The voice was cold, cold to the very soul. A normal person hearing it would be so frightened that they would lose their composure, trembling uncontrollably like a helpless little rabbit before a beast king, awaiting their fate.
However, before him stood nothing but monsters, beings that resembled humans but were not. They were not the mutated werewolf kind, either, but the servants of this castle. They stood completely still, lifeless as if drained of all vitality.
The chant was not yet over when, with a sudden swoosh, a "man" appeared in the middle of the scene.
This figure was dressed in a finely tailored tailcoat, looking both handsome and pristine. His movements, steps, voice, and gestures seemed to embody the most perfect and ancient aristocracy, each motion reflecting the grace of nobility.
But in the next moment, his actions were far from noble. He walked along the walls with his feet, displaying a madcap demeanor.
Alongside his madness were three beautiful women, dressed in strikingly flamboyant attire. Their thin garments were so translucent that they seemed almost like a tease, giving off an alluring aura.
The three women held goblets of wine, took a sip, and immediately discarded them.
"This blood has soured!"
"I am tired of the blood of these peasants! I crave noble sustenance!"
"Ah! It seems something delicious is coming!"
The three women sniffed in the direction of the town, as if they had caught the scent of an unparalleled feast, their tone shifting.
With one final screech, they took to the air, vanishing into the depths of the castle.
The town had already fallen into darkness.
It was a pitch-black night, and except for a faint light in Anna's house, every other home had no lanterns lit.
Lighting a lamp at night could attract the demons lurking in the darkness. People feared becoming the demons' prey, so almost every household remained in complete darkness.
After a day of cleaning, tonight felt quieter than usual.
The wolves' howls, which had often echoed at night, were absent this evening. Even from the deep mountains afar, there were no wolf calls.
In the living room, torches flickered, and the table was laden with a bountiful feast to reward their actions today.
The group had hearty appetites and were not bothered by the one that had slipped through their grasp. Instead, they were filled with optimism for tomorrow.
As for the one that escaped, it was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. When they next visited the castle, they would easily dispose of it.
"I thought we might catch some game, but unfortunately, nothing worth hunting showed up," they discussed over dinner, not focusing on today's battle but on trivial hunting matters.
This area, being part of a cold mountainous region, had harsher weather. Aside from a few cold-resistant birds seen around noon, no other animals had appeared.
The chilly weather kept most creatures at bay, and the danger in the area instinctively made them steer clear of it.
Aside from the weather, the dangers in this region caused sensitive animals to avoid it, explaining why they had no luck with hunting.
"The only animals around the town are werewolves and the vampires on the mountain," one commented.
"Beyond this range, we might find some game."
"If we're lucky, we might even catch those foolish enough to die for food."
"Man dies for wealth, birds die for food. If no food is found outside, some animals might risk everything to seek it here. With patience and good fortune, we should return with something," another added.
"Not now. It's not feasible in the short term," came the reply.
"It's getting late, and tomorrow's business is more important."
Dinner didn't take long, and after a brief discussion about their plans for tomorrow, they decided to rest.
The next day, the sky was overcast, the air thick with the icy scent of earth. The sun seemed absent, the atmosphere heavy and stifling, making one uneasy.
"Damn it! The weather's changing!"
Zhao Lun sighed, glancing at the sky and sniffing, confirming his worry.
They needed the sunlight to weaken the forces of darkness, but now it seemed that rain was on the way, which would be a significant disadvantage for their plans.
A gust of wind swept through.
Whoosh—
The rain came suddenly, pouring heavily. In mere moments, the world was drowned in darkness, the only sound the relentless drumming of raindrops.
The rain quickly gathered, flooding the ground, and soon the water reached their ankles. Mud stuck to their shoes, making it difficult to walk. Thankfully, they were wearing sealed boots, or else it would have been terribly uncomfortable.
They trudged through the wet grass and, at a certain point, decided to seek shelter from the rain.
They came across a ruined building, its unfinished timber still scattered about.
"What's this?" Nicole asked.
"A monster's home! It was burned down by the angry townspeople!" Anna replied.
"Burned alive!" Nicole exclaimed, shocked. Such an act seemed too cruel to be believed in this day and age.
"The one who was burned alive was a monster, a demonic vampire used to create more evil creatures!" Anna explained what she knew.
Zhao Lun, Penelo, and Mulan didn't speak, merely listening and observing the ruins. After hearing the story, they relaxed a bit. The townspeople weren't as barbaric as they'd feared, and this could be tolerated.
However, sheltering from the rain here didn't seem easy.
"This place is not simple!"
"Look! It seems like someone comes and goes often!"
"Here, there are marks, and over there, a large footprint!"
Zhao Lun pointed at some unburned wooden planks. Between the planks, several faint footprints were visible. These marks quickly faded under the falling rain, and it seemed the traces would soon be washed away.
"Hmm, seems so. Could the monster still be alive?"
Nicole mused, reaching for her hammer and knocking around some suspicious areas.
Boom! Bang! The unburned planks creaked and, with a loud crash, revealed a large hole.
They peered inside, finding a dark cave five meters deep, reflecting a faint glow. With sharp vision, they could make out what seemed like a larger underground chamber. In perfect unison, they pulled a rope, and swiftly descended.
Inside, it was pitch black, but Zhao Lun produced a flashlight, placing it on a high spot to illuminate the cave.
In the cave, there was a pool of water, and a newly made path led deeper. Near it, signs of activity were visible, along with some crude, inedible food and a Bible.
The pungent smell of blood suggested the presence of humans. It was likely the "burned" monster had lived here.
Faintly, they heard heartbeat-like thuds and heavy breathing.
"Be careful! There's someone here!"
Boom! A towering, giant-like monster lunged at them.
Draw your weapons! A flash of light struck the incoming foe, knocking the monster to the ground.
The creature fell, its face splitting open, sparks of unstable electricity crackling from its body.
"Oh my God! It's Frankenstein's monster! He's still alive!"
Anna gasped in horror, calling out the monster's name.
"Monster? You're the monster! Ah! Why! I haven't done anything wrong... I just want to live..."
"Why won't you leave me alone after I've hidden here?"
"Ahhh——"
The fallen creature, resembling an innocent child, lay on the ground, crying out in anger, its resentment immense and unparalleled.
Nicole and Penelo were startled by the sight, while Mulan took a brief glance but didn't give it much thought. Anna, however, raised her gun, ready to send him to hell.
(Continued...)