Chapter 204: Ways to Increase Dungeon Clear Count!

Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar opponent before him, Qin Chuan's eyes held a solemn gravity.

Before this, the strongest opponent he had encountered had already reached Epic Rank Lv50.

There were two such opponents in total: one was the A-rank 1-star secret realm target defeated last night, the Wailing Bone Dragon·Kasadan; the other was the A-rank 2-star dungeon boss slain just minutes ago, the Lakebottom Death Demon·Kasakaban.

And now, the opponent he must face is even stronger than that.

Having obtained the "Core," the Lakebottom Death Demon·Kasakaban, making a comeback, became the 【Complete Lakebottom Death Demon】, and its strength increased further.

How to deal with an opponent surpassing Epic Rank?

The answer is obvious.

【00:00:44】

Time Stop!

【00; 00:42】

On that exquisite yet ferocious face, countless cracks burst open, revealing crystals of deep gray-black hue, surging with an ominous aura.

"Crack—"

He keenly sensed that this so-called Obscure History Fragment could unravel the greatest mystery surrounding the Lakebottom Death Demon·Kasakaban.

Qin Chuan spoke calmly, and in the next instant Kasakaban's skull shattered instantly.

However…

This should be the final main plot clue, right?

Qin Chuan's figure appeared before the Complete Lakebottom Death Demon as if teleporting; within the brief two-second Time Stop, he repeatedly used Shadow Corrosion Body on the immobilized powerful opponent and, in the final instant, unleashed the first strike of triple annihilation.

In the instant before, Kasakaban's body, which had been whole, cracked apart piece by piece within the black radiance bursting from within and without; the sole intact skull once again showed a look of confusion and bewilderment.

Masi Suo Territory…

If Qin Chuan remembers correctly, this should be the region where the Screaming Demon Lake is located, just like the Milian Territory before.

Among the countless scattered crystal shards, a faint light stood out distinctly.

"End."

Clearly a weakling weaker than himself, how could he…

The faint light faded, and something appeared in his hand, while a line of text floated before his eyes.

Before Kasakaban could comprehend, the Undead Wolf Fang had already been driven into his brow.

Carrying the memory from when he was last slain, he still could not comprehend the abilities Qin Chuan displayed.

【Main Plot Clue Discovered】

Qin Chuan thought to himself, and casually touched it.

【Congratulations, player obtained Main Plot Clue: Masi Suo Territory Obscure History Fragment (Copy)】

Looking at the Obscure History fragment in his hand, reduced to a few trimmed scraps of paper, Qin Chuan couldn't help but feel a mix of laughter and tears.

"Is this perhaps too fragmentary?"

The unfamiliar text began to warp; before he could complain, Qin Chuan examined it seriously.

【In Masi Suo Territory, aside from the lord, other beings do not welcome the Crystal Clan as newcomers; their arrival would disrupt the existing order, yet they themselves are sweet fruit, a tempting treasure】

【Thus, as the Crystal Clan entered Masi Suo Territory with the lord's consent to breed and multiply, the undercurrents surging within Masi Suo Territory intensified accordingly】

——

【The chieftain of the Nether Ghost Clan, the Sleepless One·Sphengade, has not appeared in public for a long time, not even provoked by the Half Demon Clan's taunts, which is highly unusual】

【The relationship between the Nether Ghost Clan and the Crystal Clan seems to have become closer than before, even though they were the loudest opponents when the Crystal Clan entered Masi Suo Territory】

——

【A lake within the Crystal Clan's territory seems to have undergone some anomaly, continuously emitting a nauseating screech; since the Crystal Clan's chieftain happened to be away, and as clansmen went missing one after another during exploration, the Crystal Clan applied to the new lord for support】

【Unfortunately, the new lord hails from the Half Demon Clan, and given that the Crystal Clan had long been mortal enemies with the Half Demon Clan, the new lord naturally disliked them, so support was not granted】

——

【Screaming Demon Lake, that is the final name of that anomalous lake; it has become a forbidden zone, and the Crystal Clan launched an attack on it before being forced to evacuate their territory, with only a handful of clansmen surviving】

【One of the Crystal Clan survivors named Kasakaban tried to request new support from the lord, but his words were utterly incoherent, often mismatched front to back; truly, it's baffling how such a foolish fellow managed to survive】

【After that Crystal Clan member departed in disappointment, the lord disdainfully claimed they had been tainted with 'filthy stuff'; given the lord's attitude toward the Crystal Clan, this was likely an excuse to refuse support】

——

【The Crystal Clan originally intended to relocate to another part of Masi Suo Territory, but for unknown reasons chose to leave Masi Suo Territory altogether, which the lord greatly approved of】

【The only thing that displeased the lord was that, after refusing that mad Crystal Clan survivor, Screaming Demon Lake seemed to become even more terrifying, and these Crystal Clan members, before leaving Masi Suo Territory, left behind something unpleasant for the territory】

【The lord said: 'Yes, the Crystal Clan is just that kind of terrible group.'】

Looking at the fragmented yet effective information before him, Qin Chuan's expression gradually grew solemn.

Because this information and Kasakaban's diary share many similarities, yet also contain contradictions.

First, it can be confirmed that the Lakebottom Death Demon is not Kasakaban.

Or rather, the Lakebottom Death Demon that was born when Screaming Demon Lake first came into being was not him.

In Kasakaban's diary, the Lakebottom Death Demon is also a Crystal Clan member; thus, the Crystal Clan chieftain who happened to be away when Screaming Demon Lake was born is highly suspect.

The Nether Ghost Clan, according to prior information, are mortal enemies of the Half Demon Clan, their power system tied to ghosts and undead, which closely relates to the wandering souls and soul lords present in Screaming Demon Lake, so the lake's birth must have involved the Nether Ghost Clan as well.

For example, the long-absent chieftain of the Nether Ghost Clan, the Sleepless One·Sphengade.

According to the Obscure History record, the Kasakaban who sought aid from the lord was an incoherent 'foolish fellow,' yet in his diary the logic is clear and orderly.

If neither side's records are falsified, the problem likely lies in the 'filthy stuff' the lord mentioned.

A flash of lightning streaked through Qin Chuan's mind, causing him to suddenly feel a pang of palpitation.

The previous Lakebottom Death Demon had hidden the 'Core' inside Kasakaban's body?!

The most dangerous place is also the safest place…?

Judging from the condition of the Soul-detached Corpse Tree Deer, the Crystal Clan that had been implanted with the ominous crystal core would be noticeably affected.

The Tree Deer that had not yet been implanted with the 'core' noticed Kasakaban's abnormality, and thus became restless and hostile toward Kasakaban.

Kasakaban, whose mind was gradually being lost due to the influence of the 'core' and who could not find reinforcements, implanted the 'core' into his own symbiotic Tree Deer.

The Kasakaban who had been besieging the undead became a new undead.

Qin Chuan's expression became slightly solemn.

So… where is the previous Lake Bottom Death Demon then?

【Congratulations to the player for meeting the advanced strategy requirement: slaying the complete Lake Bottom Death Demon, revealing a corner of the truth, and raising the dungeon strategy rating to SSS】

【Current dungeon strategy rating: SSS】

【Current strategy rewards: 【Purple】Kasakaban's 'core', 【Purple】Screaming Ring, 【Purple】Title·Undead Finisher】

【Extra strategy reward: today's attempt count +1】(Obtained by achieving SSS rating in A-rank or higher dungeons)

【Claim strategy reward】

(End of chapter)