The night was serene, as if one were to play a serenade, the tranquility would only deepen.
But suddenly, a roar shattered the peace.
"Roar!——" It came from the distant mountains.
The roar turned into an invisible wave, traversing the expanse of space and directly affecting the town.
The townspeople felt as though the roar was right next to their ears, as if their eardrums were continuously buzzing, and countless illusions swirled before their eyes. It seemed as though innumerable demons were biting and tearing at them.
Unable to withstand the sudden hallucinations, some people collapsed, losing control of their bodily functions.
Some fortunate ones simply fainted, while a few devout individuals trembled, clutching a tattered Bible, dripping with sweat, fervently praying to their Lord.
Others knelt, begging for mercy, some even surrendering to the demons, offering their souls.
The full spectrum of human reactions was laid bare by this roar.
In the castle, several people, preparing to rest, were caught off guard by the sudden sound. For a moment, they were paralyzed, stunned by the shock. Fortunately, they were not mere townsfolk, and they quickly snapped back to reality, breaking free from the illusions.
To their relief, the effects of the sound were limited, causing minimal disruption to them.
Once the sound ceased, their tense bodies relaxed, though they still felt a chill, an uncomfortable sensation. When they touched their clothes, they discovered they were soaked in sweat.
"What an incredible sound!" Penelope exclaimed, having never heard such a powerful roar before.
Nicole nodded in agreement, still shaken.
Anna was horrified, her heart nearly leaping from her chest. Even though the sound had faded, she could not calm herself.
She knew the demon atop the mountain was formidable, and its terrifying legacy had instilled in her the fear of facing it directly. The sudden roar only intensified her sense of helplessness and despair.
Among the group, Anna was the most affected, her reaction the most intense. Zhao Lun and Mulan felt little impact, aside from the loudness of the sound. To them, its effect was minimal.
Still, neither of them felt entirely at ease. They furrowed their brows, deep in thought, before exchanging a glance.
"This roar is not simple."
"I know."
"I think it has already assessed our situation."
"…" Mulan remained silent, nodding to confirm Zhao Lun's suspicion.
The roar served not only as a deterrent, but also as a means of reconnaissance. Much like the echolocation of bats, the sound waves reflected back, providing the demon with a rough understanding of its surroundings.
When the sound arrived, both of them felt as though they were being watched, their secrets being exposed. They immediately blocked out the intrusion, though it was too late to prevent the demon from probing others' secrets.
"It found me!"
"It found me! Quick! Kill me!" Frankenstein shouted in terror, his speech incoherent, his movements frantic as he knocked over some furniture.
"All binding!" Zhao Lun ordered, displeased, binding Frankenstein in an instant.
Bang! Frankenstein collapsed to the ground, staring blankly at Zhao Lun's wand before finally calming down. The magic contact with Zhao Lun's magic had quelled his panic.
"Don't worry! It can't take you!" Zhao Lun assured him.
His confident words immediately reassured Frankenstein, bringing him a sense of calm.
"It's late. Time to rest." Zhao Lun said, then left, heading to the room Anna had prepared for him.
The events of the day—flying bloodthirsty creatures, werewolves, and now the roar—had disrupted the peaceful town.
Looking at the time, it was indeed late. Only two hours remained until dawn, so resting while they could was the wisest course.
The next morning, the town was eerily silent. Many houses were still, with no smoke rising from the chimneys. The usually bustling town was unusually quiet and oppressive.
After breakfast, Zhao Lun and his group resumed their mission from the previous day.
The weather was fine, yet when they stepped out, they encountered no one. As they left the town, they saw people peering cautiously through the gaps in the wooden wall.
When the townspeople noticed them, they scurried away like frightened rabbits, too terrified to look.
"They're utterly terrified!" Anna remarked.
After last night's events, it seemed as though the demons no longer played with their prey, but instead sought to destroy them entirely, ushering in their own demise. The thought nearly broke Anna.
Now, however, the townspeople had gathered enough courage to observe them, indicating they had recovered somewhat.
"Terrified? I don't think so." Nicole said.
"The demon's actions last night were the most vicious and unique in centuries." Anna remarked.
"Unique?" Nicole asked, puzzled.
The demon's power had caused minimal casualties, apart from a hapless soul digging outside. This was the least damaging event in centuries.
They quickly left the town and set off toward the demon's nest. Perhaps the demon's morale had been shaken, for the weather was unusually clear, with no clouds in sight. If this continued, it might provide a slight advantage in the upcoming battle.
Eager to seize this opportunity, they quickened their pace.
By midday, they finally arrived at the demon's lair—Count Dracula's castle.
A force field surrounded the nest. Upon entering, the bright weather outside vanished, replaced by thick, oppressive clouds.
Along with the clouds came a biting cold, as though they had entered the depths of winter. No one could endure such a harsh environment for long.
Dracula, a creature that thrives in darkness, used the clouds to block out the sunlight. Even during the day, it created a night-like atmosphere, enhancing his power.
A perfect home-field advantage for Dracula, weakening his enemies while strengthening himself.
The castle was vast, shrouded in darkness. Approaching the entrance felt like stepping into the mouth of a colossal beast.
"Ah! What a sweet and delicious meal!" A golden-haired vampire said, licking its lips as it moved stealthily, its voice dripping with pleasure.
"Incredible! Even better than the blood of the princess of Vilaris!" it added.
"Ah! Ha ha!" A sharp laugh echoed as another black-haired vampire flew over, sniffing the air.
"Alyna! There's more than one delicious meal! Over here!"
"Ah! I can already taste it, the exquisite flavor within this tender body!"
Perhaps in their base, these two vampires, who had suffered setbacks in the town, were now emboldened and ready to strike once more.