Our Family Has Fallen

The scene greatly shocked the three of them. If we're devoured, we'll become one of them...

They had thought their journey had exposed them to all manner of strange monsters, but now they realized this land would never cease to produce creatures beyond their comprehension.

However, they were among those who had followed Lance from the very beginning. They had experienced a great deal, even killing the terrifying monsters from that other dimension.

Although the monster before them exerted immense pressure, it was far from enough to break their will.

Reynard swung his Longsword and chopped one of दीन undead in half.

Dismas reloaded. A blast of scatter bullets tore another undead creature's body apart.

Balistan used his Shield to block the random grasping of the undead, then thrust his torch forward, scorching one of them black.

But such efforts were hardly enough to cause significant damage to the large creature. Who knows how many corpses this monster has devoured?

Although the monster's connection to the Witch had been severed, this perfect killing machine still instinctively craved to devour everything.

The true horror hidden beneath its skirt wasn't the undead, but the mushrooms.

Thick spores erupted from the mushrooms on its back. Countless other mushrooms hidden at its sides swelled and then, in that instant, discharged a viscous, yellow-green, phlegm-like Corrosive Fluid.

Both were area-of-effect attacks, covering every direction. Had a group of soldiers surrounded it, the casualties would have been immense. It truly lived up to its name as a perfect creation.

Dismas, having just fired, was reloading at a safe distance. Reynard, ever vigilant, had retreated the moment he saw the mushrooms swell.

Both of them successfully avoided the splashing Corrosive Fluid and the pervasive spores.

But Balistan wasn't so lucky. He noticed the spores swirling in the air and, torch in hand, wasn't afraid of them. However, his Shield blocked his one eye's line of sight, creating a blind spot. By the time he noticed the splashing Corrosive Fluid, it was too late to completely retreat.

Fortunately, his extensive combat experience kicked in. He immediately sidestepped and crouched, raising his Shield and tucking his head to minimize exposed areas and protect himself.

SIZZLE!

The Corrosive Fluid struck the Shield's surface, instantly creating a sizzling sound. The iron plating of the Shield was pocked with corrosive craters.

More troubling, some of the fluid splashed onto his leg, burning through his armor and its lining to sear the Flesh beneath.

The intense pain made Balistan tremble. But as a tough veteran accustomed to grievous injuries, he clenched his teeth and endured.

The monster, far from ceasing its assault, spread its skirt to reveal its means of locomotion: the half-formed undead were its legs, their bodies interlocking to propel its massive form forward.

This incomprehensible, unimaginable sight struck everyone with immense pressure.

And just as they stood stunned, the monster attacked again. Its severed proboscis fired with undiminished power.

The target was the marked veteran Balistan, smeared with Corrosive Fluid!

Of course, Balistan was aware of the danger he was in. With his leg corroded, he could hardly move. His Shield, battered and broken from many blows, would likely fail to block the strike. I'm already injured. If this hits me...

"Dodge quickly!" Reynard, caring for nothing else, charged forward, Longsword in hand.

Dismas didn't pause. He raised his musket and fired at the mushroom head, attempting to at least distract the monster's attention, if not disrupt its attack.

But Reynard had just moved back to dodge and wasn't quick enough to intervene. Besides, the musket bullets were insignificant to the monster if they didn't strike its core.

At the same time, the silhouette of the Banshee appeared out of thin air. Balistan, seeing her, couldn't help but feel a surge of bitterness. She's leaving us no way out! Am I going to die here today...?

Reynard and the others noticed her too. While they were worrying, they didn't expect the Banshee to let out a piercing shriek at the monster.

The monster, about to attack, suddenly froze and then seemed to enter a frenzy.

The group hadn't anticipated the previously frenzied Banshee aiding them. But Reynard knew not to waste the opportunity and immediately shouted as he charged forward.

Meanwhile, Dismas quickly helped Balistan away from the battlefield. He noted the wounds on Balistan's leg where the Corrosive Fluid had mixed with blood and Flesh, flowing down his thigh.

"Hold on, the Lord will be back soon," Dismas said.

Having learned battlefield medicine in training camp, Dismas immediately removed Balistan's leg armor, cut away the fabric, and used his water bottle to wash the wound directly. Otherwise, continued corrosion could expose bone.

Yet such pain was unbearable; the intense agony almost caused Balistan to faint. Agony, it's too much agony!

Thankfully, the running water diluted the venom and flushed away the remainder. The mangled wound began to bleed afresh—a good sign.

On the other side, Reynard had charged in. His Longsword slashed fiercely. He believed that severing its body would undoubtedly kill the monster.

Previously, the monster would have violently resisted. But with the Banshee's intervention and her continuous screams immobilizing the creature, Reynard gained precious time.

Splattered fluid fell on him. Most of it was blocked by his armor, though some still managed to corrode through and reach his skin.