Chapter 137 The Orb Reappears! Reinforcements!?
Inside the cave, stained with green ooze, a frenzied, self-forgetful roar echoed endlessly!
"We can't let the invaders leave alive!"
The black-robed figures charged forward with fervent eyes, as if on a divine mission!
They reached into their robes, then dramatically pulled them open, revealing vibrant, blood-soaked gems wrapped around their upper bodies!
The next moment, dense fireballs flashed continuously within the great cavern, and a scorching wind, carrying sand and stones, swept wildly through!
The Hermes Familia, unable to dodge, were violently flung by the shockwave, crashing into the rock wall and screaming repeatedly!
Inside the granary.
Arthur felt the explosive gust of wind behind him, and his feet suddenly pushed off, instantly snapping the white-haired ghost's spine!
"Sure enough, those who associate with madmen are only madder madmen."
The white-haired ghost, with all his limbs severed, frantically slammed his head against the ground, trying to urge the surrounding man-eating flower monsters to attack and relieve him.
However, no matter how he struggled, the granary remained silent, with no roars from any man-eating flowers.
The only unusual sound came from the quartz main pillar supporting the entire granary.
Three giant monsters, resembling man-eating flowers, had developed long, vine-like tentacles that tightly covered the surface of the main pillar.
Accompanied by a rhythmic pulsation like a heartbeat, the monsters' tentacles and roots wove an ever-expanding green flesh-net along the cave walls, ceiling, and floor.
Undoubtedly, these three new species of giant flower monsters were the culprits behind the abnormal situation on the 24th Floor!
Arthur looked up at the three parasitic plants greedily absorbing nutrient solution, his sharp gaze fixed on the base of the quartz pillar.
In the deepest, most tangled part of the three giant flowers, a green orb, containing a curled-up fetus, glowed with a gentle, faint light.
"Compared to how other unknown entities create clones, you've put a bit more thought into it."
Crack!
Just then, the white-haired ghost, whose limbs had regenerated, bent his elbow backward and tightly grabbed Arthur's ankle, letting out a hoarse roar from his newly recovered throat.
"You're not allowed to touch her!"
"What's with that cuckolded victim's tone?"
Arthur sneered, a silver arc of light flashed, and he cleanly severed the white-haired ghost's limbs again!
"You neither human nor ghost thing, you want to save her, right? Then tell me everything you know, every single detail."
The white-haired ghost struggled to turn his neck, glaring angrily at the high and mighty adventurer.
"Do you take me for a three-year-old child! To believe such nonsense from you!"
"No," Arthur shrugged indifferently, "I was just trying, farewell!"
Pfft!
The solid steel longsword, condensed by wind pressure, brutally pierced his back, precisely shattering the colorful magic stone in the monster's chest.
The white-haired ghost's expression beneath his mask instantly twisted, and he cursed with his last breath.
"Bastard... bastard! How dare you... she will never forgive you!"
After spitting out his final venom, the white-haired ghost, having lost his core, completely disintegrated, turning into a handful of rustling ashes.
Arthur stepped over the ashes on the ground expressionlessly, his eyes filled with disdain.
"She won't forgive me? How long she can live depends on the degree of erosion. As for now—"
He looked up at the increasingly dim quartz main pillar; the orb fetus was indifferent to the white-haired ghost's death, and the three giant flowers were still greedily absorbing nutrient solution.
"Just thinking that my enemies are unthinking beasts like you, I feel it's a waste to even stir my emotions."
Arthur's disgust was unconcealed in his tone as he indifferently raised his hand.
"Stop clinging to a place that doesn't belong to you, get down!"
Dark light points suddenly appeared, and gravity abruptly changed!
On the constantly convulsing giant flower monsters, tree-tumor-like pulsating blisters swelled, gripping the pillar tightly, and they let out painful low growls.
Crack, crack!
Amidst faint cracking sounds, several fissures burst open in the quartz main pillar, and more nutrient solution gushed out.
The drastic change in the nurturing environment startled the orb fetus; it suddenly opened its eyes and let out a piercing, broken-gong-like wail!
In an instant, the ceiling, walls, and all the flower buds within the great cavern were forcibly ripened and burst into bloom!
The far-from-mature giant flower beds, at this moment, poured out everything, producing all the budding man-eating flower monsters!
After all this, the giant flower's epidermis rapidly faded, shriveled, and its withered, slender body drooped limply, caught in the gravity field, and instantly shattered!
In its place were countless newly born man-eating flower monsters, still sluggishly swaying their snake-like heads.
Scarlet magic power emanated from Arthur's body, his left hand suddenly clenched into a fist, and the Celestial Star Field immediately surged!
The man-eating flowers rooted in the ground, along with large chunks of soil, were forcefully pulled out, mixed, crushed, and twisted into a blurry mass of flesh and blood with the surrounding, still-present green polyps!
At the same time, on the already precarious quartz main pillar, the cracks shot all the way to the top!
The granary let out a sharp, ear-piercing wail, then collapsed with a crash!
...
On the scorched clearing outside the cave, the members of the Hermes Familia supported each other, hastily treating their burns.
Asfi occasionally looked at the constantly rumbling granary entrance, her brows tightly furrowed.
"Arthur hasn't come out yet, is he really... alright?"
Lulune lowered her head, combing her hair that had been singed by the flames, and replied nonchalantly.
"If you ask me, what you should be worried about isn't him, but whether that granary can still..."
Boom—!
The collapsing rock face let out a deafening roar, interrupting their conversation.
Dust and smoke rolled out from the granary entrance, making everyone cough repeatedly.
A figure, wrapped in a gust of wind, tore through the smoke and burst out.
In Arthur's hand, he still held a murky green orb.
Asfi and the others rushed forward; Lulune, who had seen the orb fetus before, her pupils constricted, pointed at the orb and exclaimed.
"Isn't this the orb from last time!? How is it here!?"
Arthur gazed at the orb fetus, which was slowly closing its eyes due to leaving its nurturing environment, and explained lightly.
"On the 17th Floor, was there only one Minotaur?"
Asfi withdrew her gaze from the now-ruined granary and asked softly.
"Arthur, is this orb the culprit?"
"That's right, I'll hand it over to the Guild later."
Arthur casually picked up a tattered cloak from the ground, wrapped the orb in it, and looked towards the depths of the tunnel.
"You're a bit slow this time, Bete. Everything's already taken care of."
A figure, cloaked in moonlight particles, rushed out of the tunnel like thunder; it was the werewolf Bete.
He glanced at the resting Hermes Familia and Arthur, clicking his tongue in displeasure.
"Tsk, that's why I said Loki was worrying for nothing! How could the monsters on the 24th Floor possibly harm you!"
Arthur understood, and pressed on: "Loki sent you as reinforcements? Just you?"
Bete shoved his hands into his pockets and tilted his head unhappily behind him.
"See for yourself."
Light footsteps approached from afar, and a black-haired elven girl appeared before everyone.
She wore a pure white hooded outfit, with a high collar completely covering her neck, revealing only a beautiful face with a cold expression.
"Dionysus Familia, Filvis."
A simple, understated self-introduction, clearly showing an attitude of keeping people at a distance.
Arthur gazed at Filvis, whom he was meeting for the first time, and a hint of unnoticed solemnity flashed deep in his eyes.
Because within her, he clearly sensed that a colorful magic stone was also embedded.
Conflicting thoughts flashed through his mind, but the curve of his lips became warm and friendly, and he smiled and nodded.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Filvis."