Just as he’d thought.

Dozens of hyenas were gorging themselves on a massive pile of rotten meat. Their grotesque maws crammed into the pile, squirming like maggots as they fought for scraps. Besides the rabbits they had bought from the Forester that morning, the pile of meat also contained a large number of fresh animal carcasses.

Judging by the size of the pile, it likely contained all of Pig Badger Village’s recent hunts, and they might have even bought more from other villages.

At the same time, three living people, including the village chief, were squeezed in with the pack of hyenas, frantically gnawing on the disgusting chunks of flesh.

Realizing what he was seeing, Colin was overcome with waves of nausea and nearly threw up his dinner.

Watching hyenas feed and watching living people do the same thing were two completely different feelings.

Kase gently pulled the other two back, then made a few hand signals.

’Take out the three humans first.’

Understanding the gesture, Colin pulled Orelia back, pointed to the right for her, and then pointed to the left for Kase.

After confirming they were all on the same page, the group moved forward again.

Prayers and Spells were chanted in unison, and a Light Ball, a fireball, and a Javelin flew out at the same time.

The Light Ball exploded. The unlucky soul it hit had half his body seared away, and he collapsed to the ground steaming, never to move again.

Colin was taken aback by the effect of the Light Ball. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

’It *is* a Tier One Divine Skill, after all. I wonder what would have happened if it had actually hit Kase last time...’

The explosive Flaming Arrow and the Javelin knocked the other two to the ground, but they scrambled back to their feet moments later.

They clawed at their necks and let out an inhuman wail.

With a series of CRACKING and POPPING bones, their human hands began to swell and darken rapidly. Their fingernails turned black and sharpened, becoming like ten black Daggers.

Tossing his pack to the ground, Colin yelled, "Kase, block the path!"

At the same time, the pack of hyenas below surged up the passage.

Their cackling laughter echoed throughout the cavern, making it sound as if hundreds of the beasts were swarming in from all directions.

Kase, who had also thrown down his pack, drew his Ice Short Spear and charged forward with his Shield raised, blocking the only way up.

Colin expertly positioned himself at the edge of the platform, greeting the two remaining Cultists with a Flaming Arrow. Orelia, following Colin’s lead, began chanting her prayers and Casting Cantrips.

Whenever she began to chant, a speck of golden light would appear above an enemy’s head below.

And when the prayer ended, the golden light would pour down.

The targeted hyenas would be covered in burns. Most of them couldn’t survive a second hit.

Colin glanced over for a moment.

He could feel that this Divine Art was weaker than his Flaming Arrow, but the power Orelia unleashed with it was on par with his Cantrips. He figured it was due to her Attributes. He wondered what Attributes Priests used for their Casting.

After a few rounds of bombardment, several scorched hyenas lay on the ground, whimpering.

The hyenas that charged Kase were held back by the Half-Orc. Even though his hands trembled from the Curse, the beasts before him couldn’t break through his Insect Shell Shield. From time to time, his Ice Short Spear would lash out from different angles, reaping a few lives.

Out of the corner of his eye, Colin spotted the two Cultists mixed in with the hyena pack.

’I wonder how much stronger those two are compared to an ordinary person...’ To be safe, he turned and shouted, "Orelia, get back outside the entrance!"

Hearing this, Orelia quickly did as she was told, obediently running to the entrance and raising her Wooden Shield to protect herself as best she could.

The next moment, a furious roar torn from a human throat reached his ears.

He whipped his head around to see that the two Cultists who were just at the bottom of the pit had already climbed up!

A foul stench assaulted his nostrils.

The two of them barely looked human anymore. The hair on their heads was falling out in clumps, their mouths were starting to protrude, the veins on their bodies were clearly visible, and their skin had become wrinkled and shriveled.

Colin didn’t hesitate, swinging his sword.

As he swung, he muttered a Spell, and Flame instantly erupted from the blade.

The first Cultist to charge was sliced in half. As the blade hit, the creature lunged, swiping at its enemy’s arm.

Although Colin had anticipated this, his Speed wasn’t high enough to dodge.

The sharp claws scraped a shower of sparks from his Chain Armor Arm Guard, finally leaving a deep, bloody gash on the back of his hand.

The Cultist following behind tried to press the attack, but the residual Flame from the Emerald Flame Sword blasted him away. He let out a howl, then crashed to the ground, motionless.

Colin let out a sigh of relief.

"Hey, if you two have a moment, you could lend me a hand over here!" Kase yelled from the side.

A massive tide of hyenas pressed against his Shield, pushing forward with all their might. They were like a pack of zombie dogs. The ones at the very front latched onto Kase’s calves, tearing his flesh to a bloody pulp.

Colin rushed over, intending to clear the area with Magic.

These hyenas were definitely under the influence of an Evil Deity.

After all, every creature’s primary instinct is self-preservation. When hunting in the wild, hyenas tend to skirmish and wear down their prey; they would never be this suicidally frenzied.

Just then, a horrifying sound of cracking bones reached his ears.

The chunks of meat at the bottom of the cavern began to twitch. A few hyenas hiding in the back let out a series of CRACKS and POPS, and then their entire bodies exploded into clumps of bloody flesh.

The mist of blood dissipated.

Where they had been standing, five Jackal Wolfmen, covered in slime and blood, had appeared.

As soon as their transformation was complete, they charged toward the group with astonishing Speed. It was clear they would soon be able to leap directly onto the high platform.

"Well, this is certainly an eye-opener..." Colin quickly dashed behind Kase.

Kase roared, sending the pack of hyenas in front of him flying with a mighty shove of his Shield.

He spun around and bashed the first newly-formed Jackal Wolfman that climbed up, sending it flying as well.

Spreading his hands, Colin faced the terrifying horde of hyenas and shouted a Spell. A flower of Flame instantly blossomed from his palms.

The blood gushing from the back of his hand was instantly seared dry. A bizarre, stormy stench of scorched, rotten flesh washed over him. Colin’s eyes stung so badly he could barely keep them open.

The Flame dissipated.

The scorched ground was littered with the charred, crispy corpses of hyenas. That one attack had likely taken out more than a dozen of them.

However, the remaining hyenas showed no fear at the death of their comrades.

The dozen or so that were left surged up the ramp in a tight pack once more.

Without hesitation, Colin timed it perfectly and unleashed another Burning Hand at the frenzied beasts. The Flame exploded again, crushing the hyenas’ assault once more.

Most of the beasts fell to the ground, but a few managed to roll and extinguish the flames on their bodies before getting up and lunging again.

’These things really aren’t afraid of death!’

Colin didn’t dare to imagine how troublesome it would be to encounter these things in the wild.

Just then, a woman’s scream came from behind him.

Orelia, Shield raised, charged past Colin and rushed toward the oncoming hyenas.

Colin instantly understood her intention. He spun around and cut down a Jackal Wolfman that had climbed up, then swung his Hand Half Sword again to strike down an enemy attacking Kase.

Just as he was about to strike a third enemy, he suddenly felt his leg get tripped.

The next moment, the world spun around him.

’I’m done for!’ Colin clutched his Hand Half Sword tightly, only one thought left in his mind—’I’m going to fall...’