Nidhogg looked at the Giant Ghost's corpse, thinking, If I cut you down like this, you can't regenerate, right?
「Quest」
Penetrate the Deep Dark Realm of the Astral World (Completed)
Exterminate the Giant Ghost and Beastly Spirits in the Lair (Completed)
Kill the River Horse on the Banks of the Styx (Completed)
「Reward」
Level Up: LV 75 → LV 76
Acquired: Crimson Amber Medallion (Increases maximum HP)
Acquired: Ghost Glovewort (All types, all general use) +3
Only then did Nidhogg notice that on the stone platform above, the skeleton knight, Ingvall, Lhutel, and the Lone Wolves had stopped fighting. The remaining beastly spirits lay dead at their hands.
The level-up increased his combat stats and experience. The Crimson Amber Medallion further increased his maximum HP.
After that, he had three Lands of Shadow remaining. He thought about it and used them to strengthen Ingvall the Lost Knight, Lhutel the Headless Knight, and the Twin Sage Sorcerers.
「Spirit Ashes」
Ingvall the Lost Knight Ashes +3
Lhutel the Headless Knight Ashes +1
Twin Sage Sorcerer Ashes +1
Thus, even though the cave had been explored, it could be left behind.
Nidhogg was about to leave when he suddenly heard a groan. In an instant, he saw the Giant Ghost's corpse being dragged down into the fleshy lake by a small monster.
A strong premonition warned his nerves.
Immediately, the severed flesh and blood continuously Restructure and actually formed a human face.
At the same time, the entire cave trembled with a rumbling sound.
The skeleton knight sensed something was wrong and shouted to Nidhogg below, "Go! Go!"
Nidhogg saw the human face slowly emerge from the fleshy lake, making a dull sound. As the remaining flesh and blood fell away, it also outlined an extremely bizarre female torso!
Hearing the skeleton knight's warning, he didn't hesitate for a second. He whistled, summoned Torrent, mounted, turned, and fled.
Man and horse leaped and galloped upward!
"Leaving?" A female voice echoed through the cave, tinged with seduction and allure. "You come when you want, and leave when you want? Why not stay with me?"
Then came a giggle and a slithering sound, as if something was pondering, climbing upward.
Nidhogg didn't even look back. He just rode and galloped. After a while, he returned to the previous stone platform like an arrow.
The woman couldn't help but be stunned. She hadn't expected Nidhogg to ignore her bewitchment.
Few in this world could do that. But what concerned her more was the strange power within Nidhogg.
She carried her alluring form, made of filthy, fishy flesh and blood, and gave chase like a wave of seawater.
The skeleton knight turned his dark horse, joined Nidhogg, and together they raced toward the cave entrance.
"That is the 'Whore of the Embryo Sea,' one of the God Hand."
"They usually reside at the bottom of the astral world, also in the Abyss. To enter the real world, the surface, or the depths of the astral world, they need a material vessel—either a pile of dead corpses or a swarm of rats."
"This time, she came using the corpses of the giant, the beastly spirits, and other monsters in the Flesh and Blood Lake."
"Don't worry about her. Her arrival is time-limited, and she cannot use her full power. By the time we get out of the cave, it will almost be time for her to vanish."
From behind them came voices, laced with seduction:
"Oh... Isn't this our friend, the skeleton knight? Why won't you pay me any attention? Have you forgotten our centuries-old friendship?"
"Look at me. Open your eyes and look at me. I don't believe you can forget me. I don't believe you're willing to leave me... Hehehe..."
The skeleton knight ignored the seduction, the resentment, or the laughter behind him. He simply rode and said, "The forced arrival of a God Hand member will gradually cause this entire realm to collapse and sink into a tangled web of life and death."
"Once we're out of the cave, we still need to break out of the dark realm in one go. Don't stop."
Nidhogg nodded.
At the same time, the ashes of Ingvall, the Lone Wolves, and Lhutel returned to him. This meant that the Whore could easily defeat them all without even creating obstacles.
The Whore was getting closer.
He vaguely heard voices in his head, dimly saw all kinds of joyful illusions, and countless desires flared up, as if they could be fulfilled if he just turned around.
Nidhogg knew the Whore was tempting him. But he was not Orpheus. He restrained himself, not looking back until the last moment when he left the cave.
The skeleton knight was beside him. He raised his crystal light, looked ahead, and said, "We should be almost at the cave entrance. We still have a ways to go."
At the same time, the splashing behind grew more intense, closer and closer. The laughter was endless. The further he went, the more Nidhogg felt a chill down his spine.
The cave itself also shrank, as if alive, enduring as long as it could, narrowing until only one horse could pass through, and everything became sticky.
"It's catching up." The skeleton knight's heart tightened. "I'll stay behind to hold it off. You go straight ahead. We'll meet at the intersection of the depths and the surface of the astral world."
"Wait!" Nidhogg stopped him. "Wait a moment."
The skeleton knight didn't stop his horse. He continued galloping, his ghostly eyes fixed on Nidhogg, waiting for his answer.
Nidhogg hesitated no longer. He immediately resolved a long-standing quest.
「Quest」 Eliminate Low-Rank Apostles and Low-Rank Invaders in the Kingdom of Midland (27/27, Completed)
「Reward」 Level Up: LV 76 (Low-Rank Apostle) → LV 83 (Mid-Rank Apostle)
「Quest」 Incantations & Sorceries (Condition: Reach Level 81 — Completed)
「Reward」
Unlocked: Incantations & Sorceries
Acquired: Stargazer Set, Prophet Set
Bloodhound's Fang +4 (Skill: Bloodhound's Finesse)
Lordsworn's Greatsword +3 (Skill: Stamp [Upward Cut])
Golden Halberd +1 (Skill: Golden Vow)
Brass Shield +2
Flask of Crimson & Cerulean Tears +4 (Restores HP/FP, Recovery +4, 9 Uses)
Fire Dragon Crest Talisman +1 (Increases fire damage negation)
Blue Amber Medallion +1 (Increases maximum Focus)
Green Amber Medallion +1 (Increases maximum Stamina)
Crimson Amber Medallion +1 (Increases maximum HP)
Ingvall the Lost Knight Ashes +4
Lone Wolf Ashes +3
Lhutel the Headless Knight Ashes +2
Twin Sage Sorcerer Ashes +2
Nidhogg was overwhelmed.
This was perhaps the most rewarding moment in history. Almost everything usable had been forcibly strengthened by one level.
But what surprised Nidhogg most was the light of incantation radiating from his body.
The light coalesced into a human form and sat sideways behind Nidhogg. One hand rested on his shoulder, the other reached into the darkness deep within the cave.
Out of the corner of his eye, Nidhogg noticed the scars on that hand. He recognized it.
And indeed, a calm voice sounded behind him:
"Don't look back. Don't stop. I am Melina. I will unleash all the power I have accumulated over the years. You just need to rush forward."
FWOOSH—!
Immediately, a radiant golden light burst forth behind Nidhogg and the skeleton knight, like a blazing sun suddenly descending. The massive surge instantly swallowed the darkness in the cave!
The golden light transformed again into a sacred flame, burning all the branches and vines that tried to approach. Even the stone walls were scorched!
The Whore let out a groan of pain from far and near: "Ah... It hurts... Good... This is good..."
Her voice momentarily grew stronger, then contracted, becoming extremely unstable.
Nidhogg and the skeleton knight rode on. In the light of the arrows, they saw the cave entrance before them.
The two horses shot out like arrows and finally emerged from the cave.
Behind them, the cave collapsed with a thunderous crash. The giant tree also fell, covering the entrance like a coffin lid.