Chapter 162: Mist and Madness

“Bam! Bam! Bam!”

An unusual sound pounded against the golden curtain, yet the source was obscured by the dense fog outside, making it appear eerie and strange, causing an involuntary sense of dread to creep in.

The timid Lulu had already been scared back, wrapping her wings around herself like a child hiding their eyes. Xiao Lan, maintaining the barrier, couldn’t help but cast a pleading glance at the black-haired girl beside her.

“Miss Vilyric, there seems to be something strange outside. What should we do now? Do we fight back?”

“No, it seems like…”

“Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!!!”

The knocking sound grew more urgent and heavy, echoing through the thick night mist like a death knell. Yet, Miss Vilyric merely raised an eyebrow, staying composed as she said, “Xiao Lan, let her in.”

【Radiant Protection】 is a defensive magic that can easily adjust and specify its targets. With just a slight adjustment, it still works even in its modified version.

“Understood.”

Since Miss Vilyric spoke, Xiao Lan had nothing to hesitate over.

Nodding thoughtfully, she prepared for any sudden developments. Then, the outer golden barrier rippled like water, and the urgent “bam bam” sounds suddenly ceased, replaced by the image of someone stumbling in!

“Step back.”

Calmly waving her hand, Miss Vilyric took a step forward without immediately summoning her weapon. At that moment, Xiao Lan and Lulu finally saw the true form of the person emerging from the fog.

It was a woman, someone in her early twenties with two short antennae on her head and four membranous wings spreading out from her back—a beautiful girl with pink hair.

With those features almost identical to Lulu’s, the two quickly realized each other’s identity.

“Oh my gosh!”

“Spirit Butterfly Clan? What happened to her…?”

Miss Vilyric did not respond to the two girls’ whispered exclamations. After taking a few steps forward, she stopped in place, keenly observing the odd beauty who was stumbling toward her, her expression frantic and muttering something under her breath.

Undoubtedly, this Spirit Butterfly was having a little mental crisis.

“Who are you?”

Imparting little sincerity, the Priestess girl greeted what she guessed would be a silent response. The mad Spirit Butterfly woman indeed ignored her, swinging her bloodied fist fiercely toward the black-haired girl’s face!

Clearly, the previous “bam bam” sounds were produced by her!

“Miss Vilyric…”

“Oh, quite aggressive, aren’t we~”

“Smack.”

Before Xiao Lan could think of a warning, the Priestess casually raised her arm, easily catching the incoming punch with her small palm.

This punch, seemingly strong and fast, was completely uncoordinated, resembling a chaotic flailing attack driven more by instinct than technique.

Though Miss Vilyric wasn’t adept at close combat, in this case, it was more than enough to handle.

“I heard that Spirit Butterflies rarely rush directly at someone in hand-to-hand combat. Sister, you should utilize your mental abilities against the enemy,” she teased lightly.

“Defend the home! Intruder… die!”

While playfully mocking the odd Spirit Butterfly beauty, the latter continued to mumble the same phrases repeatedly, trying frantically to punch and kick Miss Vilyric, looking like a disgruntled girl throwing a tantrum in the street, her once-beautiful eyes now blood-red.

However, the first punch she threw was effectively pinned by the Priestess’s palm, leaving her with very limited options.

Though she struggled to resist, Miss Vilyric merely sidestepped, stepped forward half a pace, and spun around the Spirit Butterfly beauty, capturing her other flailing arm and pinning it against her back.

“I see, everything the books said was right; this method can quickly subdue most humanoid creatures… Techniques like this are pretty useful?”

“Ah! Intruder!! Intruder!!!”

Even though she was pinned to the ground and unable to move, the Spirit Butterfly beauty, who should have been very graceful, continued shouting frantically, struggling like a madwoman.

At this point, Xiao Lan and Lulu rushed to the scene, observing the peculiar Spirit Butterfly woman with complex expressions, seemingly at a loss for words.

“Miss Vilyric, what happened to her?”

“I can’t make a hasty conclusion yet, Lulu. You two have similar colors, see if you recognize her.”

“She is…”

The similarly pink-haired, pink-winged Spirit Butterfly girl stared at her disheveled kin pinned to the ground by the Priestess, studying her closely for a moment before exclaiming.

“Oh! She—she’s Lady Lotus, one of the three nodes guarding the magic array! Lady Lotus is very powerful; how did she end up like this?”

“Nodes?”

Rather than the fact that this Spirit Butterfly named Lotus was in such a state, the Priestess seemed more interested in the mention of a certain term. Seeing this, Lulu eagerly explained.

“Well, Miss Vilyric, our Spirit Butterfly Peak’s guardian array is powered by the entire mountain and nearby leyline magic. However, relying solely on the center makes it difficult to function smoothly due to the overwhelming energy.”

“Therefore, Holy Ancestor built three additional nodes scattered throughout the peak, each guarded by the three most outstanding clan members. As long as the nodes are intact, the array can’t be breached by external forces, and everyone is safe.”

Upon hearing this, the Priestess frowned, not in enlightenment but in displeasure.

“Why didn’t you mention such important information sooner?”

“Um… I-I’m sorry, but the node locations are clan secrets, and only the three guardians know the exact details. I was afraid that elaborating on hearsay would affect your judgment…”

Seeing Lulu immediately droop her head, looking pitiful and not daring to make eye contact, Miss Vilyric, though feeling a bit different in her heart, had no choice but to hold her judgment, sighing as she nodded.

“Fine, now that we know, it’s not too late.”

Since only the three guardians knew the node locations, it seemed that both out of personal and rational reasons, they had to heal this Spirit Butterfly named Lotus.

“Intruder… stop the intruder…”

Even while being firmly pinned to the ground by the Priestess, she continued to murmur to herself. This mad behavior clearly indicated some mental issues.

“Miss Vilyric, can you save her? Lady Lotus is a very gentle big sister, kind to everyone in the clan. Something must’ve happened to her because of the enemies,” Lulu pleaded.

“Mm, don’t rush.”

After briefly calming Lulu, Miss Vilyric no longer hesitated and initiated 【Information Detection】 directly at the point of contact.

This skill, 【Information Detection】, required a certain level of connection with the target to use. For example, the Priestess typically pressed her hand or staff against someone to achieve a similar condition.

Therefore, at the moment the skill activated, something hidden within Lotus’s body also finally bared its fangs!

   

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