Passerby Villain In A Wizard World

"Huh? I don't know. Maybe, some monsters in this forest?"

Ian was just as confused about the "shadows" Ignysyl had mentioned, but he still followed him into the forest, while Arvhael took the lead, standing guard with his impressive chain of lightning crackling in the air.

"Yeah, be careful."

Morgana also felt the same, as the forest around them pulsed with a thick, bloody energy, its crimson concentration growing heavier as they ventured deeper. It wouldn't be surprising if there were some monsters inside.

"Aren't you afraid of wasting mana?"

Ian asked as he noticed Morgana thickening the water barrier around her body.

In fact, although the air was heavy with the scent of blood and the smell was growing stronger, it wasn't actually clinging to their bodies as they had first feared.

Instead, Ian realized that the air was saturated with some kind of crimson energy, not physical blood. There was no real need for a shield at all.

"Just in case. What if it suddenly starts raining blood? I don't want to be drenched in that disgusting stuff."

Morgana replied while carefully placing her steps, not wanting to step on the vines that almost looked like blood vessels. In fact, they seemed to be just that, as Ian could clearly see red liquid pumping inside some of them.

Honestly, if they started squirming while absorbing the liquid, it would be even more disturbing.

"Anyway, forget about that. Instead, tell me, is this your Raven? Where did you find it? It seems pretty smart,"

Morgana said, quickly changing the topic as she pointed at the Raven effortlessly flying from branch to branch, guiding them. She was surprised Ian had such an incredible magical creature, but after remembering the Elemental and Arvhael, it didn't seem so strange anymore.

"Haha... of course I am smart, missy. Do you think I am some kind of ordinary pet you see everywhere?"

As soon as she asked, what answered wasn't Ian but Ignysyl, who suddenly appeared on Ian's shoulder, almost scaring Morgana.

"Tsk... even your pet has the same habit as yours."

Morgana said, annoyed, as both master and pet just liked to appear suddenly.

Did they want to kill by jump scare or what?

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

Ignysyl was confused and looked at Ian, who just ignored him entirely.

"Nothing! I just wanted to ask, what are you? I don't think any simple Raven talks and thinks like you."

Morgana asked with curious eyes. In the world of Aetherion, there were all kinds of wonders, so it wasn't surprising to see a talking Raven at all.

However, basic principles still applied. If a Raven could talk, then there had to be a reason, like if he had become part of a spiritual race or encountered some form of enlightening treasure.

Even Arvhael was looking in this direction with attention as he was also curious.

"Who are you?"

But instead of giving an answer, the Raven tilted his head in confusion and responded with a counter-question. Then, without waiting for Morgana's reaction, he abruptly turned to Ian and asked:

"Is she another Lady you've taken under you?" He seemed to be confirming something.

"Pffttt..."

Arvhael couldn't hold his laugh after hearing such a weird response from Ignysyl, while Morgana was completely confused.

She didn't think she had asked anything sensitive. Why was this guy so rude?

'And what did he mean by I am his Lady?'

Morgana thought, feeling angry inside, and also a little curious about Ian.

But anyhow, she felt like a Raven was mocking her.

"No, she isn't."

However, unlike the others, Ian understood that Ignysyl was really asking whether she was his person now. After all, some things were never meant to be shared with outsiders.

So, he simply denied it. But then, sensing that his answer felt lacking, he added a few more words with a slight grin,

"Not yet."

"Oh? I understand."

Ignysyl nodded after receiving Ian's answer, then turned to Morgana with an innocent look.

"Well, missy, for now, let's just say I'm a smart guy. I'll tell you more about myself after you officially become a Lady. What do you think?"

He puffed out his chest and spoke in a youthful, proud voice, as if he carried some grand, unspoken secret.

If she wanted to know, she'd better hurry up and become a Lady quickly.

"Pffttt... haha..."

Ignysyl looked so innocent and serious that everyone could tell he wasn't joking at all.

But Morgana's eyes widened slightly, her cheeks puffing up in anger, while Ignysyl just tilted his head with a confused look, as if he didn't understand what was wrong.

This time, even Ian couldn't hold back and laughed alongside Arvhael, while Morgana suddenly pouted.

"Who wants to be your Lady? Like owner, like followers, no manners at all!"

She snarled in annoyance as she saw Arvhael and Ian laughing at her.

"Hmm? But I am serious, though."

Ignysyl didn't understand why she was angry. But seeing her expression grow even fiercer, he suddenly flew off Ian's shoulder and swooped down toward her side.

"Well, I don't know why you're mad, but let me apologize by helping you get rid of that hidden shadow of yours."

He said suddenly, plunging toward Morgana's faint shadow as if it were some kind of monster. Then, without waiting for their reaction, he quickly shot a fire-type spell at it.

"Crimson Flare!"

"Swoosh!"

Along with the shout came the fiery tendrils, shooting out with blinding speed, crackling in the air as they consumed the shadow.

"What are you doing?" Morgana asked, confused.

One moment, he was talking to her, and the next, he was firing a spell at her shadow like a maniac. Did Ian have any sane people in his arsenal?

"What the..."

But her confusion was quickly answered when she watched in shock, her normal shadow writhing the moment the Raven unleashed its fiery prongs.

"Shreekkkk..."

Then she saw the shadow screech eerily, twisting and detaching itself from her legs. It squirmed into numerous small, worm-like larvae, wriggling frantically to escape. But before they could get far, they were consumed by the flames, turning to cinders in an instant under Ignysyl's fiery assault.

All that remained was the thick, burnt smell of blood lingering in the air.

"What the fuck was that?"

Although Ignysyl's attack, the appearance of the eerie larvae, and their incineration didn't take long, Morgana was still horrified by the incident.

So, unlike her usual self, she suddenly cursed a foul word and hurriedly moved closer to Ian, pulling an artifact from her mana ring, her senses on high alert.

She was already on edge with the strange and disgusting environment, and now, seeing something that could hide under her shadow, of course, she was shaken.

It wasn't because of the powerful enemy, nor was it due to the danger. It was all because of the disgust. Even after the incineration of those worms, some blood and pus were still squirting from the spot.

She didn't throw up—she was already too surprised for that.

"Nyxroot Larva! Although it seemed to have changed a lot after being in this place."

Ignysyl answered and flew to Ian's shoulder once again after making sure that there was none remaining.

"Nyxroot Larva?"

Morgana mumbled, feeling confused as she didn't seem to hear about it. So, she looked in Ian's direction as if expecting an explanation.

"Why are you looking at me?"

However, Ian just rolled his eyes as he felt that she was too demanding. Why did he feel like taking a toddler out for adventures?

"It is an ancient species generally found on old battlefields filled with blood. Well, you will know in a bit anyway."

Fortunately, Ignysyl came to her rescue and explained briefly, and then looked at Ian,

"We are now close to the core. Although those larvae aren't that strong, they are too annoying. What do you think we should do?"

Ignysyl asked. If he and Ian were alone, they could just travel unimpeded directly to the center. But now with baggage beside them, it would be hard to do that.

"Just walk like before. No need to do anything."

Ian didn't care much as he wasn't in a hurry. Instead, he turned to Arvhael and ordered,

"Use Tempest Shroud and cover everyone. Don't hold back on mana."

"Yes, Sir Ian!"

Arvhael, already on full alert after Ignysyl's outburst, nodded solemnly. Then, taking out his average-looking staff, he began chanting while channeling mana at full force.

"Tempest Shroud!"

"Swish!"

With his chant complete, a larger, fiery tempest crackling with lightning erupted. Unlike before, when it only covered Arvhael, this time it expanded outward, engulfing everyone at the center.

"Shreekkkk—"

"Bang!"

At the sudden appearance of such a violent defensive spell, the bloody trees around them were blasted apart violently.

But what truly made their skin crawl was the eerie scream they heard and the sight of larvae, hidden among the trees, now incinerating under the tempest's arcs of lightning.

Only now did they realize that numerous hidden tree shadows made of disgusting worm-like larvae had been lurking all around them, camouflaged so seamlessly that even their mental power couldn't catch them at all.

"Eww... so disgusting!"

Morgana felt nauseated, especially seeing some worms still squirming even as the lightning fried them.

Fortunately, she was safe inside the barrier conjured by Arvhael.

'System, use Analysis!' However, Ian's focus was elsewhere as he suddenly locked onto one of the still-alive larvae and commanded his system, when a panel instantly flashed before his eyes, filled with information.

---

[Name: Nyxroot Larvae]

[Race: Spirit]