Chapter 251: Save Us Divine Maiden.

The shed was opened, and the rest of the soul maidens were let out. Zyra walked back into the square with the maidens trailing behind her.

The girls were physically okay_ no broken bones or nasty bleeding_ but the younger ones looked like scared little chicks. From the moment of their escape to the drugging incident, they were in constant fear for their lives. Their eyes were wide, and every time a loose leaf blew past, they jumped a mile high.

"Divine maiden_" Little Mai whimpered, tugging softly on Zyra’s sleeve. "I don’t get it. Senior Etania and the others literally just saved their lives! How could the townspeople treat us like that right after? Aren’t people supposed to be nice to soul maidens? Julia says we are the light of the world, meant to be loved by all."

Zyra stopped, turned around, and looked down at the tiny girl. She let out a small, tired smile. "What is your name child?"

"Mai Kingstone but everyone calls me Little Mai." She replied shyly.

"Little Mai, welcome to the Wild Lands and to the real world outside the Main 7 academy’s walls." Zyra said, her voice calm but dry. "Your first mistake was thinking these people had a shred of goodness in their hearts. Out here, you must be suspicious of everything and everyone. A sharp knife matters way more than good manners and the mercy you have been taught. Half of the people in the Wild lands are not good, and you should always remember that."

Little Mai blinked her big, innocent eyes, looking right up into Zyra’s face. "Well, I think you are a good person. And we just met!"

Zyra let out a short, snorting chuckle. She patted the girl’s head. "I’ll take that as a compliment, kiddo. Don’t let the others hear you, or they’ll think I’m soft."

Before Mai could reply, a loud shout cut through the chatter of the square.

"Divine Maiden! You need to come and see this! Quick!"

It was Etania’s voice, sounding sharper and more panicked than usual.

Zyra frowned and spun around. At the edge of the square, a large crowd of people was pushing and shoving, trying to peek at something on the dirt ground. Hunter was standing guard in front of them, his arms wide, looking like a grumpy bear trying to keep sheep away.

"Back up! Give her some space! Move it, or I’ll move you myself!" Hunter growled, thrusting his chest out.

Zyra rushed over, her robes fluttering behind her. "What’s going on?"

Etania pointed a trembling finger at the dirt. "Look."

Zyra stepped forward and looked down. A corpse was lying on the cold ground. It was Cain, who had been bitten by a corrupted beast earlier. Except he didn’t look like a human anymore.

Nasty, ink-black vein-like lines were crawling all over his skin, twisting like little worms under his flesh. Even stranger, his body was visibly shriveling up. It looked like an old, forgotten plum drying out in the hot sun, his skin sticking tight to his bones.

[Warning: Host, his body and soul have been completely infected by pure dark energy. A virus is eating his vitality.]

Zyra swallowed hard, taking a quick step back. "I say he deserves it." She didn’t waste a single second. She turned to her Squirrel. "Squirrel! Nuke it! Set that thing on fire right now!"

Squirrel chirped, waved its tail and hurled a bright ball of fiery orange flame right onto the body. The corpse caught fire instantly, turning into a roaring bonfire. The thick, black smoke smelled terrible_ like burnt rubber mixed with rotten eggs.

Everyone covered their noses, coughing violently.

As they watched the body turn to ash, an old, shaky voice creaked out from the back. Grandma Lola wobbled closer, leaning heavily on her wooden walking stick. Her eyes were milky and full of dread as she stared at the flames.

"I’ve seen this before," the old woman muttered, her voice trembling. "Years ago, the first time those cursed cannibals came to Twigs Blue Crossing. We tried to fight back. We went to war. But their beasts bit our fighters... and every single person who got bitten turned out just like this, that was when we gave up."

The moment the old woman said this, the crowd went wild. Panic spread like wildfire.

"That was over twenty years ago!"

"What? So long ago!"

"Does that mean the cannibals will always be coming back no matter how many we kill off?"

"We’re dead! We’re all dead!"

"What are we supposed to do now?!"

Whispers and cries filled the air. It was painfully obvious to everyone_ this was only the beginning. The real nightmare was on its way.

Zyra rolled her eyes, exhausted by the sheer noise. She turned to Hunter and whispered, "Yeah, okay. This is 100% not our problem. We’re going home." The real Divine Soul maiden was the one whose duty it was to deal with such situations. This soul corruption case was a problem for her Sanctum, not poor, hunted Zyra of the Wild lands.

"Wait! Divine Maiden, please wait!" A man pushed his way frantically through the crowd, nearly tripping over his own boots. It was Lucian. He ran right up to Zyra, his face pale and dripping with sweat.

"Please!" He begged her, his hands clasped together. "You have to help us! If you leave, those beasts will tear us to pieces! We will all die!"

Etania stepped in front of Zyra, her face cold as ice. She crossed her arms and sneered at Lucian. "Help you? Are you serious right now? After your people stabbed us in the back five minutes after we saved you from the King Beast? Do we look like idiots to you? In my opinion you all deserve whatever is coming to you."

Lucian’s face flushed red with shame. "I know! I know! But... but not all of us wanted to do that! Master Zoo was the leader here! He forced us, and everyone was too terrified of him to say no! We had no choice!"

Hunter shook his heavy head, taking a step forward. "Excuses, excuses. A bad dog always blames its owner. Wifey, let’s go. Don’t waste your breath."

Seeing them turn away, Lucian’s knees gave out. He slammed his knees hard onto the dirt, kneeling right at Zyra’s feet.

"Divine Maiden, please do not forsake us!" Lucian wailed, hitting his head against the ground. "We are your subjects too! Save us! If you protect us, we will give you our absolute loyalty! We will serve you forever!"