Chapter 102 - Thousand Dark Armies (1/2)

”Woof?” The black puppy stared at her with worried eyes, seemingly sensing her downcast mood.

Looking down, her sight connected with his, and she smiled nonchalantly.

”I am fine. Just a little stressed, that's all. Don't worry. It takes more than a few deaths to get me down.” She softly reassured him.

Clearing her mind, she bolted her unstable emotions and focused on the next battleground, the Soul Sundering Pit.

As the name suggested, it was a deep pit that tested the strength of an individual's soul.

The last time Versailles entered it with the Scorpion King, she was barely able to endure the shredding pain. The Scorpion King, whose soul was even weaker than hers, fainted halfway resulting in them leaving the place early.

As such, she wasn't able to plant poison in the entire region.

This was another reason why she wanted to eliminate the remaining beasts in the valley of the Black Flames of Nightmare.

”Let's go, little Amose. Our next stop is the Soul Sundering Pit. But will you be able to enter the place?” This was something she hadn't thought of before.

From the start, she hadn't expected the beast to last this long with her. With his unknown background and tiny build, he seemed more likely to pass away within half an ice night. However, the puppy proved himself to be much tougher than he appeared.

In addition, within these past few days, she had grown used to his company.

Now, the thought of leaving him behind pained her.

”Woof, woof!”

As if sensing her thoughts, the little creature leaped onto her arm and waved his black paw forward. From the gesture, it was clear that he wanted her to move forward.

”Haha...! Aren't you a brave one? Alright then, let's go!”

In a better mood and frame of mind, Versailles cheerfully passed through the valley of Black Flames of Nightmare.

*

”Well, that was brutal!” A three-headed monster scornfully remarked.

He didn't say, but from his words, every beast around him could sense that he looked down on the serpentine's method of butchering the immobile races.

”There wasn't any mention of the ways the participants could kill each other, so there shouldn't be a problem with the method she used. In fact, through her various methods, I was able to understand that true strength does not only apply to the physical, but mental intelligence can also be a kind of strength.” A succubus replied thoughtfully as she watched the flashing figure.

The serpentine in the Viewing Platform showed her many different forms of strength and might.

”Hmm...I feel the same. She wasn't able to wipe them out because they couldn't move, but because she outsmarted them. That was her own individual strength no matter how unwilling others might be.”

”Now it's time for the Battle of Ranks. Most of the beasts have been exterminated, so this next battleground will be dull.”

The spectating beasts themselves haven't realized it, but they were now more focused on Versaille's next course of action than the death of their racemates. Through this exchange, they had developed a sense of respect and admiration for her.

*

”We are here.” Versailles swept her gaze over the pit before her.

The pit was wide and went deeper than the Knife Cliffs on the Red Sand valley. In terms of depth, they went down as far as the Northern Ice Mountains stretched up. Moreover, the pit was cloaked in a screen of green fog.

This green fog was able to penetrate through all layers of shields and directly enter one's soul. It was the source responsible for the unimaginable pain to the soul, the Ghost Fog.

”We will enter it cautiously and see if the Ghost Fog will have an effect on you. If you can endure it, we will try to cross the pit as fast as possible.”

Versailles was still worried for the little creature even though, he had told her to proceed forward. She didn't want him to get injured.

If it came down to it, she would rather leave him behind, than see him writhe in agony.

”Woof, woof!” The beast nodded its head in agreement as he barked.

”Okay, let's go.”

Reaching an agreement of sorts, Versailles entered the Ghost fog with the beast clutched tightly in her arms.

The moment she entered, the green fog warped and twisted, before spreading to either side, clearing a path for her.

Versailles was not surprised by the sight.

There was a reason why the green fog was named Ghost Fog. It could sense the lifeforce of other creatures and behave in a sentient way, earning itself the name of Ghost fog. Like a ghost, it hovered and lingered around an individual for as long as they were within the pit.

Pain seared through her senses as the green fog wrapped around her figure and blocked her way back. Lifting her figure, it carried her to the bottom of the pit and invaded her soul.

Gritting her teeth, Versailles trudged through the green fog with labored breath. She could not stop in place, because the longer she lingered in the fog, the more difficult it would be to move forward.

Her limbs would grow heavy and her mind would become clouded and muddled. Remembering the black puppy, she held it to her chest and inquired in a painful whisper.