High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2065: Chapter 286: Conflict in the North

”The fight is in the north, revealed by the west handle!”

Liu Fei Fei softly chanted the positioning spell, and a spell light reminiscent of a clear spring rose from the law book, lifting the ’copper spoon’ used as a clue into the air.

The copper spoon spun like a top under the effect of the spell, and after a moment, it slowly stopped, slanting toward the depths of the forest.

”Do we really have to go?” Gypsy Witch Carmen clutched a handful of tarot cards, her tone somewhat uneasy. ”Just getting to the finals has already far exceeded our initial expectations...”

She did not agree with the hunting team’s continued adventure.

Even without doing anything, this year the Fringe Hunting Team also achieved ninth place in the school hunting competition; the rewards from the school and The Gypsy Witch Coven were generous enough that the witch lost the motivation to continue risking.

Of course, more importantly, during her divination, she drew an upright Demon Card—the demon represents temptation, and often the temptations of demons are poisonous.

So she very much hoped the hunting team would remain in this small camp until the competition ended.

”It’s rare to have the chance to come this deep, if we leave without doing anything, we’ll definitely regret it.” Lin Yan stared fixedly at a pile of jade-like objects not far from the camp, his gaze somewhat fiery.

Those were stones stained with dragon blood, and judging by their color, they should belong to a rare Green Qiu.

Qiulong is a small dragon with horns, possessing high magic affinity, but its flesh is relatively weak compared to most Drace Class. Its blood, flesh, bones, scales, horns, and so on are very precious magic materials, always in short supply on the market.

Nicholas noticed the gaze of that Alpha freshman.

”One dragon is not something we can tame.” He rubbed the ruby ring on his hand, warning: ”...Don’t make extra trouble.”

”A dragon, hsss, an injured Little Dragon.” Fishman Iseni hissed, greedily spreading the dorsal fin on his neck, catching the damp scent from the woods, supplementing: ”And injured not too long ago, the scent of blood is still fresh, hiss!”

”An injured Little Dragon is still a dragon.”

The captain of the Fringe Hunting Team patiently persuaded his fishman team member: ”Your hunting experience is the richest in the team, you should know that wounded beasts are the most dangerous... especially those that can use magic.”

Hearing this, he looked around and slightly raised his voice: ”...Whether it’s hunting that Little Dragon or staying put is not wise... If being a Northern District Wizard has any advantage, it’s that I’m more aware of the dangers in the Silent Forest than everyone else... This bit of pitiful experience is summarized by generations of herbalists who died in the forest... most suitable for our weak hunting team.”

Weak, this is his most clear positioning for the Fringe Hunting Team.

Without the long history of the school teams and college teams, without the strong seniors from Absolution, without the experience of the Black Prison battles like those in the past—his hunting team even includes freshmen!

Nicholas’s only thought was to safely lead the hunting team out.

”Staying put... isn’t it safer to strengthen the camp’s protection array?” Gypsy Witch quietly expressed her thoughts.

”If we were at the edge of Silent Forest or even by Silent River, I wouldn’t let everyone leave this camp.” Nicholas patiently explained: ”But no one knows where we are... and there’s still a pile of dragon blood by the camp.”

The magical creature capable of critically injuring a Green Qiu is not easily handled by the Fringe Hunting Team.

”It’s time to depart.”

On the other side, auxiliary hunter Liu Fei Fei reminded them—due to its short organizing time, the Fringe Hunting Team doesn’t have very fixed position arrangements, except Carmen serving as the diviner and Iseni as the main hunter. The other three almost could be classified as auxiliary hunters.

And their ’seekers’ and ’wandering hunters’ are just a bunch of cheap fireflies.

These winged little bugs are driven to scout the way and illuminate the darkness around the hunting team, while also attracting hunters lurking in the forest for the young witches.

Of course, most of the creatures that feed on fireflies are not very dangerous, such as the Tree Protection Pot, grass spirits, augury birds, tree monkey frogs, invisible beasts, etc., but their presence indicates no ’very dangerous’ creatures nearby, confirming safety in reverse.

Nicholas followed the swarm of fireflies, walking at the forefront of the Fringe Hunting Team.

In the darkness, occasionally one or two thin tongues would flick out from the trees or behind bushes, snatching away a few plump fireflies. The swarm leading the way quickly became somewhat sparse.

The warlock untied the bamboo basket hanging on his waist, released another swarm, and drove them to merge with the remaining ones ahead, continuing to lead the way.

Unknowingly, he thought of the Northern District Wizards.

Prior to this year, tricksters living in the North District struggled in the brutal world like these fireflies, with cheap lives.

This world has never changed.

The captain of the Fringe Hunting Team shifted his gaze, moving from the surrounding darkness back to the light cast by the fireflies—the trees and vines in the forest ahead projected long twisted shadows, and the mist gradually rose from the frosty moss, the witches’ light steps sounded particularly clear at the moment, their breathing audibly distinct.

He couldn’t help but imagine the world beyond the light, in the darkness.

The green eyes of beasts, intertwined reptiles, dead old trees crooked on the ground, rotten tree shells covered in green moss, webs and dead leaves, perhaps even an altar left by previous witches visiting the forest, also crumbled under the ravages of time, only the occasional black-clothed raven perched on it, recalling something with a hoarse voice.

Swish, swish!

Swish, swish!

Chaotic and urgent sounds came from not far away; Nicholas immediately raised his arm, gesturing. Liu Fei Fei and Carmen closely behind almost simultaneously flipped open their law books:

”Wind and rain dispersed, rodents go!”

”Restricting South Mountain, maintaining rock-like firmness!”

Two spells, one opens a protective barrier, the other places several ’large shields’ within the barrier, which could be considered the most cautious response plan. Even if a mad Poisonous Horn Beast charged over, it could ensure the hunting team’s safety.

At the next moment.

A tall, gray-purple monster charged out from the forest, with a pair of sharp golden horns on its head, tentacle-like arms around its mouth, a hump-like rise on its back, and a long snakelike tail trailing behind.

”It’s a Horned Camel Beast.”

Liu Fei Fei’s soft and urgent voice sounded within the barrier: ”A magical creature with a belligerent nature, resilient flesh like a Giant Dragon... regular magic poses little threat to them.”

”Powder made from their golden horns can be used in many magic potions, very expensive.” Lin Yan whispered a supplementary note.

But it was only a commentary.

Even he did not have the intention of capturing this beast at the moment.

Because the Horned Camel Beast appearing before the Fringe Hunting Team had its back exposed with several terrifyingly large wounds. The gray-purple skin, akin to dragon skin, rolled outward, bone-deep, and pale violet blood gushed out like a spring.