[Desert Beyond] held his breath, excitedly said.

"It seems... there's an effect?"

The next second—

"Sss—!!!"

The magic vine suddenly flared up, twisting furiously within the cave, tiny tendrils lashing wildly like whips!

Gray mist surged from its trunk, and then that withered vine turned into a writhing mass of tentacles, thrashing wildly on the ground!

Dust stirred wildly in the cave!

In just a few breaths, the red tendrils, tangled like writhing worms, ballooned to dozens of times their size, filling half the cave!

[Midnight Bell] took alarm, shouting: "Wait, wait a minute, isn't this thing growing a bit too fast?"

Just as he finished speaking, a dark red vine lashed out, striking his chest.

Caught unprepared, that shattered skeleton flew like a ball, slamming into the cavern wall and breaking into fragments.

Milk needs sugar: "Damn it! Ambush!?"

"Prepare for battle!" [Desert Beyond] decisively, angrily shouted, drawing the battle axe ready to charge forward.

Seeing this guy aiming to hack at his "own son," [Bone Card] screamed to stop him, lunging to grab his ankle, both skeleton frames toppling to the ground together.

"Wait! Don't A it! I sacrificed a magic scroll just to summon this!"

[Desert Beyond] furiously said: "Damn it! Of all times—"

As it turned out, it was too late to make a move.

Just a few Black Iron Level skeleton soldiers were simply no match for this monster.

The vine monster swelled like an awakening giant beast, octopus-like tendrils crazily lashing about in the cave, each swing bringing fierce impact, flinging skeletons, smashing them against rocky walls, into pieces.

Furious tentacles swept through the narrow passage, shattering beams, stirring up dust and debris, leaving a trail of devastation where no grass grew.

In moments, the entire cave was full of wailing, becoming a forbidden zone ruled by rampant tentacles...

...

Meanwhile, Helen, strolling nearby, heard the commotion and rushed over, dumbfounded by the chaotic scene.

"How... how did this happen?"

Realizing the severity of the problem, she dared not hesitate and called for reinforcements immediately.

By chance, her father Terrell was presently in Beifeng City, buying goods needed by the Gray Wind Tribe.

Hearing of trouble in the Demon King's backyard, he rushed over without a moment's delay.

Standing beside Helen, Terrell, holding a withered staff, frowned as he observed the rampaging "magic vine."

Moments later, he murmured softly: "...No, this isn't the illusion demon vine."

Helen blinked baffled.

"Then what is it?"

Terrell plucked a leaf from the vine and gently blew on it.

As a breeze swept through, the leaf, marked with flesh-colored spots, began to twitch rapidly, extending flesh-colored strands outward, seemingly attempting to wrap around his hand.

A wisp of flame emerged from Terrell's fingertip, instantly reducing the leaf to ash.

Watching the remains disperse in the wind, his expression grew complex.

"...It seems to be a type of symbiotic fungus. I have smelled a similar scent on dead phantom demon vines before, but not this intense."

Since Lord Demon King brought knowledge of Demon City and self-made microscopes, the Gray Wind Tribe's dark night elves have kept up with understanding microorganisms, though unclear on how to use magic to interfere with the life processes of these little entities.

Now it seems, such decaying life appears to fall outside the jurisdiction of natural magic, but within the realm of necromancy.

As for why, even he didn't know.

Some mushrooms could accelerate growth through nature magic, yet some could not.

Helen hesitated: "You mean what we're seeing... is a revived fungus?"

Terrell nodded: "The illusion demon vine has long since died; these skeletons revived the symbiotic fungus parasitizing the vine. They're like undead, not just revived, but also assimilated other living fungi into undead bodies, resulting in this."

After pausing, he laughed bitterly.

"It's just my speculation, as for how exactly they managed this... I don't know."

Sometimes he truly admired Lord Demon King's minions.

These guys weren't adept at magic, even their knowledge was shallow, but they always managed to pull off things that left him astonished.

Like now.

Even Gray Wind couldn't discern what this flesh-colored thing was, merely suggesting to take care of it quickly.

Unexpectedly, even father didn't understand, leaving Helen thoroughly stunned.

She had seen many magic plants and demons... but this was the first time witnessing a dead entity evolving into a new demon due to the effect of necromancy.

Yet, does this count as a new creature?

She was also perplexed.

Since meeting these "players," she felt she was witnessing unprecedented novelties every day.

Perhaps Lord Demon King could provide her with a clear answer.

Apart from her father, that gentleman was the wisest person she knew.

On the other side, [Bone Card] had already revived, scurrying back from the cave entrance.

Gazing from afar at the rampaging tentacle monster within the cave, the green soul fire inside his skull trembled vigorously as he excitedly clenched his fists.

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