Chapter 571

Chapter 578: The Beginning of Historical Conversion (Please Subscribe!)

“Miss Victorica, you mentioned earlier that you got lost in the white mist and ended up near Orario, right? Do you still remember any details or feelings from that time?”

Swinging his blade, Izay bisected several insect-like monsters attempting to ambush them.

After dealing with the creatures emerging from the fog, he turned to Victorica with a question.

She was currently the only one who had directly experienced the eerie nature of this mist, and Izay hoped she could provide some useful insights into their current predicament.

The Great Tree Maze was indeed unlike anything they had seen before. A faint white mist swirled slowly everywhere – on the tree canopies, among the leaves, around the roots – creating an unsettling atmosphere that sent shivers down their spines.

Currently at level twenty-four, the final layer of the Great Tree Maze, they were surrounded by the thickest concentration of white mist.

Levels below remained unknown, but those above hadn’t yet been completely engulfed; both qualitatively and quantitatively, there was a noticeable difference.

“Hmm… I did encounter this strange mist, yes… But if you’re asking for specifics, I didn’t notice anything unusual. It felt just like getting lost in ordinary thick fog, and before I knew it, I ended up here.”

Victorica furrowed her delicate brows, resting her chin on her hand as she tried to recall her memories.

But no matter how hard she thought, nothing particularly useful came to mind.

At the time, she hadn’t sensed any danger or external pressure – aside from frequent branches brushing against her, there was nothing out of the ordinary.

“So… we have no leads then?” Izay scratched his head, letting out a long sigh.

His perception magic had been active for quite some time now. Enemy detection worked fine, and he could observe the mist without any hindrance. Magic effects functioned normally.

Yet… the absence of obstruction was itself the greatest obstacle!

In his perception, everything seemed perfectly normal. He couldn’t detect anything abnormal about the environment.

The side quest blessing “Sorrow of Time” had activated upon entering the Great Tree Maze.

However, so far, nothing significant had happened.

The only thing certain was that the “Mysterious Mist” mentioned in the task referred to these very white mists before them.

Izay was currently at a loss.

He had already identified the “Mysterious Mist,” and the blessing “Sorrow of Time” had also activated.

But the “change” described in the mission briefing hadn’t occurred.

It seemed like something crucial was missing…

To put it another way, it was like being stuck trying to solve a case in Death Note Elementary School, where gathering information is necessary, but even after collecting all the clues, one must experience a sudden flash of inspiration to piece everything together and reconstruct the crime scene.

Izay was stuck at the “flash of inspiration” stage.

He seemed to have overlooked something, or perhaps there was still something he hadn’t discovered.

“Um… Izay, Miss Victorica… do either of you feel that the surrounding mist has grown thicker?” At this moment, Ryu suddenly spoke up.

The spirit, who hadn’t participated in the discussion earlier, had keenly noticed the subtle changes in the environment.

Realizing she knew the least about the situation regarding the mist, Ryu decided not to interfere with the team’s strategy-making process and instead kept vigilant watch for potential monster attacks.

Thus, she was the first to notice the silent transformation.

“The mist has become denser?”

“It seems like it really has…!?”

Izay and Victorica subsequently examined their surroundings.

Staring intently at the slowly swirling mist before them, Victorica blinked, recalling a small detail she had previously overlooked.

“When I encountered the mist, it also grew thicker gradually without me noticing…”

Could the transportation feature of the mist be related to its density? Should they venture deeper into the heart of the mist to test this theory?

The witch proposed such a plan.

“Hmm… What do you think, Ryu?”

“Let’s give it a try. If we can resolve this mist phenomenon peacefully, that would be ideal.”

Ryu supported Victorica’s suggestion.

Her reasoning was straightforward.

She hoped to resolve this abnormal situation smoothly.

Otherwise, if it continued to spread, it might endanger the upper levels, or even reach the surface.

By then, it would be too late to regret.

In short, Ryu simply couldn’t turn a blind eye to such occurrences.

“Alright, let’s continue deeper!”

With everyone in agreement, the team pressed forward into the depths of the dungeon.

Their figures disappeared into the swirling mist that followed.

……

[Side Quest Phase Update: The Beginning of Historical Conversion]

[Details: Please explore further]

[Phase Reward: Miracle – “Even Though the Sunset Comes”]

[Obtain Phase Blessing: In the Name of Hope]

“In the Name of Hope”

· This is the blessing of hope

· Significantly enhances healing abilities, providing super-efficient correction to healing effects

……

As they emerged from the mist, the sound of thunderous water roared in their ears.

Before them stretched a magnificent waterfall, an awe-inspiring sight that struck a chord deep within their souls.

Everywhere they looked, valleys and cliffs connected by azure crystal mountains were enveloped in a gentle haze, forming a breathtakingly beautiful landscape.

Water Riddle City’s environment was already considered a marvel.

Now, with the addition of the pale white mist, it resembled a celestial realm.

Even the homeland of the deities – Heaven – couldn’t surpass this beauty, could it?

But Izay wasn’t distracted by the scenery.

His attention was entirely focused on the system notification.

He had never imagined that side quests could have phases!

Moreover, the two temporary blessings granted by this side quest were entirely supportive in nature.

This contrasted with the first blessing he received – “Hunter.”

(Given the current situation, does this mean the main part of the mission has begun? Will I receive two sets of rewards upon completing the task?)

Izay carefully observed the two different rewards, making reasonable assumptions.

This was certainly a pleasant surprise.

But… celebrating too early wouldn’t help.

After all, the side quest wasn’t completed yet…

Speaking of which, what exactly was going on right now?

“Passed through the mist… and arrived back at Water Riddle City!?” Izay scanned the view before him, narrowing his eyes.

“Is something off? The scenery here looks vastly different from before~?”

Unaware of the structure of the dungeon, Victorica gazed at the beautiful scene ahead, naturally assuming they had successfully been transported by the white mist.

“The floor we were on earlier was twenty-four, whereas this appears to be the twenty-fifth level. We may have simply descended one level, Miss Victorica.” Ryu answered in place of Izay.

The spirit’s gaze swept across the mist-covered aquatic paradise, her pupils dimming slightly.

“This is merely… a regular dungeon scene.”

At most, it was infused with mist… There was nothing extraordinary about it…

“You’re mistaken, Ryu.” Izay bent down, picking up a red stone from the ground and examining it closely in his hand, countering her statement: “This might not just be a regular dungeon scene.”

“That’s… an ‘Inferno Stone’!?”

Her sky-blue eyes narrowed slightly.

There was no way she could mistake this item.

It was a favorite tool of the Dark Faction. When used properly, even a single high-quality Inferno Stone could inflict injuries on top-tier adventurers.

And among the clean factions openly operating in the city, no one would possess such an item.

The reason was simple: there was no legitimate way to obtain it.

If an adventurer were found carrying an Inferno Stone, it would likely indicate they had dealings or even colluded with the Dark Faction.

In other words, whoever dropped this Inferno Stone here… Izay and Ryu both had their suspicions.