Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 309: ’Pillars’

Chapter 309: ’Pillars’

Hala’s declaration was quickly followed by a surge of diabolic energy that spread across the landscape, causing Alex’s group to take a step back as the energy sought to pervade their senses.

Though Alex, Ana, and Victoria remained unharmed as a result of the Blessings, Alejandro wasn’t so lucky.

"Ugh." He groaned as his expression grew taut, his facial veins popping up as he sought to resist the evil rising within.

Alex glanced at him and tried to snap in a bid to open a portal back to Evernight... Unfortunately, it seemed things were not about to go his way as nothing happened.

"You are in the Abyss now, I hope you don’t think that you can come and go as you please." Hala remarked with a slight hint of mockery, earning a glare from Alex.

Ignoring the jab, Alex decided on a different approach as he gave an order. "Victoria, take care of the Rey."

"... Yes, Master."

Albeit unwilling, Victoria did as she was told, turning her attention to Alejandro who was most definitely out of his element as he dropped to his knees.

"Ana, with me."

"Mn."

Alex immediately prepared to snap with Ana poised to invoke her will on the world when Hala remarked.

"I hope you don’t think that’s all I have to offer."

"Shut up."

Pa

Alex appeared behind her but before he could act, he instantly snapped again, appearing where he’d taken off from.

It didn’t take long for his inexplicable reaction to have a reason as the area around Hala turned into a repulsive puddle, brimming with death and curses.

"Don’t get close," Alex warned, a warning Ana barely took into consideration as her attention was elsewhere.

Noticing her silence, Alex softly inquired. "Ana, what’s wrong?"

"... I don’t think those pillars are made of stone," Ana replied in a rather subdued manner.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh my, you finally figured it out, didn’t you?... I was worried one would have to die before that happens." Hala intoned excitedly as she summoned a staff made from dead wood and rotten flesh.

At the same time, several colorful cards, glowing with a purple light, appeared about her, circling her in a certain rhythm.

Unsure of what to make of her words, Alex glanced at Ana who had her eyes trained somewhere else, and without hesitation, shifted his gaze to where she was looking at.

It was one of the many pillars surrounding the island, looming dangerously over them.

At first, Alex couldn’t understand what was wrong but that didn’t last long as he began to notice the faint movements on the pillars and the uncanny arcs they possessed.

"Are those..."

"Appendages of My Lord. Aren’t they beautiful?" Hala helped him finish as her gaze also flitted to the ’pillars’.

Alex’s expression turned sour as he muttered softly. "Those are tentacles."

"... Mn, very big tentacles," Ana added, her subdued tone now to be understood as born out of a rare sense of fear.

Clenching his jaw, Alex shifted his attention to Hala who also moved to meet his gaze, a sweet smile on her otherwise desecrated visage.

Barely suppressing the urge to curse, Alex remarked. "Ana, keep an eye on the tentacles... and the general state of the island."

"And you?"

"I’ll handle the elf."

Alex didn’t wait for a response as he took steady steps toward Hala, his eyes scrutinizing her figure as he pondered different ways to take her down.

Though Hala looked quite out of it and indeed, she was, Alex couldn’t afford to take chances.

The enemy was once the High Priestess of a powerful Goddess, which was a fancy way of saying she was an Apostle and now she had the boons of an Abyss Wheel Mystic and what’s worse, they were on her turf.

Alex couldn’t help but question if this was worth it but of course considering he had gone up against a Half-Step True God, perhaps this was nothing.

Then again, he had Nyx’s help and... okay, getting off track.

Shaking his head to get rid of the unnecessary thoughts, Alex stopped a few meters from where Hala stood, his fingers primed to snap at a moment’s notice.

"Won’t you attack?" Hala inquired, half in jest.

Restraining the urge to respond in kind, Alex replied. "Are you enjoying this?"

"Shouldn’t I?"

"It’s strange but I guess it tallies with what I know about Abyss Wheel Mystics."

"Your friends hardly have the time to wait as you make such small talk."

"Forgive my bluntness, but I’m not exactly a machine that can figure out plans on a whim. You are strong and I need time."

"How do you know that?... You may be able to survive this encounter, after all, you hold a unique scent on you."

"Believe me, I’m limited."

"... So are you done?"

Letting out a sigh, Alex shrugged. "More or less."

Pa

Boom

He snapped at the same time as several ’pillars’ struck down from above, causing numerous craters to form.

At the same time, Victoria was unable to stop Alejandro as he lost his senses, the ground on which he stood quickly devolving into a murky swamp filled with curses.

All around them, the landscape began to change, from a desolate land to a swamp filled with dead trees and vines.

Several zombies emerged from the murky waters and unfathomable creatures swarmed from above.

Within seconds, the entire group was about to be attacked from all sides with one of their subordinates already done for.

"... This is troublesome," Alex muttered with a deep frown etched on his visage.

Hala chuckled as she remarked. "I agree. Now tell me again; How do you plan to stop me?"

As temporal rings suddenly went out, encompassing the island and returning it to the desolate landscape it once was, Alex muttered. "I’ll figure something out."

"Huhu... Just die."

Pa

Several barbed vines coated with rotten flesh and brimming with curses erupted from the ground as Hala took up her first card.

This sight caused Alex to grimace as it quickly became clear.

Everything that had happened before was just a release of Authority... Either that or they were facing off not just against Hala, but also against the Otherworldly backing her, a reality that became clear moments later due to Ana’s cries.

"Hurry!... The island is sinking."