At the same time,
Old Piga returned to the land he had long profited from, riding in Connice's carriage.
Within his baronial estate, an air of desolation pervaded; bloodstains marred the floors, and the heads of his son and steward lay rotting beside the impoverished district.
Old Piga swiftly sought out other nobility of the Sea of Death. Upon seeing the old baron's return, the local nobles gathered with unrestrained joy!
"Finally back, Lord Piga! Are you here to settle the score with that outsider?"
"That swordsman, Sword, seems affected by the unusual lunar phase; he's not in prime condition, but he has nearly recovered!"
"Silence!" Old Piga barked.
He was in no mood for nostalgia; he was acutely aware of the dire state of the Sea of Death.
This period was largely characterized by the emergence of elite monsters, and if Chu Yan remained inside the castle, he could be lured out. If he was outside, that would be even more advantageous.
This active season of monsters presented an excellent pretext for erasing the death of a dragon descendant!
"I have enlisted the help of a powerful ally to deal with that boy. You must have been keeping an eye on the lord's movements; inform me immediately!"
...
...
"The concern over the siren not following is unfounded."
The creatures emerging from the Void Sea had their sights set on the nearby land from the moment they were born.
Damp, heavy footprints pressed upon the desolate shore, and a frenzied aura thickened with the sea breeze.
Amidst the ebb and flow of the tides, swarms of distorted sea monsters emerged upon the beach.
The siren's enchanting song persisted as she reclined atop the water vortex, her elongated fish tail shimmering with ominous, ethereal scales. Her upper body was voluptuous yet scantily clad, two shells covering the soft flesh above, obscuring her secrets.
Her beguiling form twisted fluidly atop the vortex, soaring through the air as though she were swimming in the depths of the sea.
The magical melody pulsed in rhythm with her movements.
"It appears this creature intends to come ashore, which is quite favorable. Shanaoya, have you been affected by her song?"
Chu Yan began to experience a slight illusion, the fierce visages of the seafood monsters fading into that of fishermen garbed in the attire of the impoverished district.
They appeared not as invaders but as unfortunate souls, desperately scrambling ashore after falling into the water.
If Chu Yan had more companions, amidst the chaos of battle, it would be challenging to discern friend from foe.
However, Chu Yan had no such abundance of allies, so there would be no confusion among them.
"I feel a slight influence; the monsters of the Sea of Death now resemble the civilians of my homeland, those who suffer at the hands of these creatures, pleading for my aid."
If Chu Yan were in her place, he might have found amusement in it, as if the monsters were deliberately transforming into more vengeful forms to deter him from striking.
But Shanaoya was not him, and beneath the Blood Moon, her many emotions were magnified and affected, lacking the detachment of an observer like Chu Yan.
"Shanaoya, they are no longer your nightmares; even your ancestral kin have become mere echoes of the past."
"Hmm..."
Seeing her respond, Chu Yan retrieved a corpse bomb, seeking a suitable position to clear the area.
Yet, as the chain reaction of explosions began to unfold, it hardly affected many, for a jet of water shot from the vortex, disrupting the chain reaction of magical energy.
The siren was intently observing Chu Yan's actions!
"I shall take over."
Shanaoya raised her arm, as the sword hilt in her palm manifested a blade of magic, its hue fading, the luminescent energy dimming to a deep darkness.
Amidst this decay of magical energy, the blade transformed into a pitch-black weapon, its profound obscurity nearly blinding, absorbing the ambient light around it.
Two magical circles swiftly materialized—one small, positioned before Shanaoya, and the other vast, hovering above the coastline.
The knight thrust her sword into the smaller magical circle, and from the enormous circle above the coast, a tremendous energy surged forth.
The agitated monsters recoiled from the wave of power, even the siren paused to gaze up at the surging might of magic overhead.
Almost instantaneously, a colossal black spear descended from the magical circle.
The coastline was pierced, creating a massive crater, with seawater rushing in, and the scattered remains of the monsters filling the void.
Blood dripped from the siren's lips, yet the ocean beneath her continually mended her wounds.
Chu Yan watched in astonishment, recognizing that such a large-scale strategic spell typically required an A-Class mage to chant for an extended duration.
Yet, Shanaoya had nearly bypassed the incantation, needing only to strike the small magical circle before her for the larger circle to unleash the appropriate assault, akin to consecutively casting strategic-level spells.
But relying solely on her would not suffice; the siren healed too rapidly, and after sustaining a blow, she'd likely conjure a water shield for defense.
It seemed they would require several forbidden ones to unleash a continuous barrage to subdue her.
"Prepare to mount; we must bring this creature to the outpost!"
Chu Yan urged, but Shanaoya remained in a daze, having just witnessed the visage of her deceased mother among the horde of monsters.
She recognized it as an illusion, clearly understanding that it was a psychological distortion induced by the siren's song, yet... those memories and thoughts crowded uncontrollably within her mind.
"Shanaoya, are you alright?"
At his call, the knight snapped back to reality, the spark in her beautiful eyes regaining a semblance of focus.
Chu Yan's face filled her view, his handsome features etched with concern—an unusual sight, as he appeared genuinely anxious about their predicament.
"I'm fine; I was just momentarily lost in thought..."
"Was it that the magical expenditure was too great?"
"A bit, but there's no need for concern."
Once they mounted together, the **Lightness Spell** was cast upon their steed, leading the pursuing elite monsters in a grand charge toward the outpost.
To be frank, if a siren was too much for Shanaoya to handle alone, the forces at the outpost may not be sufficient either.
Yet, in such times, one must trust in the power of righteousness, much like how predecessors often left their messes for future generations, euphemistically dubbed "trusting in the wisdom of the next generation."
In moments like this, it is essential to have faith in light and justice.
However, Chu Yan's route to attract the monsters took a somewhat circuitous path.
He needed to avoid Regalia City, as monsters are naturally drawn to the scent of gathered life; he had to maintain a considerable distance, lest they inadvertently charge toward the city.
After covering some ground, Chu Yan suddenly felt a fleeting disorientation, the hues of the environment darkening as if a filter had been applied.
It was the moon above!
Previously only tinged with red at its edges, he had unwittingly observed the blood-red hue entirely engulfing the moonlight.
In his arms, Shanaoya displayed no notable reaction; however, the enigmatic magic around her pulsed with greater clarity.
For the first time, Chu Yan witnessed the distinct form of forbidden magic.
"Fortunately, we are swift; had you continued to linger with the siren, we would surely have suffered, and now we must prioritize avoidance."
"Someone is ahead!"
Shanaoya's voice was sharp with alertness.
A thousand meters away, several figures stood, seemingly lying in wait.
Before Chu Yan could announce their presence, the leading nobleman shattered a crystal ball of ice.
In an instant, snow and ice descended upon them!
A formidable barrier of frost unfurled, obstructing their path behind.
Chu Yan frowned, glancing back at the pursuing siren, perplexed and troubled.
"Are these the Sea of Death nobility's reinforcements? This magical presence... why does it still carry the essence of the dragon descendant?"