The past was built upon collecting unique characteristics.

[05 minutes 00 seconds]

Morian turned and ran toward the gray sedan, but just as he was about to reach the door, he felt a chill creep up his spine.

A "danger premonition" has been triggered!

"Screech!" A gleaming iron shovel crashed onto the ground next to the vehicle like a tombstone.

The moment the shovel tip touched the ground, the patch of grass quickly began to rot and wither, turning into grayish-white powder at a visible speed, as if it had met its end.

A figure slowly rose from the shadows at the edge of the grass. He wore an old black robe, his face was so strange that it was impossible to tell his gender, and he held a staff that exuded a foul aura. The gem at the top of the staff shimmered faintly.

[An Extraordinary Journey - "The Shepherd"]

【ether】

"Degenerate Servants"

Are they from the End Cult? Morian's heart skipped a beat, and his right hand quietly reached for the revolver in his holster.

Just as the black-robed shepherd appeared and attracted attention, from the even darker shadow behind him, another figure slightly turned to the side and easily pulled out the iron shovel stuck in the ground.

It was a man wearing a hood, and the half-exposed face beneath the hood showed an unnatural paleness, as if he hadn't seen the sun in a long time.

The man remained silent, simply standing there with a shovel in his hand, yet a sense of "burial" that was repulsive to most people already permeated the air.

The pale-faced man bent slightly, and the shovel in his hand swiftly and rhythmically sank into the soil. His movements were efficient and rapid, and Morian's sense of crisis reached its peak.

Within my field of vision, the "analysis" capability generated lines of cold, impersonal information.

[An Extraordinary Journey - "The Other Shore"]

【ether】

"The Gravedigger"

In just a few seconds, a pit deep enough to fit a coffin appeared in the grass.

Morian's pupils contracted sharply, and he immediately stepped in front of Charlotte, trying to keep her out of his and the pale man's sight.

"Watch out for that man digging in the dirt!"

His shouts were filled with unprecedented urgency and unease, but it seemed too late. Just as the pit was taking shape, a sudden change occurred.

Without any warning, the air on either side of Charlotte's body seemed to be torn apart by an invisible force, and with the sound of metal hinges turning, two grotesque humanoid coffins appeared out of thin air.

To be precise, it resembled the infamous torture device from history—the "Iron Maiden," with its inner side covered in sharp, long spikes that gleamed with a cruel sheen.

At the same time, several rusty hinges emerged from the shadows and bound Charlotte's slender limbs.

The next moment, the two coffins suddenly closed together, and sharp spikes shot straight at the girl, aiming to pierce her body!

Instant cast! Without warning!

Time seemed to stand still.

Seeing this, Morian felt his heart skip a beat, and a huge wave of regret instantly filled his mind.

He had given a warning, but he never expected the other party's ability to be activated so quickly and strangely. In the end, he still couldn't protect Charlotte.

Just seconds after the two spiked coffins enveloped the girl, a burst of bloody light suddenly erupted from their surfaces, and they separated again, or rather, were bounced away.

A triangular shield of pure light suddenly appeared, encircling Charlotte and completely protecting her from harm.

The surface of the light shield was covered with dense cracks, as if it would break at any moment, but it ultimately held on.

As the light faded, the ring on Charlotte's left hand, inlaid with a pure white gemstone, also dimmed, losing all its spiritual energy.

Amazing protective items! And they're high quality too.

Morian was finally able to relax. He had almost forgotten that this was the young lady of the White family, a true holder of "money power".

Charlotte, who had survived the ordeal, remained calm. She raised her hand and made a grasping motion forward, and the golden staff instantly materialized and landed in her fair hand.

She raised her right hand and traced delicate lines in the air in front of her with her fingertips. Runes composed of light appeared out of thin air along the lines, shining brightly.

"In the name of holiness, dispel all filth and death!"

Amidst the majestic chanting, Charlotte lightly tapped her staff, and the runes of light rapidly expanded outwards, instantly forming a pale gold barrier a hundred meters in diameter, which descended upon the area.

When the barrier was formed, most of the "corruption" and "death" aura that had been spreading nearby dissipated.

The man in black robes seemed very displeased with the effect of the barrier. He let out a cold snort and slammed the withered staff in his hand heavily onto the ground.

Where the tip of the cane touched the ground, a clump of black, viscous substance gushed out, spreading rapidly along the ground as if it were alive, polluting large areas of grass, and even climbing onto the sparse trees on both sides of the road.

With a whoosh, the trees, touched by that aura, shook violently, and thick limbs twisted and grew from the cracks, slowly closing in from all directions.

But this was not the most deadly threat. Morian glimpsed that the "gravedigger" had raised the shovel again and was swinging it around, and the second pit was taking shape at an alarming speed.

"We can't let him continue using his abilities!" Morian shouted. Charlotte immediately understood and lightly tapped her staff forward.

"Intercept!" The girl's chant was authoritative and unquestionable.

As the incantation was recited, the gravedigger, who was focused on swinging his shovel, paused in his movements, his ability being forcibly stopped.

The two members of the End Cult were clearly stalling for time, buying last moments for "Grey Paradise".

The battle must end as soon as possible!

Without further hesitation, Morian conjured a blazing, bright greatsword made of fire element in his hand.

Holding the sword in both hands, he swept it horizontally towards the nearest living tree.

call!

The flaming greatsword traced a scorching fan-shaped arc, unleashing a burst of flames. The living trees touched by the sword's edge were powerless against the intense heat and were instantly cleaved in two.

He didn't stop, continuing to cut down the surrounding living trees to clear enough space for the two of them.

Seeing the "tree spirits" he had been commanding quickly collapse, the black-robed shepherd once again raised his withered staff and pointed it at the flock of crows gathering in the sky.

The viscous substance that had been spreading across the ground suddenly rose up and precisely adhered to each and every crow. The infected crows quickly gathered into a dark cloud that hovered above.

Beside him, the "gravedigger" seemed to have adapted to the interference of his abilities, and once again swung his shovel, plunging it hard into the ground.

Centered on him, on the desolate grassland, one tombstone after another broke through the ground, and countless menacing spirits emerged from below, converging into an "army" composed of resentment.

The flock of crows in the sky and the group of undead seemed to have received a unified command, forming a black spear that, with a chilling aura, pierced towards the two of them.

Morian's heart tightened, and he subconsciously wanted to use "Passage" to dodge with Charlotte, but he quickly dismissed the idea.

Amidst the chaos, Charlotte, facing the overwhelming darkness, remained calm. Instead, she held her golden staff upright before her and uttered another mandatory word:

"Block it!"