Ang stood on a distant hillside, gazing at the Blackrock Hills as they were swallowed by Poison Fog and deathly silence.
His eyes were calm as still water, without the slightest ripple of emotion.
The lifeless Blackrock Hills lay quietly in the morning mist like a gigantic corpse, as though part of the world had already died.
He slowly turned his head and looked east. A faint pearly glow had begun to appear on the horizon.
Dawn was quietly approaching.
Just then, an abrupt wind blew in from the northwest.
The wind was not strong, but it carried a biting chill. Ang's brow furrowed sharply, and unease rose within him.
He immediately picked up the Magic Communication device and issued an urgent order. "Everyone, get out from downwind of the northwest wind immediately! No one is to remain downwind!"
Almost at the same time, several senior officers on the outskirts of the Blackrock Hills received the command and swiftly activated their magical amplifiers. "All units, fall back immediately! Get out from downwind of the northwest wind, now!"
Hearing the order, the soldiers all looked confused. Though they did not understand, they began moving in obedience.
But they were still a little too slow. In sudden situations, discipline was far inferior to an officer's instincts.
At that moment, a Sentinel looked toward the Blackrock Hills and cried out, "Over there! Fog—black fog is coming this way!"
Everyone followed the sound and saw a mass of dense black fog slowly pouring out from deep within the hills like a tide, driven by the northwest wind.
The fog did not look particularly remarkable, yet it carried an indescribable pressure, as though death itself were crawling forward.
"Quick! Scatter and run for the flanks!" An officer's expression changed as he shouted.
This time, there