Chapter 261: The Ancient Monster of Deathseeker Forest
'We were winning.'
Powerful spells exploded in the surroundings, setting some of the trees on fire.
'Why did you have to appear now?!'
A body crashed a few meters away from him, breaking him out of his daze.
The young lady had long blonde hair, and blood was seeping from the corner of her lips. It didn't take long for Cedric to recognize who she was.
"Lilian!" Cedric ran towards his sister and immediately used Recovery Magic on her.
"Recuperatio!"
Warm light descended upon Lilian's body, preventing her injuries from worsening.
As Cedric specialized in Light Magic, he was also able to use Recovery and Healing Magic, making him a very versatile Wizard.
After casting the spell, Recuperatio, a second time, Cedric gritted his teeth before raising his shield in front of him.
With sword in hand, he roared as he unleashed a barrage of Light Arrows at the Boss of the Deathseeker Forest.
However, the latter only chuckled at the young man's futile attempt as the Bronze Giant Snake shielded its body from Cedric's attack.
"Dammit!" Cedric cursed out loud.
He was about to unleash another spell when she noticed a young lady with short pink hair, standing in place as if rooted on the spot.
"Luna, run!" Cedric shouted. "Everyone retreat!"
Cedric's shout was booming, yet the angelic beauty seemed to have not heard of him as she stared in horror at the monster who had appeared in front of their group.
A faint chuckle echoed through the night as a vile creature that stood ten meters tall looked at Luna with great interest.
"N-No…" Luna trembling muttered as her whole body shuddered. "This can't be happening. Not again… No… Not again…"
The vile creature then turned into a black mist before reappearing a few meters away from the young lady, looking down at her with glowing red eyes.
"What a pleasant surprise…" the vile creature said. "There are so many Wizards and Witches with powerful bloodlines and Legacies. How wonderful!"
The creature looked at Luna, Cedric, and Lilian, with a greedy look on its malevolent face.
"Moon Magic," the vile creature said softly. "A Child of Light, and a Carrier of the Legacy of Rivers and Lakes. With this, I will become more powerful than ever. I thank you all for coming to my Domain."
"Worry not."
"All of you can consider meeting me your greatest honor. Your hearts, body, blood, and spirit, will all become part of me, allowing me to ascend to greater heights. Oh… how wonderful. Living here in this closed-off Domain for thousands of years has finally paid off."
The creature's evil chuckle reverberated inside the forest as it shifted its attention back to the angelic beauty, whose face was as pale as a candle.
"I'll eat you first," the vile creature stated. "Such young and tender flesh, I'll be sure to enjoy every part of you."
Tears started to fall from Luna's eyes as she tried to move her body, but a powerful magic was holding her in place.
Clearly, the vile creature had no intention of letting her go.
Her trauma from her past experience didn't help either. Although she could use one of the most powerful magics in the world, in the face of this monster, she was unable to lift a finger.
The Boss Monster of the Deathseeker Forest, who suddenly appeared while they were fighting against the Giant Bronze Snake, was none other than the creature that Nightfall Academy wanted to capture at all costs.
It was the Flesh Eater of the Forest, the Ancient Wendigo.
This Wendigo was far more powerful than the Wendigo that appeared at Brynhildr Academy.
Facing this monster, the fears that Luna had forcefully buried inside of her heart once again resurfaced, rendering her immobile and unable to resist the power of the creature that now controlled her will.
But just as the Wendigo was about to grab Luna, a Dwarf girl appeared in front of her and summoned Earth Spikes that jutted out of the ground, making the Wendigo take a step back.
"Sefarina!" Bridget shouted.
Several silver arrows streaked towards the Wendigo, which were boosted by the Wind Element, making them fly faster and hit harder.
The Ancient Wendigo covered its clawed hands with dark magic and swept away the arrows that were aimed in its direction.
At that exact moment, Luna's brother, Rowan, appeared behind the monster and slashed down using his bastard sword that was imbued with Dark Magic.
Unfortunately, the Wendigo had already sensed his presence, so it stepped to the side, dodging Rowan's attack.
However, the second-strongest student of Brynhildr Academy anticipated the monster's move, so he paused his attack mid-way and slashed to the side.
A chuckle escaped the Ancient Wendigo's lips as it jumped back to avoid the Third Year's attack.
"Interesting," the Ancient Wendigo muttered. "Another one with a Legacy. This time, of Dark Magic. Did you all come here to offer yourselves to me?"
Rowan snorted and was about to keep attacking the Ancient Wendigo when he sensed something moving under his feet.
The Third Year then stomped on the ground and jumped backward.
A moment later, the Bronze Giant Snake emerged from the place where Rowan had just been standing.
Having lost its prey, it then sprayed a poison mist at its target, in an attempt to incapacitate him.
"Nigrum Obice!"
A black Barrier appeared in front of Rowan, shielding him from the Bronze Giant Snake's attack.
"Take care of him," the Ancient Wendigo ordered the Giant Snake. "I'll deal with the others first."
The Bronze Giant Snake screeched as if acknowledging the Ancient Wendigo's orders.
It then started to use its tail to lash out against Rowan, forcing him back and separating him from his sister.
"Now where was I?" the Ancient Wendigo smiled. "Ah, right. Come here… child. Offer your body and magic to me."
The Ancient Wendigo made a gesture, and Luna subconsciously took a step forward.
The monster had detected that another Wendigo had attempted to devour the young lady in the past but failed. Of course, it didn't know how the other Wendigo failed, but it didn't matter.
In fact, the Ancient Wendigo was happy that the girl survived. Because of this, it would be able to enjoy a delicious delicacy that possessed one of the rarest magics in the world.
"Don't go to him!" Bridget grabbed hold of Luna's hand. "Snap out of its control!"
Luna tried to break free from Bridget's hold of her hand as she obeyed her Master's order. The mind control magic of the Ancient Wendigo was several times stronger than the Wendigo who had tried to devour her in the past, so Luna was incapable of resisting it.
Her past trauma had also resurfaced, drastically decreasing her resistance to the mind-affecting magic targeted to her. Because of this, it was very easy for the Ancient Wendigo to command her like its puppet.
"You will not eat my Mistress!" Lilith shouted as she jumped out of Luna's shadow and transformed into a Black Panther. "Not on my watch!"
Lilith roared and Luna broke out of the Ancient Wendigo's control, allowing her to regain her senses.
"Take her away!" Bridged shouted. "We will hold this monster back!"
Lilith nodded and lowered its body so that Luna could climb on her back.
"Come, Mistress," Lilith stated. "We need to escape from here."
But before Luna could even mount the Black Panther's back, the Ancient Wendigo raised its hands and created a dome, encapsulating the battlefield and preventing anyone from escaping.
"None of you are going to escape," the Ancient Wendigo stated as its hands and eyes glowed red. "Surrender yourselves to the inevitable."
Lilith, Bridget, and Sefarina stood in front of Luna, protecting her from Ancient Wendigo.
Although they knew that they were not strong enough to defeat such a creature, it would have to go through them first before it could devour the body of their Master's lover.