Chapter 52: The Approaching Creatures Within the Passage

The four entered the tower and quietly observed the outside through the cracks, but strangely the ferocious wolves seemed to have vanished; apart from the pitch‑black sky and the pouring rain, there was nothing.

The top of the first floor of the High Tower had apparently developed a huge hole from years of neglect, leaving the tower's summit exposed; rain back‑flowed through the opening, dripping down and making a "tap‑tap" sound.

"They seem to have left?" Ao Li Fu whispered.

Ma Luo looked outward with eyes empowered by Dark Vision, and the ferocious wolves had indeed retreated.

"They really left, how odd—did they retreat because it was too hard?" Ma Luo muttered.

Ke Li Te fell silent for a moment, then said softly, "We are prey, they are hunters; under what circumstances would hunters withdraw without reason?"

Bu Lie Ta Ni said in a low voice, "After encountering a more powerful predator."

An eerie silence spread among the four, and they suddenly felt a chill behind them, as if something in the darkness were watching them.

Suddenly, a faint sound emanated from the exact center of the distant hall, so weak it resembled the footfalls of a creature, coming repeatedly from below.

"Lumio!"

Ma Luo wielded a spell to create a glowing sphere in his hand, its soft light spilling outward and illuminating the dark hall.

The illumination spell produced only a weak light, just enough to make the distant outlines vaguely visible.

But it was sufficient.

They saw that amid the toppled bookshelves lay a massive void, with spiraling layers of blue‑stone stairs descending into unknown depths.

And the sound was coming from there.

"Is this the entrance to the Underdark?" Ma Luo said excitedly.

That was precisely why they had come; in recent years, as many adventurers arrived, the dilapidated High Tower became widely known, and some who entered the tunnel leading underground never returned.

Others, upon seeing the passage, chose to leave and spread the word.

Unfortunately, passages to the Underdark are not uncommon on the Feren Continent, and if someone who went down returned with treasure information, it might attract more adventuring parties.

But that passage devoured everyone who entered like a black hole.

Ke Li Te clenched her teeth, excited; according to the costly intelligence she purchased, beneath this abandoned Mage High Tower lay an untapped Cold Iron vein!

With that Cold Iron deposit she would have the capital to rise, and she would make that ruthless man know she is not a worthless leech! She cast a complicated glance at the three companions, having not yet told them the news because she didn't know how to handle the comrades who lived and died alongside her.

"Perhaps I should tell them my true identity," the girl's heart wavered.

While she hesitated, the footsteps grew clearer and nearer, as if something was climbing up from the deep darkness.

Bu Lie Ta Ni, seeing the girl stunned, said, "Focus! Something's coming—draw your weapons and prepare to meet the enemy!"

Ke Li Te snapped back to herself, hearing the footsteps as if right beside her, and with a "swish" drew a sharp longsword.

Ao Li Fu brandished his claws, Ma Luo prepared the Magic Missile spell, and Bu Lie Ta Ni's hand ignited with scorching flame.

The four held their breath as the darkness shackled their throats; apart from the storm's roar and the rustle of trees, only their pounding hearts resonated in the gloom.

"Tap‑tap, tap‑tap, tap‑tap."

The footsteps drew nearer, and their grip on their weapons tightened.

A white humanoid figure rose up from the ground.

"Damn, damn, damn. I can't take it—this damned body is unbearable, I feel I can't breathe," the boy, sounding coarse and angry, complained as a fourteen‑year‑old emerged from the passage.

His hair was silver, like the finest mithril; his eyes were yellow, and when he stared, a captivating force seemed to try to draw the observer's soul.

A straight nose bridge, sculpted flawlessly, bore a gold‑rimmed spectacles; his pale skin exuded a scholarly aura, and he clutched a thick tome, looking like a seasoned young scholar.

But now his perfect features were twisted into a mess, as if suffocating, while he tugged at his ornate Mage robe.

A tiny Hu Meng perched on his shoulder praised in an admiring tone, "How could it be, master? You don't realize how perfect you look now—uh, maybe? I haven't seen many humans either."

The boy retorted irritably, "I never said I'm not good‑looking; of course I know I'm handsome. In any form, I'm the most attractive."

"But this feeling torments me constantly!"

The four at the doorway were stunned; after preparing for terrifying subterranean beasts, a stunningly handsome boy appeared? Seeing the boy's youthful age, Ma Luo said blankly, "Kid, why are you here? This place is dangerous."

Ao Li Fu rolled his eyes, cursing his stupidity inwardly; anyone could see that a boy appearing here was the strangest thing.

The boy stared blankly; absorbed in himself, he didn't notice others until he looked up and saw four adventurers.

The handsome boy flashed white teeth and smiled, "Hello, I'm Naimi Xisi, I came here following my sister."

Bu Lie Ta Ni watched his strained smile, as if enduring something, feeling uneasy; his appearance even caused her to drop her usual guard.

"What's wrong, are you injured?" Bu Lie Ta Ni asked, concerned.

Naimi Xisi silently rolled his eyes; he wasn't hurt, but he was now irritable to the point of exploding.

He missed his sharp teeth, his agile dragon claws, his hard scales, his massive wings and body.

This body, covered by fragile flesh and skin, left him extremely insecure; he could no longer get used to a human form.

Even if it's only temporary.

Yes, Naimi Xisi used the dragon‑race's unique supernatural ability, True Dragon Transformation Technique, to become human; in fact, this power lets a True Dragon assume any medium‑sized or smaller creature.

However, a True Dragon is also bound by its frail body; if it exerts force beyond its physical limits, it reverts to its original form.

Fortunately, Naimi Xisi is an outlier among True Dragons; surviving on spells and Mana, the human body does not greatly affect his Combat Power.

It just makes him very annoyed.

"It's only a necessary disguise, it's only a necessary disguise," Naimi Xisi hypnotized himself.

He inhaled deeply, shifted his focus to the adventurers before him, and a smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

The ready‑made guide had arrived.

He's not sure how everyone will receive this, a transformation akin to illusion, mainly to cope with disguises in human society.

The protagonist despises human form, so won't stay like this long.

In fact, in D&D dragons often enjoy taking human form to live among humans and avoid causing trouble.

It's similar to being human in front of others, then secretly reverting to dragon form at home to stretch out.

Any thoughts can be posted here; I'd like to hear everyone's opinions.

(End of chapter)