Chapter 1588: 533. Lumina’s Blissful Place_3
“If even the Goatn themselves don’t know what’s hidden inside, then I think you should be extraordinarily cautious once you enter. Don’t go too deep.”
“Alright, I’ll be careful.”
Murphy responded, then refrained from disturbing Triss in her experints.
From his vantage point in the air, Murphy looked down below. George had already crushed several savage Goatn attempting sneak attacks among the scattered rocks. The beast let out a screech, signaling Murphy that it had caught the scent of decay emanating from the Underground Palace.
The entrance was close by now.
“I certainly hope this damned place turns out to be a secret-laden Great Labyrinth where the Goatn marauders are as nurous as possible.”
Flapping his blood wings, Murphy descended to the ground. With his staff-sword in one hand and his heat-lting war blade at his waist, he mused:
“Any proper RPG experience ought to have a ‘labyrinth’ chanic. It’d be the ideal pasti for my little players. The best part is that if this ‘Dark Root’ turns out to fund such explorations, I could completely designate it as either a classic daily or weekly task.
And if this Underground Palace is large enough, it could function as a dedicated dungeon zone!
When my warriors erge from the Polluted Swamp, they’ll need a higher-level monster-hunting area to progress systematically. Beyond the main ‘Black Disaster’ storyline, incorporating subplots involving the Half-Elves or Goatn could perfectly complent the exploration narrative of the Dark Mountain Range.
The best guidance is never forcing them to kill a set number of enemies, but rather inspiring their curiosity and love for discovery. Under the drive of passion and intrigue, they can help reconstruct the forgotten past of the Dark Mountain Range.”
Murphy turned back to look toward Blackfla Mountain Pass.
He squinted.
“What exactly happened in the mysterious Eden District? How did the Dark Mountain Range co to be? What secrets link the origins of the Vampire Seven Clans to the Land of Holy Blood? And how does this seemingly cursed land connect to the legends of the Creator?
Ah…”
The Vampire Governor perford a dazzling spin before landing gracefully.
With George’s murderous growls echoing in the background, Murphy drew his weapon, eyes fixated on the marauding Goatn surging from belowground. He noticed the peculiar blood-painted runes carved onto their furry chests.
“See, my curiosity has been thoroughly ignited. Co, show the histories shrouded within the mist!”
—
“Well, what do we have here? A Half-Elf! Bearing the proud bloodline of the Moon Elves, what makes you bold enough to tread into the territory of the Shadow Elves?”
At the entrance cavern of the Shadow Valley, a mocking voice pierced through the air from the other side. Accompanied by dense footsteps, Lady Adel and her three companions soon found themselves surrounded by a group of fully-ard Half-Elves.
The Vampire Intelligence Officer showed no eagerness to resist and remained expressionless, though her eyes betrayed disdain.
She sensed that among the assembled Half-Elves there were a few genuine Shadow Elves lurking quietly within the darkness, observing her party from the shadows. This odd combination made Adel’s sense of “ho” suddenly sour and repugnant.
These idiots!
Their forefathers had risked their lives to escape the Shadow Elves’ arenas and earn their freedom, yet rely sixty years later, the descendants of those courageous souls had once again ford shaful alliances with the Shadow Elves. Evidently, the Shadow Elf blood coursing through her veins was inherently tainted with corruption!
Fortunately, her Elf blood was only as dilute as one-fourth, sparing her from outright manipulation by the Shadow Elves.
Behind Adel, the nad Lumina looked puzzled. She gazed at the tall figure erging from the darkness ahead. The figure was also a Half-Elf, but her Elven traits were much more prominent compared to Lady Adel’s.
With a fra more slender than human, graceful footsteps, pointed ears, and eyes luminously aglow in dim light, her lineage was unmistakable.
Lumina couldn’t comprehend why this person seed so hostile toward her, but that didn’t stop the Half-Elf Bard from feeling elated at the sight of so many Elves gathered together.
For her, this was the first ti she’d encountered an elven settlent in-ga!
Even though it was just a gathering of Half-Elves, it felt like an invigorating and tranquil sanctuary to her.
If reputation were tradable here, Lumina would undoubtedly be the first to grind it all the way to Revered status!
“Adel…”
The advancing figure erging from the shadows ignored Lumina’s inner thoughts. She stopped a few paces away from Lady Adel and spoke in a voice tinged with nostalgia and uncertainty:
“I thought you had long since perished. Seeing a childhood friend again fills with joy, even if you’ve beco a Vampire. Shadow Valley is still your ho, and we exiles care little for bloodlines.
But as the leader of Shadow Valley now, I must ask you—are you truly ho? Or do you co bearing other intentions?”
“Lisa.”
Lady Adel recognized the face of the woman standing before her, finding an uncanny resemblance to Mrs. Bonis that made faded mories co alive once more. Especially the woman’s striking blue-gray hair—it brought back rare, joyful monts from childhood.
With a sigh, Adel said:
“I wish I could tell you I had simply co back ho. But we’ve grown up, and childish words cannot mask reality. I’ve brought the will of my master and the goodwill of Transylvania.
The Black Disaster is imminent!
You’re in grave danger here if you stay. I hope you’ll abandon the valley and migrate into Transylvania’s borders to start anew. I also intend to take command of Shadow Valley and fortify it as the front line against the Black Disaster.”
Whispers began to stir in the darkness.
The murmurs ca from the Half-Elves conferring among one another, while Lisa, the leader, dismissed them with a sneer.
She replied:
“Then you can leave, Adel, my childhood friend. We fare just fine here, especially since the last surviving bloodline of the jewa Clan has joined us and greatly strengthened our defenses in Shadow Valley.
True, we’re no match for the Black Disaster, but we can seal off our valley and abstain from involvent.
That’s your problem beyond the valley, not ours.
However, I won’t be so heartless as to let a returning wanderer leave in despair. You may at least tour the place where you grew up and pay your respects at your mother’s grave.
Co, Adel.
Tonight, you may stay in the valley, but by tomorrow morning, you must depart. You’ve brought the outside world’s malicious intent, and that’s not sothing Shadow Valley needs.”
With that, Lisa turned briskly and headed off. The Half-Elves accompanying her obeyed dutifully, parting the darkness to make way for the four visitors.
The three young players looked toward Lady Adel, who gestured for them to follow.
She spoke little of the surrounding Half-Elves, for now wasn’t the ti.
Adel frowned. She wasn’t disappointed by Lisa’s attitude; long-isolated people naturally had hostile views of outsiders, and such rejection had been within expectations. Her true bafflent stemd from the Shadow Elves blended in among the Half-Elves.
Before launching her plans, Adel needed to uncover the story behind these Shadow Elves.
She had a feeling that this truth would be of utmost importance to both herself and Sir Murphy’s endeavors.
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