I Have a Task Log

Chapter 299: Chapter 298: The Oriole Behind

"By the glory of the Morninglord, strike down that villain!"

A golden [Guiding Bolt] smashed into the very center of the Array. The scorching golden light burned a black mark on the ground, forcefully severing several lines that formed the Array.

"Hahahahaha..."

A hysterical female laugh echoed from the center of the Array.

More blood gushed from the Array, as if from a spring, while the [Protective Array] contained it like a glass cup.

Colin tried to rush forward and pull Orelia out, but the [Protective Array] was still there, completely blocking his path.

After a moment, the blood began to rapidly collapse inward, as if it were flowing into a small hole in the ground. It quickly vanished, and both the Array on the ground and the [Protective Array] disappeared without a trace.

If it weren’t for the small figure lying quietly on the ground, Colin might have thought the whole thing had just been a strange illusion.

"Orelia, you..."

Colin walked over, but the Tiefling’s condition made him freeze.

The boots on her feet had fallen off, revealing that her once-human feet had transformed into a pair of cloven hooves. At the same time, the ram’s horns on either side of her head had grown thicker.

’Damn it, this is the "worst-case scenario" Donkexes mentioned!’

After the Summoning Array was forcibly destroyed halfway through the ritual, the untethered Magic Power purified Orelia’s bloodline, drawing her even closer to a Demon.

Colin’s mind was in turmoil.

Donkexes, Bearman Oak Heart, the Evil Dragon Cultists, Yuri...

Every experience he’d had on his journey reminded him of the effect bloodline changes had on mortals—an influence that wasn’t just a physical transformation, but an assimilation of the soul.

’So, when Orelia wakes up, will she still be the Little Priest I know? Or did the Orelia I once knew die in that instant...?’

Colin took a deep breath.

He didn’t want to think about the answer.

Now, Orelia had dealt with the Summoning Array. It was all over.

Colin went over and, with slightly trembling hands, checked Orelia’s Medicated Bandages. He carefully poured the remaining bottle of [Healing Potion] into her mouth.

After seeing the Tiefling’s breathing return to normal, he turned back to check the area where they had fought the Chain Demon.

Kase, Morne, and Battier were all unconscious, lying motionless amidst the shattered bricks.

Kase was in decent shape. Although he had taken the most Damage when the Chain Demon unleashed its power, he also had the best physical constitution in the group.

The other two, meanwhile, were a testament to the usefulness of Armor. Their Armor was covered in dents and scrapes; if the metal plates hadn’t been so sturdy, the two of them would likely be dead.

Each of them had a bit of [Healing Potion] left on them.

After giving Kase a Potion, he loosened the Armor on Battier and Morne before giving each of them their medicine as well.

After doing all this, a wave of exhaustion washed over Colin.

’Speaking of which, Ale should be coming down soon, right?’

Colin sat on the ground and began to wait quietly for his companion to arrive.

After a while, a clamor of footsteps came from the hall’s exit.

Immediately after, the Abbot came running over, holding a Torch.

He was wearing a Chain Armor Shirt, and his other hand gripped a One-Handed Warhammer.

Colin instinctively tightened his grip on his Hand Half Sword.

’But he could also see a subtle change in the Abbot’s eyes, as if he’d been freed from something... Perhaps the Array in the tomb chamber above was like the one beneath Pig Badger Village, used to control the minds of mortals?’

"Thank you, sir," the Abbot said sincerely as he walked up to Colin.

As a seasoned Cultivator, he could look at the scene and understand roughly what had happened.

"You’ve broken free from the influence?"

Colin clutched his Hand Half Sword, not daring to relax for a second.

"Yes. You destroyed the foul things these Evil Demons created," the Abbot said quickly. "I will offer you my aid."

"Don’t move yet. My companion will be here soon," Colin said.

The Abbot said, "The Half-Elf, you mean? We ran into her on our way here."

Colin nodded silently.

Kase and the others were all in a weakened state. He didn’t dare rashly let this Abbot, whose allegiances were still unclear, get near them. But...

Colin glanced again at Orelia, who was lying not far away.

Faced with this situation, he truly didn’t know what to do.

The Abbot nodded and added, "Reinforcements will be here soon."

FWIP!

The words had barely left his mouth when a sound of something slicing through the air came from a distance.

An Arrow suddenly appeared in the Abbot’s side, and blood instantly pooled on the floor.

Colin whipped his head around to look at the entrance to the basement.

Several figures were slowly walking toward them.

The one in the lead was none other than the Cambion, Lil Moss, dressed in Chain Armor and holding a Wild Boar Spear. Her demeanor was completely different from when he’d seen her at the entrance last time. She swayed her hips as she walked, looking far more professional than some of the female workers in the city’s shadier districts.

The two people flanking her were also Guards from the Monastery.

Both were Tieflings. They wore Chain Armor Shirts; one held a Short Bow, and the other gripped an Armed Sword.

"Are you sure you want to keep resisting, Mr. Colin?"

Just as Colin started to get up, the Cambion spoke, her tone smoldering with a faint Flame.

Colin froze for a moment. His raised Hand Half Sword went slack in his grip and slowly lowered, as if he had suddenly become a marionette.

Cambions are, for the most part, descendants of Succubi. In addition to their superhuman physical abilities and the wings on their backs, they of course also inherit the powerful Charm ability of a Succubus.

"You too, Lil Moss...?"

The Abbot turned with difficulty.

"Don’t move, old man," one of the Guards barked.

"Don’t be so rude," Lil Moss said, though she did nothing to stop her companion from drawing his bow and taking aim.

She pulled a rolled-up strip of parchment from her pocket and casually tossed it in front of the Abbot. "Alright, old guy. Sign this contract, or you can wait and listen to the little darlings upstairs sing their ’hymns’—and don’t tell me you don’t know how to sign a Demon’s contract."

"So you were the one who summoned these Demons?" the old Abbot asked, frowning.

"Of course. Did you really think that simple-minded Chain Demon could have deceived you? Even if you are all a bunch of fools." Lil Moss savored his expression with satisfaction. "Now, all the credit is mine."

She then crooked a finger at Colin and said, "Come here to me, my handsome young man. It’s thanks to you that I’m rid of that damned Demon."

"As... as you wish, my beautiful lady..." Colin staggered toward her, his steps unsteady.