“What's happening?!” Quentin shouted in terror, halting his attack to dodge a falling rock.
Tessa stared at the eerie crystal in the air, her face pale.
Kami, however, was staring intently at the Spirit Soul Crystal. Her usual smile had completely vanished, replaced by a twisted expression of fanaticism, greed, and tension.
Her lips moved silently, as if she were saying something.
The cavern was collapsing, and dangerous energy was raging through the air.
The instinct for survival overrode everything else.
“Go!” Quentin roared at Tessa, charging recklessly toward the cave entrance while dodging falling rocks and shadow tentacles.
Tessa glanced at Logan’s corpse, bit her lip, and followed Quentin.
Bai Xuan didn't hesitate either, turning and dashing toward the entrance. Staying here meant certain death.
Only Kami didn't move.
Instead of fleeing, she moved against the falling stones and the chaotic flow of energy. Her eyes were fixed on the Spirit Soul Crystal in the air as her body nimbly darted through the chaos, her hand reaching out desperately to grab it!
Her fingertips were almost touching the surface of the crystal—
The Spirit Soul Crystal suddenly shuddered, erupting with a dark light that seemed to swallow everything! In an instant, it filled the entire cavern.
The light engulfed the falling rocks, the bloodstains, Kami’s outstretched hand and the frozen fanaticism on her face, and even Bai Xuan’s back as he rushed toward the exit.
All sound, sight, and sense of direction were completely swallowed by the endless darkness in that moment.
...
Deep within Glay Forest, the shadows of massive mountains loomed over a traveling party.
In the center of the mountain range, a vertical fissure split the rock like a scar on the earth, exuding a sense of oppression under the dim sky.
The party consisted of over ten people, all well-equipped, their metal armor plates glinting with a silver-white luster under the light that occasionally pierced through the forest canopy.
They were not riding horses, but a type of domesticated monster wolf.
These beasts were as tall as an adult's chest at the shoulder, with sharp claws and teeth, and they moved steadily through the rugged forest terrain.
They were highly effective at driving away ordinary beasts and low-rank monsters, though long-distance travel was not their specialty.
Currently, each person rode their own wolf, the beasts' heavy breathing creating puffs of white mist in the forest air.
At the heart of the party was an exceptionally powerful alpha wolf.
The knight on its back appeared to be about thirty years old, wearing heavy plate armor that covered his entire body, with a spear slung diagonally behind him.
A young mage wearing a robe and gold-rimmed glasses steered his mount closer to the knight.
His face carried the irritation of someone whose fun had been interrupted.
“Captain, is there really a need for such haste?”
The man with the gold-rimmed glasses spoke, his voice lacking any respect for his superior, filled only with dissatisfaction. “The monitoring array has recorded similar energy fluctuations no less than ten times. When has it ever been anything but a false alarm?”
“I hadn't even finished enjoying my new ‘toy’ before being dragged out to this desolate wilderness.”
The Captain’s gaze remained locked on the black fissure drawing closer ahead; he didn't look at the mage. “The dungeon is right before us. Even if we fail ten times, we must give our all on the eleventh. Opportunity doesn't wait for anyone.”
He paused, his tone turning cold. “Besides, Mage Ronid, you were personally appointed by that lord to be the eyes responsible for monitoring abnormal fluctuations.”
“If this turns out to be real and we were absent... I won't be the first one held accountable.”
Recalling Ronid’s unsavory hobbies, Kaylon felt a flicker of disgust in his eyes. “The lord's mission is paramount. Put aside your thoughts of play.”
“If serious business is delayed because of a few purchased slaves, neither of us can afford the consequences.”
Having said that, he lightly nudged the wolf's flanks. The alpha wolf let out a low howl and accelerated forward, leaving Ronid behind.
On Ronid’s refined face, the muscles tightened, and his eyes narrowed behind his lenses.
“Just do your job, Kaylon,” he whispered to himself, his voice oily. “It's not your place to lecture me on what I should do. A trusted aide? Hmph...”
...
The darkness receded, and consciousness returned.
Bai Xuan opened his eyes.
His vision was filled with a gray, mottled stone dome.
Beneath him was a cold, rough stone floor.
The air was stagnant, permeated by an indescribable scent of decay.
He sat up immediately, his back muscles tensing instinctively.
Around him were stone walls draped with tattered cobwebs, and the corners were stained with dried, suspiciously colored spots.
This place looked like a stone chamber in an abandoned dungeon, and he was alone.
Kami, Quentin, Tessa, and the collapsing cavern had all disappeared.
The space was lit by a dim light of unknown origin, barely illuminating the environment.
In the silence, there was only the sound of his own suppressed breathing.
Where was this, and where were the members of the Nightshade team?
Was that final, all-consuming darkness a teleportation? Or was he already dead?
He shook his head to clear the momentary daze and forced himself to stay calm.
Regardless of where this place was, he couldn't just wait here to die.
He checked himself; his physical condition was fine. The effects of 【Purifying Severance】 and 【Holy Light Catalyst】 had cleared all toxins and healed his wounds.
The iron rod on his back and the pouch at his waist were still there, but the staff he had used for his disguise was gone.
That staff was worth two gold coins!
Thinking of this, Bai Xuan felt a pang of heartache. He had come out to make money, but instead, he had lost some.
He carefully observed his surroundings.
He was currently in a stone corridor that stretched into the darkness.
Compared to the previous Spatial Labyrinth, this place was much wider.
Expending some mental energy, a location name surfaced in his vision:
【Skeleton Corridor】
The name was ominous.
Having no other choice, Bai Xuan gripped his iron rod and advanced cautiously down the corridor.
The sound of his boots hitting the stone surface seemed particularly loud here.
After walking for a short while, a rhythmic clicking of hard objects came from behind a corner ahead.
Clack, clack, clack.
Bai Xuan stopped, pressed his side against the wall, and pointed the tip of his rod forward.
The sound gradually approached, and its source turned the corner.
It was a monster pieced together from various types of bones.
It used a humanoid skeleton as its main frame, but limbs and torso pieces were haphazardly embedded and connected with bones from other animals, making it look grotesque and hideous.
Most noticeably, a complete rabbit skull was embedded in the center of its ribcage, its hollow eye sockets staring straight ahead.
Bai Xuan suppressed the instinctive chill rising within him and focused his mind.
【Bone Amalgam Lv. 4】
【Status: Wandering】
【Health: 600/600】
【Mana: 10/10】
Level 4! A random encounter was already a Level 4 monster?
The danger level of this place far exceeded his expectations.
Was this an elite individual, or was this just a common monster here?
The Bone Amalgam locked onto Bai Xuan.
The rabbit skull's mandible clicked once, and the entire skeleton suddenly accelerated, pouncing forward with a series of dense clacks, its bone claws swinging.
It was fast, but its movements were stiff and uncoordinated.
Bai Xuan didn't intend to take the hit head-on; he slid to the side and rear. The bone claws brushed past his chest, bringing a gust of sharp wind.
The moment he avoided it, he twisted his waist and swung his rod, striking one of the Bone Amalgam's arm bones.
“Crack!” When the rod touched the bone, a thin but solid layer of pale golden light flickered. The arm bone shattered upon impact, sending shards flying.
The Bone Amalgam’s health bar dropped a small notch.
It worked! The damage was significant!
Bai Xuan’s spirits rose.
The monster's bones were very hard; the claws had left clear scratches when they hit the wall earlier, so a direct hit would definitely hurt.
However, its joints seemed to be weak points, and its movements weren't flexible enough.
The corridor was narrow, leaving limited room to maneuver.
Bai Xuan fought while retreating, using the gaps between the opponent's turns and attacks to counter, specifically targeting the leg joints and arm connections.
After several successful strikes, he seized an opportunity and slammed his rod heavily onto a node where several bones intersected on its spine.
“Clatter!” A large section of bone shattered and fell away.
This time, its health dropped significantly.
Weak point confirmed! Bai Xuan’s offensive suddenly accelerated.
The Bone Amalgam became increasingly frenzied, leaving more and more openings.
Finally, after it lunged and missed, during the moment its upper body was leaning forward.
Bai Xuan stepped forward with a low shout, and his iron rod, wrapped in a distinct golden glow, slammed down with full force!
【Redemption Strike】!
“Bang—Clatter!”
The Bone Amalgam’s head and upper skeleton completely disintegrated, and the remaining parts lost their support, collapsing into a pile of broken bones.
【Crushing Blow successfully executed. Killed “Bone Amalgam”】
【Exp +15, Pleasure +11】
In the corner of his vision, the experience bar jumped: 【Exp: 5% → 7%】.
After Level 3, the experience required to level up increased significantly; no wonder most people he met were stuck around Level 3 or 4.
Bai Xuan calmed his breathing slightly and cautiously approached the pile of dry bones, poking through them with his rod.
From among the shattered bones, a dull-colored crystal rolled out—the Bone Amalgam’s Magic Core.
Its quality and the sense of energy it contained were much better than the one from the great goblin earlier; a Level 4 one should be worth more.
It was a small compensation for the loss of his staff.
He pocketed the Magic Core and began to think.
From the status information he saw at the beginning to the battle and now, he had figured out some patterns.
For targets of the same level, those with lower mana usually had more health and were more physically oriented.
Conversely, those with high mana likely had more frequent and troublesome skills.
This Bone Amalgam was clearly the former.
But it was an undead monster.
His physical attacks could cause considerable damage and even trigger weak point effects, along with that fleeting golden light on the rod...
Recalling how using healing magic on the dark-eroded Rock Core Guardian had caused damage instead.
Was it because of the Holy attribute of the Redeemer class?
It seemed his class traits didn't just apply to skills but were also implicit in his basic attacks.
There was a special attack effect against undead and dark-attribute beings.
This discovery was crucial.
Right then.
Rumble!
The entire Skeleton Corridor shook violently without warning!
Dust fell from the ceiling, and a tooth-grinding grinding sound came from the walls.
Bai Xuan immediately lowered his center of gravity and leaned against the wall to steady himself, his mind racing.
Was it an even larger monster? Or was this place about to collapse?
The vibration lasted for a few breaths before slowly subsiding.
Bai Xuan leaned against the rough stone wall, the cold sensation seeping through his clothes.
That violent shaking had come abruptly and left just as quickly.
It left behind only a corridor full of falling dust and a stale scent of earth and stone lingering in the air.
He maintained a defensive posture, his ears straining to catch any subsequent noises, his heart gradually slowing down in his chest.
The source of that movement seemed very deep, not something triggered nearby.
He thought of the collapsing mine and that black crystal that had caused the disaster, his brow furrowing.
Confused thoughts swirled for a moment before he forcibly suppressed them.
Speculation was useless; surviving and getting out of here was the priority.
He waited for a longer period, and after confirming there were no further abnormalities, he slightly relaxed his tensed muscles.
He pulled up his status to review:
【Health: 370/380】
【Mana: 120/195】
His health was nearly full, but his mana consumption was close to forty percent.
He reached into his ring, feeling the supplies inside his Space Ring, and his mind eased slightly.
Fortunately, he had spent a lot of money to buy some alchemical potions.
Compared to the desperate situation in the Spatial Labyrinth where he had run out of supplies, his current situation, while dangerous, at least offered some room for self-preservation.
He took out a bottle of Basic Mana Recovery Potion, pulled the cork, and poured the slightly viscous pale blue liquid into his mouth.
A gentle coolness slid down his throat and then spread out.
The mana source within his body began to be replenished slowly and continuously.
Once he was mostly ready, he gripped the iron rod again and pushed deeper into the corridor.
The environment became increasingly dilapidated and gloomy, with more debris on the ground.
Rotten wood and broken bricks whose original forms were unrecognizable, fragments of broken stone carvings with strange patterns, metal armor plates rusted down to mere outlines, deep scratches and pits on the walls...
Finally, even scattered fragments of bone appeared, littering the path and making a fine, tooth-grinding sound when stepped on.
Ahead, the dim light revealed two wandering silhouettes.
More Bone Amalgams, but their forms were different from the previous one.
One had a wolf skull and crouched on all fours like a beast, its joints reversed, appearing exceptionally agile.
The other also had a wolf skull but stood on two legs like a human, with longer arm bones and sharper claws.
The two monsters were not far apart, forming a simple cross-patrol in the not-so-wide corridor.
Bai Xuan stopped, observing from the shadows of a corner.
Dealing with two at once, especially within a distance where they might respond to each other, was too risky.
The narrow terrain restricted the enemy, but it also limited his own room to dodge.
Once injured, consuming mana to heal would lead to a chain of losses.
He had to separate them.
His gaze swept across the ground, and he picked up a shard of armor with a sharp edge, weighing it in his hand.
The key to luring monsters lay in controlling the distance and the landing point; he had to attract the target's attention without alerting the other.
He moved back a few steps, found a niche in the wall, and hid himself, calculating the arc and force of the throw.
With a flick of his wrist, the shard spun out, tracing a short parabola.
With a sharp “clink,” it landed on the ground about three steps away from the bipedal wolf-bone monster, bounced twice, and came to a stop.
The sound immediately caught the wolf-bone monster's attention.
Its wolf skull turned toward the source of the sound, the ghost fire in its eye sockets flickering once, and then it began to walk over with clacking bone feet, its gait stiff.
Bai Xuan retreated slowly, always maintaining a safe distance from the monster.
When the wolf-bone monster seemed to pause because it lost its target and was about to turn back, Bai Xuan would pick up another small piece of bone from the ground and toss it lightly, landing it closer to himself.
The subtle sound once again drew that hollow attention.
Repeating this, he patiently lured this lone predator away from its companion.
He led it into a section of the corridor he had passed through earlier.
Feeling that the distance was sufficient and the sound of the other monster's movement was almost inaudible, Bai Xuan stopped behind a corner.
The footsteps approached.
The moment the wolf-bone monster turned the corner, Bai Xuan charged.
Without holding back, his iron rod swung upward from below, the rod's body covered in a layer of pale golden radiance.
Carrying the whistling sound of air being torn apart, it slammed heavily onto the fragile joint connecting the wolf-bone monster's leg and pelvis!
【Redemption Strike】!
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