CHAPTER 343: CHAPTER 343 - MORGANNA WALKS ALONE

After double-checking the results, Atlas found that they were exactly the same.

He lifted his head and let out a quiet laugh in response to Edrik’s flat expression, without saying a single word. But it was clear that Edrik had already expected this outcome even before Atlas began the entire attempt.

After all, from the very start, Edrik had been certain that the true targets had to be humans. It was only Atlas who had tried to look for another way.

Because what they were talking about... were human lives. Did he really have to carry out a massacre? It wasn’t as if this would be his first time. He had done it before, many times even. Yet somehow, the thought of doing it now, for his own personal goal, felt wrong.

But then again, when he became stronger, it wasn’t just for himself. It was for his people, for their safety, and for the alliance.

In the end, even though he failed to complete the quest, Atlas had gained a total of eleven levels from the expedition. So, they decided to return to Gacha Haven that day, using teleportation back to the main island.

A while later, Atlas stepped out of the teleportation portal and returned to the cool, green island filled with flowers and lush grass. The first thing he saw was Mira, standing near the garden with Vienne.

The bunny girl turned toward him and waved enthusiastically, followed by the little girl beside her.

Atlas walked over to join them, curious about what Vienne and Mira were busy doing in the garden.

Apparently, the bunny gardener had managed to "infect" his only daughter with her love for carrot gardening. Was that a good sign? He couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

That same day, Atlas also had an appointment with someone. By noon, a silver carriage arrived at Gacha Haven, from which Luna, Ember, and Celestia stepped down gracefully. They joined him in the Noble Hall to hold an important discussion that afternoon.

Edrik and Kurogasa were also present in the room when the discussion began. Luna stood before them, a transparent projection screen hovering in front of her for everyone to see.

"I’ve been carrying out my task these past few days, Atlas," she began, her sharp gaze sweeping across the room. "I’ve been tracking where the lords from the Bolin Alliance are conducting their hunts. Based on their schedule, there should be four to five lords active on different islands tonight. They seem to be pushing hard to raise the levels of their forces."

"What about their ranks, Luna?" Atlas asked.

"Let’s say it’s about fifty-fifty between Rank-2 and Rank-3," she replied.

Atlas nodded slowly, offering no further comment.

"So what’s your plan after this? Are you really going to keep pursuing Bolin?" Luna asked again.

"Yes," he said. "Just like what we did before during the Dominion Skirmish. Fighting by following the system’s rules won’t give us any real advantage, so we’ll have to take a slightly different path to end this."

Luna nodded in understanding. "Do you need anything from us?"

Atlas paused for a moment before replying, "Yes, but I think I’ll need Tessa tonight."

"Got it," Luna said with a small nod. "The others are ready anytime you call for their help."

**

Later that night, Atlas, Edrik, Luna, Ember, Celestia, Elyndra and Tessa gathered together inside the Nimbus Carriage. A massive screen hovered before them, showing a live feed from one of Luna’s subordinates who was transmitting a direct view of what was happening elsewhere.

On the screen, a woman appeared. Dressed in a crimson gown layered with light black armor, her long dark hair flowing freely. A mix of red and black aura wrapped around her body like living smoke. The camera followed her from behind as she walked steadily away.

"Morganna’s really going to do this alone?" Celestia murmured softly.

Ember exhaled quietly as silence filled the carriage. "Even now, I’m not sure she’s planning to use her full power. Yes, the number of targets is that high, and it’s insane to even imagine being there when someone like her is hunting."

The screen showed an open clearing filled with dozens of tents and groups of people sitting around campfires, enjoying their night after a successful hunt. From the edge of the forest, it was clear they were celebrating, unaware of what was about to happen.

At the same time, Morganna began to emerge from the shadows of the trees, though her figure had already blended completely into the darkness.

"Will your assassin be alright out there, Luna?" Celestia asked quietly.

"Yes," Atlas answered before Luna could. "Morganna won’t harm anyone from the alliance. And Dullorak has already cast a powerful protection buff against dark and blood magic on them."

What they saw next left everyone in complete silence. Morganna, now unfurling a pair of dark wings, shot up into the night sky with blinding speed. Only her shadow could be seen against the crimson-tinted crescent moon behind her. In that moment, the moon itself seemed to bleed red, while the people below remained blissfully unaware of the danger descending upon them.

"How many people are down there, Luna?" Celestia asked quietly.

"About three hundred," Luna replied. "Most of them are around level one hundred fifty."

Her words drew uncertain looks from everyone. Even Morganna’s level wasn’t supposed to have reached that high. Could she really take them all on?

Then, suddenly, the night grew darker. A thick wave of black aura spread across the sky, dimming even the red glow of the moon. Down below, the hunters continued eating and drinking, unaware of the shadow enveloping them.

Until one of them suddenly screamed, dropping his cup as he clutched at his throat, gasping for air. His companions laughed, thinking he was drunk or choking on his food.

But then another collapsed, and another. Each of them gagging, clawing at their necks as their eyes widened in horror. Plates fell. Laughter turned to confusion, and confusion to panic. Within moments, the entire camp was thrown into chaos as more and more of them began to choke, their faces turning pale as the life drained from their bodies.

"What is she doing?" Celestia whispered.

What unfolded next was pure horror. People began screaming as blood streamed from their eyes, their mouths, their noses, and even their ears.

They stood, trembling, their bodies convulsing as crimson tears ran down their faces. Then they clawed at their own skin, ripping at their cheeks and necks, while others, those not yet affected, shouted in confusion, trying desperately to hold them back.

But it was too late. Those who had been struck by the effect suddenly grew unnaturally strong. They lunged at their companions, tearing at flesh with their bare hands, driving fingers into eyes and throats. The once-lively camp became a nightmare of blood and chaos.

"That’s... truly horrifying to watch," Ember said quietly, her face pale.

Everyone turned to Edrik, seeking an explanation.

Edrik cleared his throat softly before answering.

"That ability belongs to the Vampire Queen lineage," he said. "It’s one of the most difficult arts to master. It requires an exceptionally high affinity with both Shadow and Blood elements. The skill allows the user to corrupt the life essence of anyone within their influence, twisting their blood against them. At first, it causes intense internal bleeding and loss of control... but once the corruption spreads completely, their bodies fall under her command, turning them into mindless vessels driven by raw instinct and fury."

He paused for a moment, his gaze darkening. "In short, Morganna isn’t just killing them. She’s turning their very life force into her weapon."