"If we could eat bones, we'd be bursting at the seams by now."
Lurking in the dry bushes, Jared didn't forget to crack jokes.
They never made it across the plains. The reason for this can be seen in the sea of skeletons that lay before them.
Originally,they were still curious about why there were so few monsters in the Forest of the Dead. It was only when they came to this plain that they realized that almost all the monsters in the Forest of the Dead had gathered here. Are they here for the dinner party? Or are they having a party?
On the outskirts of the square, there were hundreds of skeleton soldiers holding weapons. At their side, the originally thin and small body of the bone dog was running nimbly and easily. Even if you look inside, there are many strange shapes that are enough to be exhibited in a monster icon. They covered the entire plain as if there was no limit to them. Tawana was huddled in the back, and Caroline was silent, leaning against Jared's side with little energy. Another full day had passed, and they hadn't found any food. Tawana's rat meat was down to a little bit of froth and tail. They had expected to find a rat's nest or something in the neighborhood, but the way things were going, it was more likely that the rat was the last of the family.
But it doesn't matter either way.
While water is the most important thing a person can have, it's not enough to go without food. Not to mention the fact that Jared and Caroline were constantly clearing obstacles along the way. The physical exertion was severe, and under the circumstances, any waste of energy would be horrific. Drinking water only solves the problem for a while, but it doesn't solve it completely.
(Jared ...?)
"... We have to rush through..."
Jared didn't hesitate, or rather, there was no way back.
"Well, at least it's better than wandering aimlessly through the wild woods. And the presence of these guys gives us some new ideas... anyway, they look like they're guarding or guarding someone or something... and I think that's a real bonus. At least there's a better chance of finding something here than anywhere else."
"But, Brother Jared, if there's nothing there ..."
Tawana said reluctantly .
"Then we'll all starve to death together, and at least before we die we should be able to find ourselves a comfortable grave to lie in."
Jared shrugged his shoulders, then reached out and summoned the twin blades of the Green Sky, he gazed at the army of the dead in front of him, while sighing inwardly. If this was really some kind of murder plot, then it was indeed too perfect. Even the most skillful person wouldn't be able to survive in a place with nothing but bones. The original inhabitants of the forest, either dry and thin skeleton or full of rotting flesh of the damn zombies, the former can not chew, the latter chewed the death of the faster. Throwing yourself in such a place is indeed like going to heaven and entering the earth. However, it's really too unwilling to die like this.
There's only one thing to try.
"That's right, Tawana."
Jared gently stroked the blade in his hand, as if recalling something.
"I remember you said ... you could use some spells right ."
"Well ..."
Tawana was too hungry to answer.
"Use it, we're going to charge through."
Jared gave the order without hesitation.
"I'll lead the way, Caroline will protect you. Any questions?"
"... What about Sister Kelly?"
Jared hesitated for a moment at the unexpected question. From the heart, he is not so want to get involved with that woman again, but now it is already a life and death gamble, if you lose, only death. If you win,..., he was silent, Caroline did not speak, but half closed her eyes and leaned against the trunk of the tree to rest. She didn't use her Tectonic Harmonization, but saved it for when she needed it most. So now the near-endless hunger and fatigue had swept through her body, leaving Caroline unable to do anything else. Although she would be restored as soon as she used her power, right now, she couldn't afford to waste a power that had a limited duration.
Seeing that Jared was lost in thought, Tawana timidly offered her advice.
"I think it's better to have a wizard around at this time. After all, wizards have higher attainments in ranged spells, and they're also more effective. I think ..."
"Uh-huh? Uh-huh? Uh-huh."
Jared froze, then snapped back to his senses. His body and brain seemed to be stagnating. That was a red flag.
"So, I'm going!"
Taking Jared's inexplicable muttering to himself as agreement with his own opinion, Tawana hurried happily toward the back.
Kelly's no better off than they are.
She didn't have Jared or Caroline's special ability to maintain her body's functions under extreme conditions, nor did she have at least a little bit of food to hold on to, unlike Tawana. In fact, the only thing that supported Kylie, who had been able to follow them up to this point, was her mental strength, which was not willing to admit defeat. Wizards were human, they couldn't eat nothing. Moreover, their need for food is even greater than that of normal people. Because magic requires the digestion of energy and stamina, it's only natural to replenish what is consumed. Even undead necromancers need to devour human souls, right?
At first, Kelly used her magic to keep herself warm and energized. But she soon realized that it was not worth the effort - the more mental energy she consumed, the hungrier she felt. There wasn't a blade of grass around her, so she couldn't even pull up a root to chew on. Moreover, even Caroline and the others had already reached the limit of their patience, not to mention this young lady magician who had been spoiled since childhood and had never experienced hunger and despair.
So by the time Tawana found her, Kylie was practically on the verge of fainting, and she didn't even have a way to hide her tracks-though there wasn't much to hide in a place where not even half a blade of grass grew.
"Sister Kelly? How are you doing? Are you okay? Are you okay?"
Tavana pushed at Kylie's body with some anxiety, luckily her body was still warm rather than cold, which at least proved that the owner was still alive.
"Woo ..."
Kylie was barely able to compose herself, and then she quickly noticed the tiny bit of skewer that Tawana was clutching in her hand.
"Give it to me!!!"
Perhaps it was the superhuman strength that people would always burst out in times of crisis, Kelly snatched the food from Tawana's hand, put it in her mouth and swallowed it into her stomach without even chewing it. But that didn't satisfy her, and she continued to stare at the almost stunned Tawana with wolf-like eyes." How much more is there, bring it all out for my lady! Hurry up!
"No, no ... no more."
Tawana couldn't stop backing away from Kelly's ferocious, hideous appearance, and she shook her hand, feeling as if she were dealing with a wild animal.
"This, this is the only ... How could you eat it!"
"Stop abetting!!! You little brat!!! What else do you have to eat! Hurry up and bring it out!!!"
"No more! No more! It's all you!!! It was mine! Mine!!!"
"Shut up, all of you."
Jared's voice appeared at Kelly's side along with the cold blade of his sword, while on the other side, Caroline used her thin sword to hold off Tawana, who was about to recklessly rush forward to fight with Kelly.
"Hoo... be normal, you two, already hungry and crazy?"
（Tawana, calm down! Take it easy! Do you still know who I am?)
"Ah ..."
It was only then that Kelly seemed to come to her senses, looking at her hands in amazement and recalling the madness she had just witnessed. Was that really herself? Why at that time, she would have such evil thoughts? She even wanted to kill this girl ...? No! It's not right. This isn't right, I'm not like this ...!
"All calm down!"
Jared said fiercely, knowing exactly what was happening. When hunger reaches its limit, human beings are irrational. Or rather, it's when instinctual desires completely overpower reason and turn people into blood-crazed beasts. Fortunately, he and Caroline had been through a similar experience, so they could barely tolerate and control it. But for these two girls, who had never known the evils of the world, and who had never had enough to eat, destroying their rationality was a simple matter.
（Tawana! Wake up! I don't want to do anything to you.)
"Sister Caroline ..."
Tawana's eyes changed back to their original state, and she looked at the scene now in the arena with surprise and unease. Jared had his sword at Kelly's neck, and Caroline was pointing it at herself. What had happened? Tawana had no recollection of what had happened, she felt fear, anger, and then her memory went haywire. What had happened to her?
"It seems true that we can't wait any longer."
Seeing that both sides had calmed down, Jared sighed and lowered his weapon. The situation had become very urgent, and it seemed that there was no other way out.
It's a gamble. And as an outlet for stress, otherwise the girls will probably go crazy instead of starving to death.
"You two, come here and hold Caroline's hand."
"Hands?"
Tawana looked strangely at Caroline's outstretched hand, and Kelly hesitated, but under Jared's strong, irresistible gaze, they hesitantly reached out and each took Caroline's hand. Instantly, they felt their physical fatigue disappear, and even the hunger that had been following them like a nightmare was gone. They were energized, and didn't even look like they had been starving for two days.
"What the hell is this ..."
"This will hold you for three hours, but that's the limit, after that time you will return to your original state. Don't try to touch Caroline again, there are limits to what she can do with this power." Jared didn't waste time explaining too much, in fact, now was not the time to explain. Every bit of time was precious, after all, there was no other way to cross the plains and enter the castle.
To live, or to die.
Sometimes, it's a problem.