that Lito was staring at.
It seemed that something vague appeared in a dark alley and then a short and small cat-like person appeared at the entrance of the alley. He laughed while shaking the short sword in his hand. It seemed that he was the one who attacked Bell just now.
"Hehe… didn't expect it!" The cat-like person stuttered while shaking his long whiskers. His ears were sharp like two blades and could catch any faint sound. His nose was sharp and could track any subtle smell.
"Marcia Claws! You! How come it's you! How did you manage to get into the village!" Bell shouted angrily and nervously at the Marcia Claws below. She seemed to know this Marcia Claws. She quickly pulled out the long sword hanging at her waist. The blade flashed with cold light and was very sharp.
The Marcia Claws's mouth curled up slightly with a confident and provocative smile. He walked out of the shadow and showed his full appearance. His purple eyes sparkled with cunning light. He wore a worn-out leather armor with some metal pieces and buttons sewn on it. It looked both rough and dangerous.
"Of course I killed all the people who blocked me… killed them, come down… come down, I won't kill you." The Marcia Claws shook his bloody short sword in his hand crossed his arms and looked up at Bell and Lito. He saw Bell's trembling hand and thought it was funny. "Weren't you very brave? How… how? Are you scared?"
"Get lost!" Bell yelled "Or don't blame me for being rude." She gripped the hilt of her sword ready to rush down at any time.
Lito glanced at Bell and found that she was not trembling because of fear but excitement.
In this narrow alley there were three-story houses built of sandstone on both sides. Some pots were placed on some roofs and on the side of the road. There was no one in the alley only some wind-blown sand…
When Bell blinked suddenly Marcia Claws disappeared from her sight. She turned her head nervously and looked at Lito. Lito was waiting for something with interest.
Bell felt a sense of danger and subconsciously looked forward. A rapid clatter sound like bare feet stepping on stones came from under her feet getting closer and closer.
Bell reacted and exclaimed "He's coming!" And quickly retreated back.
Lito didn't react at all but just turned her head slightly staring at the Marcia Claws hiding in the shadows running up the wall under her feet.
Marcia Claws saw that Lito was still standing on the roof without moving. He grinned and said "Are you waiting for death? You flame woman! You are not worthy of the power of the flame god… the power of the god! You are just a hypocritical and weak fake god! I will let you know what true shadow is!" He said and sped up running towards them.
His sword flashed with shadow and his figure appeared and disappeared in the shadow of the house and the gray sand.
"Be careful!" Bell saw that Lito was stunned in place and blocked in front of Lito with her sword. Sparks flew as the two blades collided making Bell's ears ache.
"Pah" The Marcia Claws spat and retreated a few steps. "You iron girl are really… really nosy! Do you think you can protect her? Do you think you can stop me? Do you think you can block my attack? You are wrong! You are just… just an ignorant and stupid human! You don't understand the power of shadow! You don't understand the fear of shadow! Forget it… forget it anyway killing you will make General Fith happy!" The Marcia Claws sneered and said a series of incomprehensible underground language angrily grinding his teeth. He disappeared into the darkness again.
Bell felt a chill. She knew that the Marcia Claws wouldn't let them go so easily. He must have some sinister plan. She looked around nervously trying to find the trace of the Marcia Claws.
"Where is he?" Bell asked in a low voice. She hoped that Lito could give her some hints or help.
Lito didn't answer. She just stood there quietly as if nothing had happened. Her eyes were empty and indifferent without any emotion or expression.
Bell felt a trace of disappointment and fear. She didn't understand why Lito was like this. Didn't she care about her life? Didn't she want to fight against the Marcia Claws? Had she given up?
Bell shook her head and dispelled her doubts and fears. She told herself that she couldn't rely on Lito. She had to protect herself. She believed in her sword and wisdom. She believed that she could defeat the Marcia Claws.
Just then Bell heard a sharp roar from behind her. She turned around subconsciously and saw the Marcia Claws diving down from the air with his sword shining with black light stabbing at her back.
Bell screamed and quickly raised her sword to block the Marcia Claws's attack. But she was still a step late. The Marcia Claws's sword had cut through her leather armor and skin blood flowing from the wound.
Bell felt a sharp pain and couldn't help but moan. She pushed away the Marcia Claws and retreated a few steps. She covered the wound with her hand trying to stop the bleeding.
The Marcia Claws laughed loudly "Look at you! You are so weak! You are so… so powerless! You are not worthy to fight with me! You are not worthy to stand with the flame woman! You are just a pitiful and ridiculous… ridiculous bug! I will let you know what despair is!" He then said a series of incomprehensible underground language angrily grinding his teeth and rushed towards Bell again.
Bell clenched her teeth and waved her sword to resist the Marcia Claws's attack. But she had already lost balance and strength. She could only barely block a few attacks from the Marcia Claws. The Marcia Claws became more and more fierce. He used various moves such as stabbing slashing chopping lifting sweeping poking tearing pulling hooking cutting etc to attack Bell's various parts making her unable to resist.
Bell felt a sense of despair. She knew that she had no chance of winning. She knew that she was going to die soon. She looked at Lito unwillingly hoping that she would help. But she was disappointed Lito still didn't make any move. She was still indifferent.
Bell felt that her body had reached its limit. She waved her sword desperately trying to resist the Marcia Claws's crazy attack. Her clothes and skin were cut by the Marcia Claws's claws and short sword blood staining her golden hair. Her eyes were full of despair and fear. She knew that she had no chance. She could only hope that Lito could escape and survive.
The Marcia Claws was merciless. He mocked Bell's powerless resistance. He enjoyed Bell's pain and begging. He wanted to completely destroy Bell's body and mind. He let her know how weak and pitiful she was. He pushed away Bell's long sword and then leaped up waving his short sword stabbing at Bell's heart. His eyes sparkled with cruelty and ecstasy. He felt that he had won.
"Enough…" At this moment, a low and flat voice sounded. It was Lito's voice. She slowly said two words, but made everyone feel an irresistible pressure. It was a pressure that transcended life and death and power. It was a pressure that came from the depths of the soul.
The Marcia Claws's movement suddenly stopped. He felt like he was being choked by an invisible hand. He couldn't breathe, move, or think. He could only look at Lito's indifferent and deep eyes. Those eyes were like two black holes that devoured his will and soul.
Bell also looked at Lito in shock. She couldn't believe her ears and eyes. She had never heard Lito speak on the way. And Lito wouldn't answer her with words when she spoke to her. She would either nod or shake her head. She had also never seen Lito's expression like this. She felt a powerful and mysterious force emanating from Lito's body. It was a force that surpassed common sense and imagination. She didn't know who Lito was or what Lito wanted to do. She only knew that at this moment, Lito was not like an old god, but like a real god, a god that no one could match.
…
Ventus was healing at home. His chest was engraved with several mysterious tattoos that looked like branches extending on his skin. Those tattoos flickered with blue light from time to time, making Ventus feel a burst of pain. He endured the pain and tried to restore his state to the best.
However, just as he was about to stand up, a deafening voice sounded in his mind: "Enough!" This voice was like a towering wall that blocked Ventus's thoughts completely. Ventus felt an invisible force pressing on his body, making him unable to move.
"What is this?" Ventus asked in horror, twisting his body but unable to break free from that force. Then he widened his eyes as if he understood something.
At the same time, Lito walked slowly towards Marcia Claws. The Marcia Claws was an assassin with sharp claws and agile skills. He had escaped from death countless times. But facing Lito, he felt an unprecedented fear.
Lito stood in front of the Marcia Claws and stretched out a hand as if to catch a bird easily grasping the Marcia Claws's head.
The Marcia Claws felt a severe headache as if he saw all his memories and thoughts being torn apart by Lito bit by bit. He struggled desperately but couldn't get rid of Lito's palm.
Lito ignored the Marcia Claws's screams and lifted his head to be level with her eyes. She was about to say something but at this moment the Marcia Claws used up his last strength and broke free from Lito's fingers. He kicked his feet on Lito's chest and jumped to Lito's back.
"Damn thing… what is this!" The Marcia Claws looked at Lito in horror then covered his head and waved his short sword disappearing into the darkness and ran quickly in another direction.
Lito didn't have any other reaction but walked straight towards the Marcia Claws's current location.
The Marcia Claws was stunned… What? Did she see him? He waited for Lito to get closer to him then realized the truth. He found that all the tricks and props he had used just now were a stupid joke for Lito. His short sword which could make him hide in the dark was easily cracked by Lito.
Lito sneered her speed was amazing in the blink of an eye she had already appeared in front of the Marcia Claws.
The Marcia Claws widened his eyes he couldn't react at all and felt a huge force hitting his body accompanied by a breaking sound the sand in the air was blown away by the impact. He flew out like a meteor kicked by Lito with one foot. His body pierced through the roof breaking the
sandstone into countless pieces. His blood splashed across the sky and his scream echoed in the air.
He finally fell heavily into a corner of the alley.
"How does it feel?" Lito appeared beside him like a death god looking down at him coldly her eyes showing a trace of disdain and mockery. She squatted down lightly and put her cruel mouth close to his ear and said in a voice that made people shudder.
"Pain…" The Marcia Claws let out a miserable moan his body was torn open by countless bloody wounds blood flowed from his body staining the sand pile below. At the same time Bell who fell on the other side of the roof also made the same sound.
Lito frowned. She put her mouth on his ear and bit hard tearing off his ear and put her mouth to his earhole.
"Who are you?" Lito asked again in a low voice her voice full of killing intent and threat.
"I am Keh Crus… Crus Marcia Claws of the Carlet underground city." The Marcia Claws named Crus answered with a trembling and unclear voice his voice revealing fear and despair.
"Why are you looking for me?" Lito continued to ask she clearly knew that this Marcia Claws was the one who hid in Ventus's backyard and eavesdropped on her conversation with Bell.
"Because of General Fith…" When Crus said this his head suddenly exploded and black smoke came out brain and blood splashed on Lito.
Lito licked her mouth and tore off the bandage stained with blood and flesh revealing the horrible wounds on her body layer after layer of burn scars. Then she threw the bandage covered with blood and flesh to the side.
It seems that this creature's endurance is very low. It is really an inferior creature Lito unconsciously thought.
"Over here!.." A series of unfamiliar voices sounded from Lito's ear. How come people came out in extreme weather? Did they have any purpose?
Lito grabbed Crus's corpse before they found her quickly climbed up the wall and quickly crossed over to the roof where Bell was.
Bell was dying her pupils had begun to dilate.