High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 993: Chapter 55 Mad Hunt

Sparks flashed through the air, searing the pervasive scent of fear.

Inside the Forest Goods Market, vendors and most customers had hidden in the nearest buildings, fearful of attracting the attention of the magic creatures with blazing red eyes. Only a very few courageous wizards followed behind Andrew and the Trident Sword to hold back those rampaging figures.

The silhouettes of the Houdou grew closer and clearer.

Zheng Qing saw their charcoal-like eyes, their satin-shiny, sleek fur, and those forked tails that resembled venomous serpents’ tongues.

They spat flames from their mouths, leaving chaos in their wake and igniting a fearsome blaze behind them.

Occasionally, jars storing potions exploded from the flames, setting off blinding flashes and loud booms that made the scene even more out of control.

”Bang!”

The young sponsored student pulled the trigger, firing an anti-evil charm bullet at a Houdou that was closing in on the team.

The Houdou twisted its slender waist, dodging the charm bullet yet not escaping its effective range. A milky magic halo flashed around the point of impact, and the Houdou, which had been poised to pounce, seemed to see a fearsome natural enemy. It arched the fur on its neck, baring its teeth and growling as it retreated a few steps back.

The purpose of the anti-evil charm lay in shock and repulsion; its lethality was not strong.

In Zheng Qing’s Colt silver python ammo chamber, most of the bullets were of this type. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see his prey taken down in one shot but that most of the talismans he had learned from school were non-lethal. This was in line with the teaching philosophy of First University.

But that didn’t mean he had no other means.

In his grey cloth bag at his waist, there was a Remington loaded with a Blood Symbol Bullet. Since the last time he had used a blood charm to blow up a descendant of Satoguya with a single shot, he had quietly regarded this tactic as his trump card.

However, at the moment, facing a pack of ’big dogs,’ he didn’t feel the need to use the other big gun.

The aftermath of the exploding charm bullet even attracted a few other Houdou. They all crouched low and roared at the new Hunters entering the scene.

Robert Lee didn’t pay attention to these howling dog-like magical beasts. His gaze was fixed on the breached wall at the edge of the Forest Goods Market, and his expression was grim.

”Why did it attract Houdou!” he muttered through clenched teeth in a low voice, ”Why now?!”

”Earlier, we saw a vendor in the market selling Houdou cubs, could it be because of that?” Zheng Qing guessed in response. At this moment, he still stood beside Robert, guns in hand, steadily watching the front.

The charm bullet he had just fired did not kill the Houdou and the effect was less than ideal, but Zheng Qing wasn’t particularly disheartened. After all, he had attracted the attention of several Houdou, lessening the pressure in other directions. That was an achievement.

So, he wasn’t in a rush to reload his gun.

The Colt Silver Python’s magazine had a capacity of six bullets, and he had only fired one; there was still plenty left.

”Indeed, it is an ominous portent,” Xin Fat Man said, standing on the other side of Robert. He held a feather pen and a notebook instead of a Law book in his hands. Of course, this did not mean he was indifferent to danger. In fact, since stepping through the gates of the Forest Goods Market, Xin’s stature had suddenly increased, and his skin had turned a light shade of blue.

It was evident that, compared to his time with the hunting party, his control over his transformation ability had improved; he could now maintain a low-level transformation state.

”Should we take action now?” Zheng Qing, eyeing the rampaging Houdou figures in the distance, licked his lips, eager to join the fray.

He felt his trident sword was thirsty for action.

”No,” answered Xiao Xiao, who stood at the rear of the team, ”The situation in the market is currently under control. With Andrew and Professor An there, along with those Duoni People, dealing with those Houdou... My divination shows that the greatest risk at present comes from that perimeter wall.”

Robert didn’t turn around, but an expression of approval crossed his face, and he nodded in agreement, ”Worthy of a top-ranked hunting team—everyone is exceptional. But there’s something you’re not quite clear on. To be precise, the greatest risk is the breach in that wall... That wall is Beta Town’s first line of defense for the outer guardian magic; outside the wall lies Silent River and Silent Forest. A breach in the wall means Beta Town has opened its gates to Silent Forest.”

”That is the biggest crisis right now.”

”The Black Tide is about to surge through that gap.”

At those words, Zheng Qing drew in a sharp breath of cold air.

Recently, he had heard Xiao Xiao and other elders in Beta Town speak of the terror of ’Black Tide’ more than once. The so-called Black Tide referred to a natural phenomenon that occurs during harsh late winter or early spring, when hungry magical creatures from Silent Forest strike Beta Town in search of food and other resources.

This period was precisely when the Black Tide was most likely to occur. Even the stores on Pedestrian Street had shortened their hours and reinforced their protective magic. Accessories like amulets, array plates, and talismans were currently in high demand in the market.

Under normal circumstances, a large-scale guardian magic circle would be deployed around Beta Town—though it could not compare with First University’s Protect Legal Formation, it could still be described as a towering fortress surrounded by deep moats and iron walls—these interconnected magical formations supported each other, all responding if even one was affected.

Magical creatures rushing out of Silent Forest and striking any of these magical formations would provoke a concerted attack by the surrounding guardian magic.

In most cases, the Black Tide would gradually dissipate under Beta Town’s layered defenses, and it was rare for the magic circle to be truly breached.

According to the elders in the town, the last time Black Tide reached Pedestrian Street was three years ago when several Severe Fire Demons broke through the defensive formation under the cover of other magical creatures and stormed into Beta Town, igniting dozens of shops along their path.

The Lin Family Shop, formerly owned by Lin Guo’s family, was destroyed in that disaster, and his family members also perished. Zheng Qing had a particularly strong recollection of this incident because of his close relationship with them.

”Luckily, Lin Guo isn’t here,” the young subsidized student murmured, tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Although he didn’t know what difference it would make if Lin Guo were present, he simply felt that the young warlock shouldn’t have to face such terrible situations again.

Robert Lee paid no mind to Zheng Qing’s murmur.

”Prepare for the Mad Hunt,” whispered the sheriff to the young wizards beside him, ”Open your law books, widen your eyes, curse every Wild Beast that appears before you... Tell the townsfolk to lock their doors and windows.”

”Mad Hunt?” Zheng Qing felt a chill run up his spine at the term, which seemed imbued with immense negative magic power.

”Take a deep breath,” said the sheriff, seemingly understanding the warlock’s feelings, instructing him, ”They are still in the depths of Silent Forest... only now their frigid breath and chilling aura have eroded the town... That’s why, in the midday sun, it feels as though we are basked in moonlight, and even the scene of a fire feels biting cold.”