Chapter 128

[System notification: Dangerous target approaching! Please move away as soon as possible!]

The constant reminders even caused the pop-up window to change color from black to red. Cheng Xiaoyu knew the danger he was in, but where could he go to escape it? As long as they were in this underground city, the two of them would inevitably run into each other sooner or later, and considering that the other party was likely the leader, he couldn't leave this place unless he defeated it.

Instead of running away... we should first test the gap between the two sides, and then look for an opportunity to upgrade him and make up for the gap!

"Yegrit."

A large shadow spread out from Cheng Xiaoyu's feet, and dozens of armored warriors and Ice Bear emerged from the shadows. Without a doubt, they were all undead.

Among these figures, the most eye-catching is undoubtedly the one wearing a cloak with a long red plume fluttering on his helmet.

[System notification: Dangerous target approaching! Please move away as soon as possible!]

[System Prompt: Reduce hostility towards dangerous targets and leave the dungeon alive]

Despite the Shadow Legion having just achieved great feats and been strengthened, Cheng Xiaoyu felt no sense of security due to the constant system notifications.

Just as he was on high alert, Yegrit's action of drawing his sword caught his attention.

Following Yegrit's direction, Cheng Xiaoyu saw a figure walking slowly towards them.

Was it a monster? Or... a human?

Chapter Fifteen: Negotiation.

Judging from her appearance, the girl was undoubtedly human, but her ears made Cheng Xiaoyu consider that she might be a variant of the White Specters, since the leaders of a race would inevitably have some differences.

Cheng Xiaoyu's expression grew increasingly solemn, because the system wasn't even giving him a hint that he had escaped. Did this mean that, according to the system's calculations, he didn't even have a chance to escape?

Perhaps... we should have retreated first?

"Your Excellency... are you the one who disturbed the peace of the deceased?"

Upon seeing the vast Shadow Legion, Castorice confirmed that these Antimatter Legion were not summoned creatures with physical forms, but rather souls whose souls and thoughts had been imprisoned by a special force, and whose wills had been altered in life.

This discovery made Castorice frown.

"Can we talk...?"

Cheng Xiaoyu was stunned for a moment, but quickly realized what the other person had just said and began to think about it.

Disturbing the peace of the dead? Is that referring to my Shadow Lord's class skill? But from what standpoint did they say that? And why, and how, did they find this place?

Yes, he has confirmed that Castorice is neither from this dungeon nor the BOSS.

So now he has two pieces of good news. One is that he doesn't necessarily have to fight this high-risk target that the system is so anxious about in order to leave this portal. The other is that his judgment just now was not wrong. Running away is meaningless, because even if he doesn't fight her, he will inevitably attract her when he fights the lord later.

At that time, you might be facing two enemies at the same time.

Although there were two pieces of good news... it seems that there is more bad news and it's going to be more devastating.

"You mean my soldiers?"

Unable to ascertain the other party's identity and attitude, Cheng Xiaoyu simply chose to play dumb and let the other party say a few more words, "I am a necromancer, this is my ability."

"Should we play dumb?"

Castorice's expression remained unchanged. Seeing that his reply lacked any sincerity, a huge scythe appeared in her empty hand.

"Brother Xiao Yu...?"

Liu Chenhao didn't know what was going on, nor why other hunters had entered through the Red Portal, but he knew that this was the most tense state Cheng Xiaoyu had ever shown in front of him.

But... the other party doesn't look like those hunters who killed passersby before.

"Wait... wait a minute! That hunter over there!"

Liu Chenhao quickly ran a few steps and stood next to Cheng Xiaoyu: "Hello! We're all here to make money, there's no need for fighting, right? How about this, all the proceeds from this dungeon are yours! Why don't we team up and conquer this dungeon together?"

"I did not come for the reward, sir."

When facing Liu Chenhao, Castorice's face softened considerably. "Please leave the person next to you. He is someone who manipulates the souls of the dead. If you don't want to be hurt one day, it's best to keep your distance from him."

Although she said that, Castorice actually vaguely realized something, and what she was saying now was more of a test.

"Brother Xiao Yu isn't that kind of person! He...he..."

"What do you mean by 'manipulating the dead'?"

Cheng Xiaoyu pulled Liu Chenhao behind him, frowning as he looked at the purple figure ahead. "Necromancers aren't uncommon, are they? Are you going to go looking for them one by one?"

Are you still going to play dumb?

Faced with his questioning, Castorice's eyes grew even colder. "The necromancer's ability is merely to borrow souls from the Underworld, while you forcibly dragged the inhabitants of the Underworld into the world of the living, yet allowed them to retain the form of a soul."

"After death, one can never find liberation and peace. One's thoughts at the time of death and before death are even altered, turning one into a puppet at your sole control... Your actions are undoubtedly a desecration of the dead and a trampling of the sanctity of death."

Upon hearing these words, a look of astonishment flashed in Cheng Xiaoyu's eyes. Although he was using this ability, he really didn't know these things. Not to mention him, most people probably wouldn't know these things either. After all... they're not dead, how could they know about the Underworld?

"You've got it wrong, haven't you? Yegrit is..."

"Are all your soldiers truly loyal to you, both in life and after death?"

Castorice interrupted him.

"..."

Cheng Xiaoyu really couldn't answer that question. In fact, he hadn't cared whether these soldiers were willing to follow him or not; only Yegrit was certain that he was willing to be his servant.

"So... what do you plan to do?"

Cheng Xiaoyu knew he was no match for the other party, so he could only try to reason with them. "Would you be satisfied if I liberated the souls of these soldiers?"

"..."

Castorice did not answer immediately.

Based on the current dialogue and situation, the other party committed an act of blasphemy against death, but did not actually intend to blaspheme against death. Upon closer examination, given the people of this world's understanding of Magic Resistance and True Magic, we cannot expect too much of their self-awareness.

While the idea that ignorance is no excuse is utterly unreasonable, Castorice is still willing to let things slide once in a while unless something irreparable has happened.

With that thought in mind, she put away her scythe and slowly walked toward the vigilant Shadow Legion.

"Step down."

Cheng Xiaoyu also knew that the two sides wouldn't fight for the time being. Since that was the case, there was no need to put on airs, and besides, putting on airs was useless. If a fight really broke out, both the system and his own perception told him that he would die.

Upon hearing Cheng Xiaoyu's instructions, the Shadow Legion opened a path, allowing Castorice to walk unimpeded to the two of them.

Still not answering Cheng Xiaoyu's question, Castorice first looked at Liu Chenhao, who was still somewhat confused about the situation, and bowed slightly, saying, "I'm sorry, Your Excellency, I did not intend to sow discord between you two. Please do not take my words at face value."

"Ah...? Oh... it's nothing! I've always believed in Brother Xiao Yu!"

Liu Chenhao was taken aback when the girl who Xiao Yu had treated with such utmost respect apologized to him so formally. He was momentarily at a loss for words.

Cheng Xiaoyu also turned his head to glance at Liu Chenhao.

To be honest, he didn't expect that in such a tense moment, this somewhat timid boy would stand by his side and share the pressure.

Thinking about it carefully, without him, they might have started fighting right from the very beginning...

In response to Liu Chenhao's remarks, Castorice smiled at him before turning to Cheng Xiaoyu.

Regaining her expressionless demeanor, she spoke, "I had a misunderstanding about you earlier. The souls of the dead should not linger in the world of the living... Since your previous actions were not presumptuous, I will not pursue the matter further. However... you must think carefully before using this power."

Cheng Xiaoyu had no objection; the Shadow Legion's power was indeed very useful to him, but he had more faith in his own abilities.

Although he didn't know why the girl in front of him had come here to warn him, since it had already happened, he might as well go along with her for now. Besides, there might still be room for negotiation between the two sides. Judging from the conversation just now and her attitude now, she didn't seem to be the type to stick to the rules.

Thinking of this, Cheng Xiaoyu said in a friendly manner, "Want to have some barbecue together?"

Chapter Sixteen: The Deal.

"..."

Castorice did not refuse.

It wasn't that she cared about food; it was just that she hadn't eaten anything all day. To be honest, she wasn't hungry, but...

Okay, she just values her appetite.

The three of them sat around the fire in front of the tent, using tree trunks as chairs, eating and chatting.

"Hey! So you just became S-Class today, Castorice! That's amazing!"

Liu Chenhao's eyes widened.

"Didn't you graduate from university?"

Cheng Xiaoyu looked at Liu Chenhao with a helpless expression. "You're a graduate and a working adult, yet you're calling current college students 'sister'?"

"Haha, Castorice is more capable than me, so it's only right that I call her 'sister'."

Liu Chenhao had no recollection of the tense situation just now, or rather, because he was not Castorice's target and didn't have much on his mind, he simply felt that the situation was a mutual test.

Cheng Xiaoyu was well aware that if he had made any mistakes just now, he would probably be going to the Underworld with his Shadow Legion.

Moreover... although they are having a relatively harmonious conversation, there are still some things that Cheng Xiaoyu doesn't understand. One is why Castorice is looking for him with a judgmental attitude, and the other is why Castorice was able to enter this red portal.

The two had only known each other for a short time, Cheng Xiaoyu didn't feel that their relationship involved prying into each other's secrets, especially since...

Because of Castorice, his Shadow Legion has lost two-thirds of its soldiers. Although this will not affect his combat strength too much, it is still a loss for him.

Cheng Xiaoyu wasn't the type to force people to become his puppets after death. After all, these shadows hadn't offended him in life, and Cheng Xiaoyu was genuinely unaware that his abilities could forcibly alter the will of others. If he had known, he would have been more cautious.

Even with these premises and understanding of these principles, it doesn't mean that Cheng Xiaoyu has no resentment at all.

Noticing his emotions, Castorice asked, "Are you concerned about what just happened?"

"..."

Cheng Xiaoyu glanced at her but didn't say anything.

It wasn't that he was pretending to be aloof; rather, he genuinely wasn't sure how to respond to the girl in front of him.

Although the girl's personality can be described as gentle based on the current conversation, people always have some first impressions. The pressure brought by the system's consciousness and senses makes it obviously not so easy for him to forget her.

"I have no intention of targeting you. If you have any complaints, I will accept them all. After all, your power is a means of survival for you, and limiting it is my responsibility as the Guide of the Styx. However, it is true that this has caused you inconvenience."

If the other party is a necromancer from the previous world, then Castorice certainly doesn't need to say these things, after all, this is the path you chose yourself.

But this world is different. The path in this world does not come from one's own choices, but is predetermined from the beginning.

"If I had to say something, I do have some complaints, but if I maintain the same attitude as you, it would make me seem petty."

Cheng Xiaoyu sighed.

"I told you before that your abilities are different from those of other necromancers, right?"

It's quite rare to find someone who can see the situation so clearly and remain so rational and calm. After thinking for a moment, Castorice suddenly remembered the rules that she hadn't been able to complete in the Underworld.

"Ordinary necromancers borrow the power of the dead from the Underworld, but I directly take the souls from the Underworld."

Cheng Xiaoyu naturally remembered that the difference between the two was simply that it was hiring versus kidnapping.

However, what he didn't know was that this was a saying that came about after Castorice arrived.

Before the arrival of the Castorice, the summoning of True Magic was also mandatory, but now that the Underworld exists, it is no longer possible to do so.

True Magic can only work with the consent of the deceased.

So... shouldn't we apologize to the necromancers...?

"Your abilities are extremely powerful, not in terms of magic, but in something more fundamental."

Castorice nodded. "I can relax the restrictions you just imposed... but at the same time, you will need to pay a certain price."

Cost?

Cheng Xiaoyu's expression remained unchanged. Since it was a transaction, it was only natural that there would be a return. If the other party wanted nothing like the system, then he would be worried.

Wait... like a system?

Cheng Xiaoyu's expression suddenly changed. Come to think of it, the last time he doubted the system was when he had just obtained it and become stronger, which was when he first met Liu Chenhao and entered the dungeon for the first time.

But now, why have I subconsciously accepted the power given to me by the system?

Because this was the only hope of saving his mother, he didn't want to doubt it, nor dared to doubt it.

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