Ashen Dragon-Chapter 133 - 63 Twilight Garden

Sleeping Mermaid Tavern.

The wooden signboard had a vividly lifelike mermaid sculpture.

This was a famous tavern in Northwind Castle and also the secret gathering place of the pureblood Serpentfolk spies. The lady boss here had long been bought off by Gold Coins, willingly becoming a lackey of the Ashen Nest.

At this moment, the city was in chaos.

The City Defense Army was busy resisting the invasion of the Dragon Vein Troops, having no time to attend to other matters. Thus, this tavern naturally became a blatant gathering place for the Ashen Nest faction.

A four-person team pushed the door open and entered, finding the tavern bustling with noise.

The players had gathered together.

"Boss lady, do you have Flaming Red Lips?"

"I heard drinking that will give you an Excited State."

"The alcohol here is much more expensive than in Barto City."

Mantou sighed. "So many people..."

Summer Night Autumn Rain murmured softly. "I thought only we got this special task."

Singo scanned the surroundings, quickly recognizing these familiar faces.

The Tyrant of Royalty, the Steel Torrent of the Mechanical God Cult, Charlotte of Magic Coin, Alpha of the Golden Age...

The professional gamers of the major guilds were all here. Any player who took on the task and came to the tavern had generally already reached the level cap of the beta version—Fourth Level, which in Airez counted as elite adventurers, the backbone of adventurers—not just anyone could make it.

Natural War Maniac glanced disdainfully at the nearby Tyrant and scoffed.

Singo lowered his voice and said to him, "War Maniac Bro, don’t compete with the Royalty in group tasks. Focus on the important NPC first."

"Look over there."

He signaled with his eyes.

Alger and Mezulash were sitting at a wooden table in the center of the tavern, with two glasses of wine on the table.

Although there had been quite a bit of friction before, now, to deal with their common enemy—Brad Rackman, the two still sat down together to discuss strategies.

Facing his archenemy, Alger looked particularly excited yet somewhat anxious.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke, "I’ve lived nearby for many years and know the secret paths leading into Rackman Castle. What we need to do is infiltrate Rackman Castle."

"And then... kill him."

Mezulash nodded slightly, took a sip from his cup, and then said, "A very simple and crude plan, but you forgot one thing— you’ve been away for years. Now that the Ashen Nest is about to invade, how could that cunning old vampire not have made preparations?"

Alger’s dragon face grew slightly surprised, but he still said, "We have no other way. If we let him complete the Ascension Ritual, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Mezulash gave a light laugh. "Indeed. These Starfallen are Undying, while you and I—should’ve been dead long ago, and have no fear of death."

Alger pointed to the map of Northwind Castle on the table.

"Given the importance of the Ascension Ritual, the main roads will definitely be heavily guarded. So we’ll go through here, along the dark path in Rackman’s backyard garden."

"Alright."

Mezulash slowly stood up and said in a loud voice,

"Warriors, we are ready to set off."

"Stop this Ascension, and the master will reward you generously."

For a moment, the fiery gazes of more than twenty elite players in the tavern were all directed at him.

Mezulash had become adept at controlling players.

...

Outside Rackman Castle, at Twilight Garden.

This lush forest surrounded the ancient castle, isolating it from the outside world.

The trees in the forest towered into the sky, and the mottled bark on the twisted trunks seemed like ancient scars. The deep darkness spread through the forest, making it impossible to distinguish day from night. The eerie leaves swayed in the wind, emitting a chilling whisper.

The old trees stretched like ghostly arms, with twisted claws spiraling ominously.

And deep within the forest, howls echoed back and forth, causing hearts to race.

Alger looked at the dark and deep forest, and the path filled with twisted branches, his expression solemn.

"No, it didn’t use to be like this."

"In the years I’ve been away, what exactly has Brad Rackman done?"

Mezulash sneered. "Perhaps he has a pack of loyal guard dogs in there, keeping watch for him."

"It looks like we need to be careful from here on."

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"Let’s go in."

Alger, Meshlaf, and their group unhesitatingly plunged into the dense forest.

...

Walking on the vine-covered path, Mantou heard rustling sounds behind him, making him shiver involuntarily.

"Oh God, this place really has creepy things..."

"Wait, there’s something behind me!"

Mantou felt something brush across the back of his neck and let out a scream.

Cold sweat dripped down as he turned to see it was just a twisted vine hanging from a branch.

He breathed a sigh of relief, turned to Singo beside him, and said, "This place is too spooky, let’s hurry and leave. We can’t stay here long."

Singo, too, couldn’t find the words to mock him, merely nodding gravely.

Because he had just keenly noticed that the bush ahead seemed to move towards them briefly, though he wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination.

"Let’s keep moving."

Mantou bit his lip and continued walking, but he couldn’t resist the curiosity and looked back once more, seeing that the vine had moved again, now like a menacing arm reaching out for him.

He gasped sharply.

The rustling sounds around them grew louder and more intense, with something seeming to twist and squirm in the darkness.

Fragmented, terrifying whispers spread around, surrounding the group.

"It’s alive..."

"Don’t… leave me behind..."

"Hold my hand… get me out..."

But those voices didn’t come from anyone among them!

Summer Night Autumn Rain’s face was already white as a sheet, sweat dripping from her chin, and her voice trembled, "Did you... did you hear that? Those voices."

Singo said sternly, "I heard it too."

"It didn’t sound like a monster’s roar, more like... final words of victims before they died."

Mantou was terrified out of his wits. "Don’t... don’t scare me..."

"Take a good look around."

Mantou looked around, seeing it was already a writhing, deep darkness.

At the head of the group, Alger raised the Everburning Greatsword, instantly illuminating the surroundings, revealing the gruesome appearances of the monsters to everyone.

In the dappled shadows of the forest, they saw gnarled roots, branches, and vines gradually converging, eventually forming countless staggering, twisted ghostly figures.

Their bodies were made from dead branches, vines, and even thorny brambles entwined together, with undigested human limbs intertwined among them. The thick roots were soaked in blood.

Alger gritted his teeth and shouted loudly,

"Prepare for battle!"

"Damn it, this forest is alive!"

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