Although things were a bit rushed, the two sisters had already caught a clear glimpse of the mask’s appearance during the brief encounter.

 

“Sister… isn’t this the same one we saw before…?”

 

“Yes, it seems everything is going according to that lord’s prediction.”

 

Leila glanced sideways at the remaining cultists of the Eternal Throne behind them, only to find that they hadn’t launched a coordinated attack following the appearance of the black-and-white mask.

 

Instead, they looked as if they had seen a ghost and began retreating at the fastest speed, quickly fleeing to the lower levels, as if they had completely lost the will to fight.

 

“They’re not from the same faction, it’s more like setting a tiger against a wolf… Hmm, this is valuable information and must be reported to Lady Violet…”

 

Muttering softly to herself in a voice only she could hear, Leila did not stop the cultists from retreating.

 

The opposing side is a large organization with strict behavior and clear objectives. From their intense resistance earlier to the current collective retreat without hesitation, it was evident that they must have some high-level coordination and command. Their daring actions indicated they were certain the sisters would be too preoccupied to intervene.

 

And indeed, this was the case. Even with a simple weighing of pros and cons, combined with the brief skirmish just now, Leila could easily judge that continuing to fight these people at this moment would expose their backs to the truly threatening enemies in the passageway, a risk they could not afford.

 

Taking a deep breath, the girl watched as more and more grotesque figures slowly emerged from the passageway they had just come through, gripping her weapon tightly.

 

“Rene… we need to get serious, this is going to be a tough battle.”

 

Facing a formidable opponent, the other girl, usually a bit flippant, gradually became serious.

 

“I understand, sister.”

 

The grotesque figures, controlled by the black-and-white mask, emerged one by one, fully revealing their forms.

 

“Hee hee hee…”

 

On their faces, crazed and chaotic expressions appeared, as if reflecting the countless extremes of human emotions, which gathered together and transformed into a formless storm, sweeping forth and condensing into a bone-chilling aura of danger.

 

It wasn’t these figures themselves, but what was behind them, connected through the mask, something that faintly exuded a hint of fangs… the “One.”

 

Their eerie eyes all focused on the two girls.

 

“Light… the scent of light! So strong! Seek the light! Follow the master’s will!!”

 

“Seek 【It】! Seek 【It】! For the reward!”

 

“Charge!!!”

 

The grotesque figures moved with chaotic steps, like a ridiculous dance party.

 

“Rene!”

 

“Got it! High-level magic enhancement… huh?”

 

Just as the high-pitched, instantaneous spell was halfway cast, it abruptly stopped as if something had interrupted it. The girl couldn’t help but let out a low, confused murmur.

 

It wasn’t due to some strange and unfathomable mental attack from the enemy, but because their next move was so irrational, so bizarre, that Rene, with her somewhat immature mind, was momentarily stunned.

 

Just as the grotesque figures were about to reach them, they suddenly froze in place, as if someone had pressed a pause button. They remained in their bizarre postures, then, in unison, turned their heads to look upward at a particular angle.

 

【It】 said: 【Found it.】

 

They said:

 

“Light! We found it! It’s the light!!!”

 

“For the master!!!”

 

“Offer it to the master!!!”

 

And so, the grotesque figures moved forward, every single one of them, without looking back, rushing out of the passage. Nothing could stop their steps, and none of the grotesque creatures hesitated.

 

Oh… but there was indeed one exception.

 

It was a plain-looking woman with brown hair, dressed similarly to most of the grotesque figures in something resembling prison garb.

 

She had been positioned toward the rear of the group, slightly disconnected from them, and was also wearing a similar black-and-white mask that concealed her face.

 

From her slightly stiff movements and the fact that she had already turned halfway, it was evident that she had been planning to slip away through a side passage, intending to quietly separate herself from the group.

 

However, due to the sudden, unexpected turn of events that surprised both sides, she was instead directly exposed in front of the two white-feathered girls.

 

And so, feeling utterly bewildered, the two sides’ gazes met in the air, leading to an equally puzzled exclamation that was entirely different from the grotesque creatures.

 

“…Huh?”

 

……………………..

 

Grotesque figures surged from all directions.

 

This was the first time Violet had witnessed their eerie nature firsthand.

 

However, the girl had already figured out that these creatures were known as the 【Faceless One】, a group said to exist only in mythology, yet somehow they had suddenly appeared in the Western Capital in large numbers.

 

It was strange. It seemed as if they were targeting the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild. Not only did they brazenly show up in broad daylight, which was unusual, but they also ignored most passersby and relentlessly attacked the defensive line formed by the association’s guards, as if they were searching for something inside.

 

After emerging from the Merchant Guild’s building, a certain Miss White Fox had already leaped onto the rooftop and observed the scene for quite some time.

 

Although this attack came suddenly and inexplicably, from a certain perspective, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for the Bright Light City and the Bright Light Saintess.

 

The true terror of the 【Faceless One】 didn’t lie in their combat strength, but in their nearly limitless ability to assimilate others. If they had remained hidden in the shadows, continuously spreading their influence, the threat they posed would have been far greater than it was now.

 

Cutting out a tumor might cause temporary bleeding and weakness, but it was far better than a slow, chronic death.

 

However, for the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild, which had inexplicably become the target of this attack, it was hardly a fortunate situation.

 

Although the depth of their resources and strength revealed in this crisis far exceeded Violet’s expectations, they still suffered casualties when facing an enemy as bizarre as the 【Faceless One】, who had only ever existed in myth.

 

A grand barrier, centered around the association’s building, now covered nearly half of the surrounding block. The streets had long been emptied of people. Most had either fled or, realizing the danger, had barricaded themselves inside their homes.

 

The few who lacked both the means and the sense to escape had already been transformed into companions of the 【Faceless One】 during their initial wave of attacks.

 

The assimilation process of the 【Faceless One】 is quite simple. The black-and-white masks they wear are not lifeless objects. Given the slightest opportunity, they will shed an additional, slightly thinner mask—much like a snake shedding its old skin—which will then leap toward its target.

 

These masks have a physical form and possess enough intelligence to move with agility. While they can be shattered or dodged, it is typically nearly impossible for an ordinary person to evade them repeatedly unless they have at least Obsidian Steel-level speed and reaction time.

 

Once the mask covers a person’s face, it will quickly assimilate them into a Faceless One within a short time, leaving almost no chance for resistance. This is the strongest and only lethal move of the 【Faceless One】.

 

Their bodies themselves don’t seem particularly powerful, they likely only retain the abilities their original forms had, with their bodies serving merely as vessels for the mask. As long as one is prepared for the sudden, deadly attack, a truly strong individual can completely withstand them.

 

However… in a scenario involving group combat, or when the number of 【Faceless One】 increases, the threat posed by this assimilation ability escalates rapidly and visibly.

 

After all, you might be able to dodge one or two masks, but what if the number increased tenfold or even a hundredfold?

 

Moreover, even when the body of a Faceless One is killed, its mask doesn’t seem to immediately lose its vitality. Like a dying counterattack, the entire mask can suddenly detach and launch a final attack, making it difficult to defend against.

 

If there were no other factors involved, it’s highly likely that a legendary-level warrior like Mr. 【Dead Soul】 could have been successfully ambushed for similar reasons.