The Rifthound's sharp claws, wrapped in crackling Electro light, were only half a foot away from Bennett's head.
He could even clearly see the Abyss black mist on the tips of the claws. That cold, gloomy aura stung his skin until it went numb, and his pupils suddenly shrank to the size of pinpricks.
His body felt as if it had been frozen; even his motion to raise his arms to block was half a beat too slow. His heart pounded wildly in his chest, feeling as though it would burst out of his throat.
"Watch out!" Lydia's voice rang out.
With no time to think, she threw herself at Bennett on pure instinct, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and dragging him to the side.
The two crashed heavily to the ground, scattering dry leaves that fluttered back down. Amidst the howling wind, a sharp "swish" pierced the air.
The bush they had been hiding in was instantly swept into dust by the sharp claws. Broken branches and shredded leaves flew in all directions, revealing a dark purple spatial rift behind it that continuously leaked an Abyssal aura.
"Cough, cough, cough..." Bennett clutched his chest and coughed. Just as he was about to thank her, the corner of his eye caught sight of two dark figures floating out of the rift.
On the left was an Electro Rifthound, with Electro energy darting erratically around its body; on the right was a Geo Rifthound, its rock-like skin armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
The two hounds flanked them, their eyes locked dead onto them as low growls rolled from their throats.
Worse still, the Abyssal Wolves that were tearing at a boar carcass not far away were also attracted by the commotion.
Several wolves shook their bloodstained jaws. Black saliva dripped onto the snow, instantly corroding small pits into the ground.
They closed in with heavy steps, their low growls echoing through the forest, completely blocking off the only route of retreat.
"We're doomed, we're doomed! We're surrounded!" Paimon curled up into a ball in fright, hiding securely behind Lumine, her voice trembling.
Lumine took a deep breath. Anemo gathered in her palm, and she fiercely unleashed a sharp wave of sword aura.
Amidst the flying dust, the Electro Rifthound was forced back two steps by the strike. Lumine seized the opportunity, raising her Dull Blade to charge at the Geo Rifthound.
The sharp clash of the blade against the claws sent a numbing shock through her grip. Lumine gritted her teeth: "Run! I'll hold them off!"
"But you're all alone..." Lydia stood up, staggering a couple of steps.
"Don't worry about me!" Lumine's voice was breathless, yet still firm. "Trust me, I'll take care of these few monsters in no time."
Lydia bit her lower lip, only letting go when she tasted blood.
She grabbed Bennett and Paimon's wrists, her knuckles turning white from her grip: "Go! We need to head to Mondstadt to find help!"
Draff hunted in this forest year-round and knew every trail like the back of his hand, so he took the lead, running at the very front.
The group wove through the dense forest. Just as they rushed past a patch of low bushes, an arrow wrapped in black mist suddenly shot toward them from an angle ahead.
The arrowhead was aimed straight at Draff in the lead!
"Watch out!" Bennett's reflexes were incredibly fast.
Relying almost entirely on his years of adventuring instincts, he drew his sword and slashed at the incoming arrow.
With a crisp clang, the arrow was deflected by the blade. It hit the ground and instantly corroded a small pit into the earth, emitting a pungent odor that made them involuntarily frown.
The group skidded to a sudden halt, looking around warily.
In the shadows of the large trees, Hilichurls emerged one after another, holding burning torches and crude wooden clubs.
Further away, a monster fifty percent taller than a normal Stonehide Lawachurl blocked the exit with heavy steps.
It was a Stonehide Lawachurl!
Faint Abyss black mist wreathed its stone armor. With every step it took, the ground trembled, and its gaze was more ferocious than any they had ever encountered.
"Did we walk into an ambush?" Draff gripped his hunting gear tightly, immediately realizing something was wrong. "Looks like they've been waiting for us."
A veteran hunter like him was no stranger to such scenes.
Only this time, the roles of hunter and prey had been reversed.
The Hilichurls let out excited roars and swarmed forward, brandishing their weapons.
Lydia took a deep breath, tossed Paimon high into the air, then tore off the linen wrapping and gripped the Festering Desire to meet the enemy's charge.
"Paimon, fly higher! Don't get hurt!"
Paimon stabilized herself in the air, so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes. "Lydia! You have to be careful!"
Lydia didn't answer, merely shooting Bennett a look.
The two charged forward, facing the large group of Hilichurls head-on.
Bennett swung his sword to deflect the monsters' wooden clubs, producing a dull thud, while Lydia struck precisely at the backs of the Hilichurls' heads with her Festering Desire, every blow carrying a ruthless ferocity.
But the number of Hilichurls was simply too great. For every one that fell, two more immediately took its place. The duo was quickly forced into a steady retreat, suffering various shallow and deep cuts on their arms and cheeks.
"Roar—!" Seeing its underlings failing to take them down after so long, the Stonehide Lawachurl finally lost its patience.
It roared to the sky, the rock armor on its body flashing with blinding Geo elemental light. It stomped its feet heavily on the ground, fracturing the earth with fine fissures.
Like an out-of-control chariot, it charged straight toward Lydia, who appeared to be the most "fragile" among them!
"Lydia! Dodge!" Bennett's pupils shrank. With no time to think, he rushed over and shoved Lydia aside.
Lydia stumbled back several steps.
Bennett, however, was struck hard in the chest by the Stonehide Lawachurl's charge. He flew through the air like a kite with a snapped string, slamming heavily into the trunk of a large tree as blood instantly spilled from the corner of his mouth.
"Bennett!" Lydia tried to rush over frantically, but her path was blocked by several Hilichurls.
Bennett was kneeling on one knee, clutching his chest tightly with one hand. His face was as pale as a sheet, and even his breathing trembled.
He looked up at Lydia and managed to force a smile that looked worse than crying, "I-I'm fine... it just hurts a little..."
Lydia's tears instantly welled up.
She could clearly see that the Abyss black mist surrounding the Stonehide Lawachurl was much denser than before. The force behind its previous charge was obviously far beyond that of an ordinary Stonehide Lawachurl.
These monsters had indeed been empowered by the Abyss!
Seeing that it had missed Lydia, the Stonehide Lawachurl roared once more and pounded the Geo element armor on its chest.
It wound up its heavy, Geo element-infused fists and charged at the injured Bennett, its every step causing the ground to quake.
This time, it was determined to deliver a fatal blow to this meddlesome human!
Oh no, Bennett thought to himself.
He struggled to move away, but a sudden, severe burst of pain flared up from his ankle, freezing him in place instantly.
He had sprained his ankle in his frantic rush to save Lydia just now!
What terrible timing—this was simply adding insult to injury.
This time, he was afraid he was truly going to meet his end here.
"No!" A scream tore through the silence of the forest.
Watching the Stonehide Lawachurl draw closer and closer to Bennett, Lydia felt as if an invisible hand was tightly squeezing her heart.
Venti had lost contact, Albedo's fate was unknown, Lumine was still fighting monsters alone, and now even Bennett was going to lose his life to protect her...
Scenes flashed through Lydia's mind: the Cecilia flower Venti gave her before leaving, Albedo's patience while taking care of her, Lumine's resolute stance as she stood in front of her to fight the monsters...
She couldn't watch the people around her leave her anymore!
A power she had never felt before surged from the depths of her heart, traveling down her arm to her fingertips. The hand gripping the hilt of her sword even began to grow hot.
Suddenly, the Vision at her waist, which had always been dull and lifeless, slowly lit up with a faint white glow.
Although the light was soft, it was like a spark in the darkness, flickering with hope in the face of absolute despair.
Lydia could clearly feel a warm power surging within the Vision, flowing along her fingertips into Festering Desire.
"Did... did her Vision just light up?" Paimon's eyes widened in the air, staring at the white glow in disbelief.
When she looked over again, Lydia had somehow already appeared in front of Bennett, Festering Desire in her hand dripping with purple blood.
Before her, the Stonehide Lawachurl's heavy fist had been severed, its entire Geo element armor instantly shattered!
The roaring Hilichurls surrounding them that tried to rush forward were blown high into the air by a tornado, crashing heavily to the ground and vanishing into flashes of white light.
"All of you will die!" Lydia pointed her sword at the Stonehide Lawachurl.