During a casual chat earlier, the orc guard mentioned a large herd of wild bulls inhabiting the underground valley south of the mine.
His two brothers, patrolling near the valley, hadn't returned yet.
If nothing unexpected happened, they must have startled the wild bulls, and before they could escape, they were killed by their blast, turning them to cold stone.
The so-called "wild bulls" are also commonly known as "petrified bulls."
These bull-like magical beasts emit a poisonous green smoke that can petrify the flesh and blood of living creatures.
Even without inhaling the smoke, mere skin contact can cause rapid dehydration and petrification.
The wild bulls are sturdy and heavily armored, like living tanks!
Their pair of horns are equivalent to a level 2 enchanted weapon.
Their innate ability, "Iron Will," grants them strong resistance to mental magic.
A fully grown petrified bull's combat power rivals that of a late-stage third-tier violent warlock! The leader of the cattle herd is no less powerful than an early-stage fourth-tier beast!
The cattle herd that inhabits the southern valley number nearly a hundred!
Even the dungeon lord Akuma would be wary of such a terrifying herd of magical beasts.
The petrified cattle that Akuma feared, however, weren't particularly fearful to Alan.
Just how potent was the petrifying gas spewed by the wild bulls?
As long as it wasn't above level 6, he was immune!
Hunting a lone wild bull, absorbing the petrifying toxin with its bone spurs, he could synthesize it himself, thereby defeating the regenerative abilities of Akuma and the trolls!
This idea was worth a try!
Alan returned to the barracks and shared his idea with the three swan sisters.
He omitted details about the bone spurs and venom glands.
He simply explained that he had a way to extract the petrifying toxin from the wild bulls to counteract Akuma's regenerative abilities.
None of the three sisters objected.
As usual, the four disguised themselves as orcs and left camp under the pretense of a patrol to the southern mining area.
To facilitate their journey through the dark and rugged terrain, they stopped by the stables to collect mounts.
Mounts in the underground world primarily consist of spiders and lizards.
Aside from the dark elves, few could tame the massive mutant spiders, making lizards a safer choice.
These horse-sized lizards had been tamed to perfection, and with matching saddles, the riding experience was similar to that of horses.
Alan and the three Swan sisters rode the lizards through the underground tunnels.
The lizards' feet had suction cups, allowing them to easily scale steep cliffs.
Riding these large lizards, skilled at long-distance running, they reached the underground valley a hundred miles south of the dungeon in just three hours.
The four dismounted at the valley's entrance, tied their reins to a rock pillar, and appeased the lizards to wait there.
A broad underground river flowed from the canyon, providing a precious source of water for this dark, subterranean world.
In the Underdark, clean water is the most precious resource.
Where there is water, there is life.
The banks of the stream grew dense circles of mushrooms and vast expanses of shimmering, phosphorescent moss, all favorite foods of the wild bulls.
Large herds of wild bulls settled in the valley for the convenient access to food and clean water.
Before entering the valley, Alan began "detecting poisons."
The Underdark is full of poisonous creatures.
A random, inconspicuous cluster of mushrooms by the roadside could harbor six or seven varieties of poisonous mushrooms.
To eliminate interference and improve detection efficiency, Alan slightly modified his spell configuration, reacting only to poisons above level 4.
Petrifying poison is one of the most dangerous of all poisons, unlikely to be lower than level 4.
Alan, accompanied by the three swan maidens, walked lightly along the riverbank.
Not far away, they saw a vaguely humanoid stone statue lying on the riverbank.
A closer look revealed the vague features of an orc.
Apparently, this was the missing dungeon patrolman.
The orc's expression of fear before death was frozen in time, like an exquisitely crafted stone sculpture.
The statue's limbs were mutilated, and judging by the cross-section, it looked as if it had been gnawed by wild beasts.
Alan remembered what the orc guards had said: in addition to mushrooms and moss, wild bulls would occasionally nibble on rocks as a snack.
Their petrified victims were often gnawed beyond recognition.
While observing the statue, Alan suddenly received an alarm.
A Level 6 toxin reaction has been detected within a hundred meters ahead!
In addition, the system has also detected the scent of a unique ingredient!
By the valley's edge, a dozen or so bison-like monsters dwell, covered in thick, steel-blue metal plate armor, green smoke emanating from their mouths and noses.
Alan, standing atop a towering stalagmite, overlooked the herd and quickly spotted a particularly powerful bull.
It was over five meters long, standing a full three meters tall at the shoulder.
The plate armor, tightly fitting its body, was a purple-blue hue, solid and thick, gleaming with the oils seeping from its skin!
It seemed this was the head bull, the leader of the petrified bulls.
The petrified bulls that inhabited the valley lived in family units, led by the strongest adult bull.
The rest of the family consisted of the head bull's spouse and any minor children.
The herd Allen had seen, consisting of one male, six females, and eight calves, made up a medium-sized family of bulls.
There were more than a dozen similar settlements further down the valley.
Going deeper into the valley was too dangerous.
Alan decided to target the nearest herd of bulls.
The bulls were extremely alert.
The females, in particular, kept their ears perked up, constantly alert to any movement.
The calves, guarded by their parents, gathered by the river, playing and frolicking.
They occasionally drank water and nibbled on juicy mushrooms.
It looked like there would be little chance of catching a lone bull.
Alan surveyed the valley's terrain and formed a plan.
He returned to the swans and whispered his plan.
The three sisters nodded frequently.
Following Alan's advice, they cast "Entanglement" and "Grease" spells in the narrowest part of the valley, setting a trap.
"Tyávé!"
Across the trap, Alan cast a third-level "Liquid Alchemy," transforming some of the stream water into nectar from the "Flower Fairy Queen," Elona.
A hundred meters away, in the shallows where the cattle gathered, the stream exuded a strong aroma of nectar.
The lead cow and the four cows beside it detected something amiss and immediately mooed and roared in warning.
However, it was too late.
The calves drinking from the water were poisoned and collapsed on the riverbank.
The lead cow glared angrily, glancing around, and soon noticed the stranger.
It lowered its head, raised its huge, sharp horns, and charged towards Alan and the others!
Alan didn't hesitate, casting another spell.
"Yanta!"
A ray of magical light enveloped the galloping bull.
The sturdy bull vanished, reappearing 60 meters away atop a stalactite dangling from the underground dome.
Using the second-level spell "Transpose," Alan forced the bull to swap places with a moth resting on the stalactite.
A tiny moth could cling to the smooth stalactite, but a bull weighing over five tons couldn't do the same!
Crack!
The stalactite shattered instantly.
The bull let out a long, mournful cry and plummeted from its height in free fall!
With a thud, it landed heavily in a forest of stalagmites.
The stalagmites resembled inverted spears.
A large group of them were instantly crushed by the falling bulls!
The thick, hard armor that protected the bull from the stalactites also inflicted even greater damage from the fall, causing it to spit blood and become dazed.
The four female bulls roared and charged at the intruders!
After a few steps, they collectively ran into a trap set by the three swan sisters.
The two cows in the lead slipped and fell into the greasy trap.
The two cows that followed were entangled in animated vines, unable to move.
The cows were anxious and furious!
They spewed green smoke laced with petrifying poison at the three swan girls on the other side of the trap.
"Surre!"
The three swan sisters were well prepared.
The fourth and sixth sisters simultaneously cast a second-level "Wind Creation."
With a flick of her hand, she summoned a mighty gust of wind, blowing the billowing green smoke back.
The eldest swan daughter then unleashed a blast of "Flash Dust," causing the cows to close their eyes in agony and lower their heads.
Using pre-set traps and magic, the three sisters successfully separated the herd, temporarily controlling the situation.
The traps could only temporarily hold the petrified cows back; they would soon be breached.
The three sisters wore magical feathered garments, ready to transform into swans and fly away if the situation proved dire.
The success of the hunt depended on Alan.
He must seize the opportunity the sisters had created and kill the leader cow as soon as possible!
A heavy gasp echoed from the shattered stalagmite forest.
The leader cow, having broken a leg, struggled to its feet and limped back.
A tall young man blocked their path.
The furious bull's eyes flashed bloodshot, its maw gaping, as it spewed a stream of green smoke at Alan!
Alan remained unfazed amidst the petrifying smoke.
His bare upper body displayed a healthy bronze hue, showing no signs of petrification.
The Gluttony system had already determined the level of the petrifying smoke.
Alan's level 6 poison resistance granted him immunity to a level 6 petrifying poison.
Hound stride!
A swift charge!
Alan, like a nimble cheetah, burst through the thick smoke.
Instantly, he reached the bull and slapped it head-on!
Boom!
Thunder roared from the dark underground vault.
The bull stumbled back, nearly falling.
A large, blood-red handprint dented its forehead.
Tiny cracks appeared on the purple plate armor on the bull's head.
Alan looked down at his numbed palm, his expression grim.
He used all his might in a "Blasting Palm" attack, but it couldn't shatter the bull's head!
The bull's defense rivaled that of a shark-lizard beast!
Its natural armor, similar to beastly armor, had a special damage reduction effect.
Alan's bare hands were equivalent to a level one enchanted weapon.
The inability to penetrate the armor indicated that a level two enchanted weapon was needed to reliably penetrate the bull's armor.
Moo—
The frenzied bull, dragging its injured leg, charged forward.
Boom!
Like a scarecrow, Alan was sent flying by the bull's horns, hurling over ten meters and collapsing a large area of stalagmites.
Crack!
Alan calmly rose from the rubble.
His body, blessed with "soft bone and flesh armor," bore no scars.
The previous head-on collision revealed the bull's physical attributes to be around 33, two points higher than its normal form.
"I've already gauged your strength. It's time to end this game."
Third-Stage Atavism—Magic Leopard Giant Form!
In a flash, Alan's height tripled!
The giant, with a leopard's head and a human's body, stood tall in the stalagmite forest.
His emerald eyes appeared exceptionally cold in the darkness.
The bull, with its eyes reddened, charged forward once more.
Alan, in his atavism, slowly extended his hands.
Snap!
A pair of massive palms firmly grasped the bull's horns.
With a sudden burst of force, he toppled the bull to the ground!
In his ancestral state, Allen's physical attributes reached a staggering 37, surpassing the bull in size.
The leopard-headed giant wrestled with the enraged bull, easily overpowering it!
Alan grasped the bull's horns with one hand, forcing it to the ground sideways.
Freeing his left hand, he gathered his magic power.
The bull, sensing danger, mooed and struggled desperately.
However, it was in vain!
No matter how hard it tried, it couldn't break free from Allen's one-handed grip.
"Little bull, die!"
With a roar, the leopard-headed giant struck the bull's death!
His massive fist smashed into the bull's forehead.
Bone shattered!
Amidst a roar, Allen's punch shattered the armor on the bull's head!
The bull was struck, its cranial tissues severely impacted, and it fainted instantly.
Alan spread his left palm and pressed down on the bleeding bull's head.
Poof!
A bone spur popped out from his palm.
It pierced through the shattered armor, burrowing deep into the skull's cracks, stirring madly!
The bull's brain was churned into a murky mess.
The powerful beast died in a coma.
Alan contracted his venom glands, absorbing the bull's Level 6 petrifying toxin.
At the same time, his toxin resistance finally broke through the limit again, reaching Level 7!
Alan licked his lips, his heart ablaze with excitement!
The bone spur pierced deep into the bull's body, continuing to absorb blood after the petrifying toxin!
His venom glands had recently evolved a new ability—blood extraction! Blood drawn from the wild bull's body, extracted through its venom glands, yields a blood essence that acts as a bloodline awakening agent.
Injecting a human with this dose creates a chance of awakening the wild bull's bloodline!
A wild bull bloodline sorcerer possesses top-tier growth potential in both physique and natural armor!
Upon reaching a certain level of cultivation, one can even evolve the powerful skill of spitting petrifying toxic smoke.
Alan himself doesn't have access to the wild bull's bloodline, but he can pass it on as a legacy to outstanding disciples in his martial arts school.
Also, he hasn't forgotten his senior sister.
Tanya's giant-horned minotaur bloodline is highly compatible with the wild bull's.
After all, you can't write two "ox" characters in one stroke.
By combining the two, it's possible to evolve a new bloodline comparable to that of the poisonous leopard man!
Besides blood and toxins, the wild bull also possesses two unique ingredients! The herd of cows across the way was about to break free from the trap.
Alan didn't bother sorting his spoils; he simply carried the dead cow and called on the three swan sisters to retreat!
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Alan unleashed his "Phantom Step," teleporting continuously!
His figure flashed and swiftly vanished.
The three sisters collectively transformed into swans, dodging the sharp stalactites dangling from the dome of the rock wall above, soaring low in pursuit of Alan's figure.
Soon, they had left the enraged herd behind them.
...
Underground cave.
A ball of magical light floated in the air, illuminating four faces.
The three swan sisters sat against the wall, their three beautiful eyes fixed on Alan, who was dissecting the carcass of the wild bull.
Their eyes were a mixture of curiosity and surprise.
Allen, wielding the "Steel Rake" in his palms, used his hands as knives to dissect the bull with ease.
With a swish, flesh and bone separated!
A large piece of metal armor, half an inch thick, peeled off the bull's body, making it an excellent material for crafting magical armor.
The bull's horns were also valuable. Used directly as weapons, they were equivalent to a pair of scimitars with level 2 enchantments!
Allen stripped the bull of its armor, grabbed the horns, and dissected the beef with both hands.
He stuffed the large chunks of flesh he had cut off into his mouth while they were still warm, chewing them.
The beef tasted similar to regular beef.
The meat was firmer and more resilient.
Allen cut off a few pieces and offered them to the swan girls.
None of the three sisters minded eating raw meat.
Unfortunately, their teeth weren't as good as Allen's.
It was too tough to chew.
In the end, they could only spit out the beef tendon, which had been chewed to a rubbery consistency.
Alan cut open the ox's belly and cut out the steaming liver whole.
This was the tenderest organ on the barbarian ox, even the swan girl's pearly teeth could chew it.
The three sisters shared a piece of liver and were already full.
Alan had no idea what "full" meant.
Under the sisters' increasingly horrified gazes, he devoured the beef like a whirlwind.
In the end, only a pile of bones and inconveniently cleaned intestines remained.
At the same time, a series of system notifications entered his mind.
"Consume Special Ingredient: Petrified Beef!"
"Potential +1!"
"Constitution +1!"
"Consume Special Ingredient: Petrified Cow's Basal Vessel!"
"Potential +2!"
"Constitution +1!"
Current Attributes: Constitution 33, Agility 26, Spirit 42
Potential Reserve: 13
...
Eating a cow increases Constitution by two points, plus three Potential points!
Alan licked his lips, still wanting more.
It's a shame the conditions didn't allow it; otherwise, cleaning the tripe and intestines and adding them to the hot pot would be a delicious dish.
Sighing, he casually injected digestive fluid, dissolving the remaining bones and internal organs, eliminating any traces.
"Alan, we never realized you were such a big eater before. It's truly astonishing!"
Swan Sister Four exclaimed in amazement.
Alan smiled sheepishly. "When we first met, I was so bad at eating that I was afraid you'd laugh at me. Now that we're familiar, it doesn't matter anymore."
At this moment, a ball of light suddenly appeared in the sky.
The sixth sister, closest to the ball, raised her hand to read the message, her face lit up with joy.
"It's from my second sister!"
"What does the letter say?" the fourth sister asked anxiously. "How are my second sister and the others doing now?"
"Strange! How did my second sister know we were in the Underdark?"
The eldest sister frowned in confusion.
If they weren't in the Underdark, even with the extended range of the arcane mark, it would be nearly impossible for them to receive the limited range of "communication."
"My second sister said in the letter that she didn't know where we were or if we were safe. She was just sending a test message as per custom."
The sixth sister answered her eldest sister's question. "Second sister and the others secretly send us letters every day, hiding from the evil Akuma, hoping for a reply..."
At this point, the emotional Sixth Sister choked up.
Fourth Sister held her hand and soothed her.
Turning to look at the Eldest Sister and Allen, her eyes brimming with excitement.
"Second sister's courage to send a letter proves the Akuma isn't watching them!"
"This is a rare opportunity. Let's write back to her and tell her we're trying to rescue them!"
"Don't reply yet. I need to think about it." The eldest swan daughter turned and whispered to Allen, "What do you think?"
"You can reply, just as Fourth Sister said, but don't reveal our location," Allen mused.
After the Sixth Sister replied, she soon received another letter from the Second Sister.
"Second sister wants to know where we're hiding now and whether we're safe!"
"Tell second sister that we're all in the old place and are safe!" the eldest sister said calmly.
"Uh, eldest sister, 'the old place'... what is it?" The sixth sister's eyes were filled with questions.
"Don't worry about it. Just reply and see what second sister says next," the eldest swan daughter said calmly.
After receiving the second sister's reply, the sixth sister became even more confused.
"Strange, second sister didn't ask about the specific place."
The eldest sister smiled thoughtfully and looked at Allen.
Alan nodded slightly.
In fact, he didn't know exactly where the "old place" was.
However, both parties in the communication pretended to know such a place.
The second swan daughter should be most concerned about two issues at the moment:
First, the safety of the three sisters who are on the run.
The second was how she and her three captured sisters could escape.
As for the whereabouts of her eldest, fourth, and sixth sisters, it wasn't important.
Why would she waste precious communication time by asking about such trivial details?
The only person truly concerned about this matter... could only be Akuma!
If she continued to inquire, it would seem incredibly suspicious.
"My second sister asked me what to do next," the sixth sister continued.
"Have the four sisters give Akuma a magic potion and beg him to take them to Saddle Lake to bathe."
Alan offered his advice slowly and unhurriedly.
"We'll set up an ambush at the lake, surprise Akuma, and rescue the four sisters in the chaos."
The sixth sister nodded and quickly replied.
A moment later, another magical message arrived.
"My second sister asked me if we'd called for reinforcements. Otherwise, the three of us sisters wouldn't be able to fight Akuma, let alone save anyone."
"Tell her the reinforcements are coming from New Quint. Besides me, we'll also have Baker the Koala, Hogg the Electric Pig, and the town's militia, all of whom will be participating in the ambush."
"Uh... wait a minute! Aren't Baker and Hogg away on a long trip?" The fourth sister looked at Allen in surprise.
"Fourth sister, don't interrupt. Just do as Allen says and write back to my second sister!" the eldest swan daughter said solemnly.
"Okay!"
The sixth sister dutifully acted as the messenger.
"Big sister! My second sister has replied. Good news!"
"Akuma agreed to take them on a trip to the south shore of Saddle Lake next Monday morning!"
"Well done!" the fourth sister clapped her hands excitedly.
Alan stood up and said to the three sisters:
"I'm afraid this place isn't safe anymore. Let's go!"
The four of them left the mines and rode their lizards back to Undergate Castle without incident.
Alan didn't plan to stay here any longer.
Before leaving Undergate Castle, he asked his sixth sister to send a letter to his second sister, saying they were seeking refuge in New Gwent and would contact him next Monday.
The second sister replied, agreeing to follow his instructions and looking forward to escaping and reuniting with her sisters soon.
Alan didn't reply and left Undergate Castle overnight with the three sisters.
The three sisters transformed into swans, and Alan rode a griffin, flying directly to New Gwent.
There were still two days until the agreed date.
Before then, Alan had to hurry and mobilize his troops.
Plan the entire ambush plan to perfection.
...
Two days later.
Early spring, the lakeside was covered in lush green grass.
The weather was clear, the sky azure.
A little after nine in the morning, four swans flew in from the southern sky.
Behind the swans, thirteen ferocious dragons followed.
The swans and dragons landed one after another at the lakeside.
The four swans transformed into girls clad in feather cloaks.
The thirteen dragons each bore a rider on their backs.
Dungeon Lord Akuma was the first to leap from the dragon's back.
Following him, twelve troll guards also dismounted.
The four swan girls didn't rush to disrobe and enter the water. Instead, they stood by the lake, looking around, their expressions barely concealing their nervousness.
"Strange! Why haven't my eldest sister and the others shown up yet..."
The second swan girl muttered to herself.
Akuma patted her shoulder and smiled faintly.
"It's okay. I can ask them to come out."
He turned and looked toward the lakeside trees, his eyes filled with contempt.
"Stop hiding! Get out there!"
A rustling sound came from the woods.
Alan led the three swan sisters out, followed by Kairi, Sora, Ella, and Renee.
Soon after, a group of militiamen and martial arts students emerged from the woods!
"It seems you knew about the ambush at the lake a long time ago."
Alan's gaze passed over the ogre wizard and fell on the face of the second swan daughter.
The second swan daughter's pretty face paled slightly. She bit her lip and lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.
"My dear, aren't you happy to see your old flame?"
Akuma, a malicious smile on his face, deliberately took the second swan daughter into his arms right in front of Allen.
As if to stoke his jealousy and avenge the humiliation of their previous mishap in the Swan Cave.
Alan saw his intention and couldn't help but laugh.
"My dear, don't you want to say a few words to your sisters?"
Unable to see the anticipatory, jealous expression on Allen's face, Akuma pushed the second swan daughter forward.
He hoped to admire the expressions of surprise and indignation on the faces of the eldest, fourth, and sixth swan daughters, who had suffered betrayal.
The second swan daughter bit her lip hard, steeled herself, and greeted the three sullen sisters across from her.
"Eldest sister, fourth sister, sixth sister... Lord Akuma isn't as bad as you think."
"During this time, my three sisters and I have been under his care, and life has been pretty good."
"Lord Akuma has long seen through your plot, yet he still dared to bring us on a date. He's truly fearless!"
"You three, stop resisting in vain."
"Rather than asking for trouble, why not submit to Lord Akuma and reunite as sisters..."
"Second sister! You must be crazy!" The sixth sister interrupted. "When you sent me that letter, was that devil Akuma coercing you into taking us in?"
The second swan daughter shook her head slightly.
"I volunteered... Sixth sister, everything is part of Lord Akuma's plan. Stop struggling."
The eldest swan daughter held the sixth sister's hand, pacing her.
"Second sister, it's very unusual for you to say such unnatural things!"
"Most likely, Akuma's charm has taken over her mind, and it wasn't her own will."
Alan felt the same way.
Back at the summit of Shark Fin Peak, Akuma had used the fourth-level "Monster Charm" to subdue the Chimera.
The same method could be used on the Swan Girl.
"Hehe... the beauty trap is indeed a good plan."
Akuma remained calm amidst the crowd.
"It's a pity you didn't plan it thoroughly enough."
"In fact, I guessed your plot a long time ago. Why did you pretend to fall for it? Do you think you were being too overconfident? You thought you could outmaneuver us and capture the three escaping Swan Girls."
Alan continued.
"Young man, you have a bit of cleverness, but not much."
Akuma stood with his hands behind his back, a sneer on his face.
"'Overconfidence' is a fitting description for you!"
The Dungeon Lord raised his right hand and sent a flash of magic towards the sky.
In the distant forest, the howling of wolves suddenly echoed.
A large group of orcish bandits, riding on their wargs, burst out of the woods.
The orc knight leading the charge was none other than the Dungeon Lord's top general, Akira the Flame Axe!
"Little friend, does this surprise give you a little shock?"
Akuma smiled triumphantly.
"Knowing you were setting an ambush here, how could I be so unprepared?"
"Back in Swan Cave, I was careless and suffered a loss."
"A smart person wouldn't make the same mistake again."
"Stop pretending. I know you have two helpers. I heard their nicknames are 'Koala' and 'Electric Pig'?"
"Let them out. I have an old score to settle with them!"
After all this talk, Akuma saw Alan's lack of reaction. His pretense was met with disappointment.
"What? You're still reluctant to play these last two cards?"
"Akuma, what are you talking about!"
A young woman's sneer suddenly rang out from behind Alan.
Led by three captains, the Silver Moon Security Team, dressed as militiamen, emerged from the crowd and approached Alan.
Adam and George, along with Maria, the "Lion Sister" who had just taunted Akuma, collectively removed their disguises, revealing their true forms.
"Those two guys, Baker and Hogg, left Silvermoon Island a week ago and missed today's event."
Lion Sister crossed her arms, her eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
"But it doesn't matter. The three of us siblings are more than enough to fill their shoes."
Shortly after Maria's advancement, Adam and George also successfully broke through their bottleneck, reaching the early stages of the fourth stage.
Each of them was worth Baker and Hogg combined.
"Filling the gap" was a far too modest statement.
Akuma's smile faded, and his gaze returned to Allen, a look that took on a sinister veil.
"Boy, I seem to have underestimated you. I have to admit, you're more cunning than I thought."
"In fact, Alan and I have been suspicious since Second Sister sent the first letter."
The eldest swan daughter said solemnly.
"At that moment, we suspected that Second Sister might have been coerced by you into sending a letter to find out where we were."
"During subsequent correspondence, Allen and I specifically tested Second Sister, and the result was as expected."
"How could a dignified Dungeon Lord like you be so easily bewitched by women as to easily agree to take them on a trip?"
"The fish bit the hook so quickly, which only made it look suspicious."
"From that moment on, we knew this was a conspiracy!"
"You thought you were outwitting them, but you didn't realize we were also deliberately creating confusion!"
"You thought your opponents would be Allen, Baker, and Hogg, and that this was a perfect opportunity to avenge the loss of Swan Cave."
"Little did you know that our true trump cards were the three chief disciples of Silver Moon Monastery, even more powerful than Baker and Hogg!"
"One against three, even you wouldn't stand much chance!"
"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!"
Akuma applauded and laughed.
"Your scheme, a mashup of truth and illusion, interlocks seamlessly, truly deserves my praise!"
"But then again, three early-stage fourth-tier warriors are your trump cards? Isn't that a bit understated?"
"With just the three of them, they can only hold me back for a moment at best."
"Perhaps you think that stalling for this much time will be enough to eliminate my guards and Akira's wolf riders, freeing up your forces to attack me?"
"This tactic isn't without merit, but..."
Akuma smiled and shook his finger.
"But you're still overthinking it."
"Your calculations were all within my expectations. Ultimately, I'm the better player!"
"What do you mean?" Lion Sister's expression changed slightly.
"Hehe... This is Saddle Lake, right?"
Akuma, hands clasped behind his back, gazed out at the vast expanse of the lake, saying, unconcerned, "You seem to have forgotten something."
"The waters north of Saddle Lake have been the territory of the Water Naga clan since ancient times."
"The Queen of the Water Naga clan has long been allied with me."
"I have always prioritized caution and foresight throughout my life!"
"Before setting out today, I contacted the Naga Queen.
Ask her to lurk in the lake and lend me a hand when necessary."
"Inviting the Naga Queen to intervene, of course, comes at a price."
"The bad news is it's quite high. The good news is I don't have to pay it."
Akuma slowly turned and looked at Allen with a half-smile.
"My friends, in just one year, you've made New Gwent a thriving business. That's quite impressive!"
"Thank you for all your hard work this past year."
"After today, you can rest."
"Kill you all, and the Naga Queen and I will jointly rule New Gwent."
"Doesn't the new name 'Akuma Town' sound more appropriate?"
"In case you don't know, by the way, the Naga Queen's cultivation is comparable to mine."
"We have two early-stage fifth-level cultivators here. Excuse me, but what can you possibly bring to bear against me?!" "
"The Naga Queen?"
Alan raised his eyebrows, a look of doubt in his eyes.
"Akuma, you're not just making this up, using the Naga Queen's name as a pretext to scare us off, are you?"
"Ah, look at you, you're still young and short-sighted!"
Akuma sighed solemnly, his eyes filled with mockery.
"Trying to deceive yourself when you're about to die—is that fun?"
"You want to know if I'm bluffing? It's actually very simple."
"I'll give you three high fives, and the Naga Queen will appear."
"However, questioning one's superiors comes at a price. After that, the first person I'll kill is you! "
After saying this, Akuma raised his hands and clapped them three times in front of Allen and the others.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The crisp sound of applause echoed over the lakeshore.
Besides the echoes, there was silence.
Both sides held their breath nervously.
However, as time passed...
The tense atmosphere gradually gave way to doubt.
The echoes of Akuma's high fives had faded into silence.
The lake remained calm.
Where was the Naga Queen?!
Akuma's face twitched slightly.
What's going on?!
This is different from what he and the Naga Queen had agreed upon...
Aren couldn't help but laugh.
"Akuma, maybe the Naga Queen fell asleep and didn't hear."
"How about clapping your hands again?" Maybe this time he'll hear it."
Akuma's facial muscles twitched slightly, then twisted violently.
He refused to believe it!
Suppressing his embarrassment and anger, he clapped three more times!
This time, his hands turned red.
The applause was exceptionally loud.
The lake remained calm.
The Naga Queen, lurking beneath the lake, didn't respond to his call at all.
What was going on?!
The applause echoed in vain above the lake, like a loud slap in the face.
The dungeon lord felt deeply embarrassed, yet also had a strong sense of foreboding.
Something terrible was about to happen!!
"Look, I told you you were bragging, and it turned out just like that."
Alan smiled and raised his hand.
"Yours isn't working, let me do it. "
Pa! Pa! Pa!
He also clapped his hands three times.
As if responding to the resounding applause...
Boom!!
The lake surface exploded, and raging waves surged to the sky.
A tiger-headed giant burst forth from the waves!
White Tiger Martial Lord stood aloft.
Her silver hair danced wildly in the wind!
A holy halo adorned her head three feet above!
"What 'Naga Queen'?"
Master Shiva picked up a limp naga and swung it around casually, as if it were a dead snake.
"Is this the little water snake you're talking about?"
"Just now, she tried to stir up trouble, but I easily killed her."
"Anything wrong?"