Chapter Ninety-One: Necrotic Malice

Elves, symbols of longevity in legends, live such extraordinarily long lives that some believe they are a race untouched by death itself. Nobility, beauty, elegance, intelligence, and even a certain obsession with cleanliness have become their hallmarks. Skilled in both magic and archery, they are born mages and marksmen, cherished children of nature who delight in peace and harmony.

What truly surprised Veil was discovering that Procis belonged to the elven race.

Seeing Veil’s astonished expression, Skanoeli gave a peculiar chuckle, winked at him, and said, “What’s wrong, boy? Hard to believe?”

“It’s not exactly hard to believe,” Veil replied, shaking his head with a hint of amusement. “It’s just that Procis’s character seems a bit...”

“A bit? It’s very different, isn’t it?” Skanoeli cut him off. “You must be thinking that elves in legends are approachable and kind, while Procis is as temperamental and vicious as a witch.”

“Uh...” Although Skanoeli’s words rang true, Procis was, at least nominally, Veil’s mentor. Hearing the old man repeatedly refer to her so disparagingly felt somewhat irksome. Veil failed to notice, however, that as he thought this, Skanoeli’s eyes glimmered with a hint of malicious delight.

The fact that Procis was an elf brought Veil only surprise, nothing more. What truly caught his attention was Skanoeli himself—this old man knew about the artifacts, and judging by his demeanor, his knowledge rivaled Procis’s.

Was news about the artifacts so cheap now? Why did so many people know about them?

Veil voiced his doubts to Skanoeli, who, upon hearing the question, did not immediately respond. No eerie laughter either; instead, he pondered briefly before murmuring, “Boy, what exactly do you want to know?”

“Everything!” Veil grinned, answering without hesitation. “I am a very greedy man!”

“Most greedy fellows die young,” Skanoeli retorted with a cold smile, mocking him. But Veil took no offense, replying confidently, “I believe I belong to the minority who survive their greed.”

“Is that so?” Skanoeli cast an odd glance at Veil, then climbed down from his chair, giving him a strange smile. “Boy, if you’re so eager to get involved, follow me.”

The room remained as dark as ever, but Skanoeli moved as if endowed with night vision, weaving through the blackness with ease. He led Veil through four or five large chambers, finally arriving in a room with a peculiar atmosphere.

It was a cramped space, empty on all sides. Standing inside, one could sense an uncanny chill—not the cold felt upon the skin, but an icy sensation rising from deep within the soul.

“Heh heh!” Skanoeli cackled strangely at Veil’s startled face, then walked over to a section of the wall, feeling around until he found a stone protrusion. He pressed it firmly.

A sharp sound echoed from the floor. The smooth stone suddenly split with a thin crack. From its depths, a ferocious, beast-like roar thundered up, filled with rage.

Within moments, the stone floor opened completely, releasing waves of pitch-black, chilling air. Veil’s brow shot up.

This black, icy aura resembled the dark element among the seven magical schools.

“Old man, you haven’t been keeping some rare beast in your cellar, have you?” Veil asked, frowning and glancing at Skanoeli with a hint of unease.

“Indeed, I’ve kept something down there. But... heh heh, what’s below is far more interesting than any rare beast,” Skanoeli winked, his face perpetually twisted with cunning, only fueling Veil’s curiosity.

“Follow me down...” Skanoeli descended first, but after a couple of steps, he suddenly turned back and warned, “Oh, and boy, never use your fire magic for illumination down there—you might frighten those things...”

“Eh?” Veil’s mind swirled with confusion. Just then, another furious roar erupted from below, shaking his eardrums painfully.

Frighten those things? Isn’t it more likely they’ll frighten me!

“This damned old man is playing tricks again!” Veil cursed inwardly, extending his senses and following Skanoeli.

The moment they entered the underground, the chilling air grew even denser. Veil shuddered violently, his alertness rising with each step.

It was unbearably dark here. Veil stretched his senses to the limit, yet still had to grope along the walls as he slowly descended. The pathway was treacherous—though the walls were built from massive stones like a fortress, the floor was neglected, strewn with loose rocks and uneven steps, making it easy to twist an ankle or tumble down.

Descending the stairs, at a depth of nearly thirty meters, Veil was struck by a pungent, nauseating stench. His face turned pale, and he fought the urge to retch, grimacing as he called ahead, “Old man! What is this place?!”

“If it bothers you so much, use your magic to light the way,” Skanoeli replied, turning his head, his eyes gleaming green in the darkness.

Veil didn’t know what Skanoeli was plotting, but he still drew his wand. Out of caution, he chose light magic instead of fire to illuminate the path.

A milky white orb shot forth, its sacred radiance instantly dispelling the blackness and icy air. At the same moment, the underground beasts were utterly disturbed!

“Roar—!”
“Roar—!”
Terror, defiance, fury, and wailing all merged into a cacophony of howls.

The sound came from directly beneath Veil’s feet!

Peering down toward the light, Veil was stunned to find himself standing atop a gigantic cage. The cage stretched nearly thirty meters in width and length, and over fifty meters in height! To ensure its strength, not a single stone was used—every surface was shielded by four layers of thick iron plates, each half a meter thick.

But even more shocking were the creatures below. Four or five enormous, unknown beasts raged in the cage. Their bodies were hairless, covered in thick black shells reminiscent of reptiles, yet their size far surpassed even the armored rhinobeast. On their foreheads, Veil spotted a round, fleshy orb!

Good heavens! That thing even sprouted hideous eyes and a grotesque mouth!

Staring at these monstrous beings, Veil was nearly stupefied. It wasn’t that he was frightened as Skanoeli had predicted, but because he recognized these creatures!

“Damn it! Hell! Where in the world did you get so many Decayers?!” Veil swallowed hard, eyes wide with disbelief as he gaped at the cage below. At that moment, Skanoeli himself was stunned, utterly unprepared for Veil to use light magic—and even less so for Veil to know these disgusting creatures.

“You... You actually know what these are?” Skanoeli stared at Veil, unable to believe it.

Veil forced a bitter smile, replying, “You ask how I know them? I should be asking where you got them! These things don’t belong on the Magic Continent at all—they’re from the Demon Realm! They’re undead creatures from there, so you’re...”

He stammered to a halt, unable to finish.

“Looks like things are getting complicated,” Skanoeli finally came to his senses, muttering vaguely, then turned to Veil with rare seriousness. “I know you have many questions, and so do I. But this is no place for conversation. Let’s go back upstairs.”