"Evilus"

In the green, fleshy space illuminated by red light, an eerie atmosphere permeated the air, causing all the Hermes Familia to fall silent for a moment.

Even Asfi's expression kept changing, looking surprised and uncertain, unable to react immediately.

Leo was the only one who first looked at the room full of flower buds as if they were something dirty, then looked at the red crystal pillar that was entangled by the three Giant Flower monsters, fixing his gaze on the base of the main pillar.

There, a green jewel clung to the surface, and inside the jewel was a fetus with enormous, open eyes—a scene both sinister and terrifying.

"Jewel Fetus ----"

Leo's hand gripping the black longsword tightened inexplicably.

He saw that this precious pearl, just like the three Giant Flower monsters parasitizing the quartz, was absorbing nutrients from the main pillar.

However, it wasn't absorbing the seeping nutrient solution, but rather, like a fetus drawing nutrients from its mother, it completely ignored the quartz pillar that seemed to be groaning, greedily devouring the nutrients inside the pillar and making contracting, trembling fetal movements.

The sight was enough to send chills down anyone's spine.

Leo instinctively raised his hand to blast it to pieces with a single [Meteor Dance].

Unfortunately, a guard had already emerged from beside that stone pillar.

"So, we've come this far, adventurers."

The person who spoke and slowly emerged from the darkness was a man dressed in white, wearing a monster bone mask.

"Who are you?"

Asfi finally realized what was happening, and the moment she saw the man in white, she immediately raised her short sword and questioned him.

The rest of Hermes Familia also secretly became wary.

However, the man in white completely ignored them and only looked at Leo.

"It's an honor to meet you, the monster rookie of the Loki Familia, Leo Eligos."

The man in white seemed to have only Leo in his eyes, as if he only saw Leo as a threat and completely disregarded everyone else.

This angered Lulune and the others, but Asfi forbade them to lash out, observing quietly as if waiting for the right moment to act.

Do you know me?

Leo looked up to meet the white-clad man's gaze and spoke calmly.

"Who wouldn't know you?" the white-robed man chuckled. "You rose from Lv.1 to Lv.5 in less than three months, and twice you even defeated the floor master almost single-handedly. Your name is known to everyone in the Lower World, isn't it?"

"Really?" Leo said meaningfully, "But your companions don't seem to know me very well."

Leo was referring to Revis.

It's clear from Revis's behavior that she doesn't know Leo at all, or even Ais, otherwise she wouldn't keep calling her "Aria".

This is clearly very abnormal.

Given Leo and Ais's fame, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they're well-known throughout the Lower World. Ordinary people might not recognize them on their first meeting, but how could anyone who frequents the Dungeon not recognize them?

Leo is now recognized even when he wears a hood to cover his face, let alone Ais, who is already famous for her beauty.

Therefore, his words could be seen as a sarcastic remark about the other person's lack of knowledge.

"Forgive her. After all, she has no interest in the world above ground and has always stayed in the Dungeon, rarely coming into contact with the outside world." The man in white shrugged, offering no defense for his companion, and instead joined in the sarcasm, saying, "I'm different. I know your affairs very well, and I know how much of a threat you are."

"Especially you, Leo Eligos."

The man in white pointed at Leo, his voice turning malicious.

"You've grown too fast. You've reached your current level almost in the blink of an eye. I can't even imagine how terrifying you would become if you had more time."

"This is also an opportunity."

"If we can eliminate you here, our plans will be free of a major threat."

Upon hearing this, Asfi finally spoke.

What are your plans? What are you going to do?

This intense questioning made the man in white glance at her.

"I have no obligation to answer your questions, [Perseus], and I have absolutely no interest in you. I advise you to mind your own business."

As soon as he finished speaking, the man in white snapped his fingers, causing an unusual commotion in the surrounding area.

First, the flower buds hanging on the wall began to burst open rapidly, causing colorful monsters to fall to the ground with a clattering sound.

These flower buds were filled with Man-Eating Flower.

Immediately afterwards, a group of black-robed figures wearing large robes that covered their upper bodies, as well as headscarves and headbands, emerged from the darkness and surrounded the entire Hermes Familia, emanating a fierce and murderous aura towards them.

"Who... who are these people?!"

Lulune and the others spoke with wary expressions, back to back, forming a defensive formation to confront the group of black-robed men surrounding them.

Leo also looked at these people, and as if he had suddenly remembered something, he abruptly spoke up to remind them.

"Be careful, they are from the Evilus."

Upon hearing this, the entire Hermes Spring Familia was astonished.

"What?"

"Evilus?"

"Evilus has actually shown up?"

How is that possible?

Everyone gasped in alarm, but the next second they were met with an attack from this group of people exuding a dangerous aura.

"Kill!"

Kill them!

"Let their lives be dedicated to our noble God!"

The man in black robes shouted loudly and then charged towards them.

Their charge was extremely brutal and direct, perfectly embodying the phrase "brave but reckless," let alone any coordination. They were like a bunch of scattered soldiers, recklessly attacking Leo and his group. Anyone with experience could tell at a glance how ruthless they were.

The Hermes Familia also witnessed this scene and immediately judged that the group of black-robed men were not very strong, with few even being high-level adventurers; they were mostly small fry and not worth worrying about.

So, they instinctively retaliated.

The shield bearers at the front parried the incoming swords and kicked the black-robed men to the ground, while the guerrillas in the center disarmed them in no time. Even the Mage at the rear tried to fight back with archery or staff techniques, easily defeating their opponents and leaving the entire group of black-robed men in a miserable state.

This relieved the Hermes Familia members, who lowered their guard.

Then, they were reprimanded mercilessly by Leo.

"Watch out! Didn't you hear me?!"

Awakened by Leo's reprimand, the group finally realized something was wrong.

Those black-robed men who had been knocked down by them all fell into a state of daze or madness, tearing off their clothes.

Beneath their black robes, without exception, they were all covered with brightly colored gemstones.

It was a bright red ruby, as if it were encased in flames.

Upon seeing these bright red gems, not only the rest of the Hermes Familia, but even Asfi herself held her breath.

"Inferno Stone!"

As a master of magical artifacts, Asfi immediately recognized the origin of these bright red gems.

This is a drop item that can only be obtained from the monsters that inhabit the deepest areas – the Volcanic Rock.

The Volcanic Rock is a monster that inhabits the volcanic area "Crimson Mountain Range" located on floors 44-48. It possesses terrifying explosive fire attacks and is classified as level 4.

The items dropped from these monsters, even the raw flesh, are highly flammable and explosive.

Inferno Stone are a particularly well-known type of loot item, due to their considerable flammability and explosive properties. Many advanced blacksmiths need to use them when crafting weapons. However, because of their destructive and dangerous nature, guilds restrict their circulation, and only those who apply and receive permission from the guild can use them legally.

At this moment, these props were strung together like beads and wrapped around the bodies of these men in black robes.

What are they trying to do?

What are they going to do?

Asfi felt a sense of crisis almost instantly, and shouted sharply, her face turning pale.

"Retreat immediately!"

However, before Asfi could speak, the men in black robes had already begun to move.

"God, I will keep my covenant and dedicate this life to you—"

A man in black robes was the first to act, forcefully pulling on a small box connected to a fuse at his waist, igniting the ignition device.

The others followed immediately.

"Bless your foolish people!"

"The afterlife is our true dream!"

"We pledge our loyalty to our Chief God!"

Forgive me for my mistake!

"Let this sacrifice atone for my sins!"

"Oh God."

Amidst shouts, they successively tore open their black robes, revealing the Inferno Stone wrapped around their bodies, and ignited them without hesitation, causing red light to burst forth one after another.

The next moment -

"Bang!"

The black-robed man who lit the first fire exploded, unleashing a towering blaze of flames.

"!" "!" "Bang!" "!"----

One by one, the black-robed figures who had ignited the Inferno Stone exploded, their bodies engulfed in flames with deafening roars, triggering a series of massive explosions.

Seeing the firelight so close at hand, many members of the Hermes Familia went blank, having no time to dodge.

At the critical moment, a figure rushed over with astonishing speed, kicking them all away one by one, thus avoiding the oncoming explosion and being engulfed by the flames.

"Everyone, get out!"

Leo grabbed Lulune by the back of the neck, ignoring her screams, and threw her away, then shouted loudly.

The Hermes Familia members turned pale and fled, not daring to stay in their places.

The remaining black-robed figures, however, seemed to have gone mad, disregarding their own lives and charging towards the Hermes Familia.

--Heng, Heng, Heng, Heng, Heng The massive explosions continued, sending charred limbs flying everywhere.

That scene was like hell.