Chapter 349: Chapter 23: Hell Torture

Ruins Forest, Underground City.

“Boom—”

The magic chandelier hanging from the rock ceiling suddenly exploded into fragments, and the crystal stones slashed the faces of the two adventurers haggling below.

The bustling trading area suddenly fell silent, and people looked up at the ceiling in astonishment.

“What’s happening?”

“What just happened?”

Before everyone could come to their senses, suddenly—

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

A thunderous rumbling sound echoed, causing the entire ceiling and even the entire underground ruins to quake violently as if an earthquake had struck. The ancient vases displayed on the shelves shattered one after another, sending shards flying everywhere.

Immediately following, the endless clatter of bone grinding and the hoarse sound of wind through hollow pipes filled the air, as swarms of dead spirits surged in from all directions.

“Damn it, dead spirits! How did they get in?”

“Quick, bring my sword!”

“Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle! Everyone, stay alert!”

The scene descended into chaos.

Meanwhile, in the Skeleton Corridor on the second level of the Underground City, the Wind Frost Adventure Team was surrounded by a group of skeletons. These skeletons were clad in complete armor, wielding weapons like Cross Swords and spears, indicating their identity as skeleton warriors evolved from Acadia Era soldiers.

On the outskirts were several fully armored undead knights riding tall skeleton horses, and behind the knights were a few skeletons in tattered cloaks holding bone staffs. The dancing elements indicated that they once wielded supernatural power.

Formerly wizard apprentices, they had become undead liches in death.

With a crisp “Crack!” sound,

Teresa struck down a skeleton to the ground, and the four people and a wolf huddled tightly back-to-back. They were not in good shape, with each bearing injuries. Udis, in particular, had lost part of his left arm, which had been sliced off by a wind blade released by a lich, leaving a bloodied stump.

Everyone’s faces were filled with seriousness and confusion. The team had entered the second level of the Underground City many times before, but it had never been like today. The dead spirits seemed crazed, with unprecedented violence and unease.

The anomalies weren’t limited to just the Underground City, and they had spread to the Ruins Forest above ground.

In the forest, it was clear to see large streams of black mist pouring out from the ruins, quickly converging into thick, heavy clouds above the forest, rolling and enveloping the entire sky in an instant.

“Boom!”

With a thunderous roar like thunder, red rain began to fall from the clouds. Beasts touched by the blood rain turned red-eyed, snorting heavily, and with roars of anger, they charged out of the forest.

This time’s Blood Rain Beast Tide had arrived at this moment!

Feiyan City.

“Clang clang clang! Clang clang clang! Clang clang clang!” Urgent bell chimes rang out from the tower.

“The beast tide is coming! The beast tide is coming!”

“All soldiers, gather at the city walls immediately! Right now, at once!”

“All adventurers in the city, you are now temporarily enlisted by the City Guard. Head to the city walls at once to assist the soldiers in repelling the beast tide! At once, right away! All other citizens, return to your homes immediately and do not linger in the streets!”

Messengers on warhorses thundered down the streets, issuing orders. Groups of soldiers hurriedly donned their armor, grabbed their weapons, and rushed to the city walls, while adventurers in the city dropped what they were doing and ran to assemble.

Light Cathedral.

In the spacious Praying Temple, the Holy Daughter of Light, Alya, was kneeling devoutly in front of the Statue of the Light Goddess, performing her daily prayers. At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded outside.

Soon a young knight burst in—it was Hasrant, the Light Guard beside the Holy Daughter.

“My lady, the beast tide, the beast tide has come!”

Alya stood up, her eyes filled with confusion: “Beast tide? Now?”

Usually, beast tides give strong signs before arriving, with the sky becoming overcast days prior. Yet recently, there had been no signs at all, and this was not the usual time for a beast tide. It seemed it shouldn’t come at this moment.

“Yes.” Hasrant nodded and continued: “Lord Greywell has sent for help, hoping we can lend our assistance.”

Alya responded, “I understand.”

She stood up and ordered, “Gather all the Light Priests in the cathedral.”

In the Underground City, at its deepest, the Sealing Hall.

Al…fred?

Lynch paused, utterly surprised to hear this name again at such a time and place, having thought he had vanished completely from his life.

“Why… deceive me!”

The roar ahead drew Lynch out of his thoughts.

He looked forward.

In front of him, on the high stone pillars, a soul of a green-haired girl was restrained by black iron chains, covered with dark red runes. The back pillars were engraved with twisted mouths.

Lynch frowned, “Hell Torture… such a cruel method… no wonder there’s so much resentment…”

He recognized the setup on the stone pillars as a cruel magic known as Hell Torture, specifically targeting souls.

The black iron chain, made from specialized Soul Black Stone, could imprison the soul on the stone pillar, with each chain inscribed with Scorching Runes. When the trapped soul struggled, high temperatures would burn the soul, causing branding damage.

More cruelly, the mouths sculpted on the pillars were not mere decorations. Periodically, they would gnaw on the imprisoned soul, tearing it into bits and leaving no corner untouched.

The soul bound above was truly caught between life and death, enduring sufferings akin to hell.

“Was this Alfred’s doing?”

“But…”

“What is that guy up to?”

Before Lynch could make sense of it, suddenly, an unexpected change occurred ahead!

“Clatter!”

The sound of chains turning resounded, and the girl bound above suddenly struggled fiercely, trying to break free from the stone pillar.

However, the magic sealing her took immediate action. The runes on the chain started lighting up one by one, like glowing brands, visibly leaving gray smoke on the girl’s body.

This burning specifically targeted souls, far beyond what ordinary people could endure. Normally, even the most resilient soul would be forcibly suppressed until accepting its harsh fate.

Yet this time, the girl, instead of being confined by the tightening chain, bore down against the scorching runes, stepping outward step by step. Towering black mist enveloped her, expanding outward.

“Crack! Crack! Crack!”

Under the influence of this expanding black mist, one chain after another encircling the girl snapped and flew away; in no time, the chains scattered all over the ground. The girl completely broke free from her shackles, leaping down from the high stone pillar.

“Why did you deceive me!”

Accompanied by a hysterical scream, the resentment on the girl’s body turned into sky-filling black mist, shooting upwards, shattering the ceiling, penetrating layers of the Underground City, even breaking through the barrier and merging into the heavy, dark clouds above the forest. Forming within the clouds was a twisted, angry face hundreds of meters high.

An intense aura suddenly burst out from the girl’s body!

“That energy strength…”

Lynch’s brow slightly furrowed. Based on his previous estimates, the soul body hidden in the Resentment Forest was at the level of a mid to high-level wizard, but now he realized his estimation had been wrong.

The bulk of the soul body’s energy had been sealed by the Hell Torture magic, and only fully released did Lynch accurately sense its power, reaching—

Secret Skill Level!

“Why did you deceive me!”

Meanwhile, the girl issued a furious growl, madly rushing toward him!

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