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Join the Server“How could this be!”
Ellis could only manage a single gasp of alarm.
She realized she, too, had been infected.
The black curses had seeped into her body with every breath she took.
An inexplicable, nameless fury began to ignite within her mind, threatening to consume all her reason and vitality.
“Don’t underestimate me! It’s just a mere curse!”
Sixfold Divine Blessing!
Ellis was engulfed by a dazzling white light.
She became like a nascent sun, swiftly dispelling the surrounding darkness.
The ferocious creatures formed from the black cursed energy scattered instantly, like wisps of cloud before a hurricane.
Within a ten-meter radius centered on Ellis, no trace of the curse remained.
Larry, Julia, Irene, the Thunder Kun Bird chick, and the other infected Thunder Kun Birds around them all wore expressions of profound comfort.
“Phew”
With the curse purged from her own body, Ellis reactivated the barrier designed to block curses.
She also doubled the strength of the barrier specialized in defending against elemental arts.
With considerable effort, she gathered the three individuals and the bird together, then simultaneously cast an eightfold Divine Blessing upon them all.
Since the blessing was cast upon others, it required a sustained duration.
To enhance the intensity of these auxiliary spells, Ellis had to expend an equivalent amount of elemental energy, resulting in an eightfold mana cost.
Even with her abundant elemental energy and the numerous items she carried to restore and increase her elemental reserves, her mana bar diminished at an alarming rate.
Fortunately, their infections were not deep. After expending half of her elemental energy reserves, Ellis successfully freed Larry and the others from the curse.
After providing simple treatment for their external injuries, Ellis finally breathed a sigh of relief, then began to focus on treating Larry’s wounds.
The azure lightning bolt had primarily struck Ellis and Larry, with Julia and Irene only suffering from the lingering aftermath.
Cradling Larry’s head between her knees, Ellis spread her palm over his back, which had been charred black by the electricity.
Rain-like motes of fluorescent light showered from her hand. As they fell upon Larry’s back, the necrotic skin rapidly sloughed off, much like parched wood blossoming anew, revealing pristine, tender new skin beneath.
Larry, who had moments ago been contorted in pain, now wore a contented smile. The persistent itching on his back made him involuntarily rub against Ellis’s smooth thighs.
This movement made Ellis feel rather uncomfortable, a ticklish sensation spreading through her. She couldn’t help but swat Larry’s head, saying, “You better behave yourself.”
Larry continued to revel in the softness and fragrance of her thighs, showing no inclination to stop. Instead, he protested, “That’s unfair! I got hurt for you. I have every right to this small perk!”
‘So fragrant. I really want to take a bite.’
Larry succumbed to his instincts, then opened his mouth.
Bite!
Ellis’s hairs stood on end. She yanked Larry’s head up and slammed him forcefully onto the ground.
Ellis’s strength was undeniable, startling Julia and Irene, who had just recovered on the other side. They turned their heads to see Ellis pressing Larry’s head against the ground, grinding it back and forth.
“What happened?”
Ellis, her face flushed crimson, declared, “He bit me. I suspect his infection is too deep, and he’s not thinking clearly. So I’m using some seemingly violent, but actually beneficial, methods to bring him back to his senses.”
Julia and Irene exchanged bewildered glances. The atmosphere between Ellis and Larry seemed anything but normal.
However, Ellis said no more. She quickly checked Larry’s injuries, confirming they were not serious, then unceremoniously tossed him aside like trash. She then subtly glanced at the spot where Larry had tried to bite her.
‘Good heavens, there’s still a clear bite mark! I wouldn’t even bite myself that hard!’
‘Damn you!’
Still fuming, Ellis wanted to grab Larry and vent her anger, but Larry, now wary, had already prudently dodged away. He hastily added, “We should go. I don’t want to get struck by lightning again.”
“May you be struck dead,” Ellis cursed under her breath.
However, she knew this was no place to linger and prepared to lead the group away. Just then, a cry that overshadowed all the thunder in the sky resonated.
Initially, Ellis thought it was the Thunder Kun Birds behind them chirping in unison. Curious about what they were calling out, she turned around, only to realize it wasn’t the Thunder Kun Birds lingering at the border making the noise.
Those Thunder Kun Birds had their heads bowed so low they looked as if they wished to bury themselves in the dirt, seemingly welcoming their king.
‘Wait, their king is right there, and it’s burying its head in the dirt just like them.’
Even the Thunder Kun Birds that had been pain-ridden and simply roosting in their nests were now struggling to stand, seemingly wanting to bow in reverence.
Ellis and Larry exchanged glances, both sensing that something was terribly wrong. Just then, a fierce gale erupted, the terrifying gust nearly sweeping them away.
A colossal beast tore through the thunderclouds, descending from the sky.
Ellis and Larry swore they had never seen such an enormous elemental beast, or rather, a Thunder Kun Bird of such immense size.
They weren’t even as large as one of the bird’s talons.
The Thunder Kun Bird gazed down at Ellis and the others from high above. This suffocating pressure far surpassed anything the thousands of Thunder Kun Birds outside could exert.
Ellis gasped, drawing a sharp breath. If the Thunder Kun Bird King outside was at the very bottom of A-rank, this one must have leaped directly to an S-rank elemental beast, surely?
While it appeared to be of the same rank as them, the S-rank of the Adventurer’s Guild and the S-rank of an elemental beast were incomparable.
Elemental beasts at A-rank already possessed the ability to contend with S-rank adventurers. The range of their power stretched from being able to barely escape an S-rank adventurer to an S-rank adventurer being able to smoothly escape from them. This was the scope of A-rank strength.
As for S-rank elemental beasts, the lowest tier meant an S-rank adventurer had a low probability of being able to contend with or even kill them.
The Adventurer’s Guild’s advice to S-rank adventurers was to run if they encountered an S-rank elemental beast. If running was not an option… then fight, but remember to write a will or leave a final message beforehand. While victory was not impossible, the odds were truly pitiful.
Ellis and Larry swallowed hard. ‘What in the world is happening?!’
‘Why would an S-rank elemental beast appear here?!’
Watching Ellis and the others tremble under its gaze, the Thunder Kun Bird, which could only be described as the Thunder Kun Bird Emperor, revealed satisfaction in its eyes.
It slowly descended, its massive form shrinking bit by bit. By the time it landed before Ellis and the others, it had completely shed its bird-like appearance, transforming into a petite and adorable loli with green hair.
She wore a simple, plain green robe. Upon closer inspection, one could discern that this rustic yet exquisite light robe was intricately fashioned from layered green feathers.
Ellis couldn’t detect any seams or adhesives on it, perplexed as to how the garment held together.
The little girl’s bare feet stepped on the hard stone surface without any discomfort. Instead, she skipped and hopped to the edge of Ellis’s barrier.
The black aura permeating the air was struck and dispersed by an azure electric arc before it could even approach her body.
Though the little girl was elfin and charming, utterly delightful, it was impossible to reconcile her with the colossal beast she had just been.
Yet, Larry and Ellis’s spirits became even heavier.
Elemental beasts transforming into humanoids—this was the hallmark of an S-rank elemental beast.
They had harbored a sliver of hope, thinking it might just be a peak A-rank elemental beast.
However, since the opponent was willing to take human form and stood politely outside the barrier, perhaps communication was still possible, they thought.
The little girl politely tapped on Ellis’s protective barrier and said, “Hey, bird thieves inside, have you decided how you want to die yet? I’m in a hurry to get this over with.”
‘No intention of communicating at all?!’
“Wait! Misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding!”
Ellis quickly waved her hands, explaining, “We were just… just thinking of clearing out some weeds!”
As she spoke, Ellis even showed the little girl Julia’s bag, which contained the Startle Thunder Undergrass. She knew she was rambling, her mind a complete mess.
The little girl narrowed her eyes, glancing at the chick beside Irene, and giggled, “Clearing weeds, huh? And you thought you could use this as payment?”
The chick felt both closeness and awe towards the little girl, so it remained rooted to the spot. However, upon seeing the little girl look at it, it tried to stand and run over, only to be glared at by the little girl, making it stay put obediently.
“Ahem, we thought it was cute, and wanted to take it to play.”
Ellis continued to lie through her teeth. Suddenly, a cry echoed from afar—it was the Thunder Kun Bird King.
Ellis didn’t know what it was saying, but the little girl kindly translated, “She said not to let you trick me. The first thing you said when you saw her child was that it was ugly.”
Ellis: “…”
‘There’s no talking to her now. How can this bird’s hearing be so good? And it can understand human speech?!’
“I’ll take responsibility for my actions. I’m the one who captured it. I’ll stay. Let them go.”
Larry suddenly spoke in a grave tone, startling Ellis and the others.
Ellis reacted most vehemently, directly shouting at Larry, “Don’t even think about it!”
“Ellis, don’t be foolish. Take Julia and Irene away…”
Ellis looked at Larry with cold, resolute eyes, her voice firm as she said, “Shut up! If we go, we go together!”
On the other side, the two women echoed their sentiment.
“That’s right, if we go, we go together!”
*Clap, clap, clap.*
The sound of the girl clapping her hands resonated nearby.
“Touching, so touching. But aren’t you here to be cleaners? Why are you being so dramatic? I was just joking earlier.”
The little girl asked, blinking her wide, watery eyes with curiosity.
This question utterly bewildered Ellis and the others. ‘What’s going on? Do our outfits really make us look like cleaners?’
The few of them looked at each other, seeing the same confusion in each other’s eyes.
“Oh, you’re not? What a shame.”
The little girl first froze at Ellis and the others’ blank expressions, then pondered for a moment before suddenly grinning. Azure lightning flickered in her hand, indicating she intended to personally dispose of the ‘trash.’
“No! We are here to clean!”
Larry and Ellis immediately bowed and smiled obsequiously, “Please, tell us where else you need us to tidy up. Just give the order, we guarantee your satisfaction!”
The little girl said disdainfully, “Are your eyes bad? Can’t you see how terrible the air is around here? Can’t you see how dirty these children around me are? Is your professional skill only limited to weeding?”
Ellis and the others looked around, vaguely understanding what the little girl wanted them, or rather, wanted Ellis to do.
“Of course not! We are professionals.”
Larry pushed Ellis forward, smiling ingratiatingly, “Don’t mind her ditziness. I’m telling you, she is absolutely an expert at clearing air pollution. She’s just a bit slow sometimes, please don’t take offense.”
“Larry, you!”
Ellis glared furiously at Larry, but then she saw him vigorously winking at her. She could only grudgingly force a smile and say to the little girl, “He’s right, you can rest assured.”
The girl nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly shouted sternly at the group, “Then what are you waiting for? Send this chick back, and get to work!”
“Yes!”
You’ve got to see this next! The Strongest Tactical Maid Absolutely Refuses to Serve! will keep you on the edge of your seat. Start reading today!
Read : The Strongest Tactical Maid Absolutely Refuses to Serve!
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