Chapter 279 : Dark Vines
Demon Territory, Eclipse Gate.
This was the deepest part of the demon territory, a place that even most demons had never visited.
Because this place...
Was truly too desolate.
The sky was filled with smoke that never dispersed year-round, the earth was barren and charred black, yet perversely grew a type of sharp tree called Blood Crown that fed specifically on the blood of living creatures.
But at this moment, a light golden ship was sailing here.
It was Elucia's vessel, the Time Shuttle.
......
Sitting in the observation port, Luozhi Sheng asked the little loli beside her:
"Candel, aren't we there yet?"
"Almost, almost! We should arrive after crossing the next mountain ridge."
"You've been saying that since half an hour ago."
"Don't rush me! I've only been to the ancient elevator once! It's normal not to remember clearly... Ah, I see it, I see it! Over there, we can go rescue Sister Sethilu and Master Elucia~~"
The red-haired little loli jumped up, dancing and pointing at the pitch-black building in the distance.
It was hexagonal, very much like a small military fortress... except that many pitch-black viscous substances were growing on top, seemingly covering the entrance.
"It's dark vines. This place hasn't been used for too long and has been occupied by these corrupted plants."
With just one glance, Yicheng identified the plant's nature.
"Sister Yicheng, should we force our way through?"
"No, that would consume a lot of energy, and after reaching the Underground World, we'll still face several battles."
"In that case..."
"Stop the ship near the fortress. Let me see if there's any way to clear these corrupted plants."
The pitch-black vines grew on the obsidian walls.
As time passed, they continued to writhe with breathing motions, like blood vessels connected to a heart.
If Suling or Lonis came to such a place, they would probably jump up in fright and hide behind their companions.
But Yicheng only stepped forward.
"Hmm... familiar scent, is it that guy's handiwork again?"
Yicheng pushed open the door, and three thick tentacles immediately shot out, instantly wrapping around her body.
Abdomen, arms, thighs.
In just one second, they clung deeply into her muscles like perverted men craving the girl, continuously rubbing against Yicheng's body with their uneven surfaces.
"Sister Yicheng!"
Luozhi Sheng cried out, wanting to come forward to help.
However...
"Stay where you are."
Yicheng showed neither sorrow nor joy, only giving a calm command.
"!"
"Please stay where you are. This is an order."
Yicheng didn't even resist, simply allowing these thick tentacles to wrap around her body.
First the limbs, then the torso and head...
In just one minute, this orange-haired girl's body was completely enveloped by the tentacle monster, with layers upon layers of tentacles mixed with countless tiny tendrils writhing up and down against the girl's body.
Viscous liquid could occasionally be seen flowing from the tentacle tips, pooling bit by bit on the ground. These tentacles wrapped seamlessly into a sphere, not even leaving the girl a single breathing space.
Seeing this scene, Luozhi Sheng almost suspected that Sister Yicheng had already been devoured by the tentacle monster.
Completely trained by the tentacle monster, turned into some kind of corrupted existence.
However,
Just five minutes later...
A strand of orange light burst forth from within the tentacle monster.
At first just one strand, then two or three, four or five... countless rays of light like an exploding nova completely destroyed this mass of tentacles.
"Hmm, genome analysis complete, 11.5% margin of error. This is a new type of dark domain plant, completely different from all currently known species."
Yicheng walked out proudly from the vine tentacle cluster.
Despite being covered in slime, with strange digestive fluids even sliding down from her black stockings, filling her boots... Yicheng's expression remained calm and composed, as if she had merely taken a stroll.
"Junior Luozhi Sheng, take out the A7 injection. This should be able to break through the plant blockade."
"Ah, ah! I understand, but Senior, are you... are you alright?"
"Me...?"
"This slime on your body, should I... help you clean it?"
This slime was very strange, not only extremely viscous but also emitting an unpleasant squid-like fishy smell.
But Yicheng not only didn't mind, but actually said:
"Hmm, the slime... don't worry about me. Some of this slime needs to be preserved for sealing. So it can't be wiped off yet."
"Eh?"
"If you mind the smell, Junior, you can return to the ship first..."
"No, it's fine! I'll still... stay with Senior."
......
......
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
......
......
(Ugh... so tired?)
Following along with the group, Lonis was already getting out of breath.
Although the "curse" from the Ember Shield had expired and she was wearing clothes again... this rugged terrain was too difficult to traverse!
It was like an undeveloped underground cave, with not a single flat road. The difficulty of advancing was no less than climbing mountains, going up and down constantly. Lonis was already weak in stamina, and after walking for less than an hour, she felt her legs cramping and unable to continue.
But...
There was still quite a distance to the agreed meeting point.
And except for herself, neither Zhou Suling nor Bai Ye complained of being tired... This made Lonis too embarrassed to ask for a rest.
After all, she was a man!
And as a man, how could she lose face in front of girls?
So Lonis wanted to continue showing off, wanting to climb over the boulder ahead in a crisp and efficient manner.
However...
"Wuah?!"
"Lonis!"
A spasm in her calf made Lonis completely unable to stand steady, directly losing her center of gravity.
If Elucia hadn't immediately grabbed her arm, Lonis felt she would have rolled down the mountainside... Even if she didn't die from the fall, she would probably turn into mincemeat.
Because the Underground World didn't have much vegetation, weathering was also weak, and most rocks were as sharp as knives.
"Lonis, be careful."
Elucia frowned with a slightly annoyed expression.
"S-sorry..."
"Sister Elucia, I think Student Lonis can't hold on anymore. Should we rest here for a bit?"
"Hah? Rest? How can we rest in the middle of nowhere?"
Elucia was right—they were currently on a huge slope without even a foothold for long-term standing.
"But Lonis, she..."
"Fine, who told me to have such a stupid maid? Lonis, come here."
Elucia grabbed Lonis's wrist, speaking with a serious expression.