This eavesdropping townsperson told them everything.
After the Night Hunters church took complete control of the town, many people chose to stay indoors. This didn't guarantee they would be spared by the church, but luckily there were enough fools willing to provide manpower and even their eyes. The Night Hunters church didn't even need to specifically hunt down strong men. So, with a bit of luck, staying hidden wasn't difficult.
This eavesdropping townsperson, though starving and emaciated, had managed to survive for several years.
Now that the church had obtained the item they desired from the ruins, their demand for manpower decreased significantly. Based on their recent actions, they mostly needed eyes.
Those whose labor had some value were exploited until they were deemed useless, and then they were forced to give up their eyes.
After understanding all this, Nie Hong and Mithra thanked the townsperson and left, kindly blocking the broken door again with some old furniture.
"This isn't good, Mithra. He said those cultists rarely go out anymore. They're all gathered at the main church, performing some kind of ritual. Stealth might work, but if we encounter several knights, we're in trouble," Nie Hong said worriedly as they walked.
"Let's see if there's an easier way first. Don't rush. Besides, they're all gathered together. If we don't venture too deep into the town, moving around will be easier," Mithra replied.
Nie Hong felt that made sense, but seeing Mithra's determined back, he felt uneasy. "Mithra, there's no need to rush. Honestly, finding a pendant in a town is really hard, especially with the cult here."
Mithra didn't answer, simply continuing forward.
Nie Hong sighed but didn't push the matter. He quickened his pace to catch up.
...
The two casually searched several larger-looking houses in the town, ransacking them as if they were looting rather than searching.
Nie Hong felt a twinge of guilt, but it quickly disappeared.
It was quite enjoyable to rummage through these empty houses.
Unfortunately, many houses seemed to have been searched already. Many places that should have held items were empty, which was somewhat frustrating.
As a result, besides some worthless trinkets, they didn't find much.
As they searched, Nie Hong suddenly sensed a strange Ki on the street outside.
Naturally, if Nie Hong could sense it, Mithra could sense it even more clearly.
Dropping the empty drawer she was holding, Mithra turned to Nie Hong, "It's the Ki of cursed creatures."
Having dealt with cursed creatures so many times, Mithra immediately recognized the sense.
"It seems so. But why are they here? We closed the secret passage, and with the bear and wolf guarding it, ordinary cursed creatures shouldn't be able to pass," Nie Hong frowned.
He went to the window. In the moonlight, he quickly spotted several cursed creatures crawling on the street.
Suddenly, they heard a scream nearby.
Nie Hong quickly looked out and his eyes widened. "There are still people outside?!"
"It's a town. It's normal for there to be people outside," Mithra said, coming to his side.
"No, this isn't a normal town... This isn't the time to argue! It sounds like someone's being attacked!" Nie Hong pointed outside.
"Let's go take a look. Standing around is pointless," Mithra said calmly.
Nie Hong immediately reacted. "You're right!"
He jumped out of the window, landing on the roof. He rubbed his hands together for a few seconds, forming his pattern and activating Reinforce Body on his limbs.
Using Control Object to manipulate his clothes and adjust his posture, Nie Hong successfully performed a rooftop run, quickly heading towards the scream.
The scenery blurred past. Nie Hong quickly saw a group of people.
Townspeople, some corpses, and a spider monster covered in eyes!
Nie Hong remembered Mithra's words. Eyed cursed creatures were likely created by believers.
He landed, making no attempt to be stealthy. The spider monster's eyes turned to him.
Nie Hong suddenly felt his sense disappear!
A gust of wind hit him. Nie Hong, though startled, didn't panic. His Reinforce Body hadn't vanished. He quickly dodged the spider monster's lunge.
The spider monster relentlessly attacked with its limbs.
Nie Hong struggled to defend, getting hit and scratched, his clothes torn.
He regained his sense!
He quickly used Protection, creating distance from the spider monster. Then he raised his hands, one glowing white, the other red.
He punched as Protection vanished.
Boom!
Reinforce Body transformation, Shockwave Punch!
The monster staggered back, momentarily stunned by the white shockwave. Simultaneously, Nie Hong completed the Ki pattern and struck the monster with his palm.
Ki Absorption Hand!
The monster's Ki flowed into Nie Hong, and despite its attempts to resist, the patterned Ki Absorption Hand was incredibly effective. The monster's Ki, already weak as a transformed cursed creature, quickly depleted.
With its Ki gone, its movements stopped. Its bulging eyes withered, and it collapsed before Nie Hong.
Nie Hong gasped, relieved. He felt his Ki surge with the absorbed energy.
Although he couldn't fully absorb the stolen Ki yet, only retaining a portion before it dissipated, his Ki was currently incredibly powerful!
At that moment...
The intense feeling of being watched returned.
Nie Hong instantly lost his sense again!
And this time, because he had just used Shockwave Punch, his Reinforce Body hadn't recharged and was weakening.
Bang!
A powerful force struck him from behind, sending him flying. He rolled across the ground, blood trickling from a cut on his lip.
Another spider monster covered in eyes emerged from the shadows behind him and charged.
The nearby townspeople, who had barely had a moment of relief, were once again consumed by fear.
Swish!
A flash of red light. A creepy straight sword severed several of the spider monster's legs, stopping its advance.
Mithra quickly approached, her left hand retrieving the sword. Her right hand pulled another straight sword from her body. Wielding two swords, she swiftly severed the remaining limbs!
The spider monster was reduced to a grotesque ball of flesh, its severed limbs twitching.
All its eyes focused on Mithra, and she instantly lost her sense and her ability to activate miracles.
But...
She didn't need them!
She stabbed the two swords into the monster's largest eyes, twisting them and pinning the creature to the ground. As it shrieked, she drew two throwing knives from her arms.
Her hands blurred, a flurry of attacks targeting the monster's eyes!
Swish, swish, swish!
Whoosh!
After destroying all the eyes, Mithra twisted the knives again and yanked them out.
Blood and other fluids splattered, the force of her pull drawing graceful arcs of monster goo that shimmered in the moonlight.
Mithra wiped the knives on her clothes and stored them in her body.
The spider monster's brief sense-blocking ability dissipated.
Mithra tapped her forehead, replenishing Stabilize.
Ding.
"Good fight. Remember to stay alert next time," Mithra said, her back to the moon, looking at Nie Hong, who had just gotten up.
Nie Hong gulped. "Thanks..."
Mithra helped him up.
Then she pulled the two Night Worship Swords from the spider monster and, after wiping them, stored them back in her body.
Nie Hong winced. "There are people watching..." he whispered.
"Whatever. I just look like a normal person with some special abilities," Mithra replied casually, covered in monster goo.
She looked at the trembling townspeople.
Ugh, she'd have to calm them down again.