573 It’s Been a While (2/2)

But when he looked at the ship that seemed to resemble a black hole. His heart couldn't help but pound, despite him not knowing why. A huge chill went down his spine, and extinguishing the spark of anguish he felt, as he finally realized the strangeness of it all.

One can earn as much money as one wants to. Worst come to worst, one can do so by robbing, no big deal, he thought. But one only has one life.

”What are yall waiting for? Let's go.” He took the cigar from the corner of his mouth, threw it into the seawater below the steps, and walked away. The red-hot cigar traced an arc in the air, penetrated the mist and fell into the water. At the moment the fire went out, it seemed to have illuminated a face. For a split-second, Conrad thought that it was just his mind playing tricks on him.

The next moment, the calm surface of the dead silent seawater was suddenly broken. The demon lurking underneath pounced suddenly. Cold water droplets splashed and a thick suffocating stench filled the air. Its speed was incredibly fast. In just an instant, it overwhelmed him. Its jaws opened to reveal two rows of sharp teeth, and pressed down at his throat.

Crack. The sound of cervical vertebra breaking rang out.

Blood splashed, and his head fell from his shoulders.

Screams sounded one after another as well.

The initially deathly silent sea boiled in a sudden. Countless dark shadows emerged from it, breaking the water surface, and climbed out. They leaped onto the port, looking for the traces of every living thing.

Unlike the Murlocs from the previous attack, which were used as feed and consumables, the demons attacking this time were even weirder. They had no feet, but long snake-like tails, and four arms each. Unlike ordinary demons, they showed no signs of slowing down after leaving the water. Instead, they swayed their tails to propel themselves, achieving an incredibly fast speed.

In the blink of an eye, they overwhelmed several thugs who were infamous for their brutality.

The people who finally managed to react unsheathed their swords and battled with the demons. However, except for a few who obviously had military experience or underwent special training and cultivation, others could hardly sustain their efforts.

Several musicians immediately formed a circle with Watson in the middle to protect him, then only activated their musical movements. They attempted a counterattack, but was interrupted by several loud bangs. The smuggling boat docked at the shore suddenly shook. The hull ruptured, and several gigantic, beast-like demons climbed out of the crack. They leaped onto the port and started devouring people.

Through the crack in the hull, one could see the torn boxes inside. The hiding places of the creatures were self-evident. The creatures that had made their ways out of the boxes were still proliferating. They had no hair on their bodies, but were covered in a layer of scales. As if they had just been born, the soft scales that were originally moist, hardened quickly. Soon, weird crisp sounds rang out from their skulls, which were covered with strange hair, and sharp horns grew out of their foreheads.

For the monsters which were as big as elephant calves, the killing of enemies was far more important than the hunt for flesh and blood. They did not take a second look at the blood on the ground, but continued to attack anything that was still moving aggressively.

Someone risked his life and pierced through a demon's scales with brute force, but the parasites and acids that spurted out of its abdomen after that made him scream.

”The demons are not of naturally-existing species.” Watson tapped the handle of the wheelchair and raised his brow slightly. ”Natural evolution will not result in such targeting behavior... It is a species cultivated by dark musicians.” He seemed to have understood something, and the corners of his mouth turned up to form a sneer.

The sound of birds flapping their wings rang out. Under the wheelchair, it was as if a pigeon cage was opened.

One, two... countless robins of a cyan color emerged from under the wheelchair, flew up, tweeted crisply, and flew at their prey. They were only flying birds, but they gave off a resplendent glow in the darkness. Their wings did not consist of feathers, but of flames!

Flames that burned in an iron-blue color flared on them. The power from the Son of Phoenix incorporated the destructive heat from the path of modifications into bestiality, and the thousands of birds gathered into a torrent. Under the control of their summoner, they produced a low humming sound that cut off all other noises, and swept across the entire harbor. In a flash, the situation had been reversed.

”Powerful indeed.” The musician, who was his bodyguard, couldn't help but sigh. Such attainments could be considered shocking, and even musicians like him who had long made names for themselves were far less powerful.

Just watching Watson made him feel ashamed.

But while Watson was focusing on controlling the huge flock of birds, a crisp cracking sound suddenly sounded from the ground.

The brick-paved ground suddenly bulged.

Following the waves of aether from Watson, a demon that had sneaked into the quagmire from the seawater and hid under the soil suddenly made its way out. Stirring up a stinking gust of wind, it rushed at Watson.

It was incredibly quick!

At the moment, everyone's expression changed, but it was too late for them to do anything. In a flash, only a cold glint flashed across the air. From the cracked handle of the wheelchair, a slender dagger popped out, its metal glint tracing an arc in the air, and fell into Watson's hands. He flipped his wrist and stabbed down.

It was like a fleeting meteor.

A miserable whine sounded. The worm-like demon had been nailed securely to the ground and struggled with all its might.

Just as everyone was relieved, Watson grew impatient. He turned back, and looked at the shadows in the distance. ”How much longer are you going to stay there and watch?”

In the shadows, someone rubbed his face awkwardly, ”Oh, I've been discovered?”

Watson gave him a cold look, and said unceremoniously, ”Come and help.”

”Sure.” In the shadows, the newcomer smiled and stepped forward. The broken lantern that fell on the ground illuminated the robe draped on him and the right hand he lifted. His pale index finger ignited a wisp of flame and pressed it on the pipe at the corner of his mouth. So, in the misty smoke, the pipe was lit. The reddish tobacco leaves burnt as if a fuse that was extended into the sky had been lit.

At the next moment, a terrifying glow emerged from the dark clouds suddenly. It was a furious thunder, and burnt the iron-black clouds red.

Whistling sounds burst forth one after another. Several dozens of fiery fires cut across the sky and descended as if God had cast knives of punishment. Activated by the purifying musicians, stakes smashed towards the ground, shaking the earth. Everyone staggered and almost lost their balance.

After that, a horrifying heat burst forth, accurately engulfing each and every demon, and pulled anything that exuded the aura of non-humans into the frightening inferno. In the end, in the dead silence, only gulps could be heard from the people witnessing the feat.

The men holding their weapons looked each other blankly, their faces illuminated by the raging fire.

It only took an instant before all the demons disappeared as if they had never been born. All of them were exterminated in the flames, and the fire purified everything.

Under the piercing light of the bonfire, silver hair was caught up in the hot wind. In the thin smoke that was slowly dissipating, the young man in the purple robe tilted his head and looked at one of his few remaining friends. So, he smiled happily.

”Hey, Watson.” He said, ”It's been a while.”