Lord of Mysterious Wizard

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Ghoul and Trap

Messer City, suburbs, outside Georgeway Village.

Tang Qi slightly lowered his head, hurriedly walking under the dim moonlight, with eerie woods on both sides, those thick, densely leafed trees that might look lovely during the day but seemed ominous at night, as if monstrous creatures could leap out at any moment.

Especially towards the direction he was heading, straight ahead where a grayish, cold, moist mist spread, revealing only vaguely seen patches of pitch-black woods and a series of gentle slopes, where tombstone-like objects scattered across slopesides, road sides, and some hollows.

In fact, these were indeed tombstones.

Georgeway Village was built by the first generation of pioneers and gold miners, naturally becoming the resting place for the first batch of the dead.

But as the Messer Cemetery later came into use, this place had long ceased to host new guests. Living residents had also moved away one after another, thus turning it desolate, visited only by homeless wanderers, solitary elderly folks, and some young thrill-seekers, basically, those courting death.

...

Especially at such a time.

Tang Qi came here to test and experience his new abilities.

In the city, the number of abnormalities might be higher, even more powerful, serving as stronger fuel, but obviously, it wasn’t good for Tang Qi to fully unleash himself; certain methods were not advisable to use, but here, he didn’t have so many reservations.

Soon, Tang Qi stepped into the messy cemetery, with most tombstones merely block-shaped steles embedded in the ground; only a few lavish ones used several more stones. However, these brave souls of the first generation mostly left no descendants to tend and lay flowers at their resting places.

Occasionally one could spot some withered fresh flowers.

About ten minutes after walking, Tang Qi saw a small wooden house, already abandoned, probably once lived in by the Tomb Guardian.

He didn’t go in, merely glanced inside through the broken window. The owner had left in such a hurry that many belongings were still there; even the bed had a pillow and quilt, albeit all moulded and rotten, and on the disorderly floor lay a shovel and a small iron pot containing black clumps, possibly potatoes.

“This place will do, I hope it’s not too terrifying, I really dislike horror movies.”

Tang Qi made a cold joke to himself, then turned his gaze to the back of his left hand.

Buzz!

A burst of thought touched it.

The familiar scene reappeared – the Curse Mark slowly emerged, ominous breath began to drift away. Letting his arm hang, Tang Qi allowed the Omen Breath to spread, making his rounds around the wooden house, surveying the terrain while quietly timing himself; last time in Newton District, he had made a significant blunder.

He had grossly underestimated the power of misfortune, attracting too much “abnormality” – if it wasn’t for the appearance of Serland’s Dual Blade Man, Tang Qi would have definitely faced being overwhelmed.

This time, Tang Qi strictly controlled the time.

One minute!

Soon, the time was up.

Tang Qi’s mind spread out, wanting to shut off the mark.

But right then, a sudden strange noise came from behind.

Behind?

Inside the wooden house?

Tang Qi quickly shut off the mark, his body tightening as he swiftly turned around. His gaze pierced through the broken window, instantly spotting the source of the noise.

The floor of the wooden house suddenly shattered, black earth turned over, a hunched, aged figure crawled out from underground. Its clothes were long rotted, and the skin all over its body was shriveled, clinging tightly to the bones with a rubber-like feel; its hair half decayed, still hanging on the skull.

Under the moonlight, Tang Qi saw it had a face like a dog, hooved feet, a pair of sharp claws, greenish eyes staring back at him, emitting a fine, dense cry-like sound that was unsettling and nauseating.

“Is this… a Ghoul?”

As Tang Qi spoke to himself, a faint ghost light converged, rapidly forming an image in his eyes.

[Extraordinary Artifact: Ghoul.]

[State: Hungry.]

[Information Fragment One: It is so ugly and disgusting, making people uneasy and repulsive. Who could have imagined that it was once a member of humanity, a respected Tomb Guardian, until the day it completely abandoned its dignity and finally consumed its first bite of expired human flesh?]

[Information Fragment Two: Due to the decline of Georgeway, it has been in a state of hunger for decades. With the return of the Spiritual Tide, it has regained some strength and is currently preparing to move.]

As the Information Fragments flowed, Tang Qi’s pupils suddenly contracted.

If I remember correctly, aren’t Ghouls supposed to be social creatures?

Following Tang Qi’s thought, centered around the wooden house, those surrounding graveyards, or simply the open grounds, suddenly erupted with “bang~bang bang” sounds. The dirt splashed as humanoid monsters crawled out from the ground, looking exactly like the Tomb Guardian Ghoul that was currently struggling to break through the wooden house, trying to pounce on Tang Qi.

Pairs of greasy green eyes quickly surrounded Tang Qi.

Moreover, in this area, various odd noises and strange figures were rapidly approaching from all directions.

Whoosh!

In the air, the repulsive aroma became increasingly intense.

The hairs on the back of Tang Qi’s neck stood on end, a sign of impending danger.

The “Abnormal ones,” lured by the Curse Mark aura, finally hurried over.

The most anxious, undoubtedly, was the Tomb Guardian Ghoul in front of him.

The first feast should be its own.

No, it should own it all.

Just as the Tomb Guardian Ghoul was calculating which part of Tang Qi’s body to devour first, it did not notice his lips slightly curling upwards, muttering, “Although it looks disgusting, it should suffice as a trap.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Qi abruptly stepped forward and took the initiative to open the door of the wooden house, walking inside before the stale smell could waft out.

“Ah~”

“Don’t, help me.”

“Get away from me, you damn monster.”

…

Hearing the sound of the “feast starting”, the rest of the Ghouls that had just emerged from the soil hurried over, their movements akin to those of the notoriously repulsive, loathsome packs of hyenas of Saha Continent feasting together.

But as their rubber-covered brains crowded in front of the dilapidated wooden house, what they saw was a drooling, confused comrade, while the “feast” had disappeared without a trace. Starving for decades, their brains were nearly non-existent, so they made no inference about the scene before them.

They acted instinctively, sensing the incredibly tempting aroma still lingering in their comrade’s body.

Comrade, what is that?

Is it edible?

The answer is, yes.

“Wu~”

“Wu wu”

Precise cries rose one after another. Under the moonlight, in front of the dilapidated wooden house, Ghouls scrambled to get inside. Their stinking mouths wide open, encompassing nearly all parts of the Tomb Guardian Ghoul.

And from around the land, various monsters drifted over, equally eager.

The feast was about to begin.