Chapter Forty-Nine: More Terrifying Than Trouble Is a Nightmare

Chapter Forty-Nine: More Terrifying Than Trouble Is a Nightmare

Shen Ce remained silent for a moment before replying calmly, "No need. I'll be leaving soon." Since it was just about checking the red mark, and Shen Ce had never killed anyone, he figured he could simply ask the NPC to let him out.

The three men exchanged surprised glances, then a sly smile crept over their faces. The mage in the blue-green robe, who had previously worn a disdainful expression, changed his demeanor in an instant and chuckled, "Brother, don't try to fool us. Anyone who gets in here can't get out so easily. What, do you have some special mining technique? Don't keep it to yourself…"

Before he finished speaking, all three advanced toward Shen Ce, clearly intending to gang up on him. It wasn't Shen Ce's first time being targeted, but he hadn't expected trouble so soon after entering the Demon Realm.

He watched the trio coldly, waving his hand with tranquil composure. "I do, actually. Do you want to hear it?"

Their eyes widened; the gray-robed man, who hadn't spoken till now, showed an impatient eagerness. "Hurry up and tell us!" Whether Shen Ce spoke the truth or not, they were certain they could handle him—a weak, destitute priest in their eyes, and in the cramped mine tunnels, a priest had little chance against melee fighters.

"It's this…" Shen Ce's three words stoked their curiosity to its peak; they stared intently at him. Without expression, Shen Ce suddenly unleashed a barrage of blinding light spells and slowing curses!

The mine was naturally dark; their lamps barely illuminated the immediate area. Shen Ce's relentless flashes robbed the trio of their sight in a moment of utter vulnerability.

He had no intention of pressing the attack. Though he had used basic scouting to determine their levels—each five or six below his own—the mine's environment deprived him of his priestly advantages. Moreover, this was his first time in the Demon domain, and the Violet Crystal Mine was a complete unknown. Better to secure a safe spot first.

After casting his spells, Shen Ce didn't look back, but dashed away. The mine twisted and turned, pitch-black throughout; he didn't use illumination spells but relied on his decent senses to find his way.

Half a minute later, enraged shouts echoed behind him.

"Bastard! I invited you out of goodwill, and you dare mess with me? After him!"

"Boss, there are two forks here—which way?"

"I'll go with Ah Ye this way, Douzi, you take the other!"

"Got it!"

Shen Ce was surprised; he hadn't expected such relentless pursuit. But he was new to the Violet Crystal Mine and had never mined here, so he didn't realize how hard it was to clear the red mark. Every player here wanted out as soon as possible. Hearing a weak priest claim he was about to leave drove them to desperation.

Listening to the quick, yet orderly footsteps behind him, Shen Ce analyzed calmly—only one was chasing him down this path. He held his breath in the darkness, determined to strike first, gripping his staff as his spells were queued and ready for the prey.

As a faint glow appeared ahead, Shen Ce's lips curled into a cold arc, and the staff in his hand began to pulse with the aura of death.

In a heartbeat, a silent chant unleashed a light blade wreathed in black mist, piercing the pursuer's body! Immediately, a second light spell targeted the lamp atop the man's head.

With a sharp crack, the lamp shattered on the ground, plunging the surroundings into absolute darkness.

Watching his health plummet, Douzi, the mage who had pursued Shen Ce, was terrified—such fierce attack and stealth were far beyond his level!

Sweating and breathing heavily, Douzi realized his health was almost gone. Such eerie power… Could it be a Shadow Priest?

Yes, that must be it. In the dark faction, few would choose the frail priest class; only the hidden Shadow Priest was coveted by all.

Douzi raised his staff in fury. No matter what, he wouldn't die for nothing. He chanted loudly, tongues of fire raging in all directions.

But Shen Ce, concealed in the darkness, was calm and unafraid. He had the advantage; retreating lightly to the side, his body pressed against the damp stone wall as he calculated the distance.

He had no intention of playing long with a mage far below his level. A faint smile touched his lips as he sipped a mana potion, then cast Angel of Darkness's Wrath.

Fear consumed Douzi in an instant; he tried to scream but couldn't utter a sound, forced to face death with wide eyes.

Perhaps unused to Shadow Priest spells, Shen Ce began to sweat as well, a strange sense of oppression weighing on him. He watched the mage vanish in a flash of white light, then adjusted his breathing. Because his true allegiance was the Light faction, he found his PK value had not increased after the kill.

Shen Ce stepped forward and gathered the equipment and potions dropped. Luck favored him; Douzi's violet crystals all fell as well, though only a few, and none of high quality.

After collecting them, Shen Ce tried to contact Seroz, but found many attributes in his panel grayed out. The Violet Crystal Mine, as a special map, restricted many features, including communication.

Frowning, Shen Ce picked a direction and continued. The routes of the mine were bewildering, and he constantly hesitated at branching tunnels. Along the way, he encountered other players—these conversations were harsher, discussing how to rob others of crystals or engaged in PK battles. Shen Ce dared not ask directions, preferring to hide or detour.

After nearly half an hour, the exit still eluded him. He even considered robbing a player for the map, but dismissed the idea—most here were ruthless killers, often in groups; Shen Ce had no advantage in such cramped spaces.

He finally decided to follow the sound of dripping water, relying on his sharp hearing. Gradually, the tunnels opened up and light grew brighter, yet Shen Ce sensed something was off—he seemed to have returned to the place he and Seroz had teleported in!

Seeing the hot spring, he was struck by a sense of dread. Had he really come full circle? He searched around but couldn't find the teleport array, nor any sign of Seroz, who was supposed to wait for him.

The atmosphere was unsettling; though Shen Ce sensed something was wrong, his mind was foggy as he walked toward the spring.

When he gazed down at the water, he witnessed a scene he would never forget—his nightmare.

The surface was eerily calm, mist drifting, revealing a figure fleeing desperately through grass. That figure in priestly robes was unmistakably Shen Ce himself!

The image shifted abruptly—rain poured from the sky, Shen Ce collapsed in the grass, sharp blades cutting his skin, yet he was oblivious. The expression in the vision was frantic, with a drowning bewilderment.

Dark emotions surged, cold sweat prickling Shen Ce’s back.

No, how could that image in the water be himself?

No matter how he reasoned, the scene changed again. His eyes were covered by something, and beside the spring, Shen Ce felt dizzy and nauseous. He seemed to see everything, yet nothing; hot breath brushed his cheek, his mind stilled.

Only the sensation of his wrist being restrained was clear and surreal.

Author’s Note: ovo, from now on I’ll never return from the path of 2000+ words…