Chapter 635

Just as Luo En was about to exert more force, Yokota Ryūichi suddenly shouted loudly.

"Stop."

Luo En immediately halted, staring at Yokota Ryūichi in surprise.

Yokota Ryūichi spoke with great fear.

"There's something beneath us."

Luo En said.

"So I need to pull you out as soon as possible—I can feel something down there too; it seems ready to burst out of the ground."

But Yokota Ryūichi kept shaking his head.

"Don't pull me—go deal with that thing!"

Suddenly, the cracks in the soil widened further, and Luo En could see a dark, shapeless mass about to emerge.

Yokota Ryūichi now had his eyes wide open, his face filled with terror.

At this point, he no longer hoped Luo En could pull him up—he was content just to survive.

Yet that black mass seemed to be crawling toward Yokota Ryūichi.

Yokota Ryūichi shouted loudly.

"Pull me now!"

At that moment, the cracks in the soil became even more pronounced.

Yet Yokota Ryūichi still hadn't been pulled out; he felt bewildered.

"Could something be locking me in?"

Yokota Ryūichi asked, puzzled.

Because he could feel that after all his efforts,

he remained deeply stuck in the soil, with not even the slightest movement.

Luo En was also deeply confused; logically, Yokota Ryūichi should have been pulled out long ago.

Even the things beneath the earth had broken through, yet Yokota Ryūichi seemed rooted to the ground.

Just as both were at a loss, the black insect suddenly burst out of the soil.

The insect stood two meters tall, its entire body radiating a metallic sheen.

It leapt swiftly before Luo En, fixing its gaze on him.

Luo En could sense the cursed aura emanating from it.

He hadn't expected this insect to be connected to curses at all.

Could everything here have been created by that curse?

Luo En stepped back, but the insect followed him like a shadow, staying right before him.

Yokota Ryūichi saw this too—he knew he had to get out now.

But despite using all his strength, even as agony surged through his entire body, he couldn't free himself from the soil.

He clenched his fists tightly.

"Why is this damn thing so stubborn? What the hell is this soil made of?"

Luo En stared intently at the insect, then suddenly struck—a punch landed squarely on the insect, sending it flying.

Then Luo En swiftly moved to stand before Yokota Ryūichi.

227, Trap

Yokota Ryūichi shouted loudly.

"Good job—I didn't expect you'd take care of that insect!"

Luo En gave a helpless, bitter laugh.

"I can't guarantee I've finished it—let's go."

But despite his effort, Yokota Ryūichi remained utterly motionless.

Yokota Ryūichi said helplessly.

"This isn't going to work."

Suddenly, two flashes of cold light appeared, and a figure materialized before them.

Luo En was astonished to realize it was Nai Zi.

Nai Zi, dual blades in hand, approached Yokota Ryūichi.

Luo En said.

"He's stuck in the soil— we need to find a way to pull him out."

Nai Zi said, surprised.

"The soil here is so loose—how can't you crawl out yourself?"

Yokota Ryūichi shook his head helplessly.

"If I could, I'd have crawled out already—but this clay feels strange.

It's as if it's swallowed my body—I've used all my strength and still can't free myself."

Luo En asked, puzzled.

"How did you end up here? Were you also teleported by that giant hand?"

Nai Zi looked at Luo En in surprise.

"Giant hand? You mean the black hand? But I wasn't transported by that black hand.

There's no time to explain now—after we deal with this, I'll tell you everything."

With that, Nai Zi plunged her dual blades into the soil beneath Yokota Ryūichi's feet and pulled hard, slicing out a large patch of earth.

Yokota Ryūichi said with some surprise.

"What are you doing?"

Nai Zi said.

"Of course I'm rescuing you."

She strained again, slashing the twin blades hard.

As the twin blades moved, Yokota Ryūichi felt himself finally begin to loosen.

He was about to rise when suddenly a tremendous suction pulled him deeper still.

Yokota Ryūichi's face changed drastically; he said helplessly.

"It seems this place really likes me—won't let me go."

Nai Zi said.

"Can you feel what's beneath your feet?"

Yokota Ryūichi shook his head.

"I feel nothing—like there's nothing but vacuum beneath me."

At that moment, several figures emerged from the darkness.

They slowly surrounded Luo En and the others; one of the figures stepped forward and laughed heartily.

"I never expected you'd be trapped here."

Luo En could sense the curse aura emanating from the figure.

"This is clearly your doing—release the people at once, or don't blame me for being harsh."

The Curse laughed again.

"With just you? Do you all want to end up like him—inside the Dark Lock?"

Luo En frowned tightly, then suddenly surged forward, pushing his speed to its limit.

At this speed, he was nearly upon the Curse.

But moments later, Luo En felt his footing vanish—suddenly, a powerful suction gripped him tightly.

Before he could recover, he plunged downward, then another force yanked him back up.

He felt himself sink abruptly into the soil.

Indeed, he was now trapped in the soil just like Yokota Ryūichi.

He strained with all his strength, yet could not free himself.

"See? This is your fate—this is what happens when you oppose us."

After saying that, he turned to Nai Zi.

Nai Zi had just been about to act.