Big Black and Second Husky

Chapter 27: Big Black and Second Husky

The sewer space reeked, a maze of twisted pipes and channels that would leave anyone unfamiliar with the terrain utterly lost.

They had to endure not only the pervasive, toxic stench but also the many dangerous creatures lurking in the darkness.

Fortunately, both the Thief and Ranger classes excelled at stealth.

Hastings and Hares were brothers, commonly known to those who knew them as Big Black and Second Husky. Normally, the brothers pretended not to know each other, occasionally teaming up to scam newbies or even engaging in double-crosses a few times.

Their attempt to scam Amber Xiu this time backfired. They hadn't expected Amber Xiu to be more cunning than both of them combined. He followed them all the way into the sewers, but instead of finding him, the brothers found themselves in danger.

What had been a filthy, dim sewer moments ago suddenly transformed into a beautiful, vibrant garden, the stench replaced by a heavy floral fragrance.

The Thief, Big Black, frowned. "Something's not right. How could there be a garden in the sewers of Alchemy City?"

The Ranger, Second Husky, replied casually, "Who knows? It's not surprising for those Alchemists to come up with something like this."

Big Black had initially felt something was amiss, but after hearing Second Husky's words, he immediately relaxed.

"You're right. This place is great. The floral scent is wonderful."

Big Black took several deep breaths, feeling relaxed, but failed to notice his eyes slowly becoming bloodshot. After only a few minutes in the garden, the brothers became like dazed zombies, only capable of drooling.

At this moment, a goddess bathed in golden light appeared before the brothers.

"Mortals, you have trespassed into a Deity's domain."

The ethereal voice brought a look of excitement to the brothers' blank faces. They looked at the beautiful, golden goddess and quickly knelt on the ground.

Big Black, drooling, said, "Beautiful goddess, may I ask which Deity you are?"

"I am the Goddess of Magic, Mystra. You are fortunate to have found my garden, and I can grant you one wish."

Second Husky looked confused. "Goddess of Magic? But I'm a Ranger..."

Big Black, however, couldn't wait. "Great goddess, I want, I want, I want you!"

In Big Black's eyes, this Goddess of Magic was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, fulfilling his every fantasy. He had lost most of his reason and, disregarding any blasphemy, only wanted to vent his desires.

Second Husky was startled by his brother's direct and vulgar request. This was a goddess!

To their surprise, the radiant Mystra didn't get angry. Instead, she let out a sweet laugh.

"You have good taste, mortal. I will grant you this wish."

The goddess's response filled Big Black with elation. He eagerly pounced and began to "kiss" the goddess.

Second Husky watched with envy, wondering if he should make the same wish. But before he could, he felt a powerful force pull him aside.

Second Husky didn't even have time to react. His head spun, and the scene before him changed drastically.

The beautiful, fragrant garden reverted to the filthy, stinking sewer. Suddenly, several burly men clad in leaves and wearing antlers appeared beside Second Husky.

One dark-skinned man grabbed Second Husky's arm and warned, "Don't move. The Hag's illusions are too powerful. We're only barely holding them back. If you rush out again, we won't be able to save you."

Still disoriented from escaping the illusion, Second Husky mumbled, "Rush out? No, where's my brother?!"

Second Husky looked back towards where he had been, only to find himself twenty to thirty meters away from Big Black. What shocked Second Husky even more was seeing his brother embracing a hideous old witch covered in festering sores and gnawing on her.

"Blech!"

Whether it was a side effect of the illusion or seeing something beyond his tolerance, Second Husky vomited uncontrollably. It took a long time for him to recover.

Looking again at his pitiable brother, Big Black lay contentedly in the ugly monster's embrace, his face and body covered in disgusting filth, yet he wore a blissful expression. Even more chilling was that the Hag and Big Black were lying on a pile of rotten, mutated rats, covered in poisonous pus.

"Ugh~"

Second Husky couldn't help himself and vomited again.

Looking back at the group of muscular men in leaves beside him, Second Husky felt a surge of gratitude. If not for their help, he would likely have suffered the same despairing torment.

Second Husky stammered his thanks over a dozen times before asking, "Are you Druids?"

The dark-skinned man who had pulled Second Husky aside said, "I am Van Jones. We are Druids of the Golden Vine Tribe. We also accidentally fell into the Hag's illusion and are currently unable to escape."

Second Husky looked around. There were six people dressed as Druids, four men and two women. Three of them were chanting together, seemingly maintaining some kind of Magic Ritual.

Van Jones continued to explain, "We can only use the Thorn Ritual to isolate ourselves from the illusion's influence. But even with constant rotation, we can't sustain it much longer."

Second Husky then noticed that the Druids looked haggard, as if they hadn't slept well for days.

"What should we do?" Second Husky asked anxiously.

He wanted to save his brother, but he knew he couldn't do it alone.

"We don't know. We're just holding on for a sliver of hope."

Van Jones's tone was one of helplessness. They couldn't completely break the Hag's illusion. Several times they tried to attack the Hag, only to find her elusive. Whether summoning beasts or using nature magic, they couldn't harm her.

The illusion was continuously draining the Druids' strength. If the Thorn Ritual stopped, everyone would be ensnared by the Hag's enchantments again.

They had only intervened to save Second Husky out of their inherent kindness as Druids, and also in the hope that Second Husky might bring them a turning point.

But now, it seemed this Ranger also had no solution.

Van Jones sighed, "Sylvanus be with us. Perhaps this is the time for our souls to return to the forest."

Second Husky, however, recalled Amber Xiu and Naomi from the tavern and asked, "Do you have another clansman, a young female Druid with short blonde hair?"

Van Jones said in surprise, "You know Naomi?"

"No, but I've seen her. She also found some help and should have arrived here in the sewers by now. Hold on a little longer, maybe we can be saved," Second Husky said, not just to comfort Van Jones but also himself. He had no thoughts of double-crossing anyone now; he just wanted Amber Xiu to show up quickly and take care of this Hag.

Van Jones, however, said in shock, "Naomi's back? That child... is she crazy? Wasting all of our sacrifices for nothing!"

Second Husky said anxiously, "Don't say such discouraging things. The helper she brought should be very powerful, and it's an Undead, especially suited for environments like the sewers. It can definitely deal with this Hag!"

Van Jones suddenly grabbed Second Husky's collar excitedly and questioned loudly, "What did you say, an Undead?!"