Chapter 8: Exploration (7)
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Lin Nan and the others were startled by the sounds coming from above.
“Wait a minute! If we’re on the first underground level, why are there people making noise up there?”
Lin Nan gestured, and everyone quickly ducked behind a small rocky outcrop, holding their breath like they were hiding from a giant monster—or a particularly cranky teacher.
The noise grew louder.
As the sounds came closer, the light from the flickering torches danced around the stone walls, filling the air with the unmistakable, pungent aroma of pine resin smoke—rich enough to make you question if you were in a cave or a campfire party.
“How many levels have we gone through?” a female voice rang out.
“In response to the esteemed one, this is the 59th level,” came the reply.
“Excellent! We’re almost at the crucial 60th level. Everyone take a quick breather before we move on.”
“Yes, milady!”
As soon as the soldiers, snaking down the spiral staircase behind the woman, heard they could rest, they bolted towards the ground of level 59—like racehorses charging toward the finish line.
They had already burned through a fair bit of energy during the dull trek. It was like taking a long, boring hike, where even any pesky little monsters they encountered took one look at them and ran away—I mean, who wouldn’t?
Thank goodness the 60th level was just ahead; rumors had it they might bump into some legendary hordes of undead creatures! Even the most loyal generals to the right protector felt a mix of excitement and a touch of dread, especially with the Alligator Monster lurking about—ah, the very place where it had once dropped its armor and run for the hills. Who wouldn’t be a little jittery?
Lin Nan peeked out from his hidey-hole, whispering incredulously, “I don’t know how, but it looks like we got to level 59 before them!”
“What? This is level 59?” Trissa and the others gawked upon realizing the truth. They had just dropped from the sky—how could this be…?
“I think this might not be a bad thing. We can sneak along behind them and let them do all the hard work while we snag the benefits for ourselves,” Lin Nan suggested with a cunning grin.
The others all nodded in agreement, looking rather pleased with the plan.
Trissa noted, even in this strange and murderous place, Lin Nan showed no hint of fear. Instead, he seemed to be calculating how to make the best of their circumstances. With someone like him around, it was comforting—regardless of gender!
…
After leaping down from the Sky Tower, Zi Yi headed straight for the military tent, eyes blazing with a fire that could take down mountains.
She aimed to wrest military control from the Tiger Demon to bolster Cold Wind City’s defenses against Black Stone City.
Feeling Zi Yi’s intimidating aura, the Tiger Demon was unfazed. “Have you thought this through? Sure, you know who I am, but the folks in Cold Wind City only recognize my face. If they have to follow you instead, I won’t guarantee they’ll listen. If they get pushed too far and leave Black Stone City, are you ready to face the consequences of that mess?”
Zi Yi clenched her teeth—she had to admit, the Tiger Demon had a point.
If she tried to use brute force, demanding military control through intimidation, it could just rally everyone to fight against her.
After thinking it over, she reluctantly backed off. “Fine, I just think our defenses are a bit rough around the edges; they need some polish.”
The Tiger Demon replied, “Don’t worry, Miss Zi Yi. I used to be a general for the Human Race. These little demons may be rowdy, but astonishingly, they follow orders like pros. Honestly, I’m impressed by how Cold Wind City trained them this well.”
Zi Yi scoffed. “Spare me the flattery.”
The Tiger Demon threw up his hands, “I’m only saying what I see. Do as you wish. If there’s anything urgent, I’ll consult you.”
Unsatisfied with her lack of victory, Zi Yi turned on her heel and left, leaving the Tiger Demon shrugging in astonishment.
But just then, both Zi Yi and the Tiger Demon heard a distant flapping sound—like the skies were about to rain down chaos.
The dawn was breaking, the horizon shimmering with a pearly glow.
As the sun rose, the little demons in Cold Wind City looked up, eyes wide in shock as they witnessed the spectacle unfolding before them.
In the direction of the rising sun, countless dark specks began to take shape in the sky.
The Tiger Demon, shielding his eyes from the sun, peered out and saw many Demon Race warriors riding Griffins, rapidly approaching the Sky Tower.
“Why are the Demon Race coming so fast?” he exclaimed.
The only explanation he could think of was that while a delegation was sent to Black Stone City, the Demon Race had already begun mobilizing their army in secret.
And, indeed, that was the case.
Officially, it was Trissa’s father in charge of the Sky Tower, but secretly, Prince Eric had taken the reins.
The purpose of the delegation was mainly to mislead Black Stone City, making them unaware that the Demon Race had already planned to swallow them whole. The delegation was merely a smokescreen!
Realizing all this, the Tiger Demon couldn’t help but admire the foresight of the right protector.
Had they not taken action during the internal chaos in Black Stone City, they would likely have faced catastrophic losses before even exploring the depths of the Sky Tower. They might have gotten devoured by the Demon Race!
Lucky for them, even though the left protector had entered the Sky Tower, the giant behemoth and numerous half-demons he had left behind served as formidable assistants for the defense of Cold Wind City.
“Miss Zi Yi, please do your thing!”
Zi Yi, eyeing the swarm of enemies descending from the heavens, coolly smirked, “Don’t worry, these pesky insects can easily be taken care of by Lord Fu’s mounts.”
She promptly leaped to the highest point of the city wall and whistled sharply.
In no time, a resounding war cry pierced the morning air, sending shockwaves that reverberated through the people below.
“Whoosh… Whoosh…”
Thanks to the morning light, everyone finally discerned the monstrous creature that had hovered over their heads the previous night.
Its wings resembled those of a bat, but its body was covered in tough scales like a pangolin, and its head—oh boy, its head was like that of an alligator, terrifying enough to make grown men scream like school kids.
This colossal beast, once revealed, whipped up such fierce winds with its flapping wings that the front lines of the Demon Army were sent scattering like leaves in a storm.
But wait, there’s more!
It suddenly lifted its head, as if saving something special in its mouth, its cheeks puffed up like it just found a gigantic piece of candy.
“WHOOSH!”
A foul-smelling liquid burst forth from its mouth.
Over a hundred Demon soldiers were instantly dissolved, their bones melting away like ice cream in the sun and washing down into Black Stone City—what a sight!
Just like that, the victims multiplied, as this mysterious substance didn’t care about friend or foe. That misty liquid drifted in the winds, devouring anything it touched and transforming it into a puddle of goo.
Even some of the guards below the Sky Tower met the same grim fate.
Panic ensued! People wanted to run but had nowhere to go, and as that terrible monster prepared to unleash another horrifying spray, they all fell into a state of despair.
“Miss Zi Yi, we can’t let it keep attacking like this! It’ll be total annihilation!” the Tiger Demon shouted in alarm.
Zi Yi coldly declared, “I only wish to annihilate the enemy; the rest is not my concern.”
…
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