Withered Monsters and the Death Knight

Mezhuolash watched as the unknown beings surged in from all directions, gradually surrounding them.

He recognized the monsters; he had seen them mentioned in a necromancer's diary.

"Blightspawn, it's Blightspawn!"

"They are plagues that spread the darkness. They draw nourishment from the earth and spread these ancient evil wills everywhere."

"In forests infected by the Blightspawn, trees and plants will grow at an unnatural rate. Vines and various understory plants will quickly cover buildings and roads. An entire village can perish within days after the Blightspawn have killed or driven away all the residents."

Mezhuolash swung her sword, severing a thorn that attacked from the darkness, and cursed, "Damn it! They say the first Blightspawn were watered with Vampire blood. That Old Vampire was prepared long ago!"

Alger gripped the Eternally Burning Greatsword and plunged it directly into the twisted limbs of a Withered Vine Monster.

A raging fire erupted from the blade, instantly igniting the Withered Vine Monster and causing it to wail as it turned to ashes.

Alger shouted a warning, "They're very easy to ignite!"

When these monsters, lurking in the darkness and hidden in the dense forest, reveal their true forms, the players begin to display their unique abilities.

Meanwhile, Steamed Bun stared at the vine monster from before, and information refreshed on the panel.

[The Withered Vine Monster]

Challenge Rating: 1 (200xp)

The Steamed Bun let out a long sigh of relief, followed by anger.

"I thought it was some kind of evil spirit, but it's just a little monster. How dare it scare your Grandpa Mantou! You'd better die!"

He grabbed his sword and charged forward.

The twisted, coalescing monster vibrated the vines, emitting a terrified cry, "It's entangled with me, don't leave me!"

"Help me!"

The Withered Vine Monster is the only Blightspawn that can speak. It can make sounds using the broken syllables of its deceased master's voice to mock its victims.

However, upon seeing the monster's health Steamed Bun, Mantou felt not fear, but rather a sense of being fooled, and his anger intensified.

"Trying to scare me?"

"Die!"

The longsword slashed directly into the fragile vines.

As the [Burning Ring] on Steamed Bun's hand flickered, the intense flames spread along the blade to the Withered Vine Monster, igniting its dry, withered, and twisted body.

Steamed Bun drew his longsword and chuckled, "This isn't a one-hit kill game."

Singo fired Fire Bolt, not forgetting to mercilessly remind everyone, "Who was so scared that their legs went weak just now?"

Xia Ye Qiuyu's golden pupils were also filled with anger, and she slightly opened her mouth.

Aganazzar's Scorcher

"Boom!"

The raging, linear flames spread, burning more than a dozen Blightspawn in the path to charcoal.

However, this is not the player with the largest damage range.

The Eternal Glory Guild, a player of the Light Cleric class named "Chenguang Xiwu," charged directly into the depths of the Dark Forest, raising his hard-headed hammer high.

[Channel Divinity: Dawn of Light]

With the Cleric at the center, endless radiance descends.

The surrounding darkness was completely dispelled.

Hundreds of Blightspawn that rushed toward him were Purification under the baptism of light, turning into fine ashes before they even had time to howl.

Meanwhile, Steel Frenzy deliberately held a cigar in his mouth while throwing out Rune Burning Bomb.

"Art is an explosion!"

With a deafening explosion and the ever-spreading flames, the Blightspawn blocking his way were all reduced to ashes.

The Blightspawn lurking in the darkness may take the lives of civilians who have strayed into the area, or the lives of lone adventurers, but they are utterly helpless against players with strange abilities, especially those who love burning and explosions.

After all, the evil forces from ancient times had not taught them how to Contend Against the Fourth Scourge.

The players fought their way through the deadly forest and soon arrived at Lachmann Castle.

Behind them, the Twilight Garden was now filled with thick smoke and flames, and everywhere were Blightspawn that had been burned to ashes.

A thin veil of blood seemed to hang over the sky.

Lachmann Castle appears dilapidated and decaying, as if ravaged by endless years. The castle is built of black stone, with cracks and moss covering the walls, and mottled bloodstains on them.

The spires, their tips shrouded in dark clouds, exuded a chilling atmosphere. The windows, protected by iron bars and sharp spikes, conveyed a sense of confinement and threat.

The shadows emanating from the castle shrouded the surrounding land in darkness, creating a sense of fear and oppression.

Mezhuolash looked up at the ancient castle and said to Alger beside him with a hint of mockery, "Did you ever live in a godforsaken place like this?"

"No wonder you've become so twisted and perverted."

Alger shook his head slightly. "No, it wasn't like this when I left."

He looked at the castle's heavy gates, his expression grave. "Perhaps it was that Vampire duke who did something to make this place like this."

A piercing shriek came from the sky.

Alger immediately became alert and shouted, "Watch out!"

"Everyone, this is definitely not just a rumor!"

His years of combat experience told him that the approaching enemy was anything but simple.

The group quickly looked around, but found no enemy.

"The enemy is in the sky!"

Damn it!

In the gloomy sky, a massive Bone Eagle is soaring.

It had no wings, only yellowish, forked wing bones, trailing eerie green flames behind it.

It was the wind that whistled through the gaps between those joints, producing this piercing, shrill sound, like the lament of a ghost.

On the back of that Bone Eagle sat a skeleton knight clad in terrifying plate armor. Beneath his helmet, the knight's skull gleamed with a malevolent light, filled with endless hatred for the living—a Death Knight! "Intruder!"

"I'm going to—kill you all!"

The knight in the air let out a hoarse voice and swooped down to the ground.

Alger stared intently at the Bone Eagle knight, muttering to himself, "Old Ward."

The so-called "Old Ward" was Alger's instructor when he was still with the North Wind Eagle Guard, the one who taught him all his skills.

This Ward Chris had fought for the Southern Expedition of Lakman Duchy, making great contributions on the back of the eagle, but in the end he only asked to train the next generation of Eagle Guards as an instructor.

Now, however, this loyal Old Ward has taken Alger's place, transformed by the Duke into Death Knight, forever wandering around Lachmann Castle on Bone Eagle, mindlessly guarding the Duke he serves.

I will let you rest in peace.

"That annoying old man."

Alger unconsciously gripped his greatsword tighter, making a silent vow in his heart.