Chapter 983 Witch Hunt: Start
Souta turned to Alice, his expression grave.
"Be careful! Eilish will teleport us soon. This place is about to become a battlefield.
"
Alice nodded solemnly, having also received the information and understanding the gravity of the situation.
The Witch Hunt.
In this deadly game, they were all compelled to fight and kill until they amassed 100 points to wield the holy stake. Those who reached this threshold would have the power to destroy the black sun, thereby ending the game.
However, Souta sensed something different.
While the information in his system quest was detailed, the knowledge conveyed by the descending Dream Power only outlined the rules of the game and the consequences of failure. It did not disclose that the force capable of destroying the realm was none other than Sanaamon the Purity.
The power was more potent than he had anticipated. It was unheard of for external forces to implant information into his mind, let alone the minds of everyone present. The involvement of Sanaamon the Purity indicated a far-reaching problem, likely linked to the events of centuries ago—the downfall of Morgan Le Fay.
"Souta, regarding the Witch Hunt... Should we consider leaving?
" Alice asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.
"We can't. This is a forced summoning. Those who received the invitation are being brought here against their will,
" Souta explained.
The only entities capable of resisting such a summons were likely those of godly stature.
Reflecting on it now, the barrier, layered with Dream Power, bore striking similarities to the All-Filter Barrier Formation. Morgan Le Fay's connection to the Isolated Formation God seemed increasingly apparent.
"Hmm...
"
There were rewards awaiting the victors of the game, though the specifics remained unknown. However, the sheer density of Dream Power surrounding the notion hinted at its extraordinary value. Dream Power of such magnitude was exceedingly rare in reality, making the reward all the more enticing.
Souta paused as more information flooded into his mind, undoubtedly originating from the Dream Power, disseminating to all present in the venue.
There were rewards awaiting the victors of the game, though the specifics remained unknown. However, the sheer density of Dream Power surrounding the notion hinted at its extraordinary value. Dream Power of such magnitude was exceedingly rare in reality, making the reward all the more enticing.
Boom!!
The ground trembled as a brilliant light erupted. Souta swiftly positioned himself in front of Alice and Amanda, shielding them as another surge of energy descended upon them.
Reacting swiftly, Eilish from afar enveloped Souta, Alice, and Amanda in her energy, conjuring magic circles beneath their feet.
They found themselves being teleported away from the chaotic scene by Eilish, as per their prearranged plan.
Ohm!!
Alice's surroundings suddenly shifted, and when she regained her bearings, she was back in their room. Looking around, she spotted Eilish, who was on the floor, visibly exhausted and sweating profusely.
Concern etched on her face, Alice quickly inquired,
"What happened? Where's Souta and Amanda?
"
Eilish struggled to catch her breath before responding,
"Something went wrong. The Dream Power was much stronger than anticipated. It didn't just affect us; it pulled everyone into different places.
"
Alice fell silent, absorbing the gravity of the situation. She took a deep breath to steady herself, then scanned the room before asking,
"Did you receive the same information?
"
Eilish nodded wearily.
"Yes, the Witch Hunt. The witches are going to verify if this is real or not.
"
The barrier isolating the Walpurgis Night from the outside world was highly unique, akin to the All-Filter Barrier Formation, suffused with Dream Power that permeated the entire Dream Realm. This barrier not only blocked most sensory and clairvoyant abilities but also posed a formidable challenge to breach.
"If they confirm the validity of the Witch Hunt, a significant battle is inevitable. We must prepare ourselves,
" Alice asserted.
Eilish, deep in thought, posed a crucial question,
"Do you remember all the faces that attended the banquet?
"
"Yes,
" Alice affirmed, nodding.
"Those faces represent potential adversaries. We must exercise caution if we encounter them.
"
Opening the door and stepping outside the room, Alice was met with a startling sight. The landscape on the balcony had undergone a drastic transformation.
"What is this?
" she muttered, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Eilish followed behind and beheld the same sight. The landscape was now dominated by towering infrastructure reaching heights of thousands of kilometers, veiled beneath a dense layer of white clouds suspended in the sky.
"This is unlike anything we've seen here before,
" Eilish remarked, her tone filled with awe.
Suddenly, a small skull materialized before Alice and Eilish, constructed from swirling Dream Power.
"Hmm, what is this?
" Eilish pondered aloud.
The small skull's mouth creaked open, and a series of words materialized in the air before them.
On the other side...
Souta stood atop a towering building, observing the small skull as it projected rows of letters into the air.
It was the names of the people that received invitation.
"Oh? He's here! I didn't expect him to be in this place at all! Does he know some witches?
" Souta mused to himself, recognizing a few familiar names among those listed as receiving invitations.
Surveying the area, he noted the expanse of towering buildings and a distant boundary formed of dense Dream Power. Below, bewildered individuals roamed the streets, their confusion palpable. Judging by their energy and aura, most appeared to be ordinary people.
He descended from the building, sensing a disturbance nearby. As he turned his head, a ray of light streaked towards him.
Swoosh!
In an instant, the light landed on a nearby building before ricocheting into the sky.
Souta landed gracefully on the ground, observing the peculiar display. He noted the abundance of Dream Power saturating the area.
"Hmm... This place is covered in Dream Power,
" he remarked to himself, tapping the ground lightly with his foot.
Turning towards the source of the disturbance, he spotted a man with long black hair perched atop a nearby building, gazing down at him with a blank expression.
"My name is Lagius. I'm designed to eliminate all the participants in this game,
" Lagius stated calmly before springing into action.
Boom!
Souta grinned as he leaped aside, swiftly flicking his finger. A thin, sharp web shot forth like a whip.
Bang!
The ordinary bystanders watched in confusion as the situation escalated rapidly. A battle had erupted seemingly out of nowhere, with two individuals locked in combat in the midst of their surroundings.
Moments earlier, they had been going about their lives peacefully. Then, without warning, the influx of Dream Power had flooded their minds with information. Suddenly, they found themselves transported to this unfamiliar location, unwitting participants in a deadly game.
Swoosh!
Souta leaped from building to building, evading Lagius's pursuit. He extended his hand, grasping the edge of a structure as he observed Lagius closing in. Just as Lagius neared him, Souta leaped away, launching sharp webs in his direction.
Boom!
Lagius collided with the building, causing an explosion that billowed smoke through the area. Emerging from the debris, Lagius fixed his gaze on Souta.
Souta raised an intrigued eyebrow, recognizing a significant detail. He grinned, remarking,
"You... You're not human. Your energy and aura are different—similar to that of a golem.
"
"Kill,
" Lagius responded bluntly, raising his hand and firing several rays of light.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Souta chuckled as he evaded the attacks with nimble movements. Turning to Lagius, he confirmed,
"I'm certain now. You're not human; you're a golem.
"
...
Somewhere within the Walpurgis Night, a woman with fiery red hair stood amidst a collection of corpses. Deliberately, she raised her foot and brought it down upon one of the lifeless heads, causing its brain matter to splatter across the floor.
This was Red Mist, a witch aligned with the Gluttony Army.
"Ha-ha-ha! Excellent! Magnificent!
" Red Mist's laughter echoed with a manic fervor. The unfolding Witch Hunt game was a boon for her, perfectly aligning with her goal to obliterate the Walpurgis Night. It was a scenario beyond her wildest dreams.
To her, it didn't matter who had orchestrated this Witch Hunt. All that mattered was the imminent destruction of this place.
As her laughter rang out, the temperature in the room began to climb, flames igniting beneath her feet. In mere moments, the corpses around her began to liquefy, filling the room with a sickeningly sweet stench of burning flesh.
Seconds passed, and the corpses vanished into oblivion, leaving no trace behind. Not even ashes remained, as every remnant of their bodies was utterly obliterated.
Red Mist turned on her heel and exhaled, a stream of smoke escaping her lips. Sensing a shift in her consciousness, she realized she had garnered points for slaying these witches.
Without a second glance, she strode forward and exited the room, displaying no outward sign of the carnage she had wrought. Whether or not she gained points was inconsequential; all that mattered was that she had struck a blow against the witches.
"It's beginning. They'll soon realize their fate is sealed. This stronghold they've guarded for centuries will crumble,
" she muttered to herself as she traversed the hallway, steeling herself for the slaughter that lay ahead.
From this moment forth, she would unleash a merciless massacre upon all the witches she encountered.