NOVPUBThat evening, after everyone had killed many zombies, they returned to the safe area to rest.
Although the area was filled with the stench of rottingrpses, it was still safer than sleeping in the dark forest.
Moreover, thanks to the Skeletons, they had cleared away some of the bodies around the area, so the smell of death wasn't as overpowering.
That night, everyone sat around the campfire to keep warm.
At this moment, a girl suddenly frowned, tilting her head as if trying to listen to something.
"What's going on?" Caleb frowned and asked.
Sitting next to Caleb, Austin lookednfused as he stared at the girl.
She didn't answer immediately but listened briefly before asking, "Do you hear something?"
Her question puzzled everyone, and they all followed her lead, straining to listen to whatever she might have heard.
Clink! Clink!
"That's..." Caleb frowned and said, "It sounds like chains dragging across the ground."
"No... it's not just that." The girl spoke again. "Along with that, there's a humming sound, like someone is singing."
"However... that voice is really strange."
As she spoke, the girl shuddered, wrapping her arms tightly around her shoulders. "That voice is terrifying; it sounds like... itmes from hell."
Everyoneuld also hear the singing along with the dragging chains, their faces pale with fear.
It must be known that many people had died around here. Over 200 landlords had perished, along with thousands of zombies.
They would not have been worried if this had happened before when they still had soldiers and heroes to protect them.
But now, things were different. They had nothing left, sitting in a place where thousands had died, making them think of strange and eerie things.
However, Caleb and Austin looked toward Urlgan and the Skeletons, noticing that they showed no reaction, making them frown.
It must be known that these monsters were very sensitive; if danger approached, they would immediately alert and enter ambat-ready state.
But at this moment, they remained still, showing no signs of any disturbance.
At that moment, one person shuddered and, filled with fear, said, "Could it be... a ghost?"
Caleb frowned and said, "Nonsense! Look at those Skeletons. Are they living creatures? Even if it's a ghost, that's normal. No need to be afraid."
Everyone understood Caleb's point.
Indeed, this world was full of magic and mysterious things. Why should they fear ghosts but not Skeletons?
However, despite hearing Caleb's reassurance, they still felt uneasy.
Seeing this, Caleb decided to investigate. He brought his Skeleton army with him and moved quietly toward the source of the sound.
Austin, seeing this, also limped after Caleb, and ofurse, Urlgan followed behind them.
The others, ofurse, didn't stay behind. In a hurry, they followed Caleb and Austin.
At this point, they no longer had any heroes or soldiers to protect them; their safetympletely relied on Austin and Caleb.
Wherever Austin and Caleb went, they had no choice but to follow.
Though more than thirty people were moving together, they tried to make as little noise as possible.
They arrived at the rubble of some former domain, hiding behind the debris, using the moonlight to peer toward the source of the sound.
"That... um... um..." One person was so scared that she almost screamed, but fortunately, someone beside her quicklyvered her mouth.
Everyone also felt a chill run down their spine but dared not speak.
Before them was a rather wide path, the only road stretching from the beginning to the end of the safe zone.
However, at this moment, something moving along the road was emitting a strange green light and radiating an eerie aura.
If they squinted to look closely, they saw smoke taking the form of human figures anduntless other strange creatures.
They were arranged in three rows, their necks bound by chains, slowly moving along the road inmplete disorder.
Indeed, these were the souls of the deceased, including the souls of zombies, monsters, and fallen heroes.
They moved while groaning and crying out, the sound filled with pain and despair.
"Hm... hm... hm..."
A humming sound echoed as though hundreds of people were singing at once.
The voice sounded like it wasming from a frozen, distorted tape, sharp and bizarre.
The humming was equally strange, filling the listener with feelings of madness, fear, despair, and even death.
Countless negative emotions flooded everyone's minds, causing them to tremble in fear.
"Look over there..." A young man pointed into the distance.
Everyone followed the direction of his finger and immediately saw something even more bizarre.
Leading the procession of souls was a Skeleton dressed in a black robe, one holding a chain that bound the souls moving behind it, while the other had a glowing book emanating an eerie aura.
Theyuldn't see the Skeleton's legs; instead, where the legs should have been was a mass of black, blue, and green fire swirling together.
However, if they looked closely, theyuld see that this wasn't fire butuntless souls screaming and struggling to break free.
"Hm... hm... hm..."
The Skeleton dragged the souls along, humming a strange melody.
"Is... is that... the God of Death?" one person stammered, trembling in fear.
Everyone else shuddered,ld sweat running down their backs. Even Caleb and Austin felt a sense of dread.
What they feared was Noan, because they rgnized that the Skeleton was one of his monsters.
A monster capable of binding and dragginguntless souls like this—how strong must it be?
Watching the actions of the Skeleton, Caleb and Austin felt that Noan had bme even more mysterious.
"Let's go..." Caleb suddenly spoke up. "We shouldn't stay here any longer."
Austin cut Caleb off, speaking urgently: "Haven't you wondered where that Skeleton is taking all those souls?"
"You... are you crazy? If it notices us, we'll die," Caleb immediately replied, his face showing clearncern.
Austin laughed and said, "Don't worry, maybe it's only interested in the dead. It won't harm us."
He winked at Caleb as he spoke.
Caleb, ofurse, understood what Austin meant.
Austin was implying that the Skeleton was most likely one of Noan's summoned monsters, and since they were Noan's servants, even if the Skeleton noticed them, they wouldn't be in any danger.
Caleb was also very curious, not knowing what the Skeletonllected the souls for, but he valued his life more.
Without waiting for Caleb to say anything further, Austin limped after the procession of souls.
Everyone was shocked by Austin's actions, but hisnfidence stirred theirurage and curiosity, making them eager to find out where the 'Grim Reaper' was taking those souls and what it intended to do with them.
Finally, everyone followed behind Austin, moving through the bushes tonceal their presence.
The leader of the procession was indeed Malrik, and naturally, he immediately sensed someone following him.
However, he didn't feel uneasy; on thentrary, he felt quite pleased, knowing that soon someone would witness his grand moment.
After walking for a long while, Caleb and Austin suddenly realized they were on the road leading to Noan's domain.
Austin didn't stop, pressing forward despite the increasing pain in his legs.
Suddenly, Caleb stepped up and helped him walk.
"Ah! Thanks."
Hearing Austin, Caleb sighed and replied, "Do you want to see? Curiosity can sometimes be a double-edged sword."
"Hahaha... well, the Skeleton is a monster of the Landlord's. I don't believe it will harm us." Austin laughed, speaking withnfidence.
Caleb shot a glance at Austin, his eyes filled with scepticism. But... Caleb was indeed very curious.
What was the Skeleton doing with all those souls? Could it be the Grim Reaper?
As they walked further, they noticed the road ahead had suddenly bme pitch dark, with the once forested path replaced by an inferno.
However, the fire surrounding the entire area was very strange.
It was green and blue, and instead of burning, it seemed to replace the leaves and grass, transforming the whole place into a fiery world.
But what frightened them even more wasn't just the strange fire.
Caleb looked at the scene ahead anduld only exclaim, "Is... is that... hell?"
