Chapter 93: Bite Marks
A figure lay sprawled across a half-toppled tombstone, unmoving. Hua Mi maneuvered the scout bees closer, narrowing the distance until a familiar purple robe caught their sight.
"Clark?!"
No way. Hua Mi's heart skipped a beat, directing the bees to get a better view. Sure enough, it was him. At this moment, Clark's head and arms drooped lifelessly, devoid of any vitality.
In fact, through the sensory sharing of the scout bees, there was no trace of his heartbeat or breath.
He's dead… Just yesterday, he was joking around with him, and now, he's gone. It's surreal.
Hua Mi pondered, what kind of danger could have led him to this? It seemed bizarre. As an observer, his perception was exceptional. He could even see through Alyss's space-distorting magic with the naked eye. Normally, he should handle most situations easily.
Typically, he'd notice impending danger too.
However, with great perception comes consequences, especially in such an unpredictable environment.
"Halt." Hua Mi commanded the flying vessel.
A swarm of bees poured out of his sleeve, rushing towards the body below.
The mist seemed non-toxic; the scout bees had navigated it for a while without any repercussions. The swarm cradled Clark's body, suspended near the vessel.
"There's a wound on his neck," Hillar keenly observed.
Hua Mi controlled the swarm, slightly adjusting the body, revealing two round-shaped punctures.
An attack that even an observer couldn't evade must have come from a powerful creature.
Looking at his pale skin, seemingly drained of blood, yet with minimal traces around the wounds, it resembled the description of a vampire in books.
However, vampires, as undead creatures cursed by the abyss, were rare.
"Are there vampires in the Black Forest…?" Carter started, then suddenly remembered something. "Right, I remember there was a vampire suppressed beneath the Black Castle ruins, that unicorn…"
The three exchanged glances. Hua Mi knew what they were thinking and calmly said, "The unicorn survived, only lost its horn. As long as it's there, the vampire can't emerge. Theoretically."
But would the broken horn weaken it, affecting the vampire's impact on the outside world? He couldn't say. Plus, he hadn't been to the Black Castle ruins since then. Changes might have occurred.
There were two choices now: investigate the ruins or venture deeper into the graveyard. It wouldn't be wise to rashly enter if there truly was a vampire here. Even if it wasn't, the danger that could kill an observer had to be handled cautiously.
Hua Mi manipulated the swarm to place Clark on the ship, contemplating their next move. Then, Hillar spoke up, "Maybe we can ask her."
Hua Mi followed her gaze. In the distance, among the hazy tombstones, a translucent milky-white figure floated, resembling a faded human from the waist up, almost merging with the mist below.
"I hate ghosts," Col grumbled.
Carter steered the ship in that direction. Passing a tree, Col suddenly leaped onto a sturdy branch, perching atop it like a monkey, completely at ease.
Carter stabilized the swaying vessel, frowning at him.
Col, unfazed, said, "I'm waiting here for you guys."
Hillar retorted, "It's a ghost, not a malevolent spirit. It won't attack. No need to be afraid."
Col defended, "I'm not scared; I just don't like the smell around ghosts."
Shaking his head, Carter continued steering towards the apparition. The ghost appeared as a demure lady, with flowing hair and elaborate attire that didn't resemble modern fashion.
Noticing the approaching vessel, she darted away like a shy neighbor's girl, disappearing amidst the fog.
"We scared her," Hillar remarked. "Let's go slower this time."
Carter manipulated the ship to approach gradually. When they were at a considerable distance, he stopped, so as not to spook her again.
The ghost hid behind a tree, resembling a timid neighbor.
"Don't be afraid; we won't harm you," Hillar addressed her. "What's your name?"
"We must stop them… quickly…" The ghost's voice was ethereal, close yet distant.
"Stop who?" Hillar immediately inquired. "What's happening here?"
"Stop them… please…!"
At that moment, a red streak, akin to a snake hiding in the mist, leaped from behind the tree.
The ghost shrieked, turning into an indistinct glow and fled.
Chase ensued.
Both vanished in the thick fog.
"What… just happened?" Carter pondered. "It seems someone is capturing the ghosts here."
"Capturing… ghosts? For what purpose?" Hillar questioned.
"I don't know, but if I were to guess, they're probably trying to utilize the remnants of undead power here."
The flying vessel retraced its path.
The beast-man agilely leaped back onto the ship, nonchalantly whistling to alleviate the tense atmosphere.
Hillar glanced at him, "Everyone faces death; why are you afraid of becoming something you'll eventually turn into?"
"I said I dislike the smell around ghosts." Col corrected himself, sitting back, chatting, "I fear neither heaven nor earth. Ghosts or even malevolent spirits are not a concern…"
At that moment, Hua Mi raised an eyebrow, noticing a slight movement in the fingers of the body on the ship.
Then—
"Urgh…"
The supposedly deceased stargazer emitted a weak groan and tremulously lifted a hand.
"Ah!!!" Col's eyes widened instantly, his seat abandoned as he toppled backward from the ship.
Bang!
With a muffled thud upon landing, the mist momentarily dispersed around the spot, then quickly filled in, engulfing Col's figure.
Faking death on the ship, Col fell off.
For a moment, the three on the vessel didn't know whom to attend to first.
Clark had opened his eyes by now, seeing Hua Mi nearby, weakly apologizing, "Sorry, I missed our appointment… ran into a bit of trouble."
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