Chapter 845  Trapped in the Storm's Embrace          

As Ren, Evie, Elena, and Pamela waited anxiously for Azazel and his warlords to return, the atmosphere inside the inn grew increasingly tense. The relentless storm outside showed no signs of abating, the thunder rumbling ominously in the distance.

Suddenly, amidst the roar of the wind and the pounding rain, they heard a faint tinkling sound, like distant bells chiming in the night. Curiosity piqued, they ventured towards the window, peering through the rain-streaked glass in an attempt to discern the source of the noise.

Their hearts sank as they caught sight of a procession of Guardians making their way through the town square. Clad in their shimmering armor and bearing glowing orbs of light, they moved with purposeful determination, their movements synchronized as they conducted their search.

"What's going on out there?" Evie asked, though she already had an inkling as to what was happening.

Ren's jaw tightened as he watched the Guardians navigate the storm with ease, their formidable presence casting an ominous shadow over the town. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"D-don't tell me . . ." Elena gasped, her eyes widening with realization.

"They didn't . . ." Evie murmured, her voice trailing with resignation.

"I guess they did," Ren muttered grimly, his fears confirmed.

With a curse under his breath, Ren clenched his fists in frustration. "Those idiots!"

At the sudden outburst, Pamela jolted awake from her food-induced stupor, her eyes darting around in confusion. She rose from the table, shifting nervously from side to side as she attempted to gather her bearings.

"Hmm, what? What happened?" she mumbled, her voice muffled by the remnants of food caught in her throat.

Ren sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair as he struggled to find the right words to explain the dire situation unfolding outside. "The Guardians . . . they're searching the town . . . and I bet that it's Azazel and the others."

Pamela's eyes widened in alarm as she processed the implications of Ren's words. "Oh no, this can't be happening! What did you do?"

Elena stepped forward, her expression grave as she addressed the others. "Now that we're in this position. Let's go look for them."

Pamela shook her head, her mind racing with panic. "A-are you nuts?! If the Guardians are alerted then there's a good chance that the Goddess of Smile and Happiness was alerted too! This can't be anything but good!"

Evie's voiced her concerns. "We should find them all the more."

Ren's stomach churned with apprehension as he checked the whereabouts of the others. His heart sank as he cursed under his breath.

Elena joined him, her eyes darting to the map. "They're scattered all over the map!"

Glancing out the window once more, Elena sighed, her brow furrowed with worry. "How are we supposed to reach them with this storm raging outside?" "We need to find out what's going on with them. We can't just sit here and do nothing," Ren said. Evie nodded in agreement, but Pamela vehemently shook her head. "We can't! They're goners now! Once that Goddess of Smile and Happiness took notice of them, the effect of her domain would instantly take them into a trance.

"Besides, with the storm outside, it would be hard. It's better to stay here where it's safe while the Goddess still doesn't notice us yet," Pamela insisted, her voice laced with urgency.

"So what you're saying is that the others might be already gone?" Elena asked, her arms crossed in disbelief.

Pamela gently pulled her hand down, her expression filled with frustration. "You don't understand. The Goddess of Happiness and Smile isn't a minor god. She's about to become a major god with her powers. It's too dangerous to face her, and those souls might be in some happy place right now."

Ren and the others exchanged a glance. "You brought us into this place in the first place, and you're a Goddess too," Ren stated firmly, his tone laced with a hint of reproach.

It was evident that Ren intended for Pamela to share the responsibility for their current predicament.

"If Azazel and the others are under her domain, how can we break it?" Elena asked

Pamela's mouth dropped open in shock. "Are you serious? There is a storm outside, and this is the only place nearby. My understanding is just to lay low here until the storm subsides, but those idiotic souls just had to make problems!"

"So how are we going to bring them back if they really are under the spell of the Goddess?" Ren pressed, though he doubted that Azazel and his warlords would be affected since each of them had their own domain. But in the uncertain terrain of the Heaven Realm, where divine magic reigned supreme, Ren couldn't be entirely sure.

Pamela trembled as she noticed the seriousness in Ren's tone. "There's no other choice but to talk with the Goddess of Happiness and Smile or . . . kill her."

The weight of Pamela's words hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over their already dire situation. The idea of confronting a powerful deity was daunting, especially one who held sway over such potent magic.

Ren's mind raced as he considered their options. Confronting the Goddess directly seemed like a risky proposition, one that could potentially escalate the situation into something far more dangerous.

But on the other hand, allowing Azazel and the others to remain under the Goddess's influence was equally untenable. There was also a possibility that they weren't under the Goddess's influence. That would be the best outcome so they didn't need to confront a Goddess right now. They needed to act quickly before the situation spiraled further out of control.

"We need a plan," Ren declared. "We can't afford to wait here idly while Azazel and the others might be in danger."

Evie nodded in agreement. "Should we split up to search for them?"

Ren considered for a moment, his brow furrowing in thought. "No, sticking together is the safest option for us. Let's head to Iraelyn first since she's the nearest, and then we'll make our way to the others one by one."

"That sounds like a plan," Elena chimed in, nodding in approval.

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