Betimia Bloodstorm
"Living ones, leave this place at once!"
A woman's voice sounded, filled more with a well-intentioned warning than threat.
Hearing this, Serea turned and looked back, only to see a magically sealed stone coffin slowly opening, revealing a woman with a delicate face inside.
Like other bloodthirsty banshees, she had long silver hair and blood-red eyes. Yet at this moment, scars covered her body, as if she had suffered cruel torture.
Character: Betimia Bloodstorm (Undead, Bloodthirsty Banshee, Novice Mage, Epic)
Level: 28
Status: Weakened
Spirit: S
Strength: C
Agility: B
Endurance: C
Constitution: B
Charisma: S
Luck: C
Skills: Death Shock (Tier 1), Psionic Scream (Tier 1), Bloodstained Hands (Tier 2), Song of the Dead (Tier 2), Soul Sacrifice (Tier 4)
Description: In life, she was a powerful mental mage; in death, she was resurrected as a 'Bloodthirsty Banshee', and transformed into a unique individual.
Seeing the introduction for the person—cough, corpse—in front of her, Serea was startled.
What kind of monsters were living in this ancient tomb!?
No, that wasn't the main point—the point lay in her surname...
Bloodstorm!
Connecting this with her own current surname, Otto! No, Bloodstorm!
Serea was convinced that the person before her must be related to her in some way.
"Living ones, I'll warn you once again—leave this place at once!"
"Uh... even if you say that, we can't leave."
Serea glanced at the sealed stone door. Was she supposed to go Blood Frenzy and hammer it open herself?
Although the guardian gargoyle could smash open the stone door, Serea didn't want to suffer such consequences.
"Too late..."
Suddenly, Betimia sighed. She shook her head and stepped out of the coffin, holding a staff set with a blood-red gemstone. Betimia aimed the staff directly at Serea.
Danger!
The Skeleton Warriors acted first, clanging their shields into place and forming a barrier with their bodies and steel shields, shielding Serea behind them.
But at this moment, the other ten bloodthirsty banshees could also move freely. Although reluctance was clear in their eyes, they had no choice but to do it!
Five assassins vanished into stealth, while the remaining five archers drew their bows and nocked their arrows!
They aimed at the shield wall, but Little White and Vina were one step ahead of them.
Triple Shot!
Deadeye!
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
The arrows flew. The banshees instinctively dodged, but in the end, they were struck in the arms and shoulders.
But to their undead bodies, this counted for little. Moreover, one of the banshees had already fired her arrow, directly aiming at the opposing archer—Vina!
Wind Shot!
The arrow sped straight toward the shield wall, and then something bizarre happened—the arrow curved around at an angle the Skeleton Warriors couldn't defend, slipping through the defenses.
"Vina!"
Seeing the attack targeting Vina, Lola shouted, but Vina hadn't expected her opponent could shoot arrows right into the shield wall.
Now, with the arrow before her, dodging was nearly impossible.
"Get back!"
Luckily, Serea had been wary at all times. Seeing the arrow veer off course, she instantly pulled Vina out of the way.
Rip!
The arrowhead slashed across the back of Serea's hand, but Vina was pushed clear by her.
"Hiss—!"
Serea clutched her arm. Pain stabbed through her, and she couldn't help but suck in a breath.
"My Queen!"
Seeing that the queen had been injured protecting her, the guilt that had not yet left Vina's heart surged up once more.
She had put Lola in danger, caused the queen to fall into a coma, and now the queen was injured for her sake again. Vina felt profoundly powerless and remorseful.
"Pull yourself together. Their arrows are strange; if you feel it's too risky, don't bother trading shots for now."
Serea gave an honest suggestion, but this unknowingly stung Vina even more.
Indeed, now at level 16 she was no longer up to much; as an archer, even Little White had completely surpassed her.
So weak... all she did was hold them back...
"Little Black, go!"
Serea didn't notice Vina's anomaly—right now, she just wanted to focus on the battle, for the enemy before them was difficult to handle.
Little Black darted out of stealth, accelerating toward the opposing archer, but halfway there, he suddenly sensed an unusual presence.
Swish swish swish!
Blades swept in.
Little Black used his twin claws and bone tail to block three bloodthirsty banshees who had appeared out of nowhere. Just then, two others canceled their 'Bloody Phantom Veil' stealth.
Two daggers stabbed toward Little Black's eye sockets—the banshees immediately targeted his weakness.
Seeing this, Little Black had no choice but to trade wounds; he slashed out with his bone blades to block the fatal blows, barely staving off a fatal wound. But the other two daggers pierced his chest.
Armor Break!
Crack!
Little Black's bone armor shattered. He swept his bone tail and forced the banshees back.
Both sides retreated a few steps—neither gaining the advantage.
But after opening the distance, all five banshees once again used 'Bloody Phantom Veil,' slipping into stealth.
Little Black realized that a direct confrontation would only leave him vulnerable to sneak attacks. Furthermore, their armor-break skill could harm him.
Phantom Veil!
Little Black entered Phantom Veil himself and slowed his pace. Now, neither side could detect the other—a real assassin's duel!
Or not...
The very next second, Little Black appeared right in front of one banshee archer.
Arm Blade Thrust! Blade Rend!
Splurt!
A spray of blood erupted as Little Black dashed in and blasted her head off.
Seeing themselves outplayed, the five banshees chased after him, but Little Black was already racing toward the next target.
"You seven and the skeletons help Little Black! The rest defend!"
Seeing the enemy's attacks were full of deception, and knowing that defensive command was too passive, Serea opted for a proactive assault.
She ordered seven Skeleton Warriors and eight skeletons to charge the enemy archers.
The warriors charged. The archers, seeing this, began to retreat, firing as they fell back.
When the Skeleton Warriors gave chase, several banshees leapt out—targeting one of the rearmost Skeleton Warriors.
Backstab!
Armor Break!
Daggers stabbed into the Skeleton Warrior's vulnerable neck. A Skeleton Warrior lost its combat ability!
Though Serea could use Resurrect to raise it, now was hardly the time.
Resurrect!
Death Shock!
A wall of vines surged up, blocking Betimia's attack. After fending her off, Lola began chanting another spell to heal Serea's wounds.
At the same time, Celia used Holy Light to remove the blood poison from Serea's wound.
Danger!
Suddenly, a banshee burst in from behind. A Skeleton Warrior raised its shield, knocking her away—only for another banshee to appear behind Serea.
Draw Sword Slash!
A golden light flared along the blade in Celia's hand, piercing the banshee's abdomen. But as undead, the banshee wasn't afraid of pain or injury.
But Holy Light—now that was something to fear...
"Ah—!"
A piercing scream sounded as Celia's blade erupted with even more intense holy radiance.
Ssss!
Black smoke curled off the banshee as Holy Light's purifying power burned away the deathly force within her.
As the deathly power was cleansed, the banshee suddenly began to smile.
"Thank you... I'm finally free..."
With those words, the banshee let her arms fall, collapsing as her body rapidly rotted away.
(To be continued...)