Chapter 1144: Changes to the Surroundings
Chapter 1144: Changes to the Surroundings
Transforming someone and evolution has always been a problem for the Silverstar Pack.
Mainly, there were uncertainties involved.
Not to mention, the Werewolves within the Silverstar Pack always had a unique bloodline due to the System being a part of their transformation. It was always new bloodlines that Rex and the others needed to learn and adapt.
Preparations are preferable, but they couldn't prepare for something like this.
It was random, the path of evolution can't be predicted.
Just like now, there was no way of knowing Evelyn turning into a Purple Regalia Werewolf.
Upon Adhara claiming to be the host, Evelyn's state calmed down.
She was not moaning in pain anymore—but even then, she passed out when the Luna mark was deactivated. Rex checked on her vitals, and he found that there were no abnormalities, and that alone was a relief.
But now, their attention turned to Adhara who had no clue of what had happened.
Also, the mark on her showed that the process was completed.
In an unknown method, Adhara was now bound to Evelyn through the new bloodline.
As all eyes turned to him, Flunra included as he didn't know what this meant—Rex pondered and set straight the facts of the situation first. Evelyn had indeed evolved, and there was no apparent issue up to now. Next, Flunra had indicated that her bloodline required a host—like a parasite. Lastly, there was a number 1 mark on Adhara.
Contemplating about the fact for a few seconds, he gains a possible insight.
"That mark might indicate that you are the first host," Rex said.
Seeing that the others were still confused as to what he meant by that, he elaborated, "Since Evelyn was fine even though she already evolved, and the problem only arises now when she absorbed a huge amount of energy, then that means her bloodline reacted to how strong she was becoming. Right now she only needs one host—but as she gets stronger she might need more hosts"
Upon hearing this, Adhara looked down at her marks gain, "So I'm host number 1?"
"Yes. We didn't know what that meant yet—it might even be a good thing," Rex assured.
It was a bloodline evolution, and he was certain that the effects would be good.
Glancing at Kyran, he then said, "For now, bring her back to her room. I need to go outside,"
Kyran nodded and brought Evelyn into her chamber alongside Adhara.
Regardless of the uncertainties brought by the Purple Regalia Werewolf bloodline—Evelyn is stable for the time being, and it's best for her to rest. Later when she was awake, they could resume the discussion about her bloodline, when she could express her feelings.
Aside from her condition, there was another serious matter Rex needed to attend to.
Nodding to Flunra, the two of them went out of the castle.
Just as the two stepped outside and landed on the castle walls, they were greeted by a huge chunk of the northwest city walls that the Second Breath obliterated. It exposed the inside of the city to any external threats.
Knowing that there were a lot of cursed creatures outside, this was a bad predicament.
Unlike Rex, the people don't have protection against cursed energy.
At the scent of life and fresh meat, the cursed creatures crowded the breach on the walls.
However, even from a distance, Flunra could see Delta and Ugrok were guarding there.
Both were making sure that the cursed creatures couldn't get inside.
It was quite a fast response and Flunra couldn't help but praise them for their alertness.
"Hmm, I really thought that the city would be able to hold on, but I underestimated the power of nature too much. Even with the materials that could sustain combined efforts—from ninth-rank realm entities, the walls crumbled," Rex mused to himself, frowning at the sight.
Flunra nodded in agreement, "Nobody could go against the world itself, it's impossible,"
"Based on this, I guess I could agree with that," Rex replied before moving again.
Sweeping through the city, Rex and Flunra found that the people were mostly fine and well.
Under the coordinated efforts of the city guards—who care for the safety of the city and its people—the debris resulting from the destruction of the walls was successfully intercepted, none of them were able to reach the residential areas, sparing them from big casualties.
Of course, even though this was good, there are side effects to doing this.
Helping the people sacrificed them to become stronger.
As the destruction happened during the initial process of the Second Breath, the city guards who decided to help the people—were not able to capitalize on the spike in energy. Because of that, the formations Flunra made for them became useless.
Regardless of that, Rex was not angry at them as this was the right thing to do.
Even though about two-thirds of the city guards didn't get stronger—Rex and the others did.
It was enough for them to take care of the city while the Silverstar Pack stayed in meditation.
"Go on ahead without me, I'll check on the city guards," Flunra said.
Many of the city guards were severely exhausted and injured from trying to protect all of the populace of the city. Not to mention—the people who were beginning to come out when the earthquakes stopped were showcasing their unrest.
An additional challenge that they would need to deal with.
Out of everything, they were mostly concerned about the damages the city endured.
Flunra knew that the city would recover itself, the damages were not going to be a problem, as Rex already said himself—that the city has the ability to heal itself. Some of the populace should know that too, but they were in need of assurance.
He would become that assurance.
Upon hearing this, Rex nodded in response and headed to where Ugrok and Delta were.
Nearing the location, he found that there were already a couple of cursed creatures.
Delta and Ugrok were dealing with them quite well.
Knowing that they were physically stronger than these cursed creatures, they were able to maul, and knock them around without much difficulty. None of them were able to enter the breach on the wall with those two around.
It's relatively safe for them to buy time before the city guards come to help.
Despite that, they still need to be careful against cursed creatures.
Even though they were nothing, not even above the fifth epiphany, they were unable to be killed by others without cursed energy easily. Delta and Ugrok could crush them with their strength alone, but killing the cursed creatures would need more than that.
Just like the curse of love in the past, some of them might even have special abilities.
As opposed to helping them, Rex leaped onto the city wall.
First and foremost after the initiation of the Second Breath was completed, he would need to assess, the change in his surroundings. Judging from the cursed creatures, he expected that the Humming Damned Forest still surrounded the city.
He turned out to be right, but there was a twist to that.
Unlike before, the Humming Damned Forest became two or even three times bigger.
Rex could still see the edge from atop the city wall—but it was way further than before.
On top of that, the trees seemed to grow taller a couple of meters.
Aside from the size, the Humming Damned Forest didn't seem to change—but there was one thing, that seized his attention. Beyond the edge of the forest—there was this thick mist that was taller than even the castle walls.
It was never there, so this mist is definitely new.
"If that mist surrounded us like the forest, then it's going to be a problem," Rex mused lightly.
Not only the obstruction of view, would be bad for others to visit Dargena City, the chance of the mist being dangerous would worsen the situation. Before he explored the mist, there was a big chance that they were cut off from the outside.
Despite the situation of the world has calmed down, communication is still key.
And for that, this mist is an obstacle to communication.
Gaining a proper view of the surroundings, Rex descends down from the city wall.
Landing outside of the city wall—Rex steadied his breath and put his hand on the ground.
Harnessing his black lightning mana—he summoned crackling electricity into his palm before releasing it into the earth below. In an instant, the black lighting surged through the depth of the forest—giving Rex a preliminary scan of the terrain and also its inhabitants.
"I couldn't feel any mutated animals or cursed creatures, is the forest blocking me?"
Frowning, Rex straightened his back, and shook his head as that was unlikely, "No, my mana went through but there is nothing alive inside. But that shouldn't be true either—considering the cursed creatures that are trying to go inside the city through the breach"
Not giving up, he now expanded his cursed energy.
If he couldn't penetrate the forest with mana, then he would try using his cursed energy.
After doing that, he was met with the same result.
Even though Rex couldn't sense anything inside the forest, he could feel that his premonition, the one he trusted most during battle was telling him that the forest was dangerous. And due to that, he would heed its warnings.
Also, he didn't forget what Flunra said to him about the Second Breath.
Flunra said the concentration of energy would be restored and even surpassed the usual.
Just like during the Supernatural Emergence—the ones who mutated first before the humans did were the animals. Because of that, after the fierce war induced by the First Breath—all of the races would be forced on defense.
Animals would reign supreme, and that domination would last quite long.
Only when there was someone who could reach the apex again did their domination end.
"Later, I would lead a scouting party myself to scout the forest," Rex mused.
Meanwhile, at the back of the castle.
Gelmar, Dindora, and Linthia opened their eyes and consolidated their surge of energy.
Similar to the Silverstar Pack, they also got way stronger than before.
Because of Gelamr's and Dindora's evolution to a higher-rank bloodline—they required more time to consolidate their robust energies. Linthia, having completed her meditation ahead of the others, sighed upon noticing that the others were still in meditation.
Not going to idle, she departed from the area.
Upon hearing the loud crashing sound earlier, she feared the city was significantly damaged.
She wanted to help before, but they were instructed to stay and meditate.
Reaching outside the castle grounds, she found that the city guards were running around.
Most of them are dealing with the aftermath of the destruction.
Looking over at the northwest wall, she gasped seeing that it had collapsed entirely.
However, considering the magnitude of the earthquakes—she quickly recovered, as this kind of damage should be expected. But then, instead of addressing the city guards, she came to remember the conversation she had with the Orc.
Surely, it must've been something important for the Orc to be desperate to talk to her.
Going back to the neighborhood of her office, she looked around.
Knowing that she might want to return to the conversation she had with the Orc, Linthia had already placed a magical token in the Orc's pocket, ensuring she could locate him later. With this assurance, she deduced that the Orc remained in the vicinity of the office.
Heading there, she found that there were big rubbles across the street.
It was big enough, and with its sturdy material, even a sixth-rank realm entity would die if got hit by the rubbles. Just then, she remembered something, "Is he alright? He didn't come from here, so he must've been outside all this while..."
Taking a turn, she then stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of a figure.
A figure that was sprawled on the concrete ground.
Judging from the green skin that this figure had, it was evident who this figure was.
It was the Orc she was searching for.
"You! Call the healers right now!!" Linthia pointed and shouted at a nearby city guard.
Upon hearing this, the city guard nodded and instantly shouted for a healer.
On the other hand, Linthia supported the Orc's head and found that his chest was caved in.
He must've been hit by a random rubble and got knocked out.
But even though it should be fine, the blood below him was concerning.