Chapter 198: Fragile Bait
Suddenly, the whole of the valley seemed to be moving. The ground shook and seethed, and slowly, green and brown vines started rising from beneath it like vile snakes.
The hulking Sailor Dolls that were about to descend upon the Abyss Watchers froze, as if consumed by fear. Then, they turned around and stumbled away. Some simply crumbled into piles of debris, pretending to be dead.
Even these Fallen Beasts were terrified of the being that dwelled in the heart of the ancient wreck.
The Abyss Watchers, however, remained unperturbed. Moving with swift determination, they made their preparations. Just a moment after Sparkle thrust her rapier into the ground, the Abyss Watchers had strips of cloth wrapped around their mouths and noses. The corpses of the slain Sailor Dolls were dragged to form a circle around them and set aflame.
Soon, the cohort was surrounded by a ring of tall bonfires, the eight Awakened bathed in the waves of heat. They stood back to back, their weapons drawn and their faces full of grim resolve.
The time had not come yet.
Consumed by dark discontent, Sunny continued to watch.
One of the Abyss Watchers suddenly dashed to the side. A fraction of a second later, the moss beneath his feet was pierced by a stem of a brown vine. It thrashed blindly, failing to catch anyone in its deadly embrace, but then seemed to have sensed the presence of life, and shot toward the nearest human.
The vine was as thick as a man’s arm, and there were black thorns protruding from its glistening surface.