“Violet! What are you doing!”

 

Feeling the breath coming from her fingertips, Violet, with a sudden burst of urgency behind her, smoothly returned within the confines of the 【Light Blessing】 barrier. She faced Sigrid, who wore an angry expression.

 

“I know you’re powerful, but going directly into the death mist with your body is too dangerous! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!”

 

“Oh, calm down. Look, I’m perfectly fine.”

 

Raising her unchanged delicate hand, the black-haired girl casually smiled. She had personally released this barrier, and Violet was well aware of the lethality of the mist upon contact. The reason she voluntarily reached out was merely to have a more direct experience.

 

“Sigrid, do you know what this death mist is?”

 

The girl rolled her eyes, expressing her speechlessness.

 

“How could I understand this bizarre poison mist from the Abyss? Let’s finish observing and get out of here. This thing makes me feel uncomfortable all over.”

 

“Don’t be in a hurry.”

 

Violet smiled again, her face filled with the joy of confirming her speculation.

 

“Speaking of which, you might not believe it, but I’ve seen this thing before.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Sigrid looked surprised, while Leila, who was also good at thinking, was suddenly shocked, as if she had just remembered something.

 

“Lady Violet, are you talking about…?”

 

“Yes, [Southern Calamity]… This is a [Calamity].”

 

This was beyond doubt.

 

Perhaps the manifestation and the reactions on living beings might have some differences, but the essence within, representing the power of [Withering], the laws and abilities, were no different.

 

Perhaps ordinary people couldn’t perceive these things, after all, only a few had truly experienced the power of [Southern Calamity], and combined with the stronger killing power of the gray mist here and some differences in appearance, it made it hard for them to notice. However, Violet had thoroughly understood that law with the power of her soul.

 

She had felt something similar before, and it was only through the recent physical contact that she had completely confirmed this.

 

How should I put it, it was actually within expectations.

 

But there was something worth noting. The death mist created by this [Withering] ability should rapidly wither all life within its range in various senses.

 

However, the abyssal creatures could freely move in and out of it.

 

Based on the sensations just now, the death mist here had to extend at least above the ground and even into the sky for these creatures to move around in it for a short time. Relying on strength to resist this could be ruled out directly, leaving only two possibilities.

 

【Abyssal Creatures】 are not ordinary beings in the conventional sense, and they are not even classified by the laws as “life.”

 

Or perhaps, they themselves are creations of this ability, essentially the same as the death mist.

 

Either way, it’s enough to make people quite concerned.

 

Indeed, coming here was a very correct choice.

 

Violet pointed to the abyssal well below, making a diving motion.

 

“Sigrid, look, those gray mists are continuously flying up unhindered from below the abyss, indicating that there must be a source producing them down there, and it’s connected to this side. So, if I go in reverse now, is it possible to directly reach the opposite lair?”

 

“Huh?!”

 

The captain, whose expression changed immediately out of fear, quickly grabbed Violet’s dress as if afraid that if she didn’t pay attention, this girl would really jump in.

 

Knowing Sigrid’s understanding of this girl’s unpredictable nature, she could actually do it.

 

“Hey hey! Don’t mess around. I’m telling you, Lady Felina specifically told me to keep an eye on you and not let you do anything dangerous. Even if you’re confident, rushing into the abyss alone is too reckless!”

 

“Hahaha~”

 

Leila, who was standing beside them, couldn’t bear to watch any longer. She pulled the sleeve of the 【Wings of Freedom】 lady who was only a bit older than her, with a face full of helplessness.

 

“Miss Sigrid, Lady Violet is just teasing you. In fact, she is more careful and cautious than you think. She wouldn’t do something reckless like rushing into the abyss.”

 

“Oh, Leila, you’re taking away all the fun… Ugh, don’t hit my head, Sigrid. It’s just a joke!”

 

“Violet!!!”

 

On the side, the four legendary priests from the 【Sky Temple】 watched the girls playing with amusement. They were amazed. Sigrid, whom they had seen grow up since childhood, had a character that they knew very well. Miss Violet must have noticed the suppressed feelings in this girl’s heart, deliberately making the atmosphere so lively.

 

However, despite the imminent arrival at the battlefield, she seemed not at all nervous. Moreover, she easily helped everyone resist the death mist with a golden barrier. Could it be true, as Her Majesty the Feathered Emperor said, that she is a transcendent-level powerhouse?

 

The people, each with their own thoughts, didn’t stay above the abyss well for too long. There were still many abyssal creatures lingering nearby. In just a short while, many of them had noticed the group and rushed over to attack.

 

Although these ordinary enemies, who didn’t consume much life, were nothing for at least legendary-level top-notch experts, their target was the abyssal worm, and there was no need to entangle with these foot soldiers.

 

Without even making a move, Violet manipulated the barrier of 【Light Blessing】 to push aside the abyssal creatures blocking their way and headed straight towards the north.

 

…………………………

 

Bertram Grace stood at the high point of the fortress, putting down the distant-viewing gem in his hand. He stared at the evil monsters surging like a tide from the distance, with an indomitable expression that couldn’t dispel the clouds of worry.

 

In his entire life, he had never fought such a frustrating battle.

 

This couldn’t even be considered a war. If this outstanding general, who was only forty years old and had been guarding the city of Watch Abyss and the southern border of the Human United Kingdom for many years as a duke, were to describe it, he would prefer to call it resisting a natural disaster.

 

At the beginning, although he had already received partial information about these so-called “abyssal creatures” through urgent communications, Bertram only regarded them as a kind of peculiar magical beast that grew stronger with devouring.

 

If only that were the case, he had many ways to suppress and counter the enemy’s advance, minimizing his own losses as much as possible.

 

However, when faced with the actual situation, Duke Bertram discovered that it was not that simple at all.

 

The ability to continuously grow stronger through devouring was indeed a terrifying capability, but individually and within the short term of a battle, these abyssal creatures—coming in waves from the abyss—could not show much presence. The true terror of these creatures did not lie solely in their devouring ability.

 

They never tired, required no rest or supplies, were impervious to heat and cold, free from diseases and the troubles of injuries, showed no fear or retreat. Even until their energy was depleted and they perished, or until they were blasted into smithereens by the overwhelming united magic, their combat strength did not diminish at all.

 

Could they still be called living beings?

 

Due to the devouring nature of the abyssal creatures, simply stacking up army numbers was utterly meaningless. Bertram, who had already understood this, didn’t bring too many troops when he hastily marched upon the king’s orders—only fifty thousand soldiers.

 

It seemed that Her Majesty the Queen had anticipated this disaster early on and had already instructed Bertram to prepare accordingly.

 

These were the most elite warriors mobilized from the entire southern region, equipped with multiple organized mage legions and complex military units—a source of pride and the culmination of Bertram’s efforts.

 

However, they proved so fragile in the face of the abyss.