Read Novel Full Chapter 665: Situation?
Chapter 665: Situation?
‘They’re only coming at me physically.’
Marionette floated inside the sea of the dark world, her knees brought to her chest, and her arms wrapped around them. After killing one of the Bloodhounds, Marionette had taken a fetal position.
She was reflecting deeply on what had happened only a few moments ago and discovered that, besides the use of Monsters, the Bloodhound hadn’t used anything else outside of their techniques and physicality.
If she were in their place, she would’ve definitely used some magical method to keep her restrained until she gave in. Just to stop her from pulling something unexpected, like what had just happened.
‘Could it be they’re unable to?’ Marionette thought, still drifting in the dark world.
She did remember something about a Blood Binding… Could that have something to do with them not being able to use their magic to their fullest potential?
‘If so, Damien must’ve connected the Blood Binding to a mechanism inside their bodies…’
If Marionette understood Damien well enough, which wasn’t difficult to do, she would guess that the Darkhound had devised the Blood Binding to act in a way to prevent betrayal.
So, unless given permission by Damien, the Bloodhounds were restricted from using their personal items or other abilities.
And if they were to disobey that, the Blood Binding was most likely linked to a mysterious mechanism that would inflict severe backlash on the Bloodhound, be it through immense pain or even death.
A Blood Binding this immorally controlling was something only someone like Damien would use.
‘A dog putting shock collars and leashes onto others…’ Marionette thought before shifting her attention to the next topic.
The Cult of Jesters.
At this point, with the appearance of the Cultist Priest, she had deduced that there was most likely an invasion happening in the Darkhound territory.
And from how the Bloodhounds are working with the Cultist Priest, she could only assume the Darkhound family was colluding with the Cult of Jesters.
She sighed deeply with a bothered look on her face.
She wanted no part in this mess.
She just wanted to see Lillian…
Marionette pulled her knees tighter against her chest, feeling aggravated with her deductions. Why did this have to happen now, of all times? Why couldn’t they have waited just a few more seconds, just so she could clear the air between her and Lillian?
She cursed the Cult of Jesters. And when she did that, she felt the voice of her irritating aunt whisper into her ear from her earpiece.
Click.
“Niece~… how’re you holding up over there? Not too busy cuddling up with your girl~?”
Marionette grumbled and placed her finger over the earpiece.
“No. What do you want, Thorn of Roses?”
“Call me aunt~! It’s only just us on the line—”
“No. Now, what do you want? I’m busy.”
“Haaa…”
Thorn of Roses let out an exaggerated sigh, seemingly saddened by Marionette’s refusal to call her aunt. Albeit, the tone she used for what she said next made one think otherwise.
“Crown of Roses and King of Ravens are on course to arrive to the Darkhound territory along with Hound of Ruin.”
Marionette’s eyes shot wide open; the stoic look on her face immediately vanished.
They were on course to arrive? But why? And why were her father and the Nightraven Patriarch together with the Darkhound Patriarch?! What secrets were being kept from here!?
“When did those three start fighting? How long will it take before they reach here?”
“It’ll be around 30 minutes until they arrive. And they began their battle last night. From the looks of it, from where I am, those three look like they have plenty of steam left to burn~… I suggest you find somewhere safe when they arrive.”
“So soon!?” Marionette shouted, deeply concerned.
For any other situation, 30 minutes could be considered a lot.
But in this situation, she already had a lot on her plate. First, she needed to somehow take down all 5 remaining Bloodhounds, or escape if it came to it, then she needed to find Lillian, which was going to prove difficult. Because not only did she not know where she was, but she had also yet to place a tracker on the Rabbit!
Now, with the looming, catastrophic battle between two 4th Tier mages and one 5th Tier mage to top everything off, the tower of worries on her plate had begun to wobble.
‘Even if my deductions about the Bloodhounds’ Blood Bindings are correct, to kill all of them in under thirty minutes, while having time to spare to look for Lillian… to do all this in such a small amount of time is not possible…’
Marionette bit her bottom lip from distress, her shoulders shaking with unease.
“Oh~ dear! Sorry, my dear Niece, but I’ll have to go now. I’ll make sure to arrive as fast I can, though, but I think Gardener will get there first.”
“Wait, don’t leave yet—”
Click.
Like her aunt was hanging up the call, the earpiece in her ear made another soft click, aggravating her. She then let out another sigh before looking upwards, staring at the dark puddle she came through.
‘Whatever… I don’t have time to think about anything else, nor ask questions. I just need to get out of here alive and in good conditions.’
Right now, she suspected the Bloodhounds above to be waiting for her outside. From what she did to that centipede, she doubted they would send it in again to confront her.
…
And she was right.
They didn’t send in the centipede. But something much larger.
Entering through the dark puddle she had created was a muscular arm covered in white fur, dark-bluish skin, and four fingers with an opposable thumb like that of an ape.
And it was extending towards her, as if it had no limit to its length!
The scene of it coming straight towards her was daunting, making her feel as though she was a fish in a shallow pond that was about to be fished out by a giant.
Marionette immediately willed the darkness around her to move and struck the arm. But when she did that, she failed to realise the glowing red eyes of a shadowy insect.