Female-like, bony wraiths — ones similar to La Filosa but with varying heights and physical features — screamed hysterically in unholy voices as they were dragged out of the settlement, forced to witness the gruesome aftermath of the one-sided war.

They seemed to wail in utter sorrow at the dismemberment.

Some were in chains, others were merely dragged by their wrists, shoulders dislocating due to the sheer force of the warrior wraiths.

"Scum!" Daru roared in fury as he proceeded to charge.

However, before he could take more than two steps, he was pulled back by multiple bony hands.

The sudden leash sobered him up a little, allowing him to realize that he had unknowingly let his guard down around the Damnedlings.

Was he about to pay for his inexperience?

Fortunately, it seemed that there truly was no need to be on guard, as the wretches didn't do anything aside from preventing him from rushing to what could be called his certain demise.

The level fifty-five leader also landed a meter in front of him, a desperate expression on its face as it repeatedly crossed its arms.

Daru took a deep breath to calm himself.

He had indeed been rash.

"I'm fine now, please release me," he requested, more or less trusting the Damnedlings now.

Seemingly understanding that he had indeed recollected himself, the leader of the abomination army nodded, and the Damnedlings who were holding him back released their grip, reluctantly returning to their resting spots under the command of the level fifty-five.

Daru found their concern about his well-being strange.

However, he could also deduce that they probably need something from him, and perhaps it was only he who could do it.

This was the most reasonable explanation Daru could come up with.

But then again, he might be wrong.

He shall continue travelling behind the army for safety's sake.

The abominations might be friendly and protective right now.

However, who could say for sure that they wouldn't turn hostile once they reach their destination?

Another possibility was that they would make him their offering for some heretical ritual.

From everything he saw in this god-forsaken, ashen realm, such a thing wasn't impossible.

In any case, they probably wouldn't be attacking him right now, at least.

Daru got back to observing the scourges in the Ashen Plain take the female wraiths with them back to the misty forest with a heavy scowl on his face.

'I'll kill those bastards if I get the chance…' he vowed under his breath, not noticing that murderous thoughts were swirling in his mind.

He was snapped out of his savage contemplation as he heard the familiar draggy footsteps of the Damnedlings.

The abomination army was now on the march again, and the leader was seemingly informing him as best as it could.

Daru allowed the Damnedlings to pass him and followed suit, falling into deep ponderment again a dozen minutes later.

He realized a few things.

First was that the one-sided war on the plains might be a regular occurrence, similar to Rocante's harrowing routine.

Otherwise, how could the Damnedlings know that the Ashen Plain was about to fall into chaos and slaughter?

It wasn't too difficult to deduce that the temporary rest was to let the wraith massacre pass.

They would've certainly been caught up in it if they hadn't stopped.

Arriving at the scene of slaughter, the scowl on Daru's face returned, though not to the same intensity as earlier.

He observed the gruesome dismemberment and decapitation with a heavy heart.

He also noticed that the Damnedlings didn't even spare the poor souls a glance, inwardly labeling them as heartless.

Inevitably, they left the plains, entering yet another expanse of dead trees, stone slabs, and endless ashes.

Daru could no longer hear the Howling River, and so his thoughts became clearer.

Only the gentle, draggy sifting of the powdery layer of the ground surface remained, along with the occasional unholy sounds made by the chatting abominations.

He wondered what they were saying.

Were they scheming?

If so, then was it about him, or another assault on the cemetery?

What was their reason for attacking, anyway?

'Ugh…my head hurts…'

Daru exhaled heavily and shook his head. He decided to stop thinking for now, opting to prepare himself for battle instead.

After all, he would be fighting a little over seventy abominations, perhaps more if it turns out that the Damnedlings were planning to harm him.

'Yes, that would be better than thinking too much…'

Just as Daru was in the process of adjusting his mental state from ponderment to vigilance, another ruined settlement came into view, but they didn't enter, instead tracing the walls and walking to the left, further away from the Howling River.

With another deep breath, he was ready.

'Come if you will, wretches…'

But then, his resolve was dampened by a change in the surroundings.

The stone slabs and the ashen ground remained.

However, the trees deeper in the forest…they were alive.

They were of a monochrome hue like the world, but they had healthy leaves, and those leaves swayed with the chilly winds.

Daru was fascinated.

How could such evergreens…evergrays, in this case, thrive in such a hopeless surface?

His wonder about this matter didn't last for long, as, soon, something more fascinating happened.

The Damnedlings, upon entering the periphery of the strangely healthy forest, began transforming…

Their wretched forms were suddenly covered by a dull white glow.

Then, stepping out of these glows were humanoid creatures of various races, a majority of them humans.

There was also a Veshari among them, greatly surprising Daru.

As for the level fifty-five Damnedling, he was the last to step inside the mystical boundary, morphing into the form of a short but rather muscular male human with cherry blossom hair, who was also a few years older than him.

"Aihh…at last…" the guy spoke.

Daru's mouth opened, but no words came out. It wasn't only the Damnedlings' appearances that changed.

Their nameplates, too.

The levels, for one, were gone.

==

Ascalon

HP: 3,500 / 3,500

==

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