[LU-EL@LIVESTREAM - GODDESS’S VESSEL]

Poru@Sage: This undead outbreak arc is much scarier than I thought.

Poru@Knight: I know... nothing intense has happened yet, but the realistic graphics are what scare the shit out of me.

Poru@Astronaut: Not to mention our dude’s gruesome handiwork that lacks elegance.

Poru@Undead: I agree... I even almost cum in my pants—HAHAHA!

Poru@Sage: WHOA—!

Poru@Knight: That was a very intense fetish.

Poru@Ghost: We’re not judging here, but you’re scaring me, my friend.

Poru@Undead: I didn’t mean the undead! I meant Kaori killing the undead! That’s what got me excited!

Poru@Beast: But that topless undead mage girl was kind of erotic, right?

Poru@Undead: I don’t have a corpse fetish, okay!

Poru@Ghost: It’s alright, you can be yourself here. We’re all perverts here.

Poru@Astronaut: Anyway, where are Kaori and our dude now?

Luvira@Goddess: Stop teasing the Undead with corpse fetish and focus on watching, my loyal followers.

Poru@Undead: I don’t have a corpse fetish!

***

"There they are!" Weed shouted, pointing at Lu-el and Kaori as they came into view, with a horde of undead chasing them across the ground and through the night sky.

A magical onslaught from the undead mages continued to rain down on Lu-el and Kaori, but they outran everything—wind blades hidden in the darkness of the night, ice lances that froze the ground upon impact, only to be melted instantly by barrages of flame arrows and explosions caused by fireballs.

"Back them up!" shouted one of the Hunters who had assumed command.

"Open fire!" followed a Mage leading the others.

A similar magical onslaught came from the barricade at the village’s east gate, forcing Lu-el and Kaori to increase their pace to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

Lu-el and Kaori ran past all the undead corpses that the hunters and adventurers had defeated not long ago—until they finally reached the barricade where Weed and his party were waiting.

"We’ve got to block and close the gate!" Kaori said, bluntly giving orders to the Hunter in command.

Although the Hunter felt conflicted with Kaori acting as if she were in charge, remembering that she was an important guest of the village chief along with Lu-el made him restrain his annoyance and respond reasonably.

"We can’t—not until Lord Daichi’s group makes it back."

"They’re not back yet?" Lu-el asked, only to realize that the Hunter wouldn’t be giving orders if Daichi were already there.

"Just what the heck happened to this village to get cursed?" he added with an anxious expression as he turned to stare into the dark village—both out of concern for Daichi’s group’s safety and to shift the conversation away from his earlier dumb question.

***

Phew~Phew!

A sharp whistle suddenly resounded throughout the village.

The next instant, the Alpha and Mystic Snow Wolves passed through the gate and barricade, rushing deeper into the village.

"They’re heading to where Mr. Daichi and his wives are..." Lu-el murmured, looking at Kaori as if silently asking what she wanted to do.

"We’re going after them," Kaori replied, urging Lu-el to follow as they joined the hunters and adventurers who split off from those staying behind to defend the barricade.

Not long after, Lu-el and Kaori spotted Daichi’s group being chased by a horde of undead villagers, mages, soldiers, and even other adventurers.

Manami rode the Mystic Snow Wolf as they both cast ice-based offensive magic to freeze and slow down the undead horde behind them.

Meanwhile, Daichi and the Alpha Snow Wolf guarded each side of their group, eliminating those that managed to catch up.

Mikoto, on the other hand, led the rest of the group—which wasn’t just the caravan’s hunters and adventurers, but also over a hundred young children along with a few villagers, soldiers, and adventurers. Some infants were even being carried by their mothers or siblings.

"We’re going to help defend the rear," Kaori said, asking Lu-el to come with her as she rushed toward Manami—only for Mikoto to grab Kaori’s hand the instant they passed each other.

"We’re not putting you in any more danger, young lady," Mikoto said, stopping her.

"Daichi and Manami can handle that much with the help of the other hunters and adventurers," she added, convincing Kaori and Lu-el to stay at the front with her and lead the survivors toward the east gate.

***

They continued their escape while Mikoto briefly explained that they had found the village survivors at the church, protected by a barrier that was almost about to break under the continuous assault of the undead swarming around it.

As the barricade at the east gate came into view, illuminated by lanterns set up by what remained of the hunters and adventurers defending it, more undead villagers appeared, blocking their path ahead.

Mikoto halted and took her stance before swiftly drawing her katana, imbuing it with mana to unleash a cleaving slash of light that cut down the first wave of approaching undead.

The second wave came just as fast as the first fell, but Kaori and Lu-el stepped in to force their way through.

Kaori enhanced her physical abilities to their limit and charged forward, tearing through dozens of undead villagers with her Moonlight Beast Claw and Fang.

Those who managed to survive her rampage were cut down by Lu-el, who swung his battle axe with brute force.

"Here they come!" shouted the Mage commanding the barricade. "Prepare to block and close the gate!"

The hunters rushed outside, joining the mages who were ready to cast their magic as soon as everyone crossed the gate, along with the priestesses preparing to cast a new protective barrier.

One by one, their group successfully made it outside—starting with Kaori, Lu-el, and Mikoto, followed by the survivors, the hunters and adventurers, and finally Manami riding the Mystic Snow Wolf, with Daichi alongside the Alpha Snow Wolf.

"WAIT—!"

A desperate cry for help came from another group of villagers who were trying to force their way out and escape.

Daichi turned, intending to go back and save them, but Mikoto and Manami quickly grabbed his hands to stop him.

Before the three of them could argue about whether to save them or leave them behind—or before anyone, including Lu-el and Kaori, could say anything—the group was overwhelmed by the horde of undead reaching the gate.

"Block and close the gate!" Daichi shouted, giving the command.

The hunters shut the broken metal gate, followed by the mages raising a series of stone walls on both sides, while the priestesses cast a protective barrier over the gate.

Along with the village’s protective barrier preventing anyone from entering or exiting over the walls or flying through the sky, Fumoto Village was once again sealed—leaving behind anyone who might still be trapped inside, along with over a thousand undead.