Upon reflection, if a maze was unlikely, then concealing the path also seemed inconsistent with his deductions.
Moreover, based on Angel’s observations during this time, apart from Demons that primarily affected the mind, most other Demons tended to avoid hassle. Devious and malicious acts were not uncommon, but circumstances involving hidden and elusive elements rarely occurred.
“Could it be that the path has never been hidden, and I’ve simply overlooked it?”
Angel retraced his steps along the corridor, taking extra care this time. Aside from the occasional specimens of heads on the walls, he discovered nothing unusual.
Just as Angel was at a loss, a faint glow illuminated the darkness ahead.
Looking up, he saw the flame-bearing statues that intermittently appeared in the hallway. These statues, with their ghastly, fearsome expressions, jutted from the walls with elongated arms outstretched, palms holding the burning flames.
Angel stared at one of these flame-bearing statues and suddenly it seemed as if he remembered something.
For Demons who disliked hassle, if there was a path, there must be a clear marker. And in a hallway where darkness rendered one virtually blind, the most obvious indicators were these statues with their lit flames.
Could it be that these statues indicated the way?
Angel reached out in doubt and touched the long arm of the statue.
And without any force applied, he heard a “click-click—” sound as the flame-bearing statue and the wall behind it flipped around, revealing a door.
Angel: “…” So, it really was a path after all.
Angel walked through the door, all the while criticizing the design in his head.
Behind the door was a cramped and narrow room. As soon as Fuyi entered, Angel was immediately hit by a strong stench of blood. On closer inspection, he saw that the tiny room was covered in various decaying flesh, which looked to be from some Magical Creature. Some had even started to grow white maggots.
In the center of the room, there was a downward passage, resembling a slide. But on this slide, there were ancient, pitch-black bloodstains as well as vivid, fresh ones.
Angel had the Scouting Puppet peer down the slide and saw a gory basement below.
A corpulent Demon, shackled at the neck and limbs, was incessantly chopping at a Magical Creature… Upon closer scrutiny, Angel noticed a Hunting Museum number attached to that creature, suggesting it was taken from the Hunting Museum.
The corpulent Demon was surrounded by chunks of flesh and rotting meat, as well as various dining plates and condiments that looked nauseating.
The activity from the Scouting Puppet seemed to startle the corpulent Demon, who turned its head, bellowed angrily, and charged towards the Scouting Puppet with the chopper in hand.
However, midway through the charge, it was pulled back by the chains.
After witnessing this scene, Angel silently retreated from the room. Those dining plates were almost identical to the ones in the rest area; perhaps they belonged to chefs captured by Jupiter?
There were many flame-bearing statues in the corridor, and it didn’t take long for Angel to find another room.
Yet, this was still a kitchen, and beneath it also a corpulent Demon was imprisoned.
In fact, the ingredients used by these demon chefs were all creatures from the Abyss, which to Angel were excellent Demonic Materials. But to acquire them, one had to confront these horrifying chefs.
Angel didn’t believe he could win against them, so he could only regretfully withdraw.
On his journey, Angel entered many rooms hidden behind the flame-bearing statues, yet eight out of ten were ‘kitchens’ – from which one could gauge just how huge an appetite Jupiter possessed.
The rest of the rooms were basically empty.
That is not to say they were completely devoid of anything, for instance, this one right now.