"No need to look. It was the same last time I killed this kind of monster!"
"Itself-destructs after death!" Leilin Farell was somewhat surprised. This completely went against the normal laws of biology.
Watching the skeleton still emitting white vapor, Leilin stepped forward and picked up a piece of bone.
The white, dried bone was covered in cracks, looking as if it would crumble at a touch. Leilin applied force with his fingers, and *sizzle*! The bone crumbled into powder.
"Hm, something's wrong!" Leilin's gaze narrowed, spotting a few thread-like, red, vein-like things amidst the white powder.
"Target exhibits life energy fluctuations. High-energy bacteria detected. Recommend immediate evacuation!" The Chip's scan results also surfaced in Leilin's vision.
Leilin quickly tossed the red veins from his hand, simultaneously using energy particles to cleanse his palm.
"What's wrong?" Meierfeile noticed the anomaly.
"Watch out for those bones! There's something inside!" Leilin frowned and rapidly retreated a distance.
*Sizzle!* At that moment, numerous red veins like the ones just seen suddenly sprouted from the lizard skeleton. Countless holes appeared in the bones, revealing that the previous veins had been parasitic within the marrow.
Countless crimson capillaries emerged, intertwining like tree roots to form a small monster.
It resembled the original creature somewhat, but was entirely blood-red, with veins occasionally bulging. It had no eyes or mouth, though its four legs were sturdy.
*Whoosh!* The monster moved with incredible speed. Before Viscount Jackson or the other
"Chase! This monster is definitely connected to the Withered Forest!" A figure entirely shrouded in a grey robe whispered a few words in Jackson's ear. Viscount Jackson immediately issued the order.
"That grey-robed person has been following behind Jackson since Polar Night City. Probably a trusted aide, and possessing very powerful detection abilities!"
Leilin narrowed his eyes and used the Chip to scan. "That body type and appearance, plus Second-rank Apprentice energy fluctuations? Interesting!"
"Hurry! Keep up!"
Following Jackson's command, soldiers from the Black Iron Guard stepped forward first, with Jackson positioned in the center of their protective formation. The grey-robed person followed closely behind.
The remaining Wizard Apprentices glanced at each other. Meierfeile looked somewhat resigned. "Let's keep up."
Leilin deliberately slowed his pace to match Meierfeile's. "About that thing earlier, do you have any guess?"
"It seems to be some kind of parasite! Judging by the host's strength, the main body must be at least a Third-rank Apprentice... perhaps even a full Wizard!" Meierfeile said with a bitter smile.
For a true Wizard, Leilin's little squad posed no threat at all. A few First-level Spells would be enough to wipe them out completely.
"I doubt it's that serious," Leilin shook his head. Based on the Chip's calculations, although the parasite was quite strong, the main body's energy intensity was at most at the peak of Third-rank Apprentice. Otherwise, Leilin would be the first to flee.
"Still... just a simple investigation mission that I chose myself, and it already involves creatures of at least Third-rank Apprentice difficulty? This luck..." Leilin didn't know what to say about himself.
He also felt grateful that he hadn't come alone. Otherwise, without the ability to undergo a sudden power-up like the protagonist in novels from his previous world, death would be the only outcome.
"Careful, we're going deeper. I can sense the thick Negative Energy in the air!" a Wizard Apprentice shouted.
Leilin felt the Negative Energy even more acutely. After all, his primary focus was Dark Energy Particles, just like plant and light system researchers focused on Positive Energy. For the Dark system, Leilin spent far more time with Negative Energy than most people.
"It's almost comparable to the outskirts of Black Bone Forest Academy! No wonder I feel so at home here!"
Leilin pulled his collar up higher, hiding the smile that twitched at the corner of his mouth.
*Clang!* The sound of armor clashing rang out as the group suddenly halted.
"It's gone! The red monster—I saw it pause here, then suddenly vanish!" Jackson drew his long sword. "Stay alert!"
The Black Iron Guard immediately formed a circle around the spot, protecting Jackson and the other Wizard Apprentices inside, guarding against a sudden attack.
"This should be the core area of the Withered Forest," Meierfeile stroked his beard.
"Here, the detection methods we prepared earlier can be put to use!" Meierfeile pulled a vial of black potion from inside his shirt. After removing the stopper, he carefully poured it onto the ground.
*Drip drip!!*
Once the black liquid hit the ground, it transformed into countless tiny ants, scurrying outward in all directions.
Once the potion was completely used, Leilin estimated that nearly ten thousand ants had appeared.
"This level of detection is a comprehensive, covering search. That parasite will find it very difficult to slip through!" Leilin thought to himself.
Sure enough, after waiting for more than ten minutes, a single black ant appeared by Meierfeile's foot. It crawled up his clothing to his ear, seeming to whisper something to him.