Chapter 707: Spirit (2/2)

”Then what was that for!?”

”...to scare you I guess.” He shrugged. Vendrick then snapped his fingers and the formation suddenly fluctuated.

”W-what did you just do?” She asked.

”None of your business.” Vendrick coldly replied. ”Now tell me, what's your relationship with that Hag and why are you embedded on that tree?”

”What the fuck!? You seriously think that I would willingly cooperate with you after you threatened my life three times in a row? Are you insane? Fuck you! I'm not telling you anything! Hmph! I'm out of here.”

”Good luck with that.” Vendrick wasn't offended with her outburst nor did he send another lightning spear at her. He just sneered instead and watched the spirit in amusement.

Seeing how he reacted, Maria was confused. But then again, she thought that maybe Vendrick was bluffing for whatever reason. Lightning is effective against ghosts and evil but she isn't one of those. She's a spirit, the lightning will hurt yes but it won't be enough to kill her.

On the other hand, staying within a closed space near this madman is the worse idea. That's why her choice was obvious. She turned around swiftly ran towards where she entered. As she ran, she was anticipating Vendrick movement. She told herself that the moment she hears thunder crackling, she'll evade to side and get away from here.

*Bam!!*

Unfortunately, her plans were shattered right before it even began. To her utter shock, she slammed face first at the walls of the blue dome. She felt the pain all over face but it was numbed by her disbelief.

”W-what the hell...” Maria couldn't believe it, how is it possible for her to slam into the dome when she's clearly incorporeal? She's a spirit! She passed through this wall without much obstructions before, why is this happening now?

She then remembered the scene when Vendrick snapped his fingers and the blue dome fluctuated. To her horror, she looked back and saw Vendrick's cold stare and the mocking sneer on his face. That's all the answer she needs.

He was one step ahead of her.

”Aha-ahahaha!” Maria laughed out of frustration and mockery. ”I'll give it to you, you're sharp and sly. You got me. But do you really want to do it like this? Aren't you afraid that I'll call my sister to get me out of here? We're very close just so you know, and she's incredibly powerful that you wouldn't stand a chance.”

”Oh no. Whatever shall I do?” Vendrick's words were obviously sarcastic. ”Boo hoo. Eldest Sister is scary. Boo hoo. I'll die. Boo hoo. How can I possibly let her catch me? It's not like I offended her by killing all of the other Hags so far, I couldn't do something like that. Hags are scary after all. There's no way the small and meek me could even think about such a thing.”

Maria was speechlessly shivering out of frustration and fear, she thought to herself: 'Damn it. I've really stepped on it now. This guy's an insane madman.'

”But...hmm...” Vendrick appeared to be in deep thought, then he continued: ”Actually, you know what? Yeah, go ahead. Do it. Contact your sister for me will you? That way, I'll end her here without alerting the Forest Witch. I can slay her but I wouldn't want the Forest Witch to interfere, since its isolated here, that makes my job easier. Plus, you get to watch as I effortlessly kill her knowing that her death was caused by you since it was you who sent her here.”

”I get to hill her and have witness her death, then I'll also kill you after that. That's a triple win for me. All that will be left is the Forest Witch and my job at the Southern Continent is done. Hah! Just the thought of that excites me. So yeah, why don't you be a dear and call your dear sister here?”

Maria shivered again and again as Vendrick revealed his plans to her. The villainous aura was thick around him and his gaze felt like it needles piercing through her skull.

”Alas, I just remembered that this won't work.” Vendrick sighed, looking at Maria as if he just lost a fortuitous encounter. ”How can you possibly call for her when the silver lining that connects you from your body was neutralized the moment you stepped inside of my base?”

Maria felt an existential crises the moment Vendrick revealed that information to her. She hurriedly looked back and saw that indeed, the silver lining that connected her to her body was neutralized. In fact she almost couldn't feel its existence.

As fear over-shadowed her heart, Maria was pushed to edge of despair. She looked back towards where Vendrick is and to her shock, she saw him crouching mere inches away from her, his cold gaze was freezing. Maria could almost feel that grip of death encroaching upon her.

”...remember this, Spirit.” Vendrick whispered. ”It was never your turn to threaten me. It's always been mine.”

”You have no power here so either do as I say, or watch as I devour you. I'll get what I want anyway.”

”So? What's it going to be?”