Tenebrous Wolf
Chapter 66: Carcass Party

Chapter 66: Carcass Party

No matter where they looked, there was a Hollow lurking around. Looking below, those Hollows moved seemingly at random, yet there was no true disorder. If one were to make a comparison, they behaved much like ants.

Klaus blinked and pinched his cheek to make sure what he was seeing wasn’t an illusion. Beside him, Briar was equally dumbstruck.

There were at least fifty of them, not counting the ones that occasionally vanished and reappeared elsewhere. Forgetting them for a moment, Klaus shifted his gaze and surveyed the surroundings. They were still inside the cavern, but unlike the narrow passage before, this space was vast, with a ceiling that stretched several meters high. Truth be told, it resembled more of a labyrinth with multiple winding paths branching out in different directions, some vanishing into the darkness while others twisted at odd angles, as though shaped by something unnatural and ominous.

At this moment, the young awakened could feel the droplets of sweat running down his back.

What were they supposed to do in this situation?

Thinking about it logically, the odds were completely against them. Even if they moved with utmost stealth, the chances of making a mistake and getting surrounded were dangerously high. And once that happened, it would be over. It didn’t matter if they were individually stronger than the Hollows, the creatures could simply overwhelm them with sheer numbers, and that would be the end.

After all, surrounding an opponent and relentlessly attacking them alongside others required neither talent nor intelligence. In fact, there was little point in growing stronger since the combined assault of multiple attackers would get the same devastating outcome.

Damnit. Coming here a grave mistake! What a blunder!

Growing increasingly anxious, Klaus clicked his tongue and began to bite his fingernail. Indeed, the situation was bad enough to make anyone despair. He couldn’t even begin to formulate a plan to get them out of this in one piece.

Suddenly, a wild idea erupted in his mind.

The plan was so insane that it just might work. No, if they executed each step correctly, they wouldn’t just escape and even collect a few Spirit Cores from the monsters’ carcasses. Based on the monsters’ numbers, they would make a considerable profit.

With this in mind, Klaus turned to the Lost Daughter of Depravity and raised a question,

"Hey, how many targets can you collect at a time?"

Briar blinked.

"What? Are you insane? You’re not actually thinking of fighting those things, are you?"

Klaus met her gaze with a somber expression.

"Do you have a better idea? Besides, we’re not going to fight them all at once, that would be suicide. But we can distract them, maybe even wipe them out. Given your Mysticism Ability, we should be able to pull it off."

Even so, the demoness didn’t look convinced.

"I get what you’re suggesting, but are you absolutely sure this plan of yours will work?"

Klaus nodded firmly.

"Absolutely. You just need to have faith in me. Isn’t that right, partner?"

For a moment, Briar’s eyes widened in disbelief. Perhaps she hadn’t expected those words from him. Either way, she didn’t respond immediately.

Lowering her gaze, the demoness took a moment to reconsider the situation, analyzing it from a different perspective. Then, at last, she spoke:

"Under normal circumstances, I can only control one target at a time, two if I push myself. But in both cases, I need to be in close proximity. Also, there’s a chance they could resist my mental control. In such a situation, they would need to be weakened first so I can feed them my blood and gain complete dominance over their mind."

Listening to her detailed explanation of her Mind Control, Klaus nodded in understanding before flashing a wide grin.

"Don’t worry. That shouldn’t be a problem, I’ll take care of it."

Forming their strategy, the two stealthily descended from their high ground and reached the cavern floor. Since they couldn’t take on too many Hollows at once, their plan was to separate one from the pack and launch a coordinated assault.

Once the creature was subdued, Briar would use her control over it to attack the others, drawing their attention. When that one met a gruesome end, they would repeat the process — again and again — until every last Hollow was slain. It was a purely reckless strategy, perhaps even foolish, one that no sane person would dare attempt. But they had no other choice. It was either this or stay put and become breakfast for the monsters.

Naturally, neither of them found the thought of being torn apart and devoured particularly appealing.

By some stroke of luck, a Hollow separated from the pack to feast on one of its fallen brethren, which had succumbed to its injuries.

Hiding behind one of the massive stationary pillars, they watched as the deformed creature tore into the carcass with its powerful pincers, shredding flesh and bone before consuming the pieces with its mandibles, which resembled those of an insect.

It was disgusting and quite unpleasant to look at.

The creature stood at a towering height of two meters and resembled that of a corrupted centaur with the monstrous traits of a crab; two enormous pincers and slimy, writhing mandibles. Its entire body was encased in a blackish-green, chitinous armor, though beneath the hardened shell, decayed flesh and rotting skin peeked through.

It moved on four pairs of long, segmented legs that ended in scythe-like protrusions, each step producing a sickening scrape against the cavern floor. At the front, a humanoid torso jutted out from the carapace. The torso’s form was twisted and malformed, but still clad in the same thick, chitinous plating that protected the rest of its body.

Klaus immediately recognised this creature as the Shrouded Monstrosity — Plague Ravager.

According to the data books, this species of Shadow Creature was the weakest on the Hollow grading system, possessing the rank [Shrouded]. Even so, it was the only monster with the capacity to take out an Awakened Hollow. This was due to the highly potent venom secreted by the necrotic gland inside its mouth.

A single bite was enough to corrode flesh, disrupt bodily functions, and induce an agonizing death.

For this reason, it was advised to avoid direct confrontation if possible and instead strike stealthily at its weak point — the back of its head. Klaus was confident in his own strength and was eager to test out his trusty sword.

With a deep breath, Klaus climbed up and positioned himself atop the massive pillar. He slowly drew his katana from its sheath, the blade gliding out with a smooth, subtle sound.

Then, he waited for the right moment to strike — Namely, the instant the lone Plague Ravager extended its mandibles toward its meal. The moment it did, Klaus leaped from the top of the tall pillar. Upon landing, he thrust his katana downward, stabbing precisely at the spot where the creature’s neck met its torso, where the vocal cords were located.

The creature tried to let out a piercing screech but could barely produce a sound. Klaus took advantage of this, using his entire body weight to keep it pinned. He then turned toward Briar.

Receiving his signal, the demoness rushed forward and swiftly activated her Mysticism Ability.

In a fraction of a second, the Plague Ravager’s mind was invaded and subdued. Its once-predatory eyes gradually dulled, shifting into a dormant pink shade.

Under Briar’s influence, the Plague Ravager twitched but remained still, its aggressive nature suppressed beneath her dominion. Klaus carefully pulled his katana free, wiping the dark, greenish blood onto the creature’s chitinous plating.

He took a step back and muttered towards the demoness:

Briar exhaled slowly as her eyes glowed faintly with a pinkish light. She tilted her head, testing her control over the Hollow. The creature’s mandibles twitched, then its massive, scythe-like legs jerked before stabilizing.

She nodded.

"Yes. It’s sluggish, but I can make it attack."

Klaus smiled.

"That’s all we need."

"Also, I want to ask but why did you target the creature’s neck region? Wouldn’t it kill it eventually?"

"You don’t have to worry about. Hollows don’t die unless you completely cut off their heads or crush their spirit cores."

"Ah, that make sense."

Briar muttered, staring at the creature’s stabbed neck which was slowly beginning to heal.

Without wasting a second, they both scanned the cavern once more. The remaining Hollows were still moving aimlessly, completely oblivious to the fate of their kin. Naturally, they didn’t intent of letting them miss out.

Klaus instructed:

"Send it in. Make it attack the closest group."

Briar nodded and focused. The controlled Plague Ravager let out a low, guttural clicking before skittering forward on its segmented legs. It moved unnaturally, as if struggling against invisible chains, but it obeyed nonetheless.

The nearest Hollows barely reacted as their former packmate approached. That was their first mistake.

With a sudden burst of speed, the Plague Ravager lunged at an unsuspecting Hollow, and clamped down its powerful pincers on the creature’s torso. A sickening crunch echoed through the cavern as the victim’s exoskeleton cracked under the applied pressure.

The other Hollows finally reacted, shrieking in alarm. The atmosphere shifted instantly and the dreadful silence shattered as chaos erupted.

The moment the creatures turned on their controlled ally, Klaus and Briar sprang into action.

Klaus moved first, dashing toward the distracted Hollows and flashed his katana at an arc. His blade cut through the nearest enemy, severing its limbs before slicing off its head. It was a clean cut and the blood of the monstrosity splattered like a broken fountain.

Meanwhile, Briar tightened her hold over the Plague Ravager, forcing it to thrash violently, striking at anything that came near. The controlled creature fought with reckless abandon, drawing more and more attention to itself.

One by one, the Hollows converged on their rampaging kin, eager to tear it apart.

And that was exactly what Klaus and Briar wanted.

Soon, the controlled Plague Ravager was completely surrounded from all directions and had its body torn apart by the relentless assault of its kin, its chitinous shell cracking under the combined force of their multiple pincers.

Upon receiving a crushing blow from one of its brethren and entered its final moments, it unleashed one last devastating attack — the creature shot out and sank its venomous mandibles into the nearest Hollow, injecting the deadly toxin before its body was completely shredded.

In such a situation, where the affected Hollow was writhing in agony as its skin and armor melted away, Briar swiftly seized control of the Plague Ravager’s mind and commanded it to attack everything in its vicinity.

With a fierce screech, the newly controlled creature unleashed its enormous pincers and grabbed two other monsters by the torse before applying pressure. A satisfacting crack echoed and a spray of blood erupted.

The Hollow’s screeches of agony echoed throughout the cavern as its body convulsed violently as the necrotic venom ate away at its flesh. The remaining creatures turned toward their suffering kin, briefly halting in confusion.

In that instant, the two in hiding seized their opportunity.

"Now!" Klaus barked and dashed forward with his katana raised.

The controlled Plague Ravager, under Briar’s command, continued its assault, slamming its powerful pincers into the closest Hollow with a sickening crunch. With each strike, its dull, pink-glowing eyes remained vacant, its actions no longer its own. The other Hollows hesitated for a fraction of a second, unsure whether to attack their own kind or focus on the intruders.

That hesitation was fatal.

Klaus moved like a shadow and sliced the blade through the air. He targeted the weaker points of the Hollows such as jointed limbs, exposed flesh between chitin plates, and the back of their heads.

Each strike landed true, severing limbs and decapitating monsters before they could react.

Meanwhile, Briar remained in her hiding spot and controlled the Plague Ravager like a puppet. Whenever a Hollow attempted to flank Klaus, she forced her minion to intercept, driving it into the fray with reckless abandon.

The battle quickly descended into a chaotic slaughter. The surviving Hollows turned on the rogue Plague Ravager, tearing into its body in a desperate attempt to end its rampage.

Another one fell. Then another.

The venom spread rapidly, eating through their armored bodies, forcing them into agonized convulsions. The scent of decayed flesh and blood filled the cavern, thick enough to choke on.

Klaus didn’t stop. He leapt over a dying Hollow, planting his foot against its chitinous back and propelling himself forward. His katana flashed, carving a deep wound across another creature’s torso. Before it could retaliate, he drove his blade into its head, the steel piercing through its skull like butter.

Another one kicked the dust.

While the young Aspirant bounced here and there, yet another mind controlled Plague Ravager twitched and screeched before launching itself at the nearest Hollow, locking its mandibles around its target’s throat. With a guttural crunch, it tore out a chunk of its enemy’s flesh, sending green ichor spraying into the air and across the cavern floor.

And then, as suddenly as it had begun, the battle reached its climax.

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