Chapter 293: Encountering the Undead Dragon (1/2)

Chapter 293: Encountering the Undead Dragon

“These are the grounds of exile for captured arcane masters and Evil Dragon Followers who have failed their missions.” Lotton continued explaining without a hitch as he led the group into the labyrinth, “The Bishops also throw followers who they wish to train and temper in here. Due to the scarcity of resources, one must kill to survive here. That’s why there are so many bones scattered around.”

“However, they released everyone still alive a year ago. Thus, we should be fine passing through here.”

“There might not be any arcane masters, but surely there are still powerful beasts and monsters?” Stingham questioned as he wiped a cold sweat off his forehead. He was extremely cautious as he followed the others through the labyrinth. The corpses and skeletons which popped into his vision every few steps had scared him silly.

Furthermore, the black pillars and massive walls of black rock which partitioned the area all looked exactly the same, making it impossible for him to tell which direction was which.

“There shouldn’t be any. Any which did exist have long since entered the bellies of those arcane masters sent here,” Lotton responded.

“They were all eaten? Emptied out a year ago…” Thoughts raced through Rinloran’s mind as he sensed Lotton’s abnormal familiarity with this area.

Rinloran felt his breath catch in his throat as he abruptly turned and looked at Lotton and asked, “Lotton, could it be that you were training in here up until a year ago?”

After several seconds of silence, Lotton replied, “Indeed.”

“How long were you trapped here,” Rinloran’s face paled as he continued, “in this place filled with exiled and captured arcane masters, in this closed labyrinth where one had to kill others to survive?”

Lotton immediately responded, “Four years.”

“Four years?” Stingham cried in shock as his eyes widened, “Lotton, surely you are joking?!”

“You idiot!” Rinloran’s eyes seemed to release a frosty glint as he glared at Stingham and swore.

“I have been trapped here ever since I awakened,” Lotton said.

“This area was completely sealed, and new people were constantly thrown into its midst to participate in the slaughter. If all of the beasts and monsters here were eaten a long time ago…” Stingham muttered. Then, his face abruptly turned white as he made an intelligent observation for once. “Then Lotton, what did you all eat? Surely the higher up Evil Dragon Followers didn’t toss food into the labyrinth for you all?”

Lotton remained silent.

But in this case, his silence was as good as a reply.

“Lotton, you…” Stingham audibly gulped as he suddenly felt nauseous.

“Living amid slaughter as a youth who had only just awakened. Having to kill others… to not be killed. Were you forced to kill those you had once known, and perhaps even your friends?”

“No wonder you, Lotton, seemed like the true Death God atop the stage of the national tournament. No wonder you looked at everyone like they were already corpses.”

“Just how did you manage to survive in such a place? What pains did you go through?”

As Rinloran silently thought to himself, he couldn’t help but shiver.

“These Evil Dragon Followers are too evil! To think they used methods like this to force arcane masters to kill each other. Such a cruel means of training! We must defeat them and rid Doraster of their evil!” Ayrin shouted as fighting intent and a fiery anger filled his eyes. “But Lotton, why did they release everyone a year ago? What happened?”

“It’s because at that point, I was the only arcane master remaining. Any new arcane masters who were thrown in would be quickly killed by me. They weren’t able to achieve the situation they wished for any longer,” Lotton slowly explained.

“Having lived in an environment like this for so long, it is no wonder that the Office of Special Affairs couldn’t find you after you fled into the sewers of Eichemalar,” Ayrin exclaimed as he finally understood.

“You must have been forced to kill a lot of people you didn’t wish to? That’s why you have such great resentment. Lotton, you are a true brave warrior! I shall do my best to help you obtain the Lunar Spring Essence so that we can continue to fight against the Evil Dragon Followers together! We will thoroughly defeat them!” Ayrin pumped his fist in the air as he exuberantly shouted.

“Taking revenge?” Lotton lowered his head, but a spark of hatred could be seen amidst his formerly emotionless eyes.

……

“Why is there such a loud sound of rushing water?”

After following Lotton’s lead through the labyrinth for a little over an hour, Ayrin suddenly heard crashing water, as if there was a huge waterfall nearby. However, the air around him was still as dry as before.

“We have almost arrived at the Land of the Undead,” Lotton responded. “That is the sound released by the Lunar Spring Essence.”

“We are almost there? The sound released by the Lunar Spring Essence is this loud?”

Ayrin couldn’t help but start climbing up the black stone pillar before him.

If it wasn’t far away, then he would be able to see their destination from the top of the pillar.

But as he climbed further and further up the pillar, he felt his body becoming heavier and heavier.

“A natural reversed gravity field?” Ayrin thought to himself.