Chapter 111: Showdown in the Mist
“You’re saying this thing is the kind of weapon that can split mountains and crack the earth?”
After listening to the Ice Witch's brief introduction, Elena widened her eyes and said angrily, "Didn't they think about what would happen if this thing exploded in Fran's stomach?"
The worm's body next to her couldn't help but tremble.
"The ones that explode on impact are experimental products from the lab," Agatha said, rummaging through the iron box and spreading out a package of copper tubes in front of her. "Unless these things are inserted into the explosive container, they won't react to ordinary impacts or burns."
The other God's Punishment Witches immediately became interested. They had heard about the artillery drills from Phyllis, also known as Number 76, and had witnessed the First Army's battles against the demonic beasts after moving to the Western Region of Graycastle. They were no strangers to gunpowder weapons, but this was the first time they had come into such close contact with them.
"Is it really okay to put it in a fire? It made such a loud bang when it exploded, it should be very irritable usually, right?"
"It looks no different from a brick..."
"How do you use this? Will it explode immediately if you insert the copper tube?"
"Then who would dare to use it?"
Agatha also felt a headache. She only knew a rough principle of the firearms that His Majesty tinkered with, and she didn't know much better than her Taqila compatriots when it came to how to operate them specifically.
"The ones with red markings are ignition detonators, which must be ignited to take effect," Lightning suddenly interjected at this moment, as if she knew them like the back of her hand. "The blue ones are pull-type detonators, which only need to have the thin rope wrapped around them pulled out to trigger the explosive. There's also a type with yellow markings that can be detonated with electricity, but there doesn't seem to be any in this bag."
Agatha asked in surprise, "How do you know all this?"
"Because I'm an explorer!" The little girl touched her nose. "I basically go to the site to watch when the First Army trains and tests new weapons."
"So, should we bury these things at one end of the cave to blast a way out, or should we carry Fran while retreating and throwing explosives backwards?" Elena pondered. "If it can stop the enemy from chasing us, ten God's Punishment Witches should be able to carry Fran."
"It's okay to leave me here—"
"Don't say that!" Elena interrupted. "Although we are not afraid of sacrifice, we will not abandon our comrades at will. Don't forget Lady Eleanor's teachings."
"Every witch is equally important." The other survivors nodded in agreement.
"However... I'm afraid both methods won't work," Lightning muttered softly. "If they are placed at the entrance of the cave, such a narrow space would be enough to tear us to pieces even if only one package of explosives is ignited; but if it's changed to an open cave, its power will be much smaller." The little girl glanced at the shovels and spades on the ground. "This is probably a tool used by the First Army to blast caves or block passages. It's not a real weapon. If you rely on flames and air currents, it can probably kill demonic beasts within a ten-step radius."
The others couldn't help but fall silent. If they were dealing with ordinary beasts, the mere sound of the explosion would be enough to scare them away, but the demonic beast swarm was obviously summoned by the dome monster. If they weren't killed, they probably wouldn't retreat easily.
"Perhaps there is another way," Nightingale suddenly said. "That is to kill the leader of the enemy."
"You mean... the monster hanging from the top of the cave?" Elena frowned. "We can't fly."
"Even if you can fly, it's too dangerous!" Agatha said before Lightning could answer. "This is not a city wall defense battle. There is always someone behind to support you—it's not uncommon for flying species to appear among the mixed demonic beasts. If Lightning is carrying heavy objects, her speed and altitude will be severely reduced. Once she is besieged by the enemy, she may not even have the chance to rush to the monster!"
"I'm not planning to let Lightning go," Nightingale said, word by word. "I will personally deliver this package of explosives into the monster's mouth—if it has a mouth."
"You?" Agatha was stunned. "Are you kidding me... you should know that the mist ability has no effect in front of the Magic Eye, right? As long as you see it, it will definitely see you."
"It can see me, but that doesn't mean those demonic beasts can see me. Even if it drives those demonic beasts to intercept me, I am confident that I can break through the encirclement," she paused. "Don't forget, the mist is not just a simple ability to hide."
"But..."
Just as Agatha was about to say something else, a noisy clicking sound suddenly came from the rock stratum, like countless cicadas eating tree leaves, or like the sound of sand grinding against each other.
The expressions of the others couldn't help but change. This sound was not unfamiliar to them.
"Damn it, they really used the Devouring Worm," Elena said with a solemn face. "The enemy is coming, prepare to fight!"
A worm carrier is not difficult to deal with, but once the hiding place is discovered, countless demonic beasts will rush towards this place through the worm's abdomen like a tide.
"Don't worry, no one is more suitable for this kind of thing than me. Before joining the Mutual Aid Society, my nickname spread throughout the northern region of the kingdom," Nightingale put four packages of explosives into her bag and tied them firmly to her back. "—At that time, they all called me the 'Shadow Assassin'."
"Wait..."
"Don't worry, I will take care of that ugly guy before the worm breaks through here."
Before Agatha could stop her, the other party had disappeared without a trace.
The last thing she saw was the other party's thumb pointing up.
...
In the black and white world, there is no up, down, left, or right. As long as Nightingale wants, any direction can become flat ground.
That feeling is like everything in the world is rotating around her.
After passing through the collapsed rubble, she went straight across the rock wall and headed towards the dome of the cave.
In that instant, the scene in her vision suddenly tilted ninety degrees. The monster that was originally hanging overhead became the target in front of her, the surging dark river seemed like a ribbon embedded in the mountain wall, and the wide underground lake also rose up, like a huge window.
She saw the monster, or rather, the monster saw her.
Nightingale did not avoid its gaze.
She stared at those star-like eyes and continued to accelerate her pace—the radiance emitted by the huge magic vortex was like a red moon, covering up the dense spiritual light around it.
This is definitely not a mixed demonic beast, she thought.
Even Anna is inferior in the face of this vast magic power.
For a moment, Nightingale felt that her consciousness was connected to the other party's thoughts.
It was an indescribable sense of chaos, completely unable to use language to parse its meaning, but there was no doubt that both the monster and herself revealed their naked killing intent to each other.
She grinned.
The monster also raised its tentacles.
With a muffled roar, the demonic beasts in the cave rushed towards her.