Chapter 146: Maleficus Dungeon (1)
According to the information extracted from the necromancer, the Cult of the Black God had taken control of a portion of the western area of Maleficus Dungeon and established their base there.
Due to the vast size of the dungeon and its many damaged areas, they could only utilize about twenty percent of the space for living quarters. The remaining areas were still overrun with monsters and wraiths, rendering them inaccessible to humans.
Edia was said to be confined in the deepest, innermost part of the residential area. Ostensibly, the cult claimed that it was for her safety. New recruits weren't allowed to roam the dungeon freely because of the dangers. In truth, they were merely keeping her imprisoned to prevent her escape.
To rescue Edia, Karnak's group had two choices. One, they could charge directly through the residential area, which was heavily guarded by cultists. Or, they could sneak in through the uninhabited areas, which were teeming with monsters and wraiths.
At first glance, the second option seemed more favorable, but it wasn't that simple. It was like attempting to infiltrate a fortress by scaling the sheer cliff behind it because it was less guarded. Why would it be less guarded? Because most would fall to their deaths before reaching the top.
Still, there were always those rare individuals who managed to climb such cliffs, and Karnak’s party happened to be one of them.
***
A pack of monsters rushed through the desolate underground corridors, their growls echoing in the dimly lit space. They were saccade wolves, creatures resembling a hybrid of hedgehogs and wolves. Like many dungeon monsters, they had claimed part of Maleficus as their territory.
"Graaaah!"
Their glowing red eyes betrayed their agitation, and for good reason. A mysterious human had dared to set foot in their domain. Driven by primal instincts, the saccade wolves scoured the area for the intruder.
Their fur glowed faintly, illuminating the darkness. As creatures adapted to life underground, they emitted their own light. Beyond their glow, a human silhouette flickered in the distance. Upon spotting their target, the wolves bolted down the corridor in a frenzy. They charged into a chamber where the shadow had disappeared.
"Grk?"