【 AMBUSHED BY ABYSSAL MYTHS 】

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Dark storm clouds churned ceaselessly overhead, while pale lightning flickered in and out of view.

On the hillside stood a towering demonic fortress, looming high above its surroundings. Around it, patrolling demons moved tirelessly.

They operated in squads of ten, carrying torches as they paced back and forth along the perimeter of the fortress.

Beyond the fortress, at the base of the slope, several figures hid behind a massive boulder, cautiously peering out.

These figures were clad in standard-issue armor forged from the scales of abyssal beasts. A dense aura of malevolence radiated from them. Though relatively small in stature compared to other demons, their builds appeared tall and slender.

At first glance, they did not resemble demons that evolved from abyssal brood nests, but rather fallen beings, once demi-humans of the mortal world who had been corrupted into demonic forms.

The foremost figure cast a glance at the fortress atop the hill before turning to his companions.

“Everyone, that is the demonic fortress mentioned in Big Sister’s mission.”

After speaking, he looked toward one of the others and asked:

“Cypher, what should we do next?”

The one addressed fell silent for a few seconds, as though reviewing something, before replying:

“Brother Mu, the mission has been updated. We are to infiltrate the fortress, locate the dimensional portal, and ensure that at least one of us successfully enters it. Also, we must not be detected at any given point.”

“Eh? What if we are discovered?”

“Then the quest reward will be reduced by half. Also, tear open the golden scroll given by Big Sister.”

Cypher answered.

After a brief pause, he glanced at the others behind him and said to Li Mu:

“Brother Mu, since we are about to infiltrate the fortress, you should take command. I do not have much experience leading a team, and I am worried something might go wrong.”

The leading figure considered this for a moment, then exhaled.

“Alright.”

He then turned to the rest of the group.

“Everyone, check your equipment carefully. Do not leave any flaws. Also, check how much time remains on the disguising spell. If it is insufficient, I still have several disguise scrolls from Big Sister.”

At his words, the others nodded and began inspecting themselves.

One of the figures removed his ferocious looking helmet, revealing a face drenched in sweat.

He was not a demon, but an elf.

However, his aura had been concealed by some form of spell, which disguised him as a demon.

Fanning himself, he stuck out his tongue and complained:

“Ha… It’s so hot to wear this demon armor. I am suffocating. Running all the way here has been so exhausting.”

The leading “demon” frowned at him.

“Hey put your helmet back on, Dema! don’t mess things up at a crucial moment.”

“Uh… understood, Bro.”

The reprimanded “demon” awkwardly put his helmet back on.

“Alright, everyone. Let’s rest for now and recover our strength before we continue.”

With that, Li Mu withdrew his gaze.

The group sat down to recuperate with some drinking water, while others checking their equipment.

These “Demons” who had infiltrated near the fortress were none other than players who had accepted the reconnaissance mission from Evé.

After a full day of relentless travel, they had finally reached their destination.

Now, the crucial part of the mission was about to begin.

After a brief rest, the team brought themselves back to peak condition.

“Is everyone ready?”

Li Mu asked.

The other nine nodded.

“Then let us move. We will follow the other demons and quietly slip in through the main gate.”

Li Mu said.

“The main gate? Is there no other way?” Little Salty Cat asked.

Li Mu shook his head.

“I am afraid not. I have observed the area, and the fortress is heavily guarded.”

Then he continued:

“However, the patrols all consist of ten-man squads, and no one is inspected when entering the fortress. I believe we can disguise ourselves as one of those patrol units.”

“No wonder Big Sister Zero insisted that we form a ten-man team.”

Dōngdōng nodded thoughtfully.

“Alright, let’s move out. I’ll take the lead. Those ranked higher in the combat leaderboard, follow behind me. To prepare for any unexpected situations—wait. Why are you moving forward Cat? Stay at the back. Let Boxlunch and Dema take the front.”

Li Mu issued his instructions.

“Tch… I am the top mage in terms of damage output, you know…”

Little Salty Cat muttered in complaint.

In the end, however, she obediently moved to the rear of the group.

High damage output did not necessarily mean strong reaction ability in close combat.

“And also… Dema, do not do anything reckless.”

Li Mu added, directing the warning at a certain individual.

Demacia responded with a somewhat aggrieved tone:

“Don’t worry, Bro. Am I really that untrustworthy?”

“You are.”

Dongdong and Little Salty Cat replied in unison.

Demacia: “…”

“Pfft…”

Watching these top players bicker, Cypher could not help but laugh.

“Alright, from this point on, refrain from verbally talking. If there is anything to say, type it in the group chat instead.”

Li Mu instructed.

The others nodded.

Then, imitating the surrounding demon patrols, the group lit torches made from grease and began advancing toward the fortress.

As they drew closer, the number of patrolling demon squads increased. Everyone in the team grew more focused, and a sense of tension gradually took hold.

Fortunately, the disguise spell provided by Big Sister proved highly effective. Even as they walked openly up to the fortress gate, no demon stopped them.

Two towering demons stood guard at the entrance, exuding an aura that filled the group with unease.

Both were demons at the Gold-rank.

In the players’ experience, demons of such strength would normally be considered demon kings, yet here they merely served as gatekeepers.

Upon noticing the group, the two demons immediately cast their gaze toward them.

Locked onto by the powerful aura, the players’ nerves tightened to their limits, ready to fight or flee at any moment.

However, the two demons merely glanced at them before withdrawing their attention with apparent disinterest.

Everyone in the team inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

‘We made it through. We can proceed with the infiltration. Stay alert and do not expose yourselves.’

Li Mu typed.

With that, he led the group as they formally infiltrated the fortress.

Passing through the towering gates, their field of vision suddenly opened up.

Before them lay rows of demon tents, with demons constantly moving in and out.

Further ahead, at the center encircled by the tents, were masses of black-red flesh composed of tumor-like growths and dendritic membranes. They pulsed faintly, emitting a dim crimson glow. At their core, a central mass throbbed like a beating heart.

From time to time, abyssal worms were expelled from these “hearts,” collected by lesser demons, and transported to nearby pits.

There were several of such pits.

They even saw lesser demons, still coated in viscous fluid, crawling out of them, only to be driven by greater demons into other pits.

‘Abyssal brood nests…’

Boxlunch typed in the chat.

Seeing this, everyone felt a chill.

Abyssal brood nests were the “living structures” that produced demons, which are capable of generating vast numbers of abyssal worms.

These worms devoured one another and evolved into lesser low-ranking demons.

As lesser demons continued devouring each other, they would evolve further into greater demons of Silver-rank strength.

Greater demons formed the backbone of the demon army.

This was one of the primary methods by which the Demons replenished its forces.

After playing for so long, the players were already familiar with this information. There was no doubt that this fortress served as a production base for the demon army.

‘Cypher, share the mission’s target location.’

Li Mu typed.

‘Understood.’

Cypher activated the game system.

After glancing at the highlighted location on the minimap, Li Mu nodded slightly and led the group forward with caution.

They were fortunate. There were numerous patrols within the fortress, all operating in squads of ten.

Because of this, their disguise did not attract much attention.

After bypassing several abyssal brood nests, they finally arrived at the location marked on the map.

Before them stood a series of constantly rotating dimensional portals.

From time to time, powerful demons emerged from within.

There were no guards stationed near the gates. Instead, a pitch-black hellhound with three heads lay beside them, fast asleep.

With each breath it took, red sparks could be seen spraying from its nostrils. The overwhelming aura it exuded was so terrifying that every demon passing nearby instinctively became cautious, their gazes filled with fear.

Sensing that oppressive presence, one that left no room for resistance, the players felt their hearts rise to their throats.

Abyssal Mythical-rank Demon!

The same thought surfaced simultaneously in their minds.

‘Cypher, there are too many dimensional portals here. Which one does the mission refer to?’ Li Mu typed.

Swallowing nervously, Cypher marked the target on their shared minimap.

As everyone on the team looked at the marked location, a chill ran down upon everyone’s spine.

The designated gate was none other than the one closest to the massive mythical-rank hellhound.

Specifically, it was directly beneath it.

‘Dammit… I knew this mission would not be that simple.’

Demacia complained in the chat.

Li Mu glanced at the sleeping three-headed hellhound, then at the others.

After a brief moment of thought, he typed:

‘Everyone, approach carefully. Make sure to not wake it.’

‘Once we reach the portal, wait for my signal. When I say jump, do not hesitate. Go straight in.’

‘Little Salty Cat, hold onto the golden scroll given by Big Sister. If we are discovered, tear it open immediately.’

The players responded with “OK” in the chat and followed Li Mu as they cautiously advanced.

They moved as quietly as possible, their hearts pounding in rhythm with the hellhound’s breathing.

Alas, their streak of good fortune finally came to an end.

“Hey! You lot! Why are you not patrolling properly? What are you doing here disturbing Lord Cerberus sleep?” (in the demon tongue)

A furious roar came from behind them.

A demon stood over two hundred meters away, glaring at them with hostility.

In the next instant, the hellhound’s snoring ceased.

This is bad!

The thought arose in all their minds at once.

“Run! Quick jump into that portal!”

Li Mu no longer typed, shouting instead.

At his command, everyone in the team rushed forward without hesitation, sprinting toward the dimensional portal beneath the hellhound.

Yet before they could reach it, the hellhound opened its eyes.

Three pairs of crimson pupils locked onto them. In an instant, everyone felt an overwhelmingly malevolent force fix upon them, filling their hearts with an unprecedented terror.

The fear was so real that even Boxlunch, who possessed the strongest mental fortitude among them, halted mid-run.

They could not move.

It was not physical restraint, but sheer terror.

[Fear Intimidation]

“Roar!”

The hellhound bellowed at them. A foul, putrid stench burst from its mouth, nearly suffocating everyone.

A cold glint flashed in its eyes as it raised a massive claw and brought it down toward the group.

We cannot evade it!

That single thought surfaced in everyone’s mind.

“Cat!”

Li Mu shouted, his voice trembling.

Gritting her teeth, Little Salty Cat struggled to tear open the golden scroll in her hand.

A radiant golden light burst forth from the scroll. Before the hellhound’s enormous claw could descend, a pale arm suddenly extended out of thin air, blocking the attack.

There was no overwhelming radiance, nor any extravagant effects as before.

Before the astonished gaze of everyone on the team, the space in front of them twisted, and a beautiful figure emerged.

Demacia’s eyes widened, his mouth falling open in shock.

“Holy shi—the G-Goddess!?”

The one who appeared before them was none other than the Goddess of Life, Evé, clad in divine regalia.

This time, however, her arrival was more understated than ever before.

With a light touch of her finger against the hellhound’s descending claw, faint ripples spread outward and the creature’s body instantly froze.

A trace of crimson light flickered across the three-headed hellhound, the manifestation of the Heart of Withering activated by Evé.

In the next instant, this Abyssal Myth trembled slightly and disintegrated into ash.

At that moment, most of the demons within the fortress had yet to notice what had occurred. Only the nearby demon stared in shock, his eyes wide with terror.

That mythical-rank demon was instantly killed…

The team felt their spirits surge.

However, before they could even catch their breath, thirteen overwhelming auras suddenly rose from all directions around the fortress.

In the players’ stunned gaze, figures began to appear in the sky one after another, each radiating a presence far more terrifying than the mythical hellhound that had just been slain.

They formed a circle, enclosing the entire demonic fortress.

Dark Abyssal power gathered ceaselessly, dyeing the storm clouds above into an even deeper shade of black.

Faced with the sudden emergence of more than a dozen Abyssal Myths, Evé showed no sign of panic at all.

Without hesitation, she released a surge of divine power, hurling everyone in the team into the nearby dimensional portal, while simultaneously summoning the Gate of Reversal in preparation to retreat.

Yet, when the summoning was completed, the Gate of Reversal failed to open a spatial passage.

At the same time, the players who had been thrown into the dimensional portal were expelled back out.

The rotating gate shattered violently, before dissolving into nothingness.

Seeing this, Evé frowned slightly.

In the next moment, four pillars of violet light shot into the sky, forming a massive cage that enveloped the entire fortress.

Then, from among the thirteen presences, the most powerful stepped forward having an octopus-like head, blue-black scales, and a wide robe.

It was none other than Demon Lord Leviathan himself.

However, the aura he exuded was not overwhelmingly absolute.

Clearly, what stood before them was not his true body, but his incarnation. Even so, it possessed strength at the peak of intermediate divine power.

With a cold smile, he looked at the beautiful figure surrounded within the encirclement.

“Ah, Goddess of Life, at last we finally meet.”

“Well then, what do you think of the gift we have prepared for you?”

Gazing at this ruler of the third layer of Hell, Eve’s expression gradually turned solemn.

The worst possibility had come to pass.

This was indeed a trap targeting her, and her enemies had even found a way to suppress the use of Gate of Reversal.

Without hesitation, Evé ignited the divine power within her incarnation. In an instant, its strength surged from the peak of weak divine power to the peak of intermediate divine power, matching her true body.

This was a new ability she had obtained after her divine soul had fully solidified and inherited everything from her predecessor. It allowed her to temporarily elevate her incarnation’s power to that of her true form.

Moreover, this incarnation could establish a connection with her true body, thereby enabling it to draw upon up to thirty percent of the power of her domain.

This was also the foundation of her confidence in coming here, despite even knowing it might be a trap.

Naturally, such power came at a cost.

The longer she maintained this peak state and the weakened domain, the greater the damage inflicted upon the incarnation.

In the worst case, it could even collapse entirely.

But at this moment, she could no longer afford to consider such consequences.

Divine power surged from Eve’s form as golden radiance blossomed outward. Particles of pale gold and soft green light intertwined, forming a celestial domain.

Within it, flowers bloomed and vegetation flourished.

It was a weakened manifestation of the Domain of Life and Nature.

With the overlap of dual domains, even in a weakened state, her power surpassed that of ordinary true gods.

Sensing the immense force emanating from her, the surrounding Abyssal Myths showed traces of caution.

Even Leviathan’s gaze grew more serious.

That seriousness turned into alarm and anger when Evé summoned the Sword of Damocles.

“The Sword of Damocles?!”

As an ancient demon lord, Leviathan immediately recognized this famed divine artifact, renowned for its ability of absolute severance.

Without hesitation, Evé raised the blade and struck at the four pillars forming the cage.

She could clearly sense that it was this barrier that suppressed the power of the Gate of Reversal.

So as long as she shattered it, she would be able to reactivate the artifact.

A streak of golden sword light descended, striking one of the violet pillars as it collapsed instantly.

Yet before Evé could feel relief, she caught a glimpse of mockery in Leviathan’s eyes.

—Something was wrong.

In the next instant, the shattered pillar exploded violently. The remaining three pillars detonated in unison.

Space twisted abruptly as the fragments converged at the center, forming a massive vortex above the fortress that began to draw in everything around it.

Even Evé, being too close to the vortex, was dragged into it.

Moments later, the entire fortress fell silent once more as the whole structure had vanished in an instant.

In its place remained only a massive crater, spanning a radius of nearly a thousand meters.

“Lord Leviathan, how was it? At the cost of only a few demons and a single hellhound, we have successfully sealed away the Goddess of Life.”

An aged voice spoke from behind him.

Leviathan glanced back and snorted.

“She is only sealed for now. Had we attacked together earlier, we might have been able to eliminate her outright.”

The aged voice continued:

“In that case, the seal would have been difficult to maintain amid the aftermath of battle. She would have had a chance to break free.”

“Even if victory were achieved, how many of the abyssal myths here would survive? Surely, you would not wish to suffer such losses, Lord Leviathan, especially when you still intend to invade the world of Seigües.”

“Thus, it is better to proceed in this manner and seal the Goddess of Life directly.”

“Once she enters your sealed world, her divine artifacts will lose their effectiveness, and she will become your prisoner.”

“If her source of faith is destroyed as well, she will become like water without a spring.”

“Finally, when her power is completely exhausted, you will be able to take everything from her with ease, perhaps without even needing to fight.”

“Furthermore, her presence will disrupt the faith of those beings you seek to subjugate.”

Hearing this, Leviathan’s expression gradually eased.

Yet soon after, he frowned slightly again.

“And what if she subdues the beings within that world?”

“Do you truly believe that is possible?” the aged voice replied.

Leviathan let out a low chuckle, his tone filled with disdain.

“Of course not. Even as the bearer of the Divinities of Life and Nature, it would be impossible. On the contrary, I am rather curious to see what choice she will make when she encounters those of her own kind.”

As he spoke, he turned his gaze toward the north.

That direction was precisely where the players’ stronghold lay.

A feral glint appeared in Leviathan’s eyes.

“After waiting so long, at last, it is finally time to launch our invasion.”

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