Whether the goat-headed monster had told the truth no longer mattered.
Because he was already dead.
Shinji and the others hadn't killed him. He had suddenly dropped dead, and then a mass of black shadow had seeped into the ground and vanished.
Clearly, his life and death had been under the control of this Black Mountain's master from beginning to end.
"What now?"
Shinji thought for a moment. "Save the people first. If a real fight breaks out later, we probably won't be able to spare them much attention."
After all, several thousand lives were at stake, and he had already promised Princess Haruna.
He could play the philanthropist for once.
It was hardly any extra trouble, anyway.
No one objected, so the group continued deeper inside.
Every so often, they embedded a few pieces of glowing fluorite into the walls. Fortunately, they had come well prepared and had Tobi as their mobile warehouse. Otherwise, in this pitch-black environment, they might not even know when they were being ambushed.
Then they encountered the third wave of resistance.
This time, it was a group of Cursed Spirits and modified monsters.
Even though they already knew these modified monsters had originally been innocent humans, Shinji and the others had no intention of showing mercy, much less letting that knowledge hold them back or distract them.
Shinji's reasoning was simple. Since they were already beyond saving, death should be a release. Otherwise, were they supposed to become monsters and harm even more people?
Besides, what sort of ordeal hadn't he experienced back in the Jashin Cult?
All life was exceedingly fragile!
On that point, only Tamamo Hotaru looked hesitant and couldn't bring herself to attack, nearly getting injured several times as a result.
If Sasuke hadn't helped her out a few times because