Chapter 28


    Their hunger was palpable, their thirst unquenchable.


    Nysah was in despair, for the first time in her life, cursing her own beauty. She had joined the herb


    gathering quest solely to y vin, to quench the burning vengeance in her heart. She never


    anticipated such a dire predicament. Had she known, she would have never left the safety of Cobalt


    Strike.


    "Ha ha, no rush, my friends, there''s plenty to go around. Looks like we''ve found ourselves a fresh


    flower, boys; today''s our lucky day," bellowed the burly man, pushing his way to the front to stand


    before Nysah. His eyes greedily scanned her smooth skin and fiery curves, a feverish desire ignited


    within him.


    They wouldn''t dare rob a Cobalt Strike party under normal circumstances, but the sudden encounter


    with such a beauty was too much to resist.


    "Come on! Just do it already." the other mercenaries urged impatiently.


    "Line up, you curs! I''ll have the first taste," the burly man licked his lips and began to crawl towards


    Nysah.


    "No... please no..." Nysah struggled in terror, but the burly man easily overpowered her.


    vin was hidden in the treetops, witnessing everything transpiring in the valley below. He should


    have felt a sense of satisfaction, yet disgust welled up inside him.


    To watch Nysah be vited unto death?


    Grinding his teeth in inner turmoil, vin lowered his gaze and then suddenly lifted his eyes with a


    fierce light shing within. He turned and vanished into the forest.


    "Please, let me go! I can give you treasures, so many treasures, I swear it," Nysah pleaded


    desperately, unable to fathom what she was about to endure.


    "Treasures? You are the treasure I seek," the burly man tore at Nysah''s garments, revealing her


    crimson bodice and soft skin.


    Nysah screamed in despair, struggling helplessly.


    The other mercenaries breathed deeply, their excitement palpable.


    "Wait! Just wait!" Ogmundr suddenly struggled to his feet.


    "What now?"


    "You needn''t risk the wrath of Cobalt Strike. I can give you gold, piles of it. With that gold, you can


    have your pick of women in the town."


    "Save it. Don''t take us for fools."


    Desperate, Ogmundr shouted, "I can give you Elixir Herbs!"


    "You have Elixir Herbs on you?" The mercenaries turned to Ogmundr with renewed interest.


    "Not with me, but I can find them. I am a Protégé of Botanic Haven, and we have unique methods


    for locating Elixir Herbs. I can guide you to find plenty of Ordinary Elixir Herbs. There''s even a


    chance to discover Advanced Elixir Herbs, I promise you this."


    The mercenaries exchanged nces, intrigued by the proposition.


    "Very well! Your life is spared for now," dered the burly man with a sweeping gesture, sealing


    Ogmundr''s fate.


    Ogmundr breathed a sigh of relief while inwardly seething with anger. To think a Protégé of Botanic


    Haven would beg these lowly sellswords for his life. "And she?"


    "Her? Ha! Even if you brought me a Super Elixir Herb, I wouldn''t trade her for it," the burly man


    laughed. The other mercenaries chuckled as well, knowing such a delicacy might onlye once in


    a lifetime.


    "Keep an eye on that one; don''t let him try anything funny," the burly man could no longer hold back.


    His whole body was leaning towards Nysah.


    Nysah closed her eyes in utter despair, tears streaming down. At that moment, her mind


    inexplicably wandered to vin. Why did Ie here? It was all because of vin!


    She despised vin to her core. If not for him, would she have fallen to such a low?


    Ogmundr turned away, resigned to the fact that his own survival was paramount.


    Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the valley. Ogmundr turned back, and


    Nysah opened her tear-filled eyes.


    Before long, a figure burst through the dense forest, panting as they scanned the valley.


    "vin?" Ogmundr could hardly believe his own eyes.


    vin? Nysah stared in shock, almost thinking it was a dream.


    The figure was indeed vin. Clenching his teeth, he resolutely charged into the valley.


    "That''s one of theirpanions," the burly man grimaced, his good time interrupted yet again.


    "Another one is seeking death. Don''t bother, boss; we''ll handle him," two mercenaries brandished


    their des, ready to confront the neer.


    "Trying to y the hero? How na?ve," the others scoffed, not taking him seriously. It was just one


    man trying to be the hero.


    But their expressions soon froze, for as vin charged out of the forest, a chilling rustling followed,


    and a Vermilion Spider burst forth, its eight ck legs thrashing at incredible speed, emitting a


    ghastly shriek as it pursued vin. Then another, and another... ten... twenty...


    Dozens of Vermilion Spiders emerged from the forest, each the size of a calf, their shiny ck


    carapaces glinting in the sunlight, and their robust ws like forged steel, snapping their venomous


    fangs as they relentlessly hunted.


    vin charged into the valley, brandishing a Vermilion Spider''s leg. He had in a Vermilion Spider,


    enraging the swarm, and led them on a wild chase to the valley. He could not stand by and watch


    Nysah be despoiled. This wasn''t about hatred; it was about humanity!N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.