Chapter 41: Mutated Ghoul [Requesting Recommendations and Collections]

A battle seemed to be underway ahead!

Zong Shen narrowed his eyes, quickly guessing the situation with high accuracy.

No wonder he felt something was off about the left dungeon.

The broken iron bars of the cells in the left dungeon had almost all been cleared toward the cell doors.

This indicated that someone had already explored these cells.

Thinking of this, Zong Shen inquired with the guide.

"Is there anything worth collecting in this row of cells?"

(Before 37 minutes and 42 seconds, there was, but unfortunately, you are a step too late. This dungeon does not only have the single entrance found in the temple; there is an upward escape passage in the third cell to your front right, leading to a set of building ruins above.)

(This is also why it was suggested that you explore the right dungeon first.)

"Sigh, someone beat me to it. It looks like other Lords have discovered this place as well."

Zong Shen let out a soft sigh.

However, this was an inevitable process.

With so many Lords in one area, once every Lord moved past the initial state of panic, they would all choose to go out and explore and gather.

They would gradually radiate outward into the surrounding circles.

Meeting one another was only a matter of time.

Zong Shen just hadn't expected to find traces of other Lords even in such a dark dungeon.

It appeared the other party was currently engaged in a fierce battle.

Without even thinking, he knew it was likely a struggle against a large monster guarding another body of Alteran Windspeaker, something like a [Blood-Burning Demon Skeleton].

However, such elite monsters were not so easily dealt with.

Zong Shen prepared to observe to see if there was any easy profit to be scavenged.

As for being a "good person" and helping them fight the monster, that never even crossed Zong Shen's mind.

Theoretically, Lords were in a relationship of mutual competition.

If you went to help, the other party might not even be grateful.

Zong Shen never involved himself in such thankless tasks.

However, other items didn't matter.

What Zong Shen cared about were the bodies of Alteran Windspeaker, which were his mission items.

While Zong Shen was contemplating his strategy, the battle at the corner seemed to have reached a fever pitch.

Zong Shen could already hear several roars.

"That's quite an intense fight," he remarked.

When he fought the [Blood-Burning Demon Skeleton] earlier, he clearly hadn't felt it was that intense.

But he had forgotten.

Not everyone was like him, possessing a rather luxurious squad of fighters on only their second day of landing.

...

"Rumble!"

At that moment, a loud explosion occurred, and the entire dungeon trembled slightly.

Large clouds of dust shook loose from above everyone's heads.

It left Zong Shen covered in dust and grime.

"Damn it, is this a demolition job?"

He cursed under his breath while patting the dust off his head.

After that loud explosion, everything returned to silence.

There were no more roars, no more explosions, and no more flashes of fire—only stillness.

"Is the battle over?"

Zong Shen was somewhat puzzled.

He immediately commanded Tie Zhu, "Tie Zhu, use Shadow Avatar and sneak over to take a look."

The Nord Shadow Scout's skill, Shadow Avatar, had a 5-minute cooldown and a 3-minute duration, allowing for frequent use.

Tie Zhu nodded upon hearing the command.

In the next instant, he transformed into a mass of shadow and quickly stalked along one side of the corridor.

He rounded the corner at the end and began to scout.

About two minutes later, Tie Zhu returned.

"My Lord, the battle has ended. An unknown Lord has died."

"Additionally, there is a massive Ghoul, but it has also sustained very serious injuries."

This Lord was quite incompetent.

To think they failed to defeat an elite monster.

It seemed that easy profit wasn't available to just anyone.

"Did you see any remains of soldiers?" Zong Shen asked.

It was impossible for the other party to have come down alone without soldiers.

That incredible explosion and the intense flashes of fire...

At a glance, those were not effects a common Lord could produce.

Zong Shen knew this in his heart.

However, Tie Zhu shook his head.

"Reporting to the Lord, no remains of soldiers were found."

This left Zong Shen confused.

"Did they escape?"

"Let's go take a look first."

Zong Shen decided to investigate.

Thus, he led his main force to the end of the left dungeon.

Turning left from here led to a large hall.

The hall resembled a prayer room, filled with the debris of broken tables and chairs.

This was still not the end.

A heavy, intact iron door engraved with runes blocked the other end of the prayer room.

Right inside the prayer room, a massive, one-armed Ghoul was gnawing on the corpse of that unfortunate Lord.

The Ghoul's abdomen was distended, as if something was inside its belly.

Behind this Ghoul was the prayer altar. Zong Shen could already see that the mission item he needed was sitting right there on the altar.

Zong Shen focused his gaze.

The attributes of this Ghoul, which was over four meters long with a mouth as large as a washbasin, immediately appeared before him.

[Mutated Ghoul Lv.16 (Green)] [Race: Undead] [Bite Damage: 58–61] [HP: 268/655] [Armor: 10] [Skills: Piercing Tongue (The Mutated Ghoul possesses a chain-like tongue that can suddenly shoot out, piercing a target within ten meters and pulling it in front of itself); Frenzy Lv.10 (Increases Ghoul's attack speed by 25% and movement speed by 25% for 90s; Cooldown: 1h); Scavenge (Consumes corpses to recover HP); Devour (The Ghoul opens its massive maw to directly swallow targets with a level no higher than Lv.12, a length within 2 meters, and HP below 300; Currently unavailable)]

(What are you staring at? Hit it! Avenge the fallen Lord!)

This Mutated Ghoul possessed four skills and was currently at low health.

High attack, high HP, but average defense.

As it gnawed on the Lord's corpse, its HP was gradually recovering.

"Charge! Kill it!"

Zong Shen waved his hand grandly!

Tasia began to instinctively chant her Double Necrotic Arrows.

Three Wolf Cavalrymen let out battle roars and launched a charge.

Tie Zhu once again vanished into the shadows.

Even Zong Shen raised his nearly broken kite shield and joined the charge.

The Mutated Ghoul abandoned its meal.

Its blood-red eyes stared fixedly at the group.

Specifically at the roaring Wolf Cavalrymen.

It suddenly opened its massive, bloody maw.

A bright red tongue shot out like a red flash, aiming straight for Bjorn.

Bits of clinging flesh and splatters of blood flew out with it.

However, the Wolf Cavalry were not so easily taken down.

Bjorn's reaction was swift; the moment he saw the Mutated Ghoul's tongue lash out, his battle saber was already raised.

Then, just as the sharp tongue was about to reach him, he swung the saber down!

*Slash!*

As if cutting through tough leather, the tip of the Mutated Ghoul's tongue was severed clean off.

"Roar!"

The Mutated Ghoul retracted its tongue and let out a furious roar!