Transmigrated with my corruption system

Wading through the mist with Tara’s frame tightly clinging to him, Ulric finally neared Amber’s figure before suddenly stopping.

"Huh... This..." Tara breathed as her gaze fell on Amber as well.

She seemed relatively fine, just as when they had parted ways. But her eyes were shut tightly as she used her staff to keep herself upright.

Had she blacked out while defending herself? Tara mused, her eyes widening with worry.

"Quick, we have to help her before any Ghost Wraiths get to her," she muttered as she tugged at Ulric’s arm before rushing forward.

From what she could sense, there were no traces of energy leaking from Amber’s body. It could only mean she was completely defenseless and needed their help.

But just as she was about to get any closer, Ulric stopped her in her tracks.

"Not quite."

The thoughtful expression on his face started into a smile.

"Hahaha...interesting," Ulric chuckled. He had already witnessed her fight, which was why he wasn’t particularly worried.

From what he had picked up, he could sense approaching enemies and attack instantly.

Given that she had yet to do that, he supposed one had to get closer. And from everything he had witnessed, he estimated a range of fifty meters.

But that wasn’t what truly caught his eye. Flicking his fingers, a low-tier shield materialized in his arms before he casually tossed it a few meters forward.

Tara watched Ulric’s movements closely. She wanted to ask multiple questions, but she had been around him long enough to know that for everything he did, however small, there was always a reason behind it.

What about this? Her question was answered almost immediately.

As Ulric tossed the shield a few meters toward Amber’s direction, he instantly crumpled as if crushed by an unknown force.

The eleven broad shield was reduced to a small metallic ball, compressed to the least possible mass.

Gasping loudly, Tara’s eyes widened even further as she instinctively took a step back.

If she had haphazardly rushed forward, would she have been crushed into a pulp as well?

But how? Tara questioned inwardly. There was no energy leaking from Amber’s frame. This type of attack should have exuded monstrous levels of energy.

"Hmm, an imperceptible gravitational force that crushes all things?" Ulric mused.

Even he was a little surprised. If used well, it could quickly turn deadly. Especially when used to set up traps.

But how had she managed to conceal her aura? Ulric paused for a moment before waving the thought away. He would ask her about it later.

Flicking his wrist, a spectral dark blade emerged before tearing through the gravitational field.

Since it wasn’t an active skill, once he cleaved through it, the field instantly collapsed.

Rushing forward, he reached out to grab Amber and, just as he had expected, the moment he crossed the fifty-meter range, his eyes snapped open.

Flashing with battle intent, she prepared to strike.

But once she caught sight of him, he vanished. The furrow in her brows eased into a soft smile before her limp body collapsed into her arms.

She must have been very tired.

But it was to be expected.

The Misty Lands were a danger zone that required one to remain constantly on guard, where a single mistake could cost one’s life.

All of that must have placed a tremendous strain on her body.

Staring into her weary face, Ulric sighed quietly.

Good thing it wasn’t all for naught.

He could practically feel the waves of energy thrumming through his body.

Given enough time to process it all, she was bound to experience a massive leap in power.

At the side, Tara’s eyes narrowed slightly as she slowly regained her bearings.

She should have known better than to underestimate Amber.

But that didn’t matter much now.

She could sense a slight shift in the environment around them as the mist churned more violently than before.

The Ghost Wraiths, Tara mused inwardly.

They must have sensed the gravitational field collapse as well and were moving in to attack once again.

Her lips parted hurriedly as she was about to warn Ulric.

But before a single word could even slip out...

She watched Ulric’s eyes flash briefly with a golden sheen as he casually waved his hand.

In the next instant, shrieks and screeches echoed out before abruptly dying away as the mist around them grew deathly still.

Had he killed all of them with a single move?

Tara blinked.

She was even more surprised that she hadn’t seen his attack.

Even stranger, the Ghost Wraiths hadn’t burst into white mist.

They had simply vanished, as if their existence had been severed from the Misty Lands.

But how?

The range of his Phantom Blades had increased to a hundred meters.

But Ulric felt as though they could still improve further.

It seemed it was being held back by something.

His rank?

It was the only feasible explanation.

Suppose that was another reason to strive to break through to C-rank as soon as possible.

To redefine its limits as much as possible.

Smiling at the thought, he grabbed both Amber and Tara before vanishing into the distance.

Appearing before a strange spatial rift in an unlikely corner of the Misty Lands, he made his way out.

Catching sight of the Procan Python, Ulric’s brows furrowed slightly.

The distance between it and the Misty Lands had grown noticeably shorter since he left.

Had the Procan Python moved closer on its own accord?

But that was impossible.

Although the beast possessed sentience, it was only enough to follow basic commands.

Which could only mean one thing.

The mist had been inching forward.

How deviously, Ulric groaned inwardly.

Was that why the surrounding beasts refused to approach this place?

Were they afraid of being swallowed by the mist?

Shaking his head, Ulric ordered the Procan Python to move a few hundred meters farther away before setting Tara and Amber beside Lyra, who still appeared to be sleeping peacefully.

"Rest for now," Ulric muttered.

He didn’t have to tell them twice.

They instantly collapsed onto the ground, finally able to let their guards down as crushing fatigue washed over them.

Issuing a command for the Procan Python to keep watch over the mist, Ulric’s figure darted forward, stepping into the Misty Lands once more.

***

Elsewhere, within the deepest regions of the Misty Lands, tremors echoed out, interlaced with wild laughter as a golden-armored figure ramped through, unleashing a wave of destruction wherever she passed.

If one looked closer, they would notice the edges of her armor glowing more brightly with every Ghost Wraith she killed, as part of their essence was permanently engraved into her body.

An exhilarating sensation that only fueled her battle frenzy.

She could feel her strength rising at an absurd pace.

Far beyond anything she had ever imagined before.

It all just felt surreal.

Just as she was sinking deeper into her thoughts, her eyes flickered slightly as she sensed movement behind her.

Without hesitation, her figure shot into the air, her massive hammer following as she brought it crashing down upon the Ghost Wraith foolish enough to attempt a sneak attack.

But just as her eyes caught sight of her supposed foe, she froze slightly as recognition flashed across her face.

"Ulric!" Aelira gasped, her pupils constricting.

She had already committed too much force.

It was impossible to stop the strike completely.

She wanted to yell at him to dodge.

But it was too late.

The hammer would land within milliseconds.

Suppressing the urge to sigh, Ulric simply raised one hand.

His palm closed tightly around the descending hammer.

At the sight, Aelira’s brows furrowed.

She knew he was strong.

Which was precisely why she expected him to dodge or at least deflect the attack.

Not stop it head-on.

But when the two forces collided, her surprise instantly morphed into shock.

A massive shockwave erupted as the sound of metal crashing against metal echoed across the area.

When the mist settled, the sight was even more unbelievable.

Ulric remained standing exactly where he had been.

The impact hadn’t even forced him back a single step.

Meanwhile, Aelira remained suspended awkwardly in the air, frozen in the middle of her attack.

Setting her down gently, Ulric watched as she stared blankly.

She had known he was strong.

But when his hammer collided with his open palm, it had felt like striking an immovable object.

Her face flushed slightly as she recalled how she had swung with nearly her full strength.

She reckoned even a C-rank being would have been forced back several steps.

Was the gulf between their strength still that enormous?

Snapping out of her daze, Aelira snorted.

"Y-you can’t go around sneaking up on people..."

But before she could finish...

Ulric’s figure vanished.

Appearing directly before her, his face stopped only inches from hers.

"Is that right?"

Although he didn’t show it, he was genuinely surprised.

That attack had packed more force than he had anticipated.

He might even go so far as to say his combat power now rivaled that of a low C-rank being despite still being at Peak E-rank.

Unable to help himself, his hands reached out, trailing across her frame as he sensed the overwhelming reserves of energy packed within her.

Far more than an E-rank should ever possess.

Yet her body married it with ease.

If anything, he had a feeling she had yet to reach her limit.

"W-what are you doing?" Aelira asked, the blush on her face deepening as her breathing grew heavier.

Regaining his composure, Ulric withdrew his hands, which had unconsciously wandered onto his large chest.

It seemed he had gotten carried away while inspecting his physique.

"It’s time to leave," Ulric muttered, wrapping an arm firmly around his waist.

Before she could say anything else, both their figures vanished, exiting the Misty Lands.