Chapter 27: The Commander on the Throne

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: The Commander on the Throne

STEP!

Stepping onto solid ground once again, Yu Zhun found the surrounding brightness a bit dazzling, having already grown accustomed to the dim environment of the Nether Trial.

He shook his head vigorously, realizing he was now standing inside a resplendent hall. Standing there, he could vaguely make out the scenery outside. It was still the familiar darkness, with only this place surging with light.

"@#￥@..."

Ancient and mysterious syllables echoed through the hall. It was the language of the Demonized Elf. However, this time, Yu Zhun could surprisingly understand the meaning conveyed in the other party’s language.

"You have arrived."

Surprised, Yu Zhun raised his head, looking up at the entity sitting on the throne at the highest point of the hall. Like the Demonized Elf, he had long, pointed ears. A cascade of Gold hair flowed down his back, and he rested his chin on one hand, looking down at Yu Zhun.

But unlike the Demonized Elf he had encountered before, there were no traces of Demon Patterns on his body, nor were his eyes the black of a Demonized Elf. Those were a pair of azure eyes, seemingly brewing emotions as deep as the sea. As their eyes met, Yu Zhun felt an indescribable, deathly stillness from the other’s gaze, as if he had experienced an unimaginably desperate situation.

"You... can communicate?" Yu Zhun asked cautiously.

So far, he hadn’t seen the other party’s stat panel, which meant this wasn’t an opponent he needed to defeat.

"Communicate... you could say that." A slight ripple appeared in the male Elf’s eyes. "You are the second human to reach here in all these years."

"Someone else came here before?" Yu Zhun revealed a surprised expression.

"Yes, decades ago," the male Elf gave a vague timeframe. "That person told me a lot about your race."

"May I ask, how should I address you?"

"Address..." The male Elf shook his head slightly. "Just a loser unworthy of mentioning his name. There is no need for an address."

Yu Zhun blinked, showing a puzzled look, but the other party had no intention of explaining.

"The time I remain lucid is getting shorter and shorter," the male Elf said, looking at the gloom outside the hall. "When the last human came, I could still chat with him for a while, but now...

"It only takes a few sentences before I can barely suppress it anymore.

"Later, I must trouble you to help me find release.

"To be able to reach here, your talent must be formidable. Keep working hard!

"Do not let your race end up like us..."

The male Elf’s voice came to an abrupt halt, stiffening in place like a stone statue. The bright interior of the hall was instantly plunged into the same gloom as the outside world, as if a light switch had been flipped. In the dimness, Yu Zhun clearly saw Demon Patterns rapidly crawling all over the male Elf’s body and face.

Those tightly closed eyes opened once more, having transformed into a profound pitch-black.

[Demonized Elf Commander (Lv 20)]

[Attributes:

Life Value: 400,000

Mana: 10,000

Physical Attack: 2,500

Magic Attack: 2,500

Physical Defense: 700

Magic Defense: 700]

[Skill 1 (Death Curse): Designate a target and immediately deal True Damage equal to 90% of their current Life Value.]

[Skill 2 (Burial): Designate a target and immediately deal True Damage equal to 20% of their lost Life Value.]

[Skill 3 (Monarch’s Protection): When Life Value drops below 50%, Physical Defense and Magic Defense immediately increase by 100%.]

"No, you motherf—" After finishing reading the skills, Yu Zhun felt a chill shoot straight to the top of his skull.

"You want me to help you find release?

"I think you’re the one trying to release me!

"If Skills 1 and 2 are used in succession, who could possibly survive?" Yu Zhun thought.

Before he even had time to complain, Yu Zhun felt a chill run down his spine. The Demonized Elf Commander raised a hand and pointed at him. Almost purely out of instinct, Yu Zhun darted and dodged around the gloomy hall, attempting to evade the incoming attack. However, a black skull appeared squarely above his head.

Skill [Death Curse], activated!

[Life Value -1,079]

With the [Phantom] effect ending, Yu Zhun’s face darkened as he watched his plummeting health bar. Seeing the Demonized Elf Commander hold his hands in front of his chest in the starting posture of another skill, he grit his teeth fiercely.

Right now, the opponent was likely going to use Skill 2. Given his current health, taking a hit wouldn’t kill him, but [Phantom] had already entered cooling. He had to finish him off before the Demonized Elf Commander could use Skill 1 again!

Stomping forcefully on the ground, Yu Zhun charged toward the Demonized Elf Commander.

"You haven’t asked my name yet!

"My name is Yu Zhun. You’d better remember it!" he shouted.

HUM!

As the Demonized Elf Commander clasped his hands together, a low humming sound echoed throughout the hall. Red text floated above Yu Zhun’s head once again.

Skill [Burial], activated!

[Life Value -216]

And Yu Zhun had already arrived right in front of his opponent.

"You want release, right?

"I’ll give it to you!"

His dagger plunged into the Demonized Elf Commander’s chest, and crimson text floated above the boss’s head.

[Life Value -400,000]

The Demonized Elf Commander’s body jolted violently. The Demon Patterns receded like a fading tide, and clarity returned to his eyes.

"Thank you... Yu Zhun.

"I am... the King.

"Not... a Commander."

Having struggled to speak those final words, he slumped over on his throne.

Yu Zhun stood silently before the throne. He suddenly thought of a detail he had previously overlooked. The Demonized Orc Commander had also been sitting on a throne when it first appeared.

"Why would a Commander be sitting on a throne?" he wondered.

No one could answer his question.

[Congratulations on successfully passing the twenty-second floor of the Nether Trial!]

[Current Stage Rewards: EXP +50,000, Optional Lv 15 Epic Equipment x3, Equipment Enhancement Stone x500, Equipment Upgrade Stone x50, Lucky Talisman x5, Nether Abyss Invitation Letter, Title [Nether General]!]

[[Nether General] (Red): Choose three attributes to increase by 50%.]

[All stage rewards can be claimed upon leaving.]

[Leave]

This time, there was no [Proceed to the Next Floor] option. Yu Zhun’s eyes swept over the lines of text, finally landing on the [Nether Abyss Invitation Letter].

[Nether Abyss Invitation Letter: Hidden Bound Item. Ownership cannot be changed. Use before class advancement to enter the hidden Dungeon [Nether Abyss] and explore the secrets beneath the twenty-second floor of the Nether Land.]

"Before class advancement... meaning the maximum entry level is Lv 30?" Yu Zhun took a deep breath, looking at the Elf on the throne who had already lost all signs of life. "I’ll be back."

As for now, it was time to leave.

[Player has ended the Nether Trial. Claiming all stage rewards.]

[Congratulations, Player. Level EXP +105,000.]

[Congratulations, Player. You have obtained Equipment Enhancement Stone x1,050, Equipment Upgrade Stone x90, Lucky Talisman x6.]

[Congratulations, Player. You have obtained Optional Lv 15 Epic Equipment x3, Optional Lv 10 Epic Equipment x1, Optional Lv 5 Epic Equipment x1, Optional Lv 15 Master Level Equipment x3, Optional Lv 10 Master Level Equipment x5, Optional Lv 5 Master Level Equipment x5, Optional...]

[Congratulations, Player. You have obtained the Title [Nether Apostle] and the Title [Nether General].]

[Congratulations, Player. You have obtained the Hidden Item: Nether Abyss Invitation Letter.]