The bubble of clean air in the purified spot was the last sanctuary left. Pressing against its barriers was black mist, and through the insubstantial border came whispering voices and wraith-like figures, weaving in and out of the mist.
Glowing red eyes stared hungrily into the bubble, eying the fresh meat within.
Li Luo, Jiang Qing'e, and a few others were standing on a tall wall, looking out at their enemy's disposition. As predicted, the Heavenly Disaster Class had brought a whole horde of minions with it.
Castle defense 101.
The light barrier that the tower emitted was keeping them safe for now, and as they stared out at the swirling, smoky mist, many students felt a little safer knowing that their structural defense was still intact.
As for how long this sense of safety would last, no one knew.
Duze Honglian was pacing the wall as well. After half a day, she had more or less recovered. "It's the same one," she whispered hoarsely. “I can sense it.
"It's unbelievably strong. I clashed with it for only a brief moment, and that was enough to succumb to such deep corruption. We don't stand a chance."
Li Luo wasn't too surprised at that result. Even an Earth Fiend like Duze Honglian was nothing in the face of a Heavenly Dipper General.
"It's likely that it even let you go just so you could lead it here," Jiang Qing'e pointed out.
Duze Honglian's jaw dropped in horror. Jiang Qing'e's words were blunt but probably true. Otherwise, she would not even have had the chance to escape.
"So what's the plan?" she asked.
Even though they were not on good terms, they were all grasshoppers on the same rope now. If they lost here, it was over for all of them.
"See how the purified spot's defenses hold up. If it can keep the Heavenly Disaster Class at bay until reinforcements come, that would be best," Li Luo answered.
"I hate to be the wet blanket, but don't get your hopes up on that," Duze Honglian said dryly.
Li Luo was quiet for a beat. Duze Honglian didn't seem willing to fight at all. She must have been scared into submission by her first encounter with the thing. But besides fighting against it with their full strength, what other option did they have?
Open the barrier up and surrender?
You'd have to be kidding.
As they spoke, they noticed that the black mist was moving most clearly above them. It parted and shifted, until it formed a large, grinning face in the air.
A grin all too familiar to the students below—it had haunted their every waking moment.
It wavered and flickered in the air, the shadowy eyes staring evilly down at them, inspiring an overwhelming terror in all who gazed upon it.
“Ssshh shhhh!”
Hissing laughter. It was communication, but not with humans. At the signal, Others suddenly started charging out of the black mist to throw themselves against the barrier.
Straight out of a nightmare, they took on all shapes and forms, grotesque amalgamations of human and creature parts.
Phish!
As they threw themselves against the light barrier, the Others fizzled, fading away into black smoke.
Many students breathed sighs of relief. At least the purified spot defenses were holding.
Li Luo, Jiang Qing'e, Duze Honglian, and a few others knew better. The grinning demon was just testing the barrier's strength.
After a wave of testing, the black mist gathered again, and now even more Others charged out.
This second wave was much stronger. They were all Eroding Class, and some were even a pinkish color.
Close to red eroders.
In the wild, many squads would need the power of teamwork to take one down.
Here, they were merely cannon fodder to be thrown against the barrier.
There was no subtlety to this attack. They simply threw bodies against the barrier to weaken it.
This time, the students noted that the barrier was dissolving them much slower. Some of the Others managed to give the barrier a good shake before dying.
Uneasy muttering broke out, but Jiang Qing'e raised a hand to calm them. "Everyone, follow our plan and charge the tower in the center with your strength.
At her command, the first wave of students rushed over to the tower and sat around it cross-legged. Their resonant powers were soon being funneled into it.
The barrier shone with new light, gaining some of its former luster.
The students cheered at this.
"Hiss…"
The grinning demon flew above the center of the purified spot, floating above the barrier.
The dark eyes gradually began to glow a demonic red, giving new life to the grin.
Its unholy power passed through the light barrier without trouble.
As Li Luo looked at the grin above them, he could feel a scrambling of his thoughts, and killing intent welled within him.
He salivated. Blood. He wanted blood. His hand went to wipe his mouth dry, and he found that the corners of his lips were twitching upwards.
"Guard your spirit!"
A powerful light energy flooded through him, and suddenly Li Luo was himself again.
He shuddered. That was too close. Even through the light barrier, the grinning demon could work its influence.
And if even he was susceptible…
He saw that many students were looking up at the grin now, and their own mouths were starting to curl upwards…
The weaker ones had already lost control, their jaws starting to tear. It was a sign that the corruption was taking hold.
Li Luo shivered. This was the power a Heavenly Disaster Class Other had? Just looking at it could spread corruption.
It was mighty beyond belief. Could they really hold out until reinforcements arrived?