Infinite Mana Exorcist
Chapter 38: Mutated Night terror

Chapter 38: Mutated Night terror

Mass release 5/5

The Wolf Terror opened its maws wide, letting its thick, viscous saliva drop in heavy chunks. The blood from its last kill still tainted its mouth a deep red, the scent of iron thick in the air. Its growl reverberated through the confines of the carriage, a guttural warning of the carnage to come.

The beast’s primal instincts flickered between its two targets—Asher and the adventurer beside him. Neither of them moved an inch.

From afar, Malvarick gnashed her teeth at the tense standoff. The frustration in her voice was undeniable as she whispered harshly, "Why doesn’t he just kill the wolf? He’s that strong at least."

Fey, standing beside her, heard her words and understood her suspicions. Unlike the others, Malvarick could see through Asher’s facade. Fey sighed and resolved to explain, his voice low but firm.

"It’s not like he can’t handle the wolf," Fey murmured. "But he wants it to kill the other adventurer instead. There are two wolves outside the carriage. He’s delaying this beast’s death because of the mission."

Mission?

The word struck Melissa like a hammer. She had been traveling with Asher and Fey for months, yet this was the first time she had heard about another mission aside from the guild’s orders.

It was both infuriating and alarming.

By now, she understood Asher’s way of thinking—his perception of the world was disturbingly unique, his plans often bordering on madness. Yet, despite her growing unease, she couldn’t shake off a singular thought:

I have no choice but to trust him.

She gritted her teeth and kept her senses sharp, waiting for what would happen next.

The pressure of the moment bore down on them like an executioner’s axe. The other adventurer was the first to break. His breath hitched, and panic flared in his eyes as he thrust out his right hand. His plan was calculated.

From his palm, a black beam erupted, slicing through the air with deadly precision. It was fast—lethal, even. Had he launched the attack a second earlier, he might have slain the wolf.

But it was already too late.

The Wolf Terror, sensing its prey’s movements, had already lunged forward. The beam missed as its massive fangs sank deep into the adventurer’s throat.

A bloodcurdling shriek filled the carriage, the sound of his voice strangled by his own blood. The wet, gurgling noises that followed were sickening—his death wasn’t instant. His body twitched violently, his hands clawing weakly at the beast’s head as his life drained away.

And now...

The wolf’s last target was Asher.

This time, there was no hesitation. No waiting for an opening.

The beast propelled itself forward, its razor-sharp claws tearing into the wooden flooring of the carriage. It was faster than before, its hunger amplified by the kill. The carriage rattled beneath its force, and in an instant, it was upon him.

It leapt for Asher’s throat.

And then—

CRACK!

Asher’s upper body jerked backward, dodging the strike with unnatural precision. Then, with all his strength, he threw his fist forward.

The impact was brutal.

The wolf’s skull split apart upon collision, its entire body going limp in midair before it crashed onto the bloodstained floor. Dead.

A hollow silence settled.

A single notification flashed before Asher’s eyes.

> {You have successfully slain a Night Terror Mutated Wolf.}

> {Remark: Strength of the pack has been obtained for your guild. The synergy between all members will grow stronger.}

He stood still for a moment, his fist drenched in blood, the metallic scent clinging to his skin.

He stared at it.

For a fleeting second, he wondered—Had I used too much force?

That single punch had been devastating. More than necessary.

But then again, it had done its job.

Asher exhaled and turned to scan the carriage. There was no one left alive except for him and his team.

The other adventurers were dead.

His gaze drifted to a second wolf carcass, its lifeless body sprawled over the corpse of another adventurer.

So there were two after all...

Their deaths weren’t surprising. They had failed to work together. And failure, in this world, meant death.

Too bad.

—

A sudden noise screeched through the night.

SQUEAK! SQUEAK!

The piercing shrill of the carriage wheels grinding to a halt yanked them out of the moment.

Malvarick’s head snapped up. Until now, the carriage had been moving at full speed. There had been no reason for it to stop—unless something had forced it to.

Anxiety twisted her expression.

"Could it be the horses were eaten?" she asked, her voice tight with worry.

Fey, instead of answering immediately, let out a low chuckle. Then, without a care in the world, he sat down on the bloodied floor, crossing his legs.

His body relaxed. His eyes closed.

"No," he muttered. "That’s what we call our target."

Malvarick’s expression darkened. Target?

The sheer nonchalance of Fey’s attitude made her snap.

"Idiot! It’s not over yet! Stop acting like it’s safe!" She bent over and shook him violently.

Fey barely reacted. He only yawned, lazily shoving her hands off.

"Relax. Have a little faith in your captain."

"Captain?!" Malvarick scowled. "You’re exaggerating—"

But then, her words died in her throat.

A voice—guttural, monstrous—spoke from beyond the carriage’s curtain.

"You hurt my forest—"

It sounded inhuman, like a roar passing through rusted pipes, deep and distorted.

The curtains shifted.

"You hurt my slaves—"

A crunching sound echoed—footsteps. Something heavy, inhuman, was walking toward them.

The floor trembled beneath its weight.

"You will die for that..."

And then—

The curtains parted.

A massive figure emerged, stepping into the carriage.

Its grotesque form towered over them, its body composed of dark, writhing matter—thousands of worms crawling over each other in an endless, slimy mass. It had no eyes. No nose.

Just a mouth.

A gaping maw, lined with jagged, irregular teeth, dripping with viscous black fluid.

> {Mutated Night Terror}

A second notification flashed in Asher’s vision.

> {Eye of Insight has sensed an Irregular Phenomenon.}

Asher’s eyelashes flickered at the warning. A mutated Night Terror?

This was only the second time he had seen such a thing.

And the terrifying part?

These things weren’t supposed to exist.

He inhaled sharply.

There was only one explanation for this.

This thing was once human.

Someone had created it.

"Fuck..." Asher exhaled, his hand slipping into his pocket. "The rumors were true, then. Human-made Night Terrors..."

His eyes narrowed.

"Who the hell would do something this insane?"

The Night Terror let out a low growl, the sound reverberating through Asher’s bones.

And then—without moving its mouth, a few words reached his ears.

"Ruler of the Fallen Clan."