Flames poured out of the Tiger Dragons’ mouths, and the Dragon Knights’ spears shone brightly. The raiders were torn to pieces instantly by the Dragon Knights.

“These guys are…” Examining the bodies of the raiders, whose torn flesh had been strewn across the floor, Uther frowned as he slithered around.

“Yeah, it’s them.” Grinding his teeth, Tryndall crushed some pieces of flesh that were lying on the floor.

The raiders’ broken bodies belonged to none other than the same creatures from the Other Underworld that had been tormenting them over the course of the last year.

“Of all the beings that could be waiting for us across the passageway. How unlucky,” Uther mused.

“I guess so,” Tryndall chimed in.

“If there are more of them waiting for us, it’ll be suicide to continue on,” Uther said, contemplating whether to withdraw the expedition.

“I agree. We have no idea how many of them are waiting for us,” Tryndall replied.

As he chatted with Tryndall, Uther tilted his head when he saw Rikshasha in the distance checking something, her head lowered. As if she felt she couldn’t get a close enough look simply by bending down, she squatted to check out the unidentified object. After a short while, she got up, having picked up something.

“How dare you!” Tryndall cried out in indignation when he realized what exactly Rikshasha was holding. It was the head of a Void Knight that had been torn to pieces by the Dragon Knights. 

“Don’t insult them!” Even though they had been torn apart due to the abruptness of the situation, the Void Knights were still Tryndall's precious subordinates. When he noticed the lowly Under-Elf desecrating the body of one of his Void Knights, he felt a swift surge of anger, unable to tolerate such disrespect any longer.

“Wait,” Uther ordered. Tryndall, who had been about to run over and grab her by the collar, stopped with clenched teeth. Uther continued, “Just hold on.”

Uther continued to watch, observing what Rikshasha was doing. Although she was an Under-Elf, no different from a slave, he knew she must have a reason for behaving in such a manner, as she was favored by the King.

As expected, Rikshasha explained with a grim expression, “They’ve been corrupted.”

"What?" Uther’s eyes widened at Rikshasha’s unexpected statement.

Rikshasha lifted the knight's head, which resembled a helmet. “Look.”

The Void Knight’s head was quite unusual. Void Knights were moving pieces of armor possessed by evil spirits, characterized by their hollow bodies. Naturally, their helmets contained nothing inside.

However, the head Rikshasha was holding was different. She said, “The black armor has turned red. And look at this. These protruding veins are exactly the same as those of the creatures.”

It was exactly as she had pointed out. Numerous small, unsightly veins and tendons were visible on the knight’s head she held in her hand. Tryndall and Uther were stunned by its hideous appearance, because it was identical to the enemies they had been facing for the past year.

“How is that…” Tryndall trailed off.

Come to think of it, they had been emanating hostility when they suddenly appeared in the passageway. Perhaps that was why the Dragon Knights had used their spears without hesitation.

“There’s something unusual going on,” Rikshasha said as she tossed the head aside. As he watched the head of his dead subordinate roll across the floor, Tryndall was lost for words. He was completely confused, unable to figure out what was going on. Rikshasha continued, "And we’ll never know for sure until we cross over and check it out.”

It has been two hours since the Under-Elves had crossed through the passageway. The Void Knights had gone in later, but it had only been less than an hour since then. What exactly had happened between those times?

The expedition members, including Uther and Tryndall, felt fear for the first time. Even the valiant Dragon Knights looked at them with pale faces.

“Let’s go. We can’t find anything out by standing around,” Rikshasha commanded with a wave of her hand.

The Dragon Knights hesitantly approached the passageway again. This time, they were fully ready to use their spears at any time, clutching them tightly. The Under-Elves also began to move slowly, hiding in the shadows of the Dragon Knights.

"Let’s move,” Rikshasha repeated.

Tryndall didn't even realize that they had begun moving at the lowly Under-Elf’s command. He walked forward with a slow, heavy stride, his muscles stiff with fear.

“In the worst case scenario, at least you must return and survive, Uther,” Rikshasha said as they approached the entrance of the passageway. “If it gets more dangerous here than we can imagine, you have the highest chance of surviving.” She spoke so grimly that the others shivered at her words, perhaps expecting the worst.

Uther, who normally would have made a big fuss by insisting he would survive, simply nodded silently at Rikshasha. 

“Okay, let’s move,” Rikshasha said. No one knew what kind of hellish world awaited them, but she stepped forward without any hesitation. This time, even Tryndall couldn’t help but acknowledge her level of courage, and he could take no issue with the way she was acting like the leader of the expedition.

"Welp…” Uther reluctantly stumbled forward, and the Dragon Knights, who had been standing at the front, finally entered the passageway. Shortly afterward, everyone, including Uther, had crossed over. 

A passageway that was neither wide 

nor

 narrow welcomed them, filled with thick darkness. The sight wasn’t particularly out of line with the rest of the Underworld. When a scene so contrary to their expectations greeted them, the expedition members, who had crossed it with such grave determination, found themselves slightly embarrassed.

But it was too early for them to let down their guard just yet. Slowly but surely, they felt an ominous energy weighing down on them.

Rikshasha was already squatting down, massaging her sore shoulders while looking for traces of the missing members of the expedition. The scattered footprints she saw were probably the traces that the Void Knights had left behind. On the other hand, she saw faint and light footprints that had to have come from the steps of her clanmates.

“The Void Knights seem to have stopped over here before retreating immediately. Perhaps they were trying to show that there was no danger.” Just from looking at some small footprints, Rikshasha was able to explain the situation vividly, as if she had seen it unfold right before her eyes. “Things have gone awry, but it doesn’t appear to be too bad. The Under-Elf Rangers seem to be still alive.” After she spoke, she began to follow 

the

 footsteps.

“It feels eerie in here,” Uther remarked. Darkness and silence were the constant companions of those who lived in the Underworld, but now he was feeling choked by them instead.

He wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Tryndall and the Dragon Knights were all pale with fear. The Under-Elves were also looking around with anxious expressions.

“Let’s check out this area for now.” Rikshasha, despite initially seeming to acknowledge Uther's command, had already taken over. Without any hesitation, she led the expedition as they continued their search for the traces of the missing Under-Elves.

Fortunately, they had no encounters with enemies, and there were no battles ongoing either. They just wandered around the passageway searching for clues.

But that didn't mean they faced no threats at all. The real threat was waiting for them amid the silence of the Underworld.

"Mm?” After advancing for some time, Tryndall stopped walking after he felt a stinging sensation on the back of his head. He stopped and looked around. The only thing he could see around him was the expedition moving in the dark, and his subordinates behind him.

He tilted his head and prepared to start moving again, but he suddenly froze on the spot. He moved his hand slowly toward the hilt of his sword.

“Kyaargh!”

 The sound of a man choking filled the corridor by the time Tryndall grasped his sword. The expedition’s ranks suddenly erupted into chaos.

“So, my guess was right,” Rikshasha said.

Tryndall turned around, only to see Rikshasha stomping on the neck of a Void Knight. The Void Knight struggling under her feet was completely covered in something red, and black and blue veins protruded all over its armor.

“Khuuuk!”

“There’s definitely something strange going on here.” Rikshasha pierced the head of the Void Knight struggling under her feet indifferently and continued, “I think it would be best for you to send your subordinates back, Tryndall.”

Tryndall only moaned in response as he looked around him. Just like the one who had been knocked down by Rikshasha a little while ago, the Void Knights were grabbing the hilts of their swords, their eyes gleaming red and strange veins protruding from their hands.

“No, perhaps it's too late,” Rikshasha said, her white teeth clearly visible even in the darkness of the Underworld. She was smiling at Tryndall. As the corners of her lips curled upward, a sudden shuffling could be heard from within the darkness.

"Stop!" Tryndall stepped forward desperately, but it was already over.

The bodies of the Void Knights were rolling across the floor, their heads severed. The Under-Elves were already sheathing their scimitars.

Tryndall knew that his troops had been corrupted. After all, he had once been an indomitable warrior who had firmly held his labyrinth together during this chaotic time, when countless other labyrinths had been destroyed. However, he could hardly bear to watch his troops get brutally slaughtered, and nearly started to lose his mind.

But Uther held Tryndall back, saying, “Stop. Unfortunately, your troops have already been consumed.” 

In describing the Void Knights, Uther said that they had been “consumed” by something. Tryndall was taken aback by the blatant expression. Of course, it didn’t help him resolve his resentment.

Thus, he vented his anger by swinging his sword at the Under-Elf who was standing closest to him. He would be unable to tolerate such insolence any longer unless he punished the petty Under-Elves who had slaughtered his troops.

But he failed, as the Under-Elf he had aimed at disappeared as if she hadn’t even been present from the beginning. She reappeared behind the Under-Elf who called herself Rikshasha.

"You dare avoid me!?” Dumbfounded by the Under-Elf, who was watching him mockingly, Tryndall let out a hollow laugh. At the same time, he clenched his sword once more, and charged toward her… No, he attempted to charge towards her.

“They’re not some lowly slaves! They’re the King’s most trusted bodyguards!” Uther shouted, stopping Tryndall in his tracks. He continued, “You must have heard about the assassins who have killed countless enemies targeting the 9th Floor, right? They’re the King's hidden weapons!”

Until now, Tryndall had simply thought the Under-Elves were mere scouts, so he had paid no attention to those lowly beings. But the moment he heard Uther’s words, he didn’t dare to treat them badly any longer.

He was very much aware of what had happened to the Deep Floor Nobles, who had attempted to take advantage of the chaos that had befallen the 9th Floor thanks to the series of wars.

“Allow me to introduce her once more. She’s Rikshasha, chief of the King’s bodyguards, and his most trusted woman.” Uther smiled bitterly as he reintroduced Rikshasha.