Chapter 176

176: My Mission Is Complete!

"This ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍wall... something's not right."

Lina ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍began trying to press each brick inward one by one. When she pressed the brick at the very center of the entire wall, the grey brick, which should have been incredibly solid, suddenly sank inward. This was followed by the sound of a mechanical gear mechanism turning.

"I ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍knew it..."

Along ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍with the teeth-gritting sound of rusty mechanisms operating, the grey brick wall before Lina immediately opened up, revealing a pitch-black, deep, narrow passage within.

"Whir, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍whir, whir!"

And ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the moment the passage opened, the magic torches inserted into the walls on both sides of the passage also lit up, illuminating what was originally a pitch-dark path for Evelia and the others.

But at the same time, an intensely rich smell of blood and decay, enough to cause physical discomfort, rushed forth from the passage, making all three of them furrow their brows simultaneously.

"A very bad feeling."

Amya's eyes narrowed slightly. With a gentle wave of her pale hand in the air, a long sword formed from condensed light elements instantly appeared in her grasp.

Lina also took out six Black Keys from her cloak, skillfully clasping them between her fingers.

And our Miss Demon likewise pulled out that beloved purple shotgun from beneath her nun's habit.

"...Evelia, I've been wanting to ask for a while now. Where exactly do you pull that gun out from?"

Looking at the shotgun in Evelia's arms that was practically half her height, Lina truly couldn't suppress the urge to complain this time.

"Fourth-dimensional pocket. Do you believe me?"

"..."

"Alright you two, stop messing around at a time like this. Saving someone takes priority!"

Seeing that these two still had the mood to joke around at a moment like this, Amya directly struck each of them with a sword hilt. Then, paying no mind to the resentful looks from the two behind her, she walked straight toward the depths of the passage without looking back.

"Hey! At least wait for me!"

Evelia called out in complaint, then hurriedly chased after her.

Lina, as agreed upon beforehand, followed closely behind Evelia, remaining vigilant against enemies that might appear from somewhere behind them at any moment.

And so the three of them advanced into the depths of the passage in an orderly fashion, though actually not really.

……

It took about two or three minutes before Evelia and the others finally emerged from that winding passage.

However, the moment they came out, they were shocked by the enormous underground space before their eyes.

"Seriously? Did they hollow out the entire orphanage underground?"

Evelia couldn't help but voice her complaint.

"...This was likely an underground cavern or something similar originally. Given Wangyou City's geological structure, it's indeed possible for this kind of space to form through water erosion."

Compared to Evelia's shock, Lina was clearly much calmer. Even so, she was still somewhat surprised by this breathtaking underground spectacle.

"But this is too big. It must have been expanded later."

"Look over there. There are reinforcement magic circles in the corners."

Amya pointed at several strange light pillars not far away. It was thanks to the support of these magic light pillars that the entire underground space wouldn't collapse from the weight of the structures above ground.

"But none of that is the main point... that thing in the distance, you've noticed it too, right?"

"Yeah... at this scale, it would be hard not to notice."

All three of them had vision far superior to ordinary people. So even from a distance, they had already noticed the massive [Blood Pool] located at the far end of the underground space.

And the mountain of rotting corpses piled up on the shore of the blood pool.

For a moment, all three of their expressions became very grave.

"Wait! The one soaking in the pool right now is..."

Suddenly, as if noticing something, Evelia hurriedly ran toward the blood pool. Amya and Lina behind her exchanged a glance, then quickly followed after her.

"An An! An An!"

Not caring whether the filthy blood in the blood pool would soil her dress, Evelia rushed straight into the pool and pulled out the young girl who had been floating on the surface of the blood pool like a piece of rotten wood.

At this moment, An An's face was pale as a sheet. All her clothes had become somewhat bloated from soaking in blood, and her limbs were ice-cold like blocks of ice. There was also a shocking knife wound on her wrist that made one's heart tremble. But fortunately, the child still had a breath of life remaining. With her somewhat strange but hard-to-pinpoint healing magic, Evelia could still pull her back from the gates of death for now.

But just as Evelia was preparing to cast healing magic on An An to stabilize her condition, two black shadows suddenly sprang out from the side without any warning. Their magically-enhanced sharp blades swung decisively toward Evelia's vital points.

"Eve-Eve, watch out!"

Due to being too far away, the cross-shaped sword in her hand clearly wouldn't make it in time. Amya simply condensed a long bow from light elements again, using the cross-shaped sword as an arrow. In an instant, an arrow of light radiating a holy aura flew forth. The precise shot even pierced directly through the heart of one of the black shadows in mid-air.

At the same time, Lina's figure also lunged forward like a phantom. Brilliant golden chains drilled out from beneath her feet, rapidly wrapping around the body of the other black shadow. As she pulled it back, her Black Key instantly slashed out, cleanly severing the black shadow's head.

"They're... humans? From the Descent Faction?"

Lina turned over the head of the black-robed figure she had beheaded. She frowned slightly after confirming the other party was human.

"Perhaps they heard the noise of us coming down and were lying in ambush."

Perhaps because she was now an angel, Amya didn't feel the resistance she had imagined toward killing someone for the first time. One could even say... her heart was completely undisturbed.

The only thing she cared about was Evelia's safety.

"Evelia, how is An An?"

"...The healing magic wasn't interrupted. She'll be out of danger soon."

A drop of sweat rolled down from Evelia's temple. Each time she cast this kind of healing magic, it was quite a drain on her.

But fortunately, the effect was astonishing. After casting it for just a few seconds, color had already returned to An An's face.

Even the wound on her wrist had begun to gradually heal.

"That's good then. Wait! Eve-Eve, watch out!"

Amya had just wanted to catch her breath, but her peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of something in the blood pool. She immediately reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, hurriedly crying out in alarm.

"Huh?"

Evelia was focusing on casting her healing magic. Before she could figure out what Amya meant, a black shadow suddenly lunged out from the blood pool right in front of her.

It was a man whose magical aura was completely chaotic. His expression was deranged, and a massive blood-colored crystal resembling a tumor grew on his chest. He grabbed Evelia's ankle the moment he emerged!

In the next instant, the tumor crystal on the man's chest suddenly lit up.

A violent magical aura emanated from within it.

"Hahaha! My mission... is COMPLETE!!!"