Chapter 32: Deceived

The weeping girl did not relent in her assault, even as Niu Xuanguang succeeded in his attack. She understood that even if the damage overflowed, it was imperative to strike at this moment.

The halberd landed squarely upon Maisie’s chest, splitting the young girl’s torso in two. By all accounts, such a blow should have spelled the end for any adversary, no matter how formidable. Yet, everyone present— including the exhausted leader of the paladins, who could no longer stand—felt a growing unease.

Outside the camp, the horses and camels, as if driven mad by some unknown stimulus, charged wildly toward the encampment. Their eyes were bloodshot, foam dripped from their mouths, and their movements were mindless, as though their reason had abandoned them.

Niu Xuanguang knew he could not allow the stampede to breach the camp, but he could not neglect dealing with Maisie either. He shouted, “Old Zhao!”

Zhao Gongming instantly altered the effect of the magic array. “Wind Blades, turn!”

Under the array’s influence, everyone saw a ring of translucent blue blades of wind forming just outside its boundary. The onrushing horses and camels were sliced to pieces, blood spraying in all directions.

Amid the carnage, Maisie suddenly opened her eyes. A trace of blue light shone in her originally blue irises, and a blue pattern spread from her eyes across her face. At the same time, her right hand lifted, seizing Niu Xuanguang’s arm.

Niu Xuanguang was startled, but not frightened by this attack. With his free hand, he drew another longsword and swung it at Maisie’s neck; at the same time, blades of energy burst from his eyes and mouth, all aimed to kill her.

Yet he had underestimated Maisie’s strength. She opened her mouth and roared, her once neat teeth now transformed into the sharp fangs of a dinosaur, her jaw distending, and strange scales and fur appearing on her face.

Maisie lunged forward, snapping at Niu Xuanguang, who stood within reach. A veteran of countless battles, he instantly recognized the signs: the boss, wounded to half health, was entering a new phase—transformation, as was customary.

By normal logic, such a transformation would be unstoppable; perhaps even the stampede of horses and camels had been orchestrated by the system. But Niu Xuanguang’s party was prepared—Zhao Gongming had thwarted the stampede, so if they could disrupt Maisie’s transformation, victory would be at hand.

Yet Niu Xuanguang’s calculations were still too simplistic. Aside from the initial storm drake, they had failed to predict every subsequent surprise assault by strange creatures.

Now, as Maisie transformed, she became a whirlwind of power. With a deft twist, she flung Niu Xuanguang to the ground, then sprang forward toward the weeping girl. At that moment, the weeping girl had just thrown her halberd, her hands momentarily empty. Without her rouge horse, her movements were sluggish; confronted by the half-dinosaur Maisie, she found herself with no chance to counter.

Just then, a paladin nearest the weeping girl stepped forward, raising his medium shield to block Maisie’s advance. He thought, at worst, he’d be thrown aside like his comrades—perhaps even land a counterattack with his shield.

But reality was far crueler. Transformed, Maisie’s speed and strength far exceeded anything human. With one strike, the paladin was killed on the spot; Maisie’s arm, now transformed and taloned, punched through shield and armor alike, tearing out his heart.

The paladin’s sacrifice bought the weeping girl just enough time to draw her backup weapon—a longsword, the kind meant for desperate battlefield scrambles, not the flying blade mastery of Niu Xuanguang.

Meanwhile, Niu Xuanguang leapt at Maisie from behind, aiming for the dagger still embedded in her left temple. But as he sprang, a black shadow flashed before his eyes—he was struck down again.

It was a dinosaur tail, now sprouting from Maisie’s back, lashing about with deadly agility, battering Niu Xuanguang relentlessly.

“Confusion!” Zhao Gongming now altered the formation’s effect once more, targeting Maisie’s mind.

At the same time, the two surviving white-robed archers opened fire on Maisie, trying to force her back. The effect of confusion took hold: Maisie, who should have been a whirlwind of attacks, suddenly halted, tilting her head as if observing something unseen. Half her body was now dinosaur, the other half still that of a young girl; her transformation seemed to have stalled.

“Now’s our chance.” Niu Xuanguang and the weeping girl realized the opportunity in unison, shouting as one.

“Augment!” The ghost-faced young woman at the rear sprang into action. She pulled her silk tight, slicing her palm, then flung the bloodied silk outward and cried, “Great Bloodlust!”

Everyone present, even those hidden behind the Loom of Fate, felt a surge of strength and a desire for battle. Two of the foremost paladins raised their swords and charged. The white-robed archers leapt off their crates, no longer firing but instead drawing hidden stilettos from their sleeves.

Even Wang Liang rushed forward with his cleaver, determined to strike one final blow.

Their speed was greatly enhanced, though none matched the swiftness of Niu Xuanguang or the weeping girl. Niu Xuanguang lunged forward, pinning Maisie and seizing the dagger in her temple, ready to slice it free—boss or not, a decapitation should end her.

But at that moment, Maisie’s head twisted a full one hundred and eighty degrees to face Niu Xuanguang. Her eyes no longer held confusion, but instead glimmered with the cunning of a trap sprung.

Niu Xuanguang tried to shout a warning, but it was too late. Pain lanced through his back as Maisie’s tail impaled him, threading through his chest and heart. Then, with a backward twist of her arm, she wrenched his neck, tearing his head from his shoulders.