Time goes back more than 40 days ago-

It was almost mid-autumn, and the morning mist in the forest was already slightly cool. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 infoThe visitors from the past came and went, and after a short period of excitement, there was silence in the lock. Perhaps only those lush giant trees can still remember the footprints they left behind.

The same is true of the dilapidated old town on the south side of the forest. The undead continue to live—or walk in between, as if nostalgic for their past homes and lives—though they have long since lost most of their souls and minds, leaving only a few fragments of memory in their bodies. If there is no external force to disturb them, their 'life' will continue like this, lasting and peaceful.

However, the eight-member team that was trying to advance in the palace on the north side of the forest did not enjoy this peaceful afterlife.

Bell kicked away a spear-wielding demon, then chased two steps after it, slashing the ugly head with a sharp scimitar. Behind him, another similar-looking fellow was briefly frozen in place by Yufie's spell, and then shattered in the chest by a mercenary sword, and then churned it into a mess.

"This is already the first team!" The Beronians gasped and muttered, "This group...... What kind of demon, where did it come from? ”

"That's why you have to hurry?" Lily shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, "Just catch the enemy off guard before they can react." ”

……

After they escaped Morrils's illusion and left the forest, they saw demons roaming the plains once again - the difference was that the demons were more numerous and varied than those in the illusion.

In addition to the inferior demons, cowardly demons, and other low-level demons scattered all over the mountains, Lily and the others also found the figures of berserker demons - they were like a large and ugly toad, their bodies exuding a disgusting stench, and their thick limbs contained unimaginable brute strength. As the main mid-level warriors of the Demon Legion, their favorite thing is to go deep into the battlefield and tear apart everything around them, whether they are friends or foes, hence the name 'Berserk'.

In addition, like a combination of a legendary wyvern and a vulture, the vulture demon covered in dark purple smoke is constantly passing through the sky. They are both the demon's air force and their main eyeliner. According to Yuffie, their gaze can see through all camouflage and illusions within a certain range, even through solid barriers.

Guided by Eskar, who had turned into a goshawk, the exploration team carefully circumvented their surveillance and continued to advance towards the interior of the Lock.

Lily suggests that Yuffie do what she did in the illusion again—but after some scrutiny, Yuffie rejects the tempting-sounding offer.

"It's not that simple." After roughly checking a few undead, the pink girl shook her head and said, "They still retain some of their original memories and instincts, and if they want to reach the level in the illusion, they need more time to adjust and test...... What we lack is time. In addition, the power of the demons is stronger than in the illusion, and without the help of the undead guards, it will be difficult to succeed in a head-to-head duel. ”

"That means you have to sneak in?" Lynn nodded her lips, "It's like an adventure novel!" ”

"Wait, what about the message?" Amber asked, "There's such a big thing going on inside, it's better to tell the people outside, right?" ”

"Leave it to me." Eskar thought for a moment and replied. She turned into a bird of prey again and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Half an hour later, she reappeared in front of the team, changed back to the appearance of a girl, and wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.

"It should be fine." She gasped softly and said happily.

"Thou ...... What was done? Lily frowned, always feeling a little uneasy.

"Wrote a letter about the situation here, put my key with it, and threw it away." Eskar replied lightly, "His Highness Shirinfell said that there have been people stationed outside the exit, and they will definitely get the news." ”

"But then, won't you be able to leave?" Alphonse's eyes flashed, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

"Let's talk about that." Eskar patted the dust off her body and seemed unconcerned, "If we solve the problem here, someone will bring me a key when you leave, but it will only be a month longer." If it doesn't work out...... There's no point in leaving. ”

That's true. It's just that if she has to run away from the lock, she can't leave with her, Lily thought to herself.

In other words, to exclude the option of 'escape' - this is also nature, for the Elna people, this forest is their home. Allowing the devil to wreak havoc in it was unacceptable from the start.

"Let's go, we don't want to give up halfway." The mercenary stuck her giant sword on the ground, struck her fists together, and a glint flashed in her eyes, "You, are there no problems?" ”

No one objected, including Bell.

……

"It's been thirty-two minutes since we entered the palace." Yuffie said calmly, a translucent disc floating on the left side of her cheek, which was the timekeeping device she had built with her magic, "Demons are far less disciplined than devils, and even high-level demons will be lax when everything seems to be calm at the moment." As long as we don't make too much noise, we have at least a few hours to be safe. ”

"But it's like a labyrinth." Lily muttered under her breath, "The architect who designed this palace must have been drunk at the time?" Thou shalt be sure...... We're heading in the right direction, Yuffie? ”

"It may not be the best route, but it should be in the right direction." The girl replied, "The true source of the demons may not be in the palace, but beneath it. She closed her eyes and sensed her surroundings again, "According to the historical information provided by Shirinfield, this palace is actually one with the magic laboratory of the White Tower family, which is why they chose this place as their target back then. ”

The group continued onwards, down a sloping ramp into the depths. There was a faint smell of burnt smoke in the palace, and the stench of sulfur mixed with some kind of putrefactive substance was much higher than the outside. Bell, who was not very heat-tolerant, was already sweating profusely, but unexpectedly did not complain, just gasped and followed at the end of the line.

Alphonse walked side by side with Lily at the front, glancing at the mechanics beside her, feeling a pang of unwarranted relief.

On the way, they once again dealt with a patrol of three people, and then rounded the corner, and there was a polished wall in front of them. Lily swung her greatsword and tapped lightly, and a solid sound came from the wall, which did not appear to be hollow.

She turned her head and looked at Yuffie with a quizzing look. The girl stepped forward, leaned down, and gently stroked the ground beneath her feet.

"This is it." The girl stood up and whispered soft, gentle words. The ground lit up with silvery-white lines, flickered for a few seconds, and then went out.