I Forged the Myth of the Ancient Overlords
Chapter 350 - 350 349. Since I am a Shrine Maiden (Additional

Chapter 350: 349. Since I am a Shrine Maiden (Additional chapter for monthly ticket!)_1 Chapter 350: 349. Since I am a Shrine Maiden (Additional chapter for monthly ticket!)_1 The writhing monsters were like the physical embodiment of humanity’s deepest fears, with bifurcated limbs, soft and sticky tentacles, countless eyes, and flesh of interwoven bright red and pure black. They moved across the ground, dragging dark, damp trails behind them.

For a time, vegetation withered and dried out, and from the traces of destruction, something like mold expanded and spread, devouring everything.

At the same time, a dark mist rose all around, the island stewards enveloped in this fog began to cough. Their faces turned black, their skin peeled off, revealing festering flesh and bone. White wriggling worms grew on that flesh, and the bones turned yellow and crumbled into disconnected fragments.

More monsters were born from the carcasses.

The sizes of these monsters were inconsistent, even as they moved forward, they kept splitting and recombining. Combined with the dazzling metallic luster on their skins, they caused dizziness and muddled consciousness.

Lu Ban shot a Speech Bullet at the forefront monster.

The babble of the grand entity echoed in the monster’s “brain,” but it only made them even more frenzied and uncontrollable.

For a being that had no sanity to begin with and had mutated into an indescribable monster, these murmurs clearly only made them more insane and more corrupt.

Laika watched the monsters warily. It did not attempt to attack, as Lu Ban had realized that if Laika were to make contact with them, the madness might spread to it, causing its own mutation.

The filth was a true manifestation nearing the ultimate state of destruction, born only to destroy everything and plunge the world into chaos. Devoid of faith, consciousness, or pursuit, they were more corrupt and irredeemable than the Demonic Tide from the Night Country.

It was hard for ordinary people to imagine how the Island could cling to life under the invasion of these monsters.

“This is why the Pure Fire exists.”

Lu Ban had witnessed the clear flame that would burn everything, consuming even existence itself as fuel.

Only such a self-destructive measure could eradicate these unclean beings.

“The Great Shrine of Harmony Island should react soon; we must leave quickly.”

Lu Ban had no intention of confronting these creatures head-on. Once monsters appeared in a region where human civilization existed, the shrine maidens from the Island Grand Shrine would soon sense them and shoot Arrows of Purifying Flame, completely incinerating the area. His task was to take Amber and escape as fast as possible.

If Amber were to be burned to death by the Pure Fire, she would probably be the first Candidate for Chief Priestess in history to be eliminated by her own Pure Fire.

As Laika ran away using its tentacles to throw island stewards who were too late to flee from the courtyard, Lu Ban arrived at the doorway of the government office. The female homeowner and the little girl were still there, seemingly unaware of what had happened.

There were other people on the road, mostly the elderly with children, gossiping at the alley entrances, exchanging recent news.

The sky had darkened, as if the filth could even devour the clouds, staining the heavens with a murky, ghostly hue.

“Run!”

Lu Ban shouted, but the people did not heed him. Some even attempted to come closer to see what spectacle was occurring at the government office.

Only when they saw Laika, the fearsome beast by Lu Ban’s side, did they realize something was amiss and began to frantically flee in terror.

“Escape by boat; there’s still a chance to live,” Lu Ban shouted to the female homeowner and the little girl. The homeowner’s eyes showed extreme fear as she looked at the monster beside Lu Ban, her legs too weak to move.

The filth had already spread from the government office onto the street. People who had not yet noticed its advance were stunned by the sudden tide of monsters. They couldn’t react in time and were corroded just like the previous island stewards, becoming twisted monsters.

Boom—

The imposing structure of the government office collapsed thunderously, finally capturing the attention of most island residents. Panic and unease, along with despair, spread among the crowd. Most of the elderly and children had no means to resist, not even knowing which direction to flee.

The few whose minds could still process thoughts began running toward the harbor, hoping to find a boat or two to head out to sea.

Many more just stared blankly as the black fog spread toward them, then died in agony and despair.

Facing such a calamity that defied all reason, humanity had not the slightest power to resist.

Lu Ban, left with no choice, allowed Laika’s tentacles to grab the lady and the little girl, lifting them up and running towards the rendezvous point with Amber.

The road was rough, but Lu Ban was still considerably faster than the black fog. However, before long, Lu Ban saw Amber running towards him.

“I sense the presence of the filth, has it appeared here?”

Amber’s hair was a bit disheveled, and her expression was grave. She bore none of the demeanor of the girl who played with children, instead she was filled with a sense of sanctity and solemnity.

“The assassin has summoned the filth; the Pure Fire from the Great Shrine of Harmony Island should arrive soon, we need to leave.”

Lu Ban explained briefly.

Upon hearing this, Amber’s eyes widened slightly and she seemed to be murmuring something. She glanced at the fearful lady and the bewildered little girl.

“I can fend off the filth, at least slow its spread so more people can be saved.”

Her voice was soft, yet resolute.

“You might be putting yourself in danger.”

Lu Ban knew very well that even a Candidate for Chief Priestess like Red Leaf could only fend off the Corrosion of the filth for a short time. The only ones who could halt their advance were the Chief Priestess and the Pure Fire.

And someone like Amber, she would surely fight until the very last moment, surrounded by those hideous and horrible filth.

From both a personal and a mission standpoint, Lu Ban couldn’t allow that to happen.

“My decade of training was for moments like this; I cannot run away.”

“Because, I am a Shrine Maiden.”

Amber stepped forward and Lu Ban saw the flames he had seen before ignite again in her amber-colored eyes. Despite her plain civilian clothes, she was more sacred than anyone else.

“Alright then.”

Lu Ban gave a whistle, and Laika immediately lifted the lady and the little girl and ran toward a small boat by the sea, while he himself stood by Amber’s side.

“Then I’ll join you.”

Amber opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she didn’t speak.

She probably knew that even if she rejected Lu Ban’s offer, he would definitely stay by her side.

Just like Lu Ban had said himself, “You can always trust me.”

Amber looked ahead, under the dark clouds that shrouded the sky, at the rampantly spreading black fog. Upon this lonely island soon to plunge into night, a flame was ignited from her eyes.

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The third bonus chapter for October’s monthly votes 1/3