Chapter 1797 - 1056: It Really Is a Life-type Dungeon! (Part 2)

But when the ghost-like stature of the Undead Team emerged in his memory, the newly formed sense of safety vanished completely. He looked around, feeling that there was no place in this vast gathering place that could be deemed safe...

"What’s that?"

He suddenly saw something he had heard of multiple times but had never seen with his own eyes.

Chrono dragged his broken body, stumbling forward, appearing in front of him.

It was an unlit bonfire.

Within the ash-laden pedestal’s Spiral Sword, there was but one being capable of producing such a form.

"It really is the Sain Dungeon..."

Chrono suddenly sat down next to the bonfire, as if relieved, and reached out in an attempt to ignite the bonfire, following the methods he had heard of.

Now, why there was an Abyss in the dungeon, why the dungeon was so vast, why the dungeon’s monsters were unreasonably strong—all these questions were answered.

He was too exhausted to be surprised by this,

The flame ignited before him, momentarily transforming in his vision into the fire of the Undead Team, causing him to shiver briefly. But soon he felt a gentle warmth emanating from the bonfire, healing waves enveloping his body.

Injuries from his broken physique, the Abyss corroding his body, and the burn marks slowly healed under this warmth. Aside from the physical recovery, Chrono’s spirit, long denied, felt the emotion called "safety."

It was a feeling not easily obtainable on the Demon Continent. No creature could feel safe here, and if they did, it meant they were near death.

"So warm..."

Chrono even showed an expression of intoxication.

Previously, on the way to the Fran Fort, he had picked up some light points containing peculiar tools whose value was hard to measure at the moment.

But now, he was willing to praise the bonfire as the greatest creation within the Sain Dungeon.

He no longer wished to leave this place.

It’s not only humans who know how to enjoy the warmth of a bonfire; the Demon Clan, used to harsh living conditions, treasure this warm feeling even more upon encountering a bonfire.

As a result, the spiritual power released was far more than usual.

But unfortunately, this peace could not last long. Once his body was fully recovered, a sudden turmoil in his stomach brought intense pain that couldn’t be stopped.

The Abyss was corroding his body!

Chrono, in agony, mindlessly lunged toward the bonfire, letting the flames scorch his body. But a miracle occurred—the pain from the Abyss corrosion was actually alleviated and even disappeared!

Could the bonfire have the power to heal the Abyss?

"No."

He felt his body and exhibited a fearful expression because he realized the Abyss had already taken root within him, impossible to fully eradicate.

Even the bonfire could only suppress it temporarily, without knowing how long the suppression would last.

At this moment, his mind finally rid itself of the Abyss’ distortion, prompting him to quickly ponder his next steps.

The first thing that came to mind was deep regret—regret over being seduced by the Abyss. But after the regret, he had to consider what to do afterward.

Finding a way to eradicate the Abyss corrosion from his body, resisting the Abyss’ corrosion, ensuring no one discovered the changes in his body...

Despite usually opposing the Abyss vehemently, he was now corroded by it and even gained its power. That irony was so intense he wanted to find a place to hide and never emerge.

The most troubling part is.

"Sister Onora detests the Abyss the most."

Chrono broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead.

"If she finds out I ’actively’ gained the power of the Abyss..."

Imagining his possible fate, he involuntarily shivered.

"What to do, what to do, what to do..."

The thought of possibly being abandoned by Onora, and witnessing her display of contempt, made Chrono’s heart wrench; he felt like he was trapped in a nightmare.

If this is a nightmare, then wake me up quickly. If I can’t wake up...

His eyes once again uncontrollably revealed the Abyss’ pitch-black color.

If I can’t wake up, then maybe I should destroy this nightmare myself?

"Make her my accomplice as well?"

The color in his eyes suddenly retreated, and the mischievous smile from his chaotic thoughts disappeared.

"What am I thinking!"

Chrono was shocked by his own incredibly dark thoughts, surprised by his own hidden darkness as a member of the Demon Clan.

But, if Onora were to be corroded by the Abyss—no, even just tainted—she might understand me then, right? I wouldn’t face a bad ending, right?

He sat down heavily beside the bonfire, covering his face, deeply immersed in thought.

At this moment, unnoticed changes quietly occurred nearby. When he lowered his hands out of dejection,

The bonfire before him expanded into a giant torch.

"Ah?"

The invisible waves released from the giant bonfire covered a kilometer radius, and being at the very center of this area, a piece of information suddenly appeared in his mind.

"It really is a Life-type dungeon?"

After sorting through the information in his head, he showed an expression of surprise.

The information that appeared in his mind was nothing more than an introduction to Life-type dungeons and the setup of the Sain Dungeon’s [Safe Zones]. These were parts of the Val Underworld that had appeared before, information readily available to human adventurers but novel to Chrono.

"So I’m in the Great Safety Zone, the center of the entire dungeon, and there are countless Small Safe Zones scattered throughout the gathering places?"

"Each Safe Zone produces different specialties; the earlier you occupy those Safe Zones, the more resources you can acquire?"

"The biggest threats to the Safe Zones will be rampaging monsters and various sudden natural disasters."

Chrono took some time to process this information. The novelty of encountering new things intertwined with the regret of being corroded by the Abyss, leaving him unsure of what expression to wear.

Now he confirmed that this was indeed the Sain Dungeon, the renowned dungeon even he had heard of.

What was the dungeon doing here, and with what purpose? As a dungeon inclined towards humans, why establish such a formal and even luxurious dungeon setup on this continent?

Could it be that it too wants to expand our Demon Clan’s operations?

Chrono couldn’t comprehend it. He encountered too many incomprehensible things today, leaving him mentally exhausted.

A Teleportation Gate appeared next to the giant bonfire, something he had been longing for, yet now it didn’t bring joy, just a sense of release.

"For now, let’s just get out of here."

With one foot in the Teleportation Gate, he turned for one last look at this terrifying gathering place.

"Though it resembles a nightmare, it’s also a nightmare of gold everywhere."

"Luckily it was us who discovered it; only we can delve into its treasures, and that’s enough."

Without glance back, he walked into the Teleportation Gate.

Shortly after the ripples of the Teleportation Gate ceased, a few figures suddenly appeared nearby.

"Lord Sect Leader, it’s a bonfire, there’s actually a bonfire here!"

"Is this the origin of our Mad Fire God!"

"Indeed, this must be the genuine Sain Dungeon, if its Teleportation Gate appears in our territory, then only we can receive this blessing."

"This must be the decree of Mad Fire!"