Chapter 18: The Whole Act!

“Strange, how did this place change like this?”

“I remember last time I came here with the High Priest, it wasn’t this dark.”

Herbert held the ancient lantern, frowning slightly as he stared at the darkness ahead, visibility less than a meter.

Now, after attempting to conquer Freime, he had passed through the Deep Water Prison of the second zone and entered the third zone of the Alien Prison.

The Prison of No Light.

In this utterly pitch-black space, two dangerous demons were imprisoned—one Dark Elf Archmage, and one Vampire Prince.

By the way, Herbert hadn’t seen either of these demon ladies last time.

For some reason, the High Priest had simply walked through here without greeting the prisoners, heading straight into the fourth zone: the Lava Hell.

He hadn’t dared to ask.

This was Herbert’s first serious exploration of the place—and he realized the situation might not be as simple as he’d thought.

He raised the lantern above his head; its feeble light barely dispelled the darkness within a one-meter radius. Beyond that, thick darkness swallowed everything.

Could not see. Could not hear. Could not smell—nothing could be perceived.

“Who turned off the lights? Go call a Holy Knight to turn them on… oh, right, I’m the Holy Knight.”

Where the hell is my Holy Light?

Herbert tried every method he could think of, and finally discovered only the glow from his Sacred Scar could dispel the darkness—and even then, only by a little.

It extended his visibility to a staggering—two meters.

It was completely useless!

If this place were just dark, it wouldn’t have left Herbert feeling so lost.

But the problem now was—he was lost.

Herbert hadn’t found so much as a shadow of either demon lady, let alone the path to the fourth zone!

He had walked silently for over ten minutes with the lantern, yet still hadn’t reached the end.

That alone wasn’t so bad—he could just keep going; eventually he’d reach the end.

But the problem was—he might never reach the end.

Because whenever he turned around, he could see the path he’d come from.

He… had been walking in place the whole time!

Tch, after encountering the Spirit Pen, now I’m stuck in a ghost circle?

After being sent back to the same spot for the third time, Herbert finally gave up blindly trudging and began seriously analyzing his situation.

“The laws here… seem to have changed?”

The Prison of No Light—vision is blocked.

Only retreat is allowed. No forward progress.

Each prison in the Mist Monastery is a specially carved semi-plane. Though it appears to meet the prisoner’s needs, each has unique restrictive laws behind it.

For example, the Deep Water Prison severely restricted Freime—under normal conditions, all water elements were drained from the cell, leaving the legendary sea beast barely able to maintain a water sphere just large enough to hold herself.

But now it seemed the restrictions here had shifted—to target him.

Is that right?

That’s backwards.

Herbert narrowed his eyes, thoughts flashing through his mind.

If he wasn’t mistaken, something had changed here.

But the situation wasn’t yet at its worst.

Because if the opponent could truly manipulate the laws, he would already be dead.

The opponent hadn’t appeared, hadn’t communicated with him at all—as if nothing had happened.

“Is this a tactic to avoid alarming me, hoping I’ll give up on my own?”

As long as they don’t show themselves, I’ll assume it’s my own fault?

That… makes sense.

If Herbert were truly just a noble youth who’d just become a Holy Knight, he would’ve hesitated here, convinced he lacked the strength and retreated.

Herbert paused, nodded, and without hesitation turned to leave.

When in doubt, retreat first!

No need to rush—focus on the Dragon and the Mermaid Young Lady for now.

Explore this zone later!

But as Herbert was about to pass through the barrier and return to the Deep Water Prison, his steps slowed, then stopped completely.

“Tch.”

He was annoyed.

True, he was currently weak, helpless, but he could eat—yes, he truly couldn’t defeat the opponent.

But still!

“I’m the warden. You’re the prisoner.”

Herbert turned back, staring into the impenetrable darkness, scowling.

“Who gave you the right to ride on my head?”

No.

Even if his protest might be useless, if he just walked away quietly, he’d feel his mind was blocked.

Even street thugs know to throw out a threat before leaving.

I’m the warden—I must do something before I go.

But what?

“Can’t bite a lighter—there isn’t even one… hmm?”

Herbert turned back, studying the darkness ahead, suddenly sensing something.

He placed the lantern on the ground, walked slowly to the edge where light met darkness, and squinted at the unnaturally smooth boundary.

After thinking for a moment, he cautiously extended one finger and lightly touched the edge of the light.

Nothing happened.

His finger felt nothing; when he pulled it back, it hadn’t turned to bone.

“…”

After a moment of silence, he turned and extinguished the lantern, then hesitated before shutting off his Sacred Scar as well.

In an instant, he felt himself passively merging into the darkness.

Swallowed by nothingness.

Devoured by solitude.

Yet strangely, beyond these sensations, Herbert felt no discomfort.

This place was no different from the outside world.

In the darkness, Herbert’s eyes glowed brightly, faintly overlaid with a thin golden sheen.

Though he still saw nothing, he faintly “perceived” the path ahead.

Moreover, he felt a distinct sense of being watched.

In the darkness, someone had been observing every move he made.

Hum—

His Sacred Scar flared instantly; the feeling of being watched vanished, as if it had all been an illusion.

But Herbert wouldn’t be so naive.

So when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back, right?

“I understand.”

He smiled broadly, facing the darkness, waving his hand and calling out loudly:

“I’ll be back.”

Without waiting for any reply, he picked up the lantern and strode away.

After he left, the darkness returned to stillness.

Long moments passed before a faint, quiet laugh emerged from the dark.

“He left so decisively.”

“Heh… interesting fellow.”

Understand what?

Honestly, Herbert understood nothing.

He couldn’t comprehend the details of the changes in the third zone—but that didn’t matter.

He didn’t need to know why—only that something was wrong was enough.

So what he needed to do next was clear…

“Report it. Must report it!”

(End of Chapter)