A dazzling light illuminated a corner of the forest, the power of magic rippled like waves of water, and the tall spruces rattled as if they were being blown by the breeze. The sharp and shredded sound sounded and disappeared for a short time, and Ed looked around, all the monsters within the range of the spell disappeared into the air as if they had been vaporized, and farther away, the miserable white shadows that seemed to crawl out of someone's nightmare instinctively sensed the danger, and retreated like a tide, and a moment later, when the light of the magic was fully announced, it slowly surrounded it like a tide.

Perhaps because he couldn't see his eyes, Ed felt that these "trappers" were not as smart as the "wild boar" that had led him into the encirclement - the black six-legged fellow was still standing not far away on a hillside, quietly watching him.

Another spell dispelled the monsters that had rushed to his side - they weren't tough to deal with, and even the simplest of holy light spells could make them scream and disappear. But they are ...... It's a bit much, and Ed can't help but recall the horror of digging an ant nest as a child and watching countless ants swarm out.

He was also a little worried that the people in the nearby villages would be attracted by the glow of magic, so he ran over to see what was going on...... But perhaps he was thinking too much, and in a forest that would be attacked by barbarians, filled with legends of necromancers and their undead, and the brutal souls of the orcs roaming around, people's curiosity might not be so strong.

- They may well have been torn to shreds by these monsters.

Ed's heart sank.

He stood there quietly, carefully judging the distance. It wasn't until the enemies around him were close enough to pounce on him with a single leap that he centered on himself and unleashed the expulsion technique.

The number of monsters had been reduced by half, but they still lingered around him and refused to leave. Ed cautiously began to move towards the six-legged boar on the hillside - he felt that the guy was definitely more than just a "bait".

Sensing his intentions, the "boar" cried. The short, high-pitched sound pierced Ed's ear like a knife. The surrounding monsters stood still for a moment, then abruptly abandoned Ed and quickly surrounded it, like soldiers on the battlefield who faithfully obeyed orders.

Ed looked at the strange scene in the night in amazement, and finally realized that it was indeed not a "bait", but more like a leader.

And at the moment the "chief" seems to be planning to retreat. Surrounded by those white monsters. It took one last look at Ed and sped west.

Ed hesitated for a moment and chased after him - these guys weren't tough for him. But it was a deadly nightmare for ordinary people, and he had to eliminate them as much as he could...... And, if they're lucky, they might even lead him to the Black Gate.

It may also lead you into another trap - a small voice in the back of my heart reminds him.

Ed licked his lips nervously. Decide to gamble his luck.

He was sure that the "wild boar" was really running for his life this time. It ran much faster than it had had led him into the encirclement, and it never looked back.

Ed had to use spells to increase his speed. The low-hanging foliage whipped him in the face and body like whips, and every now and then a few monsters would swoop themselves upon him, draining his magic little by little. As the lead monster sped into a cavern under a giant tree, Ed hesitated to stop.

The black hole looked like a gaping mouth, waiting for him to throw himself into the net, and the messy footprints outside the cave made him suspect that there might be more enemies hidden inside...... But the black door was going to run around, if he missed it this time. Who knows when they will be found again, and how many more will die from more monsters that emerge from another world?

He drew his dagger again—it might not have helped, but holding a weapon in his hand gave him a little more peace of mind.

Then he pressed the brooch under his coat. Lighting a flame of light, he cautiously stepped into the hole.

He thought the cave would be filled with a putrid smell, like a necromancer's cave - but it didn't. There was only one smell like the one he smelled in winter in front of the fireplace, the dry wood that burst as it crackled and burned, and it grew stronger and stronger as he went deeper into the cave, to the point of being a little choking.

The inside of the cave was warmer than the outside, and countless passages led in all directions, and the wet ground was muddy and slippery. From the stone wall to the ground, countless footprints were mixed together and it was difficult to distinguish, but fortunately, Ed didn't need to distinguish them - he thought he just had to follow the path with the most footprints.

He could feel them near him...... The sound of shredded footsteps didn't stop for a moment, the occasional scream and even tearing, and he even heard a dull roar, like the sound of war drums coming from the ground, maybe it was another monster.

How many monsters have burrowed into this world? Has anyone discovered this crisis and is trying to stop it? Does Scott know? Has the White Crow given up on the hell gate she created herself? Is Lydia looking for it? After all, the power behind the door is something she's coveted for a long time......

As Ed struggled to concentrate, he couldn't help but think about it, feeling like something was missing around him...... He really didn't like to venture alone.

A faint light appeared in front of him, and Ed was surprised to extinguish his own flame, feeling a burst of warmth on his face.

He carefully guarded himself and moved cautiously forward. Squeezing through a narrow crack, he found himself looking down on another world.

A huge cavern, the grandest hall in the human world is no as wide as it is, tall enough to fit the tallest tower in Criesburg. Crystal clear water flowed almost silently over the rocks, jutting out of the rocks, but clusters of dancing flames rose from the cracks in the rocks, like wildflowers in full bloom. Some crystalline quartz ore shimmered in the firelight, and those translucent stones of low value looked even more brilliant than the most precious gems at the moment.

But there are no monsters here...... Nor did Narya describe to him the black gate carved with the dragon.

It's quiet, weird...... But it's also beautiful.

There is another passage on one side of the cave from which the water flows. Ed crouched down and thought about it for a moment, but he couldn't help but climb down the protrusion on the stone wall.

The icy water poured into his torn boots, feeling surprisingly comfortable. He felt a little itchy all over his body, like a worm crawling on his body, and like something in his blood was about to emerge happily. When he reached the center of the cave, he began to feel a little dizzy—it was a beautiful dizziness, as if he had drunk a little drunk, and his limbs were lazily weak, and he just wanted to find a comfortable place to lie down and fall asleep.

Something wasn't right—Ed clenched his dagger and quickened his pace, only to stand stiffly as he was shrouded in a great black shadow.

He didn't know where the dark shadow came from...... In the crevices of the rock or in the fire? The shadow completely covered his shadow, and his huge body looked like a human form, but on his head there was a pair of crooked, ram's horns......

The horrific legends about hell that I had heard when I was a child surged up from the depths of my memory in that moment. A demon with flames all over its body, the height of a giant, the face of a man, the horns of a sheep, the hooves of a cow, and the wings of a bat...... The figure cast from behind him had no wings, but the overwhelming momentum choked his breath, making his hair stand on end, his body cold, and he didn't even have the courage to turn back.

“...... A servant of God. A mocking voice sounded behind him, unexpectedly deep and low, "I can smell the stench of some god in you...... and fear. Shouldn't you be fearless?"

That's elven language...... Why would a demon speak a pure, even elegant, ancient elf language?

Ed closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and jerked away.

Even if it's dead...... He could at least boast that he had seen a real demon. Few people have had such a ...... in the past 1,000 years Honoured?

But the real demon was more than he could have imagined.

He looked up and looked in amazement at the visitor from another world, who was half a body taller than a barbarian.

The demon was naked, tall but well-proportioned, and under his reddish-brown skin, strong muscles seemed to contain endless power, gliding gracefully as he began to walk slowly. He did have a pair of crooked horns and huge hooves, but he also had long black hair draped over his shoulders, and his handsome face looked like an elf...... He even does have a pair of elven pointed ears.

But there were no pupils in his black eyes...... Just a pure, completely lightless darkness.

"You're looking at me. The demon said, in a calm tone, "What do you see?"

Ed stared at him dumbfounded, completely incomprehensible to the strange question.

“...... Poor, lucky little thing. The demon held out a finger to him with contempt, "You don't know anything. ”

In that instant, Ed raised his hand and threw a flame.

He knew that his expulsion technique shouldn't be able to drive a demon of this level back to hell, but if he was also afraid of fire......

He watched as the flames that were supposed to fall from the sky turned into a small whirlwind—and he summoned a weak wind elemental spirit.

...... But he hadn't learned summoning at all!!

Ed stepped back with a pale face, vaguely aware of something.

The demon chuckled softly and poked at the wind elemental that had bravely attacked him, seemingly with pleasure.

"The vortex of chaos is still flowing here, but you can't feel it, can you?" he pressed towards Ed, even with a hint of sympathy in his tone.

Then he swung his hand in a nonchalant gesture, seemingly not very hard at all, and knocked Ed far away.

(To be continued......)