Chapter 630: Journey to the Underworld (3)
The Intelligence of the Underworld
In a primordial jungle governed by the law of the jungle, the first thing one must do to become the overlord of an area is to ascend to the top of the food chain.
Now, Luke, having slain the giant beast, was the king of this region, its undisputed ruler. Although he lacked sharp claws, formidable teeth, and an enormous physique, the aura he projected was terrifying enough to deter all living things.
The monsters lingering in the distance fled, abandoning any hostile thoughts.
Luke surveyed his surroundings, then suddenly moved, piercing the side of the mountain like a sword and entering the cave hidden beneath the bones.
Inside the cave were five humanoid creatures. They had dark yellow, bumpy skin and no hair. They had a line of bone spurs on each limb, their chests, and their backs. Their mouths were large, bearing jagged, saw-like fangs. On the outside, they looked no different from the monsters outside, but the weapons in their hands spoke volumes.
Only intelligent species craft weapons; wild beasts do not possess this skill.
The five creatures stared at Luke in fear, uttering words that, based on their rhythm and cadence, seemed to be a form of language.
It was clear they had developed a civilized system.
Luke stretched out his right hand and pulled the creature at the front toward him. He placed his finger on its forehead, connecting their souls and consciousness to forcibly extract its memories.
They were Kormod!
An intelligent species born in the Underworld, numerous and highly reproductive, capable of adapting to various environments. They were one of the lowest-ranking beings in the Underworld, often raised in captivity, either as slaves or as livestock.
The creatures hidden in this cave were a mutated variant of Kormod. Their ancestors were the servants of the Underworld Dragon. During a great battle, they were dismembered and thrown into the valley as garbage. They somehow managed to survive and adapt to the noxious fumes. For centuries, they had lived in this valley. Due to the extremely harsh environment, their population hadn't grown substantially, remaining around five thousand.
"An interesting race."
After getting what he needed, Luke tossed the creature onto the ground and turned to leave.
The memories from the Kormod's mind weren't extensive, but they provided two crucial pieces of information: first, the Underworld does contain intelligent species; and second, the Underworld Dragon.
According to the memory's description, the Underworld Dragon was a supremely terrifying monster. Its body was larger than a mountain, its scales harder than tempered steel. When it spread its wings, the world fell into darkness, and a single sneeze could cause lava to erupt from the ground.
It was the absolute ruler, commanding a vast territory with hundreds of thousands of warriors and tens of millions of subjects.
The Kormod's fear of the Underworld Dragon was imprinted deep within their bloodline; they trembled at the mere mention of its name.
The Perfect Slaves
Seeing that Luke hadn't killed them, the Kormod cautiously emerged from the cave. They dropped their weapons and prostrated themselves among the bone fragments.
This was the traditional Kormod gesture of submission. For thousands of years, they had grown accustomed to being ruled and enslaved. Submission was the only way to survive.
Luke glanced at them and said expressionlessly, using the Kormod language,
"You wish to follow me?"
The leader immediately nodded.
"Great Master, we yearn to be your most loyal servants."
Servants?
Luke curled his lip. "If you were delicate, tender Succubi, I might consider it. Unfortunately, you're all ugly."
"Alright, stop being an eyesore here. Now, get lost."
The Kormod were terrified and remained motionless on the ground.
Luke frowned, displeased.
"Didn't I just tell you to scram?"
Only then did they react. They looked at each other, and the Kormod farthest back cautiously left. The rest nervously watched Luke. Seeing that he hadn't attacked, they were surprised and delighted, though a trace of confusion remained.
Resources are extremely scarce in the Underworld; there is virtually no normal sustenance. In a sense, slaves are food. The more slaves one had, the more food one had. Who would ever refuse more food?
The Kormod joyfully scurried away. Before leaving, they thoughtfully placed their weapons and equipment at the mouth of the cave.
Luke: "..."
Honestly, these creatures were quite interesting—utterly subservient, completely incapable of resistance. Whatever the master said, they obeyed. They were the perfect choice for followers.
Pity they are so hideous, and their reproductive capability was terrifying. If he took them back to Earth, they would spawn an army of millions in no time.
Kormod are unlike creatures on Earth. They possess both reproductive organs and can self-fertilize and become pregnant if conditions allow. A single pregnancy lasts two weeks and yields at least twenty offspring. They are worse than rats.
It was only in a place like the Underworld that such lifeforms could evolve.
No wonder they were livestock. With that kind of reproductive capacity, it would be a wonder if they weren't eaten.
The Road to the Underworld Dragon
An hour later, three figures appeared in the distance. Diana, Clark, and J'onn arrived above the valley.
Luke briefly explained the situation to them. After listening, J'onn couldn't help but ask,
"Do those portals lead to the Underworld Dragon's territory?"
"They should."
J'onn sighed helplessly. "Don't tell me you're planning to look for that dragon."
"It's the fastest way. The Underworld Dragon is the ruler; it should know the location of the Valley of No Return."
The three were speechless. The legendary Underworld Dragon—even without having seen it, the name alone suggested how terrifying such a creature would be.
"What's your plan?" Diana shrugged, her tone exaggerated. "Don't tell me you're planning to punch the dragon in the face."
"Diana, you really do know me best."
Clark: "..."
J'onn: "..."
"Alright, I'm just kidding. Don't be so serious."
Luke waved his hand and continued, "Regardless, we must go to the territory ruled by the Underworld Dragon. According to the Kormod, there are quite a few intelligent species there. Perhaps we can get information about the Valley of No Return from them. As for the Dragon..."
"That's the worst-case scenario."
The heroes had no other choice but to go along with the plan.
Soon after, a new portal appeared above the valley. The four, who had been waiting nearby, did not hesitate and plunged into it.
Long after they left, the Kormod finally crawled out from the bone piles. One creature muttered softly,
"I smell a strange scent."
"I smell it too. It's those two figures."
"Their bodies smell so delicious. I want to take a bite."
"So fragrant. Truly fragrant."
"The other one has it too, but faintly."
"That's the armor, idiot."
"Why do they smell so good? Are they food?"
A group of Kormod whispered and chattered, thoroughly savoring the scents they had encountered earlier.
Luke was completely unaware of this scene. If he had known, he would never have led Clark and the others toward the Underworld Dragon's territory. To the creatures of the Underworld, the living were the most exquisite delicacy.
The four heroes, oblivious to the danger, were like meat buns tossed to a hungry dog—delivering themselves right to the front door without needing an invitation.
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