Our Family Has Fallen

"This rampant corruption does not arise without reason; the abominable terror here is born from it."

Lance's words essentially explained to the others that the source of this crisis was none other than the hideous Witch before them.

"We must eradicate this corruption completely!" Lance shouted, raising his hand. The power of Bless flowed among the team, bringing them all to an optimal state.

The group was ready for battle. Dismas stood sideways, lifting his musket to aim at the distant enemy. Reynard's Longsword was raised, poised to charge at any moment. Balistan took up his sturdy shield, stepping forward with a steady pace.

Wang Cai silently crept forward, his body slightly crouched, his calm gaze indicating he was ready to hunt.

But the Witch paid no heed to their intrusion. Her face even twisted into an exaggerated smile, her inhumanly long tongue flicking across her gaping mouth, her eyes glinting with hunger and greed.

"How splendid! Materials delivered right to my doorstep. Let me show you my most perfect creation."

Upon hearing this, Lance couldn't help but feel uneasy. The Old Crone had her Corrupt Giant, the Forest Wicked Woman her Gangrenous Fungi; even the banshees she'd crafted came with four unique parasites each. There was a clear lineage to her dark arts; it was obvious this Witch was far more formidable than she appeared.

Indeed, as her words fell, the huge surrounding mushrooms seemed to react, releasing an overwhelming cloud of spores. Its terrifying density obscured their vision, engulfing the team in a hazy mist.

"WAH WAH WAH! You don't *really* think *they* can save *you*, do you...?" the Witch taunted. Seeing their predicament, she let out another peal of inhuman laughter before turning to scoop up the dregs of the potion from the bottom of the cauldron and pour it over the large cocoon.

Engulfed in the spore-laden mist, the team's vision was severely restricted. Dismas swung his torch, trying to disperse the choking particles. Just then, the spores seemed to be violently agitated by something.

"Dismas, be careful!" Lance, having activated his Spiritual Vision, seemed to have spotted something and cried out.

His warning had barely left his lips when a thick, unidentified object pierced through the smoke, hurtling toward Dismas.

The attack was so swift Dismas had no time to react. In that critical instant, a figure leaped in front of him. The blow meant for Dismas was blocked by Balistan, who interposed his shield.

Yet the next second, Balistan was knocked aside by the attack's powerful force, dragging Dismas, who was behind him, down to the ground as well.

Losing balance, losing faith…

What terrifying power! This is definitely not something a human can contend with!

"Are you alright?" Lance quickly moved to shield the two, glancing back at them.

Dismas was actually alright; he hadn't taken damage, merely fallen. Balistan, however, was not so fortunate.

The force of the unseen blow had wounded him. But more alarmingly, the metal riveted to the shield's surface was already showing signs of corrosion from an unknown slime.

If that blow had truly struck Dismas, it likely would have pierced straight through his body. Under the slime's effects, his organs would have corroded, leading to an agonizing death.

Fortunately, Lance was there. With a swift gesture, he cast Flesh Reconstruction, restoring Balistan's shield-bearing left arm. The man's trembling hand finally steadied.

During this time, the airborne spores had dissipated. Now, they could finally see what had been attacking them.

It was an indescribably terrifying creation. Resembling a shell-less snail, it stood at least three meters tall, its length estimated at five or six meters. Its upper body, completely consumed by fungus, resembled a giant mushroom. A large fungal cap sat directly on its head, upon which the faint outline of a human skeleton could be seen. Below the monster's neck, its torso was encased by two thick lobes of fungal matter. Their fleshy edges curled outward, offering glimpses of a profound darkness within that exuded an unnerving pressure. Its posterior half was slug-like, its back covered in mushrooms of varying sizes, each significantly larger than those on any parasite they had previously encountered.

So twisted and deranged—it was a powerful testament to the forces of corruption and decay!

The assailant's mere appearance stunned the party. This was a foe beyond their wildest nightmares, let alone one they could actually fight.

They couldn't conceive of any way to defeat such a monster…

It was only because they had endured so much that their resolve held. An ordinary person would have been scared to death at the mere sight of it, without even entertaining the thought of fighting.

But this did not include Lance. He raised his greatsword and roared.

"The path of redemption lies before us!"

Their gazes shifted to the figure standing at the forefront. Instantly, they broke free from the panic instilled by the creature, their resolve solidifying.

"Let's do this, brothers!"

"Let's fight side by side!"

"The scorching sun will cleanse all corruption!"

Lance wasted no more words. He preferred to prove himself through action, and with his greatsword raised, he charged directly at the monster.

This thing looks enormous, but it's clearly not very mobile. Otherwise, why didn't it press its attack when it had such a good opportunity?

The massive monster began to undulate towards the team. As they drew closer, the two thick lobes of fungal matter on its chest parted, and a grotesque, fleshy proboscis extended from within. This proboscis was as thick as a water bucket. Its tip resembled an octopus's beak—a circular disc lined with sharp teeth, fringed with chaotic, tiny fleshy tendrils, all glistening with that strange slime.

This was the very appendage that had attacked Dismas, the one Balistan had thankfully blocked.