Chapter 312: Drifting In Red


    Engulfed by the red cloud, shimmering dust floated within the air. The scent was mind-boggling. Any being that inhales is drowned by the overwhelming and hypnotizing smell. It appeared like a mist of magic, beautiful yet deadly. It would have been a fantastic sight to admire.


    Thud!


    Knees crashed on the floor as the people left standing, garbed with soft silks and fabrics are shocked when they realized the smell affected them. Coughing, Jagra covered his nose and mouth with his hand. The knife in his grasp fell to the floor as he was struggling not to inhale more of the red haze surrounding him. His eyes are wide in shock. Disbelief filled his face. Slowly, he looked up and stared at the female orc staring at them with indifference.


    The rest of the group staggered on their feet, mping their noses and their mouths, and felt the forceful effects of the red smoke in the air. Slowly, they felt their limbs go weak. It felt as if they were being fed gallons of sleeping potions. The scent was agonizingly potent. They thought that if they gave in to the effects of the smoke, they would immediately fall unconscious.


    One of the men raised his voice in anger. With a threatening gaze, he pointed at Malyana. ''''You! What are you doing?! You said it wouldn''t affect us!''''


    After he spoke, a few others shouted as well.


    Jagra coughed, feeling his arms weaken. Struggling even to clench his fists, he forced himself to rise from the marbled floor. His eyes narrowed before he nced at his Lord. To his surprise, Lord Hadrian, despite the thick red cloud umting around him, stood still. His face appeared unbothered, and his hands remained at his sides. Although Jagra witnessed this, he could sense the rising fury within Lord Hercullio''s eyes. Confusing filled Jagra''s gaze. Why was his Lord just standing there?


    Finally, Malyana opened her mouth as she nced at them. Her vicious gaze settled on the dais where the Orcan Lordy limp on his ornate throne surrounded by the bodies of his followers. Their eyes remained open as if they were stuck in a daze, remaining still. ''''The scent pouches will not affect you. However, the spell I have cast is too strong for you people to resist. There''s nothing I can do.''''


    She didn''t sh her usual sly smile. Instead, she spoke if none of it concerned her, and it wasn''t her fault at all.


    ''''You...'''' Jagra spat between clenched teeth. Something doesn''t feel right about her...


    Suddenly, Malyana reached out her hand, and her once dainty fingers transformed intorge dreadful ws, so sharp it felt as if it could cut through the smoke in one swing. Eyes raked with disdain, she raised her wed hand and began walking towards the dais. At every step, her pace quickened as if she could no longer wait to feel the blood drenching her ws.


    All of a sudden, the dazed eyes of the lions within the halls twitched and snapped their gazes towards the woman striding towards their Lord. Derived from movement, they looked like stone statues with live eyes, gazes following on anyone that walked past them. Malyana couldn''t care less about their attention.


    ''''Wait!'''' Jagra finally shouted, noticing the gazes of the orcs within the halls. An ominous feeling crept up his spine. The sudden urge to stop Malyana rose. Why wasn''t Lord Hercullio stopping her?


    Despite the maeruthan''s constant shouting, Malyana hastily climbed the steps. She was a blur when she moved, driven with impatience and drowning in need to kill. Her eyes shed, never turning her gaze from the person sitting on the throne. ''This man is the scourge of my life.''


    With his death, she will feelplete once more.


    Unable to move, they could only watch as Malyana appeared before the throne, raising her wed hand. Her eyes are burning with rage, and somewhere inside, she could feel the droplet of relief. A dreadful feeling of pleasure coursed through her veins. Finally, after so long...


    Her ws descended, sharply aiming at the vulnerable neck of the Orcan King of the Pride.


    Whoosh!


    ''''!!!''''


    Malyana abruptly stopped and leaped backwards, avoiding the sudden explosion of electricity on the ce she had just stood. Golden sparks filled the air. The crackle of violent power filled the whole area. Malyana''s crimson pupils trembled, and her blood boiled. Her beautiful face turned distorted as she whirled around to face the man interfering.


    Jagra was too shocked to move. Slowly, she followed Malyana''s gaze, settling on the man not far from him.


    Golden eyes gleamed severely. Lord Hadrian Hercullio coldly eyed the woman at the steps of the dais. He had torn off the mask that concealed his face, and a dreadful aura engulfed him making anyone setting their eyes on him shiver in cold fear. The intentions of the orcs and humans against the leaders of Gan city were none of his concern. He didn''t see any reason to interfere with the city''s affairs. Once they took their own people from this city, they would leave. If Moulin wanted to aid its people, then he would willingly cooperate.


    However, the actions of the female fox orc arose his suspicions ever since the events within her brothel. Moulin wanted to trust her, and so Hadrian respected Moulin''s decision. But seeing her intentions at present, her desperation to murder the orcan leader, and her indifference to the innocent people within the halls as well as Hadrian''s own men, Hadrian knew he''d have to interfere.


    Ignoring, Malyana''s gaze, Hadrian nced at the delirious anger burning within the eyes of the orcan lions within the halls. Manic fury unearthed itself from their expressions. The beast blood within their bodies began to expose themselves in the orc''s features. Their pupils contracted, and smoldering gold glowed within their irises.


    Hadrian witnessed enough and turned to Malyana, who was burning with rage. ''''Why so impatient?''''


    Gritting her teeth, Malyana glowered at him. ''''This isn''t any of your business, maeruthan.''''


    ''''It is if when you''re using ''my'' men for your selfish schemes,'''' Hadrian replied with narrowed eyes. ''''I will not clean after your miserly doings just because I am helping you.''''


    Malyana hissed. Her eyes glowed threateningly. ''''Who do you think you ar-''''


    RRRRAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!


    Suddenly, a series of roars noised within the air. Malyana turned her head to the audience, and her a chill climbed up her spine. She stepped back with a fearful expression.


    Bones cracked as they shifted; they could be seen moving underneath their skin beneath their clothes. Numerous orcs released threatening growls as the animal inside them triggered. They threw off the people beside them as they wed the ground, their ws scraping deeply against the marble floor. They looked like they were in pain, but Jagra and the others knew from the smoldering rage within their irises that they were driven by the need to kill.


    The orcs stood on the ground, with longer hair, murderous eyes, andrge sharp ws for hands. j They turned their eyes to Malyana and the others approaching them, circling them like predators ready to pounce.


    They were hundreds of them. Malyana didn''t think they would ignore the influence of the red mist and transform. The magic she casted was strong enough to put down the entire city! They weren''t supposed to go feral within the mist''s influence!


    Although the red haze still influenced them, the Jagra and the men forced themselves up and drew back from the approaching orcs. They were outnumbered. Even if they survive, they would probably experience more losses.


    "Ha!"


    Malyana froze. Dread sank in her gut as she turned around. She felt like hands were choking her when she met red eyes brimming with amusement. She couldn''t move.


    Smirking at the woman''s reaction, the orcan Lord raised a corner of his lips. He stared down at Malyana as if witnessing a humorous performance. And then he stood up. It was as if he wasn''t affected by the most at all. His golden hair shone under the brilliance of the crystals, and he raised his hands.


    "What a sight!" He grinned. Sharp fangs glinted, exposed in the light. "Now, this is what I call a feast!"


    His eyes narrowed as he set his gaze on Malyana, frozen in shock. The Orc couldn''t help but find her familiar. After a few seconds, his eyes lit up, finally recalling. "Ah..."


    Malyana flinched at the soft tone of his voice. She released a shuddering breath while she struggled to face him fearlessly. But she couldn''t.


    The Orcan Lord''s grin stretched wider. "Ah, it''s the hybrid. Come to join us?"


    "I''d rather die." Malyana spat with venom in her voice.