349. Because I'm a Shrine Maiden

Those writhing monsters were like the embodiment of humanity's deepest fears, with forked limbs, soft and sticky tentacles, countless eyes, and flesh and blood skin interwoven with crimson and pure black. They moved on the ground, dragging dark, wet trails behind them.

In an instant, the grass and trees withered and died. From the traces of destruction, something like mold swelled and spread, devouring everything.

At the same time, dark fog rose all around, and the Island Magistrate shrouded in this fog began to cough. Their faces turned black, their skin peeled off, revealing festering flesh and bones. White, wriggling worms grew on the flesh, and their bones turned yellowish-brown, dark black, and shattered.

More monsters emerged from the corpses.

These monsters have variable sizes and constantly split and recombine even as they move forward. Combined with the dazzling metallic sheen on their skin, they cause dizziness and confusion.

Lu Ban fired Speech Bullet at the monster at the very front.

The delirious murmurs of the Great Being echoed in the monsters' "brains," but they only made the monsters more frenzied and uncontrollable.

For an being that already lacks any reason and has been transformed into Unspeakable Monster, these delirious ramblings can only drive it further insane and depraved.

Laika watched the monsters warily. It did not attempt to attack. Lu Ban had already realized that if Laika made contact with them, this madness might infect it and cause it to be mutated as well.

The Corrupted Ones is a truly near-ultimate state of destructive creation. Its reason for being is to destroy everything, to plunge the world into chaos, devoid of any faith, consciousness, or aspirations. Compared to the Demon Tide of the Night Country, these Corrupted Ones are far more depraved and beyond redemption.

It would be hard for most people to imagine how Harmony Island managed to survive the invasion of these monsters.

"That's why the Pure Fire exists."

Lu Ban had witnessed the clear flames that burned everything, even existence itself, as fuel.

Only through such suicidal means can these filthy existences be eradicated.

"Wa Island Grand Shrine will likely react soon, so we must leave quickly."

Lu Ban had no intention of confronting these guys head-on. Once monsters appeared in an area where human civilization existed, the Divine Child of the Wa Island Grand Shrine would soon sense it and fire a purifying arrow to completely burn the area. All he needed to do was take Amber and run away as quickly as possible.

If Amber were to be burned to death by the purifying fire, she would likely become the first Head Miko candidate in history to be eliminated by her own purifying fire.

As Laika fled, she used her tentacles to throw the Island Magistrate who couldn't escape out of the courtyard. Lu Ban arrived at the gate of the government office, where the mistress and the little girl were still there, unaware of what had happened.

There were other people on the road, mostly elderly people with children, chatting at the alley entrance and exchanging the latest news.

The sky had become somewhat gloomy, and the Corrupted Ones seemed capable of swallowing even the clouds, dyeing the heavens a murky, dark color.

"Run!"

Lu Ban called out, but the people ignored him and even tried to come closer to see what was going on at the yamen.

It wasn't until those people saw Laika, that terrifying beast beside Lu Ban, that they realized something was wrong and began to flee in a panic.

"Leave by boat, and you'll still have a chance to survive."

Lu Ban called out to the woman and the little girl. The woman's eyes showed extreme fear. She looked at the monster next to Lu Ban, her legs went weak, and she couldn't move.

The Corrupted Ones had spread from the government office, and those on the streets who had not yet noticed its arrival were stunned by this sudden tide of monsters. Before they could react, they were corrupted like the Island Magistrate before them, turning into twisted monsters.

Boom—

The imposing government building collapsed with a crash, finally attracting the attention of most of the islanders. Panic, unease, and despair permeated the crowd. Most of the elderly and children were powerless to resist and didn't even know where to run.

Those who were still somewhat sensible began running towards the port, hoping to find one or two boats to go out to sea.

Many more simply stared blankly as the black mist spread, then died in Affliction and despair.

Faced with such a calamity that defies common sense, humanity has no power to resist.

Helpless, Lu Ban could only let Laika's tentacles grab the mistress and the little girl, lift them up, and run towards the place where he would meet Amber.

The road was rugged, but Lu Ban was still much faster than the Amber Lu Ban towards him.

"I sense the presence of Corrupted Ones. Could there be Corrupted Ones here?"

Amber's hair was a little messy, and her expression was serious. She didn't look like the girl who would tease children at all; instead, she was filled with a sense of holiness and solemnity.

"The assassin has summoned the Corrupted Ones, Wa Island Grand Shrine should be arriving soon. We need to leave."

Lu Ban explained simply.

Upon hearing this, Amber's eyes widened slightly, and she seemed to be saying something. She looked at the fearful mistress and the bewildered little girl.

"I can resist the Corrupted Ones, or at least slow its spread, so that I can save at least a few more people."

Her voice was soft, yet resolute.

"You could be in danger doing this."

Lu Ban knew very well that even a priestess candidate like Momiji could only barely resist the erosion of the Corrupted Ones for a period of time. Only the Head Miko and the purifying fire could stop their advance.

A person like Amber would definitely fight to the very last moment, until Corrupted Ones that filth and horror surrounds him.

From both his own perspective and the mission's perspective, Lu Ban could not allow such a situation to occur.

"My cultivation over the past ten years has been for this situation; I cannot run away."

"Because I am a priestess."

Amber stepped forward, and Lu Ban saw that the flame he had seen before rekindled in her Amber eyes. Despite wearing plain civilian clothes, she was more holy than anyone else.

"All right."

Lu Ban whistled, and Laika immediately picked up the mistress and the little girl and ran towards the small boat on the beach, while he himself stood next to Amber.

"Then I'll go with you."

Amber opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

She probably knew that even if she rejected Lu Ban, he would definitely stay by her side.

Just as Lu Ban himself said, "You can always trust me."

Amber looked ahead, where dark clouds shrouded the sky and black mist spread rampantly. On this desolate island about to fall into darkness, a flame ignited in her eyes.

*

Bonus chapter for the third monthly pass in October (1/3)