A corner of the Underground Labyrinth.
Deep in the dim and profound tunnels, a series of sputtering noises roared and echoed, accompanied by a dark gust blowing from the depths of the tunnel, resembling some giant beast roaring in anger while exhaling long breaths.
The roaring sound wasn’t too terrifying, but this long "breath"... carried an exceptionally foul odor.
Moreover, it spread over a great distance, even reaching outside from the depths of the tunnel.
Any living being that could smell the foul gust would never choose to enter, as this stench defied biological comprehension—even creatures accustomed to living in the stench of sewers would avoid it.
However, in the face of the foul gust, a shadow swiftly skimmed over the wall and dashed into the tunnel.
It passed over the wall, not the ground, because this shadow was integrated into the wall, appearing as a flat square shadow but actually being a hole on the wall.
This "hole," however, could move freely on the wall and even adjust its depth to avoid the Magical Energy Array within the wall.
If Angel and the others were present, they would likely recognize this hole immediately; it was the same "doghole" in the wall they had encountered several times before—responsible for swallowing the Black Merchant, leaving him half-dead in its mysterious presence.
The doghole flew swiftly across the wall, soon reaching the depths of the tunnel.
The scene deep within the tunnel unfolded.
A "cliff."
Below the cliff lay an Earth Cavern. Vast yet enclosed, the only visible entry was the tunnel atop the cliff.
If you stood on the "cliff" and gazed over, you’d see the Earth Cavern resembling an inverted bowl—rounded dome above with a pockmarked ground below.
The ground was pockmarked due to the green corrosive liquid prevalent everywhere. Though its acidity wasn’t strong, years of accumulation had corroded most of the ground.
All around the Earth Cavern, white bones were haphazardly piled. Various kinds of bones lay there, but the majority belonged to Magical Creatures.
In the center of the Earth Cavern was a high pile of mud.
More accurately, it was a massive, ten meters tall monster entirely made of mud.
This Mud Monster continuously emitted mucus from its top—most of the mucus kept the creature wet, but some turned into a black gust, blowing in all directions.
This black gust was the foul wind that filled the entire tunnel.
The previous sputtering sound was made as the mucus spewed out, rolling down the body.
The "doghole" did not enter the Earth Cavern but stopped at the tunnel’s end. Meanwhile, a thin voice emerged from the doghole: "Sovereign Lord, are you there? Are you there? Are you there?"
"Sovereign Lord! Sovereign Lord!"
Though small, the voice repeated insistently, seeming resolute not to stop until the so-called "Sovereign Lord" was summoned.
After countless calls, a response echoed from the Earth Cavern.
"Enough." It was a tender voice, akin to a teenager in transition, indistinguishable by gender. The voice wasn’t loud or imposing, yet upon hearing it, the "doghole" obediently fell silent.
Notably, this voice came from within the Mud Monster’s belly.
The silence lasted about two minutes, then suddenly, an oval light shield floated out from the Mud Monster’s mouth, continuously spewing foul gusts.
The light shield was thick, with a faint shadow visible inside, though specific details were obscured.
"You Nu, get rid of it. Its secretion glands are thoroughly extracted and hold no further use." The tender voice came from within the light shield.
Upon the words’ conclusion, a soft-toned voice immediately chimed: "The Sovereign’s will is the Goddess’s will; I obey the Sovereign’s command."
The voice sourced out of thin air, clear yet not resonant, as if emanating from every corner of the Earth Cavern or perhaps from outside the tunnel.
"However, Sovereign, I may not digest this foul Mud Monster. May I banish it to a deeper aqueduct?"
"Do as you see fit," the immature voice inside the light shield replied to You Nu, slowly flying out of the Earth Cavern to stand beside the "doghole."
Yet, the "Sovereign" within the light shield did not pay attention to the doghole, instead observing the happenings below in the Earth Cavern.
Seconds later, a chasm appeared in the Earth Cavern’s center, into which the Mud Monster fell directly.
With the Mud Monster gone, a torrent of Wind Dragon erupted from the chasm, whisking away and consuming the remaining black gust in the Earth Cavern.
Once the air was void of black gust, You Nu’s voice emanated from the chasm again.
"Sovereign, the current process can only mitigate pollution to the Second Level. Further treatment requires you to leave my body."
"Even at the Second Level, the odor is intriguing after being diluted by this foul mud." The voice inside the light shield murmured to itself.
Then, layer by layer, the thick light shield began to peel away until only two layers remained before stopping.
Second Level pollution meant the stench was still unpleasant, necessitating two layers of light shield.
The higher the pollution level, the more potent the odor.
Outside, most areas of the stench in the sewers are at Level 1, indicating how unbearably pungent it remains here.
Initially, pollution here was at Level 5, as referenced by the number of light shield layers on the "Sovereign"—one layer didn’t equate to one level; exceeding a Second Level, shield layers increase exponentially.
Even the Second Level surpassed most of the stench outside; imagine the dreadfulness of Level 5 pollution. Had the Black Earl’s nose been here, he’d probably have fainted instantly.
With only two layers of light shield remaining, the appearance of the inner "Sovereign" finally became visible.
A fitting look for the voice, a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy wearing gold-framed glasses and clad in a black robe, subtly scholarly at first glance. Yet, he differed greatly from humans: his skin was blueish-green, and an additional eye adorned his forehead, requiring a triangular, three-framed mirror, rendering his appearance bizarre.
"Continue handling it; I’m leaving," the boy, who seemed a bit weary, yawned, all three eyes drooping slightly as he headed out of the tunnel.
Before he got far, a soft voice emerged from the "doghole": "Sovereign Lord, you forgot me!"