The distance between the spirits and the camp kept shrinking.
The witch on the terrace could now clearly see their grayish-white skin and shells, rough as coarse stone, their cloudy yellow eyes, and the dirty saliva dripping from their ghastly pale fangs.
Low rumbling growls and muffled roars rose and fell.
Like their approaching footsteps.
They seemed unusually restrained.
"This is Wizard Tower No. 0271 of the You Zui Hunter Team! This is Wizard Tower No. 0271 of the You Zui Hunter Team! You are approaching the You Zui Hunter Team's area of operations—leave immediately and maintain a safe distance! Leave immediately and maintain a safe distance!"
A dozen or so vines climbed onto the enclosing wall and sprouted enormous trumpet flowers. In shrill voices, they repeated Poseidon's earlier warning, completely drowning out the clacking of the ogre skulls on the wall.
This was not part of the Wizard Tower's defense system.
But since the ragdoll fox wanted to shout, and she could cast a little spell like that herself, Hermione naturally would not spoil her fun. She simply pretended not to hear.
"Mostly because those ogres sound absolutely awful."
Perhaps noticing the look in the tower owner's eyes, the ragdoll fox volunteered an explanation.
Hermione shook her head almost imperceptibly.
"No—have you noticed how 'restrained' the spirits on our side are?"
She tipped her chin toward the largest behemoth monster. By now, it had stopped walking and settled into a crouch, like a silent little mountain.
Then Hermione looked toward the mountain range to one side.
On the other side of the mountains, beneath the glittering Bi Da Star, multicolored spell lights were already flashing. The occasional roars of spirits and bellows of treants drifted over in scattered fragments on the shredded night wind.
They stood in stark contrast