Slash—
Blood splattered as the final monster was cut down.
All around Cao Ye were scattered magic stones and monster drops, piled across the ground.
Originally, he had planned to descend further into the dungeon to find stronger monsters and test his current strength—such as the Floor Boss of the 27th Floor, the twin-headed dragon Amphisbaena.
According to the Guild's records, Amphisbaena had a potential power of Level 5. And within the Water Capital, where water flowed everywhere and it fought on its home ground, its combat ability could even rival Level 6.
However, Cao Ye hadn't heard any reports of Amphisbaena recently respawning.
So he wanted to try his luck.
Unfortunately, he didn't encounter the twin-headed dragon.
Instead, he accidentally entered a previously unknown region of the dungeon.
Although the dungeon had been explored for thousands of years and many areas had been mapped—especially near the upper floors—there were still hidden regions scattered throughout the deeper levels.
From the middle floors onward, the terrain became increasingly complex and chaotic.
Some corners remained completely undiscovered.
And the deeper one went, the wider and more labyrinthine the dungeon became.
"Ah… I should've brought Paimon with me."
Looking at the ground covered with magic stones and drops, Cao Ye opened a gate to his Imaginary Space and stored everything inside.
As for Paimon, she was still sleeping at home.
Honestly, Cao Ye sometimes suspected she was a cursed corpse.
As a cursed construct, she was oddly gluttonous, full of emotions, and loved sleeping in.
It was hard to believe she was a created being.
Looking around, Cao Ye saw countless rocky walls with holes carved into them.
No one knew where those tunnels led.
This place seemed like a monster gathering ground.
But now every monster here had already been wiped out.
Step… step…
"You must be Cao Ye, right?"
"Hm?"
A sudden voice sounded behind him.
Turning around, Cao Ye saw a standing lizardman, wearing leather armor and holding a weapon.
Unlike ordinary monsters, it looked completely different—almost civilized.
Behind him stood many other monsters:
GoblinsOrcsKiller rabbitsSirensBoar-menWar Shadows
Their identities were obvious.
These were the special intelligent monsters active in the dungeon—
The Xenos.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Lyd. I am a Xenos."
"I see… monsters with intelligence, just like Shara."
The lizardman named Lyd bowed slightly.
"I came to thank you. Back in the Artificial Labyrinth, you saved many of our kin and even protected them until they returned to the dungeon."
Among the surrounding Xenos, Cao Ye noticed several who looked dissatisfied.
Clearly, not all of them shared Lyd's attitude.
Some might even have been among those who met him previously.
"You don't need to thank me."
"I'm not a good person."
"The only reason I protected them was because of Shara. Personally, I don't have much goodwill toward you."
Even so, Lyd nodded seriously.
"Even if that's the case, you still saved my people. Otherwise they might have died in the artificial labyrinth… or been sold outside Orario."
"You're an interesting guy."
Cao Ye smiled.
He didn't dislike Lyd's straightforward personality.
However, after looking around, Cao Ye noticed Shara wasn't present.
That puzzled him.
Normally, once he entered the dungeon, Shara should have sensed him and come to meet him.
Yet instead of her, he had encountered these Xenos.
"Where's Shara?"
"She went deeper into the dungeon."
"She said she needs to become stronger to truly inherit the name of Gorgon."
"We haven't seen her for quite a while."
Lyd sounded a bit helpless.
Among the Xenos, he had always been one of the strongest.
But after Shara returned and underwent her transformation, inheriting the Gorgon spirit origin, her strength surpassed everyone.
Still, there was no jealousy among the Xenos.
They were genuinely happy that she had become stronger.
"So why did you gather all these people to meet me?"
"Those who returned said you gave Shara something that allowed her to become like she is now—stronger than before."
"Yes."
"So what?"
Lyd hesitated.
"This might be presumptuous, but I still—"
"Then don't say it."
Cao Ye interrupted him directly.
He wasn't a saint.
He couldn't even be considered a good person.
Even if he possessed extra spirit origins, he wouldn't give them away.
They weren't his people.
Why should he help them?
ROAR—
A goat-headed Xenos nearby growled angrily.
Clearly, it disliked Cao Ye.
It had been present during the Artificial Labyrinth incident.
That day remained etched in its memory.
Cao Ye had threatened them to participate in his experiment.
If Shara hadn't stepped forward, things might have ended very differently.
"I wouldn't show hostility toward someone stronger than you," Cao Ye said calmly.
"It's a good way to get yourself killed."
The goat-man immediately stepped back in fear.
Cao Ye's power still lingered in its memory like a nightmare.
"Calm down," Lyd said, stepping forward to block the goat-man.
"We came here with goodwill."
He faced Cao Ye directly.
Cao Ye examined him for a moment.
Compared to the other Xenos—who were becoming visibly uneasy—Lyd remained composed.
But because of Cao Ye's earlier remark, many Xenos now looked at him with clear hostility.