Everyone was stunned. They had not expected the powerful witch to be defeated so easily. Moreover, the system had not announced her death or the quest's completion. When they looked over at the Ugly Duckling Prince, he was still in the same state, hugging the white swan tightly, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Has the quest been completed, Chang Long?"

Siegfried asked, stepping closer to Chang Long, who was examining Lily's body. The puppet-like humanoids disappeared as soon as Lily lost consciousness.

"No notification from the system yet. How are the prince and the swan?"

Chang Long shook her head and looked sorrowfully at the Ugly Duckling Prince.

"They're in bad shape, but he won't let go of the swan, so it's hard to treat his wounds,"

Draco reported as he joined them.

"What do we do with the witch's body? It's not disappearing like in other quests,"

Wet Trash Can said, walking over.

"Let's check on the prince and the swan first. The body will probably disappear soon,"

Chang Long said, pressing her lips together. She led the group to where the Ugly Duckling Prince and the white swan, presumably Princess Anna, were.

As everyone's attention shifted away from Lily's body, it began to move. Something emerged from within, and blood-red eyes stared maliciously at Chang Long's back. A chill spread through the group, making them look around warily. When they turned back, they were shocked to see what was now standing where Lily had been.

"A level 83 Dark Witch Beast King is preparing to attack!"

The system announced the name and the level. Floating above the ground was what looked like an old cloak, with two red glowing spots where its eyes would be. It's supposed eyes looked at them maliciously.

"What is that thing!"

Peach Blossom whispered.

"As I thought... that's the real witch we have to defeat,"

Chang Long muttered to herself. Everyone felt their skin crawl as they watched the terrifying creature.

"I am a parasitic being. My body was dedicated to dark magic and cannot withstand light. I have lived by inhabiting other humans, consuming their lives for two hundred years until I met you..."

The Dark Witch's voice wavered as if multiple tones were speaking simultaneously.

The Ugly Duckling Prince stared, horrified, realizing that something so terrifying had been hiding within Lily. But he did not say anything in response.

"What happened to the real Lily?"

Chang Long asked on his behalf, knowing the prince wanted to know.

"She is me... The beings I inhabit lose their minds gradually, their memories blending with mine until they are fully consumed,"

the Dark Witch replied, her gaze fixed on the Ugly Duckling Prince.

"You said you loved him?"

Siegfried interjected.

"Of course I loved him, but I don't know when it happened... Prince, if you come back to me, I will help restore Princess Anna and you to your true forms,"

the Dark Witch offered.

"Never quack! Once love is lost, it cannot be regained quack. My heart now belongs solely to Princess Anna quack!"

The Ugly Duckling Prince shouted as loudly as he could, glaring at the Dark Witch with red, furious eyes.

His words made the Dark Witch snap, and she could no longer speak coherently. She fully transformed into a monstrous beast and began rampaging, attacking the surrounding trees and Chang Long's group in a wild manner.

Everyone raised their weapons to fend off the chaotic attacks of the Dark Witch, struggling to maintain their footing. Chang Long quickly moved to protect Kimhant, who was holding Hulu. Nearby, the Ugly Duckling Prince clung tightly to the white swan. Kitsune, having rested sufficiently, joined in to help guard them.

"Kimhant, take Hulu and hide behind that big tree. You too, Ugly Duckling Prince. Don't come out until I call for you. Kitsune, protect them!"

Chang Long ordered swiftly, pointing to a large tree behind them. She dragged the prince and the swan to safety. Once Kimhant was safely hidden, she ran back to join the others in preparing for the Dark Witch's next attack.

"What's it doing?"

Chang Long asked in confusion as she saw the Dark Witch standing still, not attacking them.

"Listen, it's not just standing still. It's casting a powerful spell!"

Peach Blossom shouted, panic evident in her voice as she heard the faint chanting from the Dark Witch. A massive black magic circle appeared on the ground, its edges too vast to see.

"What spell is it, Peach Blossom?!"

Wet Trash Can asked, alarmed.

"I don't know, but we're in big trouble!"

Peach Blossom replied in a soft voice.

Rumble.

Thunder roared loudly, and the sky above them darkened rapidly, turning the bright morning into a near-nighttime gloom.

"Damn it! Everyone, get your torches out, now!"

Draco shouted, but before his voice faded, the mournful wails of something unseen filled the air, drowning out the thunder. It was not difficult to guess what the wails belonged to.

"You want to play this way, witch? Davy-chan, Spirit Possession!"

Chang Long called out, using her skill. Davy-chan, who had been hovering nearby, was absorbed into her body, as she started emitting an eerie, chilling aura.

"Siegfried, everyone, use the fire to herd them into a circle. I'll take care of them all at once!"

Chang Long commanded calmly.

"But there are so many of them, Chang Long. Can you handle it?"

Siegfried asked worriedly.

"Yes, Master Chang, that's too risky!"

Peach Blossom added.

"Did you forget what I am? I'm a reaper. No ghost dares defy a reaper!"

Chang Long replied firmly before anyone could say anything else. Understanding her plan, everyone began using fire to drive the zombies into the center, where the Dark Witch was casting her spell.

"Reaper Soul Har—"

"Wait, Master! We can't harm the zombies because they are people cursed by the Dark Witch. We need to help them!"

Kimhant ran out to stop Chang Long from using her Reaper Soul Harvest skill on the zombies.

"Why did you come out, Kimhant? Get back to hiding! The quest didn't say anything about not killing the zombies. How do you know they're cursed people?"

Chang Long asked, annoyed.

"Princess Anna told me. She's regained consciousness a little!"

Kimhant shouted back as he ran back to his hiding spot.

"Next time, tell Kitsune. Don't run out here like this,"

Chang Long scolded irritably. She turned back to the zombies, pondering what to do with them.

"That's it! The skill that came with the Pure Dark Grim Reaper title—let's try it,"

Chang Long said, checking the skills she received with Pure Dark Grim Reaper title. If there were any of her skills that could save these cursed souls without harming someone's lives, it would be the new ones.

Chang Long had obtained the Pure Dark Grim Reaper title and the skill Reaper's Baptism while bathing in the Sacred Pond. The effect was quite similar to the Reaper Soul Harvest skill, which consumed souls, however, Reaper's Baptism purified the souls.

"Hurry, Chang Long. We can't hold them much longer!"

Draco shouted, his voice strained. The zombies were starting to break through their encirclement.

"I can't keep this up either. They reek!"

Peach Blossom called out from her position which was quite a distance away from Draco.

"Reaper's Baptism!"

Chang Long decided to use the skill, eager to see how the soul would be cleansed could do.

As she activated the skill, the reaper behind her grew to a towering thirty meters. Its black cloak gradually turned pure white, its cold gray eyes scanning the area. It extended its hands forward, and the zombies and the Dark Witch froze in place as if paralyzed. The reaper's hands drew out their darkened souls.

The zombies shrieked as their souls were extracted, then collapsed motionless to the ground. The gigantic reaper clapped its hands together slowly, producing a thunderous sound before vanishing. Pure white light descended, bathing the fallen zombies.

Slowly, the zombies began to stir, they got up slowly. Chang Long's group prepared for another attack but were shocked to see the zombies were no longer zombies. They had reverted to their human forms.

"The Dark Witch Beast King has been purified by the Reaper's Baptism skill of player Chang Long. The witch has lost all its power and become a spirit bound to this forest. The forest and townspeople are restored to their original state...

Player Chang Long has completed the quest. Prince Duck and Princess Anna are freed from their curses and returned to their true forms. Player Chang Long can claim the quest reward at Ark City on Europa Island..."

Chang Long stood stunned alongside her friends. The announcement indicated they had to go to Europa Island to claim their reward. Chang Long had come to Aseana Island to meet Valentine, her friend in real life, who had not yet logged in. Now, she had to travel to another island for her reward. She looked at her friends, visibly annoyed, before turning to see the changes in Prince Duck and Princess Anna.

A radiant white light enveloped Prince Duck and Princess Anna. As the light faded, their true forms were revealed to everyone, including the townspeople who just had their curses lifted. Prince Duck was strikingly handsome, and Princess Anna looked like an angel.

Princess Anna seemed shocked to see Prince Duck in his true form for the first time. She avoided his gaze, dared not to speak with him casually like she did when he was still an Ugly Duckling Prince. Her cheeks turning red as she realized she was in his embrace.

The townspeople, freed from the curse, cheered for the reunited couple. However, Chang Long's group felt a pang of disappointment, knowing their reward was far away. Suddenly, cheers from the forest edge caught their attention. Townspeople of Suvarn had all closed their shops and rushed in to find their loved ones, having heard the forest was freed from the curse. Curious players followed, eager to witness the event.

'Kitsune, take Kimhant and Hulu away quietly. I don't want anyone to see Flatear in this situation,'

Chang Long telepathically instructed Kitsune.

'Yes, Master,'

Kitsune replied. It gently tugged Kimhant's sleeve, leading him and Hulu behind the bushes. Kimhant did not forget to snap photos of Prince Duck, Princess Anna, and the freed townspeople before slipping away quietly.

"Thank you so much, Chang Long. Qu... qu... quack!"

Prince Duck gracefully walked, supporting Princess Anna, towards Chang Long. Everyone watched with admiration, but as soon as he spoke, their astonished expressions turned to shock.

"Quack! Why are you still quacking?"

Chang Long whispered in disbelief.

"I don't know. Qu... quack! I tried to hold it back, but it kept coming out. Qu... qu... quack!"

Prince Duck said dejectedly. Although his appearance had reverted to normal, his voice remained unchanged.

"It might take some time. The side effects of the curse are hard to shake off even after it's lifted,"

Siegfried comforted them. Both Chang Long and Prince Duck nodded in agreement. Believing this provided some solace that the condition would eventually pass.

However, as the curious onlookers began to focus on them, Chang Long had no choice. She sent a message to her friends, asking them to end their sentences with a quack just like the prince to help maintain his handsome prince image. Peach Blossom seemed reluctant, as it tarnished her pretty girl image, but she complied for the sake of her beloved Master Chang.

"Congratulations, quack!"

Wet Trash Can started first, trying hard not to laugh at himself.

"W... well, who would've thought that adding 'quack' to the end of your sentences boosts your fighting power quack?"

Draco added, promoting the idea to avoid being the only group doing something so ridiculous.

The townspeople and players who heard this were intrigued. Despite some skepticism, many thought it worth trying since simply saying quack at the end of sentences had seemingly boosted fighting power and also helped defeat the cursed forest and restore the townspeople.

"Let's head back to town, quack,"

Chang Long said, after secretly laughing at everyone else until her jaw hurt.

"Qu... quack, yes, quack. Everyone's here to reunite with their friends and family, quack!"

Siegfried kept a serious face but felt embarrassed. Nevertheless, it successfully diverted attention away from why they were all in the forest.

Friends and families embraced, momentarily forgetting about Chang Long's group. Players explored the forest, no longer fearing getting lost. Chang Long's group and Prince Duck managed to slip away unnoticed.

-----

Read 'Adventure World Online (AWO)' before anyone else with more chapters at https://www.jinovel.com/en

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.