Chapter 126: Change (Part 1)
"Damn it..."
I fiercely struck my palm. Light Snow beneath me also slightly uneasily lowered her upper body, growling and roaring vigilantly at the Surroundings.
White Mist, the White Mist that had appeared from who knows when, was getting thicker and thicker. It had now reached the Extent where I could barely see my own hand. Ahead was a vast expanse of white, nothing could be seen. Not only me, but even Light Snow 's sight and smell were severely hindered. Furthermore, this layer of strange thick fog seemed to faintly isolate the connection between me and my Summoned Pets. Once they left my line of sight, the Telepathic Connection between me and my other Pets would completely disappear.
Having no other choice, I could only recall my Poison Creeper and the others, leaving only my Mount Light Snow . Relying on its Speed, even if we encountered any Danger, escaping should not be a Difficult Matter.
At this moment, I was like a Rabbit trapped in a Maze. Where was this? Where was I? Which way should I go? In the white expanse of the Surroundings, was there a chilling maw waiting with a sinister grin? The fear of the unknown made the tension and unease in my heart grow stronger.
"Hey, is anyone there?"
I shouted loudly into the Abyss of the thick fog. Even if it was an Enemy, it was better than hiding in the dark.
However, the only response I received was the continuous echo from the depths of the thick fog. This was an Act of pure white, there was nothing here. In the entire Act, only Light Snow 's slightly faint breathing could make me feel at ease and less alone.
This was not a dream.
" Light Snow , let's go."
I urged the uneasy Light Snow to continue moving towards the unknown direction. Anyway, charging forward is one cut, retreating is also one cut; either way is better than waiting here to die. And there was no Time left to hesitate. I had already delayed for a lot of Time before coming, and I didn't know how they were doing...
Thinking of those people, my heart felt another wave of anxiety.
This Situation has to be talked about starting from yesterday morning...
After finishing Velas's Breakfast, I immediately planned to take a round through the Village without stopping. Yesterday's Battle ended very late. By the Time the Warriors who were chasing the Monsters returned, the moon had almost risen to Mid-air. Plus, the Warriors were all very tired, so the Statistics that were compiled were just a rough estimate. The truly specific Situation would require a careful investigation today to draw a conclusion, that is, if the Monsters didn't take this opportunity to Attack.
Last night was late, and I couldn't see very clearly. Walking along now, I could truly re-estimate the losses from yesterday's War. First, in terms of Buildings, there was no doubt. Under the covering Arrow Volley Attack of the Ranged Monsters, the combat zone in the Village's Northwest was already devastated. There wasn't a single intact House. Even the sturdy Stone Houses built with dark green Asphalt Stone were like they had been swept by a Machine Gun, riddled with Arrow Holes everywhere. Not to mention the Roofs made of Thatch and Wooden Boards. They had long since collapsed, becoming open-air Houses. Houses like these, leaky everywhere, even if the Roof was repaired, could no longer be lived in.
As for those simple Wooden Houses, they were destroyed even more thoroughly. Even the Effort of dismantling them was spared. Some were still emitting choking Thick Smoke even now, just like those Villages that had been ransacked and burned by Bandits.
But the Houses weren't a big deal. What was least lacking here was Land and Wood. As long as a few people helped, rebuilding a Small Wooden Cabin that could shelter from wind and rain was not a Difficult Matter. Fortunately, the people in the Houses had already moved out, otherwise, it would absolutely be impossible to have only the Stats "17 Villagers died from Stray Arrows".
As for the Situation of Casualties, at first glance, it seemed much better than yesterday's Situation of Corpses strewn everywhere and blood flowing across the ground. Only some Soldiers with Bandages on non-vital areas were lying in the erected Temporary Tents, taking a Rest. But the real Situation was absolutely not like this. While I was sleeping last night, those Soldiers with Severe Injuries had already been treated and carried into the Houses. The remaining ones with slightly lighter Injuries were still outside. That was because the Houses were already full, and they had no choice but to set up Temporary Tents outside. If the Soldiers inside the Houses were carried out, then the scene I was seeing now would definitely be several times more tragic.
Besides this, there were also many Warriors who had completely recovered after a night's Rest. Most of them were on Watchtower Guard duty. The remaining ones were busy Repairing the Arrow Towers and Platforms, so that they could occupy a sufficiently high position to shoot arrows during the next Monster Attack.
After circling around for more than half the Village, seeing that the entire Village had gradually begun to resume operation, I was thinking of going to find Druv to see if he had anything to add. Unexpectedly, after only a few steps, a hurried figure entered my line of sight.
"Lin Ya." I called out happily. Although I had learned last night that the two deceased Class Changers were people I didn't know, seeing Lin Ya standing In Front of me safe and sound, I still felt very relieved.
"Ah... ah... Wu, you... hello." A wave of flustered helplessness washed over her. She gently patted her cheek and tried hard to make herself Calm down.
"Lin Ya, what are you doing?"
"Uh... ah... me? I'm gathering Herbs." She raised her pair of dark green eyes and said softly.
"Oh, Herbs, Herbs for Healing the Soldiers' Wounds."
"Lin Ya, you're really amazing, you even know about these things." I exclaimed sincerely. Herbs, in my eyes, were always linked to profound and mysterious Traditional Chinese Medicine, making people involuntarily think of complicated things like the Compendium of Materia Medica and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.
"Not at all, they're just some basic Herbs for Healing Wounds." Being praised so seriously by me, her face immediately turned red.
"Oh, right." Her slender, delicate hand lightly flicked within her wide Mage Robe, and in her hand, there was already an extra Bottle of dark green Liquid.
"If you don't mind, please take this."
"This is..."
"A Special Medicine for Healing Wounds. This is the only one I can make right now."
"Uh!! This..." I originally wanted to say no need, as it's unlikely for something like Wounds to appear on Class Changers. But thinking that even if I didn't use it, I could keep it for others who needed it, I reached out and took it.
"Alright, but such a beautiful Bottle, are you sure you can give it to me?" I originally thought it was just an ordinary Potion, but after taking it and looking closely, I discovered this Bottle was unexpectedly beautiful. The entire Bottle seemed to be made of Crystal, and was carved with countless exquisite Patterns. Even the Bottle opening had small Gold Carvings. Setting aside the Green Potion inside, the entire Bottle looked like an exquisite and precious Perfume Bottle. In this Act, this kind of Craftsmanship was extremely rare.
"Yes, please take it." Being asked this by me, for some reason, Lin Ya's face suddenly turned red like an apple.
After saying goodbye to Lin Ya, it wasn't long before I found Druv.
"Wu, you've come at the right Time." Druv's Tone was a bit heavy.
"The Corpses of the fallen Soldiers will be cremated soon. Please make sure to go."
"Isn't it after the War ends?" Mentioning those Soldiers, my heart also sank.
"We don't know when those Monsters will Attack, and now the weather is warm and humid, Corpses rot easily, so we can only cremate them as soon as possible, to avoid causing disease."
"Okay, alright." I nodded.
The entire Cremation Ritual seemed very solemn. No one facing this Situation could be happy. 144 Soldiers (excluding the 17 Villagers; besides those who died in Battle yesterday, there were also 6 who died last night due to Severe Injuries), were neatly arranged in 10 columns and 15 rows. 144 Corpses of young Soldiers. Only by truly seeing them could one understand that shock, Sorrow, and anger.
"...They sacrificed their young and precious Lives. They are all brave Warriors, the Heroes of Vita Village. Here, may their Souls Rest in peace..."
The Funeral was conducted by an elder in the Village. Then, the 144 Corpses were cremated one by one. The Bones were put into Boxes, engraved with Names, waiting for Relatives to claim them...
"It seems those Monsters don't Plan to act today." Druv, who had just come out of the Crematorium, stood on the Watchtower, surveying the Monster Army lurking in the distance. The suppressed anger in his heart seemed not to have subsided yet. At this moment, his Tone carried a chilling severity.
"So what should we do now?" With Druv, this Expert, here, I was too lazy to use my brain.
"Perfect, let our Warriors have a good Rest for a day." Druv pondered for a moment and said slowly.
"However, at the latest, tomorrow. If they still don't Attack tomorrow, we will probably have to give up the Defense Advantage and Attack proactively."
"That's good too." I nodded. I understood Druv's meaning. If Time dragged on, those killed Monsters would likely Respawn and rush over. If that happened, yesterday night's Battle would have been in vain.
"However, sitting here is making me restless. I'll still go out and give those Monsters a good 'greeting'. Every little bit helps." I said with a chuckle.
"Yes, that's indeed a good idea. The threat of the Enemy's Ranged Attack has significantly decreased. If we send some Warriors with strong Mobility to conduct Harassment and Annihilation, as long as they are careful, there should be no problem. Also, send some more Warriors to be Responsible for intercepting the Monsters that rush back after Respawning..."
Druv was still rambling on the side. Sigh, sigh, let's just leave these troublesome Matters to Druv. I'm out of here first.