Extraordinary Voyage

The mahogany door to the room was silently pushed open.

As expected, there was no one outside the door; only an empty corridor leading to the ballroom. From behind the intricately carved gate at the end of the corridor, the music of the dance grew clearer and clearer. But eerily, there was no sound of conversation or merriment that one would normally expect.

Tap.. Tap.. Tap..

In the empty corridor, only the footsteps of two people softly echoed. Although they had yet to encounter the presence causing the "strangeness," both couldn't help but feel their palms sweating.

However, even the longest corridor must come to an end.

The two stood in front of the opulent doors of the ballroom, which under ordinary circumstances appeared splendid, yet under the influence of the eerie atmosphere seemed like the edge of a giant beast's maw, waiting to devour them the moment the door was pushed open!

Both felt a slight regret for not bringing the guards from home to the party. But at this moment, there was no room for retreat; even if they wanted to leave, the stairs of the ballroom were a necessary passage.

Creak——

The doors swung open, and joyful dance music flooded out, but the scene before them left both of them stunned.

Dancing.

Everyone was dancing.

Hotel guests in evening attire, waiters with bow ties, young vibrant maids, even chefs who should be in the kitchen—all were gracefully dancing in the ballroom, except for the musicians playing the music.

Tap tap.. Tap.. Tap tap.. Tap..

Simply dancing wasn't unusual; the bizarre part was:

Their movements were stiff and synchronized, like puppets on strings controlled by the same conductor's baton.

Seeing the two appear at the entrance, everyone turned their heads in astonishing unison, revealing rigid smiles, yet their bodies continued to move with the music, completely unaffected.

A chill climbed up the backs of the two.

Click clack.... Click clack...

The crisp sound of high heels echoed.

The only exception in the ballroom, arm in arm with her "dance partner," elegantly wove through the dancing crowd to the door.

It was a graceful noblewoman wearing a luxurious ice-blue gown.

She wore a bluebell-shaped hair ornament, her face with light makeup radiated exquisite beauty, her smile beaming as she gently spoke to the two on high alert: "Isn't my ball spectacular? Come on, join the dance!"

As she spoke, an aura of irresistible charm seemed to flow like a tangible current, making one's heart race uncontrollably.

However, Anthony, who had been equipped with various talismans long before, remained unaffected. Instead, his pupils slightly narrowed, and he said coldly:

"Highly Poisonous Bluebells? The 'Killing Ghost' released by the Box of Dead Souls?!!"

Tonight was already the second night since the "Killing Ghost" began its rampage in New Inn Port. Those like Anthony with a special status on the mysterious side had already received most of the information about the "Killing Ghost."

After all, eight years was not very long in the world of the Extraordinary, and records from that time were well preserved.

By combining the features of each "Killing Ghost," he immediately recognized the behavior of this beautiful, bizarre woman as one of the seven Killing Ghosts, the "Highly Poisonous Bluebells."

"What did you do to Alva?!"

The alarmed cry from Delis beside him brought Anthony back to his senses; he had focused too much on this strange woman, overlooking that her "dance partner" was his companion Alva, who had not returned!

Now Alva, like the others, was stiff and expressionless, only his eyes still had a spark, constantly darting around as if pleading for help from the two of them.

"Hee hee, so his name is Alva? You've seen it, haven't you? We're just dancing! What a gentleman he was, taking the initiative to accompany me, this lonely woman, when I just entered.

We had a delightful dance, which infected everyone else. So, the ladies and gentlemen all joined the ball! It was so much fun! Hee hee hee..."

The impossibly charming noblewoman, the "Highly Poisonous Bluebells," covered her red lips with her hand, giggling continuously, clearly very proud of her astounding allure.

Both Anthony and Delis felt a burning rage towards Alva; if it weren't for this guy's lust, how could this have happened tonight?!

Most of the seven "Killing Ghosts" have their own rules and target groups. Generally speaking, as long as one doesn't make a wrong choice, even ordinary people might be able to survive them.

The "Highly Poisonous Bluebells," with her full charm capabilities, excel at "controlling humans" and "mind control," especially over fanciful gentlemen...

But now it was too late to assign blame; the lives of at least a hundred people in the ballroom were in the hands of the "Highly Poisonous Bluebells," and the two couldn't possibly abandon Alva.

However.

Tonight was already the second night; who knows how many she had killed before coming here, and the "Highly Poisonous Bluebells'" abilities might have surpassed the basic level, approaching that of a Senior Knight, combined with her notoriously strange abilities...

It's impossible to deal with her without giving everything!

Bang——

A blue-white spiritual light flashed in Anthony's eyes, activating the "Holy Power Talisman," "Courage Talisman," and "Steadfast Mind" that he carried. A ring with a ruby on his left hand glowed with a misty red light as he lightly brushed it over the blade.

Whoosh!

Orange-red flames leapt up from the blade, turning a mere decorative sword into a blazing Flame Sword.

With feet firm on the ground, he charged forward wielding the Flame Longsword.

In this world, Apprentice Level witchcraft falls short of an Official Knight in combat ability. Though swordsmanship isn't the forte of these researchers, the Alchemy School has various ways to compensate, the simplest being—"spend plenty of money"!

And that's exactly what the two were doing.

Right behind him.

Delis' emerald earrings emitted a vibrant, lively green glow, swirling intensely around her body, with faint electric sparks crackling.

Given the reliable information, they both knew the true nature of Killing Ghosts. They were, in fact, artificially created, incomplete "Evil Spirits," infused with sinful souls, and only positive energy could inflict maximum damage on them.

Holy power, fire, and lightning all fell into this category; of course, given their status, they undoubtedly carried more than just one or two Extraordinary Items, and had only chosen the most suitable ones to activate!

Though one step later than Anthony, Delis actually struck first.

The power of lightning transformed into a blazing white flow and, guided by the spiritual power seeping from her eyes, surged explosively at the "Highly Poisonous Bluebells."

"Hee hee hee....."

The "Highly Poisonous Bluebells" vanished with agility utterly incongruous with her regal attire, like a phantom mist, only to reappear on the opposite side of the ballroom.

Crackle...

Sizzle——

The incoming electric light and Anthony's swung Flame Longsword all hit empty space.

Before the two could give chase again, she touched the bluebell hair ornament lightly with one hand and snapped her fingers lightly with the other.

Snap——

"I won't play with you anymore; today was fun. I hope for your gracious hospitality next time! Mwah!"

With a bewitching blown kiss, her entire body evaporated like mist, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

Thud!

Thud!

As she disappeared, most of the people who had been dancing collapsed instantly, all of them male.

"Ah——!!!"

Amidst the piercing screams of their dance partners, some who fell had already stopped breathing the moment they hit the ground; some were barely breathing, perhaps down to their last breath; only a few gasped for air, likely able to recover after some rest.

"Damn it!"