Chapter 256

Bang!

Bang bang! Bang bang bang!

The iron gate shook with a deafening clang as it was rammed.

Obvious tremors accompanied savage roars; several Minotaurs outside slammed into the Sentinel Post's main gate like madmen.

Even though their black fur was stained red with blood, horrific wounds gaped outward, and flesh scorched by high heat tore open again from their violent movements.

Yet none of it could change their berserk impulse.

The scent of blood, shattered bone and flesh…

All could trigger a Minotaur's slaughter frenzy, overriding all rationality and thought.

Be it an enemy's, or their own.

In blood-fueled rage they charged and slew every obstacle, ramming like battering rams, relentless unto death.

Right now was the same — no strategy or tactic to speak of, just berserk ramming, desperately trying to smash through the main gate.

Only, since this Sentinel Post has been able to stand here alone for so long, it naturally possesses ample and powerful defenses.

Inside the spacious hall behind the gate, despite the ruin and layers of grime.

However, Spirit Light still flashed bright—

A Goddess statue over three meters tall stood there, noble and majestic, raising a staff topped with a naturally pure Energy Crystal.

One pure energy beam after another released, precisely locking onto the enemies outside, bombarding the Minotaurs.

Lethality was considerable, easily scorching flesh and piercing bodies.

Only the attack speed wasn't fast, the attack frequency not very high; otherwise the Minotaurs wouldn't have been able to reach the main gate at all.

But that was only this much.

On that short stretch of road outside, several burly Minotaur corpses already lay, the air permeated with the aroma of scorched meat.

The remaining few Minotaurs couldn't hold on much longer either; after another volley they all collapsed, utterly silent.

"……"

"……"

The Drow behind the main gate wore an expression of "indeed, as expected," while the few Goblins beside her couldn't help swallowing, faces pale with lingering fear.

After all, they had nearly just charged in recklessly, without considering any of this.

If the Drow hadn't stopped them and used arrows to lure distant Minotaurs over to test the firepower…

The ones lying on the ground now emitting that meat fragrance would probably be this Goblin group.

"This Moonstone's quality is not bad……"

Mingsala hesitated slightly, but soon decided: "Keep it for now, see if we can find a highly skilled Rogue to handle it."

As long as this defense mechanism still exists, she likewise has no way to reach the gate.

Although they have now appeared directly at the Rear, with a chance to directly destroy that Moonstone and easily solve this auto-turret, doing so… would be too wasteful.

In Mingsala's view, this Sentinel Post's defense is quite formidable; forcibly destroying this defense is not a good option.

She knows better than anyone how dangerous the Underdark is; with this auto-attacking turret here, it will certainly save a lot of trouble.

So it's best to retain it—

As a cultist's cultivation, it made Mingsala keenly aware of the value in retaining a controllable Channel connecting the underground and the Surface World.

"Spread out and search again, see if there's anything missed, then we withdraw."

The Drow decisively ordered: "After returning, I will report."

………………

Actually, reporting is unnecessary.

After all, Mingsala never imagined that the great existence in her heart, just a short while ago…

Strolled right past her side, left the Selune Follower Sentinel Post, and walked straight into the Darkness.

She simply didn't perceive it at all.

The vast underground world called the Underdark appears gloomy and profound, truly living up to its name.

Only, compared to the Surface World, its Ecosphere is not barren, but has simply walked a completely different evolutionary path.

This is the home of all manner of deadly bizarre Creatures; Gray Dwarves and Drow live on this sunless land, and living here too are the Snebli, also known as Underground Dwarves.

Just taking the Sword Coast, the various territories of the Underdark beneath the North include the Snebli's Snebli Stone City, the Gray Dwarves' Gray Dwarf Glaxistug City, and the infamous Drow City Menzoberranzan.

However, that is all "Intelligence"-level information; Xia Zhi hasn't personally gone to verify it yet.

And those famous underground cities or racial territories don't seem to be nearby either.

At least the diffused Hovering Return Lines haven't detected any suspected traces, indicating they haven't even touched the edges of those territories.

Of course, this is truly normal; after all, the Underdark is actually a Continent underground… though at first impression it looks very much like a giant Cave cluster.

But actually, this Cave cluster has almost no End, connecting in all directions to any Direction.

"That lake cavern area detected a bizarre spore Ecosphere, captured a certain Plant-type life Reaction, though the Territory occupied isn't very large……"

"At the Boundary, a fierce Conflict occurred; I think those corpses can be Recycled, helping us establish a preliminary Foundation understanding of the Underdark's ecological system……"

"Front is that Underground River; there's a village nearby, those Gray Dwarves are entrenched there, we can go directly requisition boats, if they oppose, it's a good chance to acquire more Living Specimens……"

Huifeng chattered on endlessly, like a conscientious little tour guide explaining wholeheartedly.

Only this guide explains not just scenic spot features, or rather, not only scenic spot features.

Equally there are some rather Horror-inducing dangerous remarks, spoken so openly and unabashedly.

"Corpses can be Recycled, the rest forget it."

Xia Zhi expressed no opinion, simply calmly choosing an Option from among them.

Since the corpses are just discarded there with no one to Handle them, acting on a waste-utilization Mindset is fine; anyway, this treacherous underground Ecosphere never lacks Cleaners to process corpses.

So presumably it won't attract attention either.

As for other superfluous actions, they're not too necessary.

"Ah, won't you feel it's a pity? Anyway this place is so remote, taking action shouldn't be discoverable by anyone either……"

Huifeng couldn't help muttering.

"I detected traces of large carnivorous beasts still roaming this area, seems to be some kind of ground-dwelling creature, estimated the people here themselves would go missing from time to time……"

What is life and death are fated?

This is life and death are fated, in the Underdark it counts as the norm.

Because of lacking sufficient data and sample size, so temporarily still no way to measure this Underground World residents' average lifespan……

However Huifeng Miss believes, the vast majority of individuals won't live to normal lifespan.

Passing through the crisis-ridden Gray Dwarf village, ignoring the wreckage and blood covering the ground, Xia Zhi arrived beside the dock.

The pitch-black river surface endlessly vast, as if spreading into pitch-blackness where light cannot reach, until thoroughly swallowed.

He casually glanced at that strangely shaped raft, didn't board, but instead just like that stepped onto the river surface——

Each step falling, ripples on the river surface gently spread, black ripples circle by circle spreading outward.

Just like that stepping on the water surface, the Wizard casually crossed the river.

Beneath the pitch-black ripples, a bottomless black abyss, behind the calm faintly dark currents surging.

Occasionally, even larger darkness would sweep past from below.

Not too much time passed, ahead appeared firelight, faintly figures walking back and forth, seems to be a heavily guarded Dungeon.

Gray Dwarves holding torches, patrolling Surveillance Eyes, oppressive and tense atmosphere, in the air still faintly permeating smell of blood and gunpowder……

Sounds of excavating stone, movements of bellows and furnaces, and sounds of smelting metal……

Everything without exception indicates, dark forces in this area of this Underground World, organized control of a production base to a considerable degree.

"Right here, Mithral's signal! Just on the other side of the Ruins."

The AI Miss at his side became excited, reached out gently pointing forward——

"However the fellows here seem to have also discovered that mineral's slag, realized its value, recently desperately trying to dig through the collapsed section, explore the other side……"

"Expected matter, their experience definitely more abundant, moreover involving a Mithral Ore Vein, no one can easily abandon."

The Wizard not surprised.

Just like in many classic fantasy worldviews, this World also has "Mithril" and "Mithral" such advanced Materials.

Mithril's characteristic is especially light, Mithral's characteristic is especially hard.

But both's common point is especially expensive.

Supposedly Mithril's highest price time, one pound of Mithril even speculated up to two hundred thousand Gold Coins above……

As for Mithral, just slightly plating weapons armor with a thin layer, needs several hundred to thousands of Gold Coins.

From this can see, these two indeed are high-grade goods.

"Then what wait for, hurry hurry, I already can't wait to analyze this substance's composition, then start copying……"

AI Miss smilingly urged the master, showing extremely excellent Work Attitude and good self-management ability.

Don't even need boss to whip, can be this motivated sample.

"Ancient saying goes, thirty established, forty not confused, fifty know Providence——"

Wizard also face full of agreement:

"Wait until our Subordinate Force's Mithral Equipment coverage rate, reaches at least thirty percent, that time can put up the signboard."

That's right, this is the biggest Advantage.

Master and servant two "people" chatting laughing, easily crossed the collapsed section, entered that group of Gray Dwarves not yet had time to explore other side's area.

And just at this moment——

"Huh?"

Xia Zhi instinctively looked toward some distant huge valley.

On the dark cliff, seems to be a blue flower, in the pitch-black quietly blooming light.

"……That flower……"

(Chapter End)