Marking the Way, Mine Sweeper, Tentacle Monster

Rein and several magical alchemical golems were scouting ahead like "mine-clearing soldiers."

The Underground Palace here is like an ancient tomb from a tomb raiding novel from my past life—cold and terrifying.

The depths of that dark passageway forever conceal the unknown. Occasionally, a chilling wind would seep into your clothes, like some icy, soft creature brushing against your back, sending shivers down your spine.

However, the "Abyssal Demonic Qi" here was already very dense, and breathing deeply gave Rein a feeling of relief as if all his pores were opening up.

However, in order to conceal his "Divine Healing Technique," he still pretended to take out a gas mask and put it on his face.

His Storage Ring contained only common medical instruments, nothing special. Those mages had probably already inspected it and had no interest in taking it.

Mages are among the wealthiest professionals among the Transcendent, especially high-ranking mages. None of these crimson-robed figures would even consider such a small fortune.

The Underground Palace was very quiet, so quiet that you could clearly hear your own breathing and heartbeat.

The magical light source in their hands resembled tiny starlight in the endless darkness.

After walking for a while, Rein roughly understood the layout of these buildings. During the "Monkell Civilization" era, this was probably a huge city inhabited by hundreds of thousands of people.

They built and carved out numerous structures along the rock walls of this deep pit.

Houses, palaces, altars, baths, blacksmith workshops—everything one needs for life is here.

Even though countless years have passed and all the objects have decayed, traces of the ancient civilizations and humans who once lived there can still be seen.

Rein dared not be careless in the slightest.

Because before this, the Great Shaman Mafat had already told him that there was no turning back from this temple.

Although the Kolman couldn't explain what dangers lurked in the temple, he had just overheard the Red Robe Mage behind him saying that there seemed to be some "monster" lurking in the depths of darkness.

Although Rein was curious why these guys weren't going up but going down, he didn't dare ask.

Even if you asked, those mages probably wouldn't answer with "someone who is destined to die."

The further down you go, the more the passageway branches out.

However, throughout the entire process, Rein did not sense any trace of the "monster's" existence.

He wasn't in a hurry to get away.

For the time being, it seems safer to have a group of Red Robe Mage with him than to venture out alone.

Since it was a city where humans lived on a large scale, it must have had writing.

Sure enough, as we approached a passageway, we came to a fork in the road, with "road signs" carved on the rock face.

On the left Bishina Feeding Cave, and on the right is the Corridor of Lament.

Although Rein didn't understand what this "Bishina" was, a "Danger, Do Not Enter" warning was clearly written on the left wall. The depths of that corridor seemed to contain some kind of monster fed by ancient humans.

Rein didn't dare reveal that he understood, and without waiting for the mages behind him to say anything, he buried his head and walked into the passage on the right.

Although the Red Robe Mage were unhappy with Rein's self-serving attitude, they didn't say anything.

After all, in the end we all have to choose one path, and nobody knows which one is right. It saves us trouble if someone else makes a choice.

Prayer Plaza, Mitkan Exit, Night Shadow Corridor, Madika Cave, Red Wine Cellar, Herbal Poison Den.

Almost every fork in the passageway is marked with a sign in Ancient Monkell Script.

Then, Rein to his ability to recognize "road signs," the group of people encountered no danger at all and made their way into the depths of the underground.

But in this dimly lit environment, everyone's expression was tense, and their energy was greatly depleted.

They stopped to rest after walking for a short while.

The eight Red Robe Mage began discussing the route again.

"Judging from the current situation, this is definitely the ruins of the Monkell Civilization. Since the way up is blocked, there might be other ways out below. We have plenty of food and water, so we don't need to worry about survival for a long time. Besides, the temple should be down there; we might find something else if we search a bit more."

"Lord Kidd, I've noticed that the further down we go, the safer it seems. We haven't encountered any traps or secret passages after all this time, and that tentacle monster seems completely undetectable."

"We should have escaped the monster's hunting range. It's a pity that Becker and Rohas were attacked by the monster and left us forever."

"Everyone should be careful. I have a feeling there's something strange about this pit."

"."

Rein didn't speak, but listening to the Red Robe Mage's conversation, he roughly understood their current situation.

The top has been blocked off by that "Giant Flower," so it seems the only way forward is downward.

Moreover, judging from what those people said, they seemed to still be obsessed with the "temple" and were always looking for some kind of "Divine Power Crystal".

Before long, after resting, the group began their descent again.

Finally, after walking several kilometers through the corridor, descending about a kilometer in total, the passageway forked again, and the sign read:

Left side: [The Bishina Feeding Cave]; Right side: [Eastern Great Corridor]

Rein had no idea what this "Bishina" was, as there were signs everywhere indicating where to feed it.

Was it a large number of monsters fed by the ancient humans of the "Monkell Civilization," or was it a very large monster?

If he hadn't seen the Giant Flower that had devoured them, Rein thought it must have been the former; otherwise, after walking several kilometers, how big would that creature have to be?

But clearly, he now thinks the latter is also possible.

However, he secretly prayed that after so many years, any monster should have decayed and decayed.

A thought flashed through my mind.

Without hesitation, Rein chose to take the right-hand passage.

But this time, an accident happened!

Those noble mages probably felt that following Rein, this "mine sweeper," the whole time made them feel uninvolved and didn't allow them to demonstrate their High-tier Extraordinary control over shrimp.

Then, on this multiple-choice question, these mages made the choice for Rein.

"Stop! Move to the left!"

"."

Rein's eyelids twitched violently as he listened, but for the sake of his own life, he felt he should still offer a reminder: "That sorcerer, I think..."

You have no right to think that!

Before he could finish speaking, the Red Robe Mage interrupted him, saying expressionlessly, "My divination tells me the left side is safer."

".."

Rein's face twitched, and he muttered to himself: I hope your divination is accurate.

He didn't insist. After all, if these mages found out he could speak "Monkel Ancient Language," all his secrets would be exposed. His fate wouldn't be any better than being a "mine clearer," and he might even die on the spot.

Moreover, he wasn't sure whether he had avoided the danger by leading the way, or whether the bottom of the pit was inherently safe.

Rein prayed that "Bishina" had died with the passage of time.

But clearly, it didn't.

Divination depends on the situation; anything beyond the divination abilities of a Transcendent person is never accurate.

Those ancient civilizations deliberately fed that creature, apparently because of its long lifespan and ability to protect the city for countless years!

Rein and the alchemical dolls led the way.

This was also the first time he had ever entered a corridor marked "dangerous".

There are no stone slabs here, only rough holes of various sizes, like a spider's burrow.

Fortunately, when he passed by earlier, Rein saw another line of words on the wall. "Foolish and reckless tribesmen! If you do not enter this place, please stand on the stone slab marked with 'Star Grass', so that the tentacles of 'Bishina' will not mistake you for food."

This appears to be a sign left behind to warn the tribe.

Among the Red Robe Mage was an ancient script enthusiast. He saw this large area of text and excitedly made rubbings of it.

Then, pointing to the three ancient characters "Bishina", as if he had discovered a new continent, he said to his teammates, "Lord of the city, if I remember correctly, we have seen this word seven or eight times in the passageway we came from. This may be a very important clue."

"."

Rein's face twitched as he listened.

But after his gaze fell on the contents of the wall, he kept looking for the "Star Grass" symbol on the wall.

Then, sure enough, he saw a relief mark with the character "grass" on the wall in a corner.

Coincidentally, the group hadn't said much along the way, but as soon as the ancient script enthusiast opened his mouth, a rustling sound was heard in the air, like the sound of a snake or some other creature scraping against the ground.

The sound was urgent, indicating that it came very quickly.

Moreover, because the cave is connected in all directions, it seems as if monsters are surging in from all sides, making it impossible to tell where they are coming from!

The group's perception-based mage was the first to notice something amiss, shouting, "Oh no! That monster is coming again!"

Upon hearing the word "again," Rein almost cursed the ancestors of these idiots.

Damn it, if you hadn't courted death, would you be in this situation now?

At this moment, Rein also guessed that "Bishina" might be the Tentacle Monster that this group of people had encountered before!

How strong must this monster "Bishina" be to kill two Red Robe Archmage and leave a group of people helpless?

Then, in the blink of an eye, the eight Red Robe Mages were instantly covered with magical shields of various colors, looking as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

Of course, these mages wouldn't care whether a "tool" lived or died.

Rein didn't possess any magical shield, and he had absolutely no confidence in escaping the Tentacle Monster that had killed the Red Robe Mage. He feigned panic and hid in the corner marked with the "Star Grass" relief.

Although the unprotected corner gave him no sense of security, he still believed the words on the stone wall!

Then!

With a "whoosh" sound!

Like the scarlet tongue flicked out by a frog when it catches an insect, it disappears in the blink of an eye.

"Ah! Help me!"

Rein felt a gust of foul wind blow past him, as if something had appeared but had vanished. By the time he heard the scream, the sound was already at least several hundred meters deep inside the cave.

Upon further counting, there were eight great mages, but now only seven remain!

"What is that thing?!"

Rein also looked terrified. He used the "Mind Core" to slowly replay the scene he had just seen, but because it was too fast, his eyes only caught a blurry sequence of images.

It looked like a scarlet tongue, as thick as a bucket, covered in fleshy growths!

Moreover, since it is called a "Tentacle Monster", it must have more than one red tongue!

Damn it, so this is what you meant by "divination results are safer"!

Sure enough, if you don't act recklessly, you won't get into trouble.

"Quickly, cast [Fire Wall]!"

The remaining Red Robe Archmage did not hesitate to chant spells and unleash Fire Magic. Although the heat would attract the monster, it was the most effective method.

This is a strategy they've tried before!

Just then, as the screams still echoed in the tunnel, the scarlet tentacles struck again with lightning speed.

This time, however, the Mage Corps was prepared. Just as it entangled a Red Robe Mage, fire spells ignited the passage.

The tentacle burned in pain and then shrank back in a flash.

But both the aura of a living person and the energy of Fire Magic had successfully attracted it.

Rein stood motionless in the corner, but a burnt smell filled his nostrils. "Huh, it's not the smell of meat, it smells more like burning plants?"

The burnt taste of protein fats and plant fibers is very different, and as a pharmacist, he could easily tell the difference.

However, before he could think any further, the tentacle monster appeared again!

This time it seemed to be enraged. Instead of entangled and feeding, it charged straight at the prey like a muffled hammer.

"Bang!"

The cramped passageway offered no room for maneuver, and the tentacle struck one of the mages who couldn't dodge in time, producing a muffled thud. Despite being protected by a magical shield, the immense force instantly sent him flying, crashing heavily against the stone wall and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Go! Go back!"

The seven Red Robe Mage threw out oil canisters one after another, and then released Fire Magic to seal off almost all the tunnels in front of them!

As a "mine sweeper," it was impossible for Rein to be taken away by a group of Archmage.

Then, after running a few steps, the seven men blocked the passage they had come from with kerosene!

Rein was left behind on the other side of the flames.

"These idiots!"

Lei cursed inwardly, but there was nothing he could do.

Those high-grade oils were clearly meant for high-level monsters. If you force your way through, you'll be burned to a crisp!

He had no choice but to stay there; he would be burned to death sooner or later.

Then he could only choose a passage without flames and rushed in.

Fortunately!

Seemingly designed specifically for the safety of clansmen who stray into the tunnels, the tunnels resemble train tunnels, with "safety points" set up at intervals.

Every few dozen meters, Rein would see a stone slab marked with a relief of "Star Grass".

Rein didn't know if he was too weak and not "appetizing" enough, or if the group of Archmage had attracted all the tentacles' attention, but he always felt that the tentacles seemed to ignore him.

Several times the lightning-fast tentacles almost grazed him, but somehow they managed to escape engulfing him and eating him.

Without giving him a second thought, Rein fled at breakneck speed.

Since he couldn't go back the way he came, he could only try to choose a path that made him feel safe.

If you choose the wrong path, all paths will be wrong.

There were almost no stone slabs behind there, only rough pits and holes. The rustling sound kept coming from all directions, as if the "Tentacle Monster" was everywhere.

But suddenly, as Rein was running, something unexpected happened!

"Not good!"

It felt like tentacles grabbed his shoulder, and a tremendous force struck him. Rein's expression changed drastically; instinctively, he tried to resist and break free, his feet stomping against the ground with tremendous force. But!

It was still like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; the "Monstrous Strength" on his shoulder instantly pulled him into a pit on the side!

He was terrified. His Extraordinary Awakening, which was almost entirely based on strength, had left him no chance to resist the "giant force" and he was pulled in without any resistance.

What the hell is this thing?!