CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53: TRUST ME, YOU’LL BE FINE

The footsteps of eight black-robed figures echoed between the stone walls. Once inside the cave, it was pitch dark, yet no one lit a torch or cast any lighting technique, as if the darkness had no effect on them.

Several minutes later, Lacus, leading the group, suddenly halted.

His nose twitched slightly under the shadow of his hood. Apart from the scent of blood, the air here carried an additional stench of beast.

After a moment, Lacus let out a light laugh.

He had seen through the prey’s trick but didn’t mind at all.

"Clever, but this isn’t one of those true no-man’s lands; what kind of demon could possibly...?"

Muttering to himself, Lacus rounded the last corner and saw a giant bear, as tall as two floors, squinting at them and slowly rising to its feet!

"Lacus... my lord?"

A hesitant voice came from behind, while Lacus’s mind was racing quickly.

This giant bear looked familiar, but he couldn’t recall what type it was for the moment.

But just by its size, it shouldn’t be too weak.

The Holy Scripture must be found; otherwise, forget about the ennoblement ceremony, he would even face severe punishment.

This cave didn’t have any forks; that little thief must still be hiding somewhere inside.

After all, this place was near the human activity area, not the true wilderness or the Deep Area of the Underground City, so the demon level shouldn’t be too high.

His Level 40 ability, along with his seven subordinates...

Lacus was still trying to analyze the strength of both sides, but the giant bear couldn’t wait any longer.

Encountering this many people usually would make it hesitate, but now, a nameless fury lingered in its heart, and it wished to immediately kill these intruders disturbing its sleep!

The bear roared, raised its paws high, and then slammed them down heavily, casting its skill.

[Gravity Field Level 6]

In an instant, weight nearly double their body mass pressed on the black-robed figures present, catching them all off guard and staggering.

The iconic skill made Lacus cry out in surprise: "Tyrant Bear!?"

However, Lacus regained his composure soon.

Under a true adult Tyrant Bear’s Gravity Field, he and his subordinates wouldn’t be able to stand so "lightly!"

Which meant this two-room-tall giant bear was actually just a cub?

With this thought, Lacus immediately spoke to stabilize the wavering morale caused by the words "Tyrant Bear".

He already saw someone intending to slip away; he’d definitely deal with him later!

"Don’t panic!

This is just a cub or a subspecies; use all your strength, and you’ll take it down!

Remember, returning empty-handed won’t do anyone any good!"

Lacus’s words had an effect, and the black-robed figures finally managed to calm down and prepare to retaliate.

Pop—

The black-robed figure just lifted his magic staff on the far right, only to be smashed into mush by the bear’s paw.

Though the Level 6 Gravity Field couldn’t directly crush them to death, it made them lose agility.

Those with strong power could barely maneuver under the gravity, but mages were exerting full effort just to stand, not to mention dodging the bear’s paws.

The team that had just been organized fell into chaos again after one person was instantly killed.

Some charged forward impulsively, some backed off to avoid combat, while the one who wanted to run bolted for the exit!

"A bunch of useless fools!"

While cursing, Lacus transformed into a bat cloaked in black mist, immediately flying behind the fleeing black-robed figure.

Returning to his original form, he grasped the back of the fugitive’s head and bit into his neck.

The man tried to push Lacus’s head away with his hands, but the gap in power made it impossible.

Resistance grew increasingly feeble until only a drowning-like whimper remained.

With his mouth full of blood, Lacus flung away the now-mummified being.

"Get in there! Anyone who takes one step back, I’ll kill them!"

His indisputable order shattered the last bit of hesitation among the others.

Having no choice, even when another unfortunate soul got slapped against the wall, turning into a groaning mess, the remaining few still gritted their teeth and charged forth.

Lacus wasn’t idle either; he raised his hand, drawing blood out from his dead subordinate, and as for the half-dead one, drawing out blood naturally ended his life.

The gathered Blood Ball in his hand solidified into one blood blade after another, shooting towards the giant bear, each one exploding into a bloody hole on the bear’s body.

But compared to the giant bear’s massive body, these were only superficial wounds.

As the battle continued, his subordinates fell one after another, leaving only Lacus and the non-melee-savvy Aivina in the end.

Out of desperation, Lacus could only rely on repeatedly transforming into a bat to engage the wounded giant bear in a protracted fight.

After dodging a bear paw once more, Lacus transformed all the remaining blood in his palm into a spear, diving from above and stabbing it into the bear’s eye!

"Die, you beast!"

"Watch out, my lord!"

Lacus, driven berserk by bloodlust, entirely ignored Aivina’s warning.

Mortally wounded, the bear used its Acceleration Skill, and the hateful strike landed on Lacus before he could react, slamming him into the wall like a cannonball.

After the paw strike, the giant bear could no longer sustain itself and, crying out twice sorrowfully, fell heavily to the ground.

"My lord, are you all right?"

Aivina ran up anxiously to check on Lacus; if their commander died, being a subordinate would spell big trouble.

Unexpectedly, from the rubble, an arm pierced through Aivina’s heart.

"Ugh... you..."

With a visage twisted into a half-bat form, Lacus, supporting his still-functional upper body, took down the severely injured Aivina, drinking deeply of her blood.

The injuries he had sustained were too severe, and he would die without replenishing rich, life-force-laden, fresh blood immediately.

Aivina, as a subordinate, was supposed to offer her life under such circumstances!

Upon sucking out the last drop of blood from the person in his arms, the dislocated spine barely reconnected.

Currently, his strength was less than 20% of its peak state...

Gazing at the blood-scented but lifeless cave, Lacus still dragged his weakened body, extracting the giant bear’s blood, then blasting it into countless tiny blood blades shooting all around.

After brief, concentrated collision sounds, the entire cave’s walls were left with fine nicks.

Scanning around, Lacus found no anomalies.

While not skilled in tracking, devouring Aivina had been out of sheer necessity earlier.

The damned human had likely slipped out amidst the chaos!

Unwillingly searching once more, Lacus could only let out a roar of frustration before transforming into a bat and flying away.

He now had no choice but to seek more living human blood to heal...

The cave fell silent once more.

Only when the sun outside rose did something with the same color as stone move slightly amidst the crevice between a rock wall and the ground.

Returning to its original color, Dylan, who had lay there for half a day, crawled out in a half-dead state.

"I... survived..."

Though he had fortunately not been directly attacked, the Gravity Field affected him the same, and his old bones were nearly crushed.

Thankfully, becoming Level 3 in Mimicry was too fitting for a weakling like him!

[You’d survive if you listen to me]

Seeing the boastful little book beside him, Dylan wanted to say something.

These black-robed figures, or more precisely, the demon race led by vampires.

Would go as far as fighting the bear to find him?

How is it possib... how could it be...

As Dylan stared blankly at the pages of the book, a dawning realization settled—

Perhaps... they truly were looking for him...

Thanks to this book’s help, he managed to escape with his life.

[Lift me up, I can help you more]

This time, without hesitation, Dylan lifted the Yellow-covered Book in his hand.

A faint sound of wind and wailing came from around the cave, but aside from the sound, Dylan sensed nothing.

Soon, a force from the book surged into Dylan’s body.

With a brief shiver, Dylan unexpectedly regained his physical strength!

No!

Not just recovery, but even better than before!

Though not much, it was the sensation of increased Attributes!

"Amazing..."

[Certainly, as long as I’m here, you can become even stronger!]

"Become... stronger..."

[Precisely, now all we need is to find a secluded place, even if someone dies, it won’t attract attention, like]

"Like the Underground City!"

[...]

[Ah, yes]

[The Underground City would also work]

Under the sunlight, with renewed vigor, Dylan stepped out of the cave’s entrance.

He recognized the direction, placed his loyal companion, the Yellow-covered Book, inside his clothing, close to him, and headed towards the Underground City.