Grimson's sneak attack was so absurdly fast that not even the ever-alert Braun could dodge in time.
He jerked his head back, but the silver light still hit Braun's face!
Abigail was startled and shouted, "Braun!"
Just as a cruel smile spread across Grimson's face, suddenly, Braun moved!
He no longer concealed his superhuman speed and strength, his body shot out like a cannonball, and his fist pummeled the shriveled chest of the old goblin!
"Crack!"
A crisp sound of bone breaking echoed, Grimson couldn't even manage a scream as his body was violently thrown backward, heavily crashing into a table, which shattered, scattering miscellaneous items all over the floor.
"Ah…"
He let out a gasp, as his short limbs struggled, unable to rise.
However, his bony fingers never loosened their grip on the Magic Wand.
He forced his almost blood-covered eyes open, only to see a foot rapidly enlarging in front of him!
"Boom——!!!"
Abigail, holding her Magic Wand, watched as Grimson's body, like a rolling ball, crashed through the wall and flew out.
Mid-air, he spewed a mist of blood, seemingly mixed with some fragments of organs.
This goblin's life force was extraordinarily tenacious, as he rolled on the ground four or five meters before stopping, immediately propping his upper body up, his eyes flashing with terrible fierceness, he raised his Magic Wand and swung it forcefully!
In an instant, the entire room seemed to come to life—a mortar rolled towards Braun, thick books from the shelves opened their pages and flew autonomously, growing sharp teeth to bite at them, tables, chairs, and kettles hopped over, even the walls sprouted slender tendrils that coiled like venomous snakes!
Faced with such a web-like onslaught, a normal person might have floundered into despair, but Abigail and Braun were far from ordinary.
One used an Explosive Spell to shatter all the suddenly animated items, while the other maneuvered deftly in the narrow space, not only avoiding any attack but also violently dismantling most of Grimson's carefully prepared traps.
In these brief ten seconds, Grimson swiftly drank a bottle of Magic Potion, then, enduring severe pain, he staggered to his feet, his Magic Wand again aiming at Braun, who was handling the Cauldron and tongs.
"Swish——"
The silver light shot out once more and hit Braun again, but the Spell had no effect...
No, it wasn't entirely without effect.
Braun's body suddenly froze, the tongs pierced into his shoulder, yet he completely disregarded it, brutally pulling it out.
When he turned his head, Grimson saw that man's face as if melting, losing the outline of his features, flowing, collapsing, forming a wave-like eerie curve.
This scene could provoke visceral nausea and fear in anyone, Grimson's SAN Value plummeted almost to the bottom in an instant, his shock rendering him incapable of further manipulating those flying instruments.
It was his first realization that his Evil Curse could have such a terrifying effect.
And Braun seized this moment of pause, a whip-like kick shattered the cabinet rushing towards him, and launched the mortars and Cauldron around flying, various items crashed against the walls and floor, the cabin in chaos, the attack halted!
Immediately, he let out a low roar, charging at the old goblin!
Grimson was scared out of his wits and turned to flee, while his Magic Wand in hand trembled again!
But this time, the silver light was not aimed at the ghost-like Braun but directly struck the breathless Abigail!
"Protect me!"
He shrieked, his piercing voice shattering the silence of the mountain forest.
Abigail's body stiffened, her gaze suddenly became vacant, then she decisively switched her Magic Wand, a red light shot at Braun's back!
"Bang!"
Braun staggered, his dagger slipped from his hand and shot into a basket beside the cabin. Though unhurt, his pursuit was forced to pause.
Grimson seized the opportunity to scramble into the woods, only his screams echoing distantly:
"Kill him, Abigail!"
Abigail's gaze sharpened, raising her Magic Wand towards Braun, she declared without hesitation, "Avada Kedavra!"
Braun rolled his body, narrowly evading the deadly green light. The Spell hit the wall, exploding with a huge bang.
Meanwhile, there was also Braun's roar of anger: "Bastard! Are you asleep?"
No sooner had the words fallen than the Cloak on Abigail suddenly came to life as well, it tightened abruptly, wrapping Abigail from head to toe, leaving only her nostrils for air, even her Magic Wand was swept away, casually thrown aside.
A voice emerged from the Cloak:
"Hey! Don't blame me! It was your request to play the part of a regular Cloak, otherwise you wouldn't bring me out! How was I supposed to know you'd almost be defeated by this old, ugly little dwarf?"
"Speaking of which, his kind of consciousness-targeting Magic is really terrifying! Luckily it didn't come my way, otherwise I don't know if I'd maintain a clear mind… huh? Braun? Where is he?"
Braun had already darted out like a Cheetah, tracking Grimson's trail of blood and footprints.
Abigail was still writhing and making muffled grunts in her throat.
But after her mind was controlled, she was left with nearly only instinctive reactions, unable to break free from the Cloak's constriction.
The Cloak both restrained her struggle and droned coaxingly:
"Calm down, ma'am! Don't lose to the old coot's brainwashing Magic! Have you forgotten your pride?"
"Hey, if this goes on, don't blame me if you get hurt! I'm just doing my job… blame that cold-face guy, oh, he chased out…"
"Damn guy! He alone enjoys the fight, treating me, his only partner, he either makes me play dumb, or make me act as chains, see how I'll accuse him back…"
The Cloak, having suppressed words for days, now overflowed with a rant. It blabbled thoughtlessly, not noticing when Abigail became quiet, no longer struggling.
After a while, the Cloak suddenly realized, Abigail seemed to have returned to normal, so it cautiously released her mouth.
Then, the Cloak heard a calm voice:
"Are you a Poppet?"
After a pause, the woman asked again:
"So... is Braun one too?"
[——Oh my!]
The Cloak thought: [I'm doomed! Seems I let a secret slip... or should I silence her?]