https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-418-The-Great-Demon-Tribe-Trial-A-Hopeless-Battle-for-Extinction/12584594/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-420-Lanchi-Encounters-a-New-Malady/12584596/
Chapter 419: Lanchi Finally Meets a Sane Person
Chapter 419: Lanchi Finally Meets a Sane Person
Perhaps the phantom of Great Lover was more cautious and didn't plan to launch an attack on Lanchi just yet. Or maybe, due to the initial distance between them, she hadn't caught up to Lanchi.
"As expected of a perfect copy of Great Lover. That cowardly attitude of refusing to come out when things get tough has been replicated as well."
Lanchi's eyes scrutinized each cell door and the markings on the walls, searching for clues to navigate his way forward.
Previously, there was a period when Great Lover was quite afraid of Talia. Hence, whenever Talia was around, Great Lover adamantly refused to come out.
Making his way in the direction indicated by the map wasn't too difficult. Eventually, he would reach the agreed-upon exit teleportation hall and reunite with the others, but this process might take a while.
The surrounding maze-like corridors were sometimes stark and cold, and sometimes exuded a peculiar sense of beauty—runes winding their way across the walls, the corridors seemingly endless, and each turn presenting a new, unknown scene.
The entire structure would undergo random changes periodically, but one thing remained constant: the locations of the entrance and exit teleportation halls.
After a solo journey for a while.
Lanchi's attention was drawn to a light up ahead, illuminating the room with a warm and bright glow.
He walked towards it, and the coordinates turned out to be precisely what the map indicated—the Chief Warden's office on Level Negative Five. The deep blue magical light that had surrounded the area was now gone, consistent with the safe zone teleportation hall.
Before reuniting with his team, it was necessary to find the Chief Warden of Level Negative Five, obtain the clearance to pass through, and complete this task.
At the moment, the most suitable person in the team to accomplish this seemed to be himself.
Lanchi stood in front of the office and gently knocked on the tightly closed door.
He wasn't sure if the Chief Warden was currently in the office.
But the light was on inside, so the Chief Warden was likely there or hadn't gone far.
The sound of knocking gently reverberated inside and outside the quiet office, soon dissipating into the silent space.
Several seconds passed without a response.
"Come in."
Just as Lanchi hesitated about leaving, a cold female voice came from within the room.
Lanchi, who had been about to leave, held the doorknob.
Pushing the door open, he saw a neat office with orderly placed objects, exuding a warm and comfortable atmosphere.
Lanchi's eyes soon fell on the only person in the room—a female knight wearing light armor, sitting in a chair next to the desk.
The female knight had a tall and straight posture, exuding an air of dignity and elegance even while seated.
She seemed to have finished her work for the morning and had just bandaged her wounds, donned her armor, and there were a few unrolled bandages and a half-empty potion bottle on the table.
Even so, one could still see the faint bloodstains seeping through the light-colored bandages on her body.
Apparently, there was no prison officer with healing abilities to treat her.
The female knight raised her head, her eyes revealing both fatigue and a cold resilience.
Even after returning from the arduous battle with her phantom, her eyes remained vigilant.
Her gaze, tinged with a hint of impatience, fell on Great Lover.
Before the new intern could speak.
"Once you're done cleaning up the phantoms, I will naturally give you your evaluation."
The female knight, Chief Warden Melissa, spoke in a cold yet powerful voice, answering the question before it was even asked.
She was concise, and her gaze moved away from Great Lover's face, as if assessing an outsider.
"Thank you, Chief Warden Melissa.
"Thank you, Chief Warden Melissa," Great Lover's voice expressed his gratitude warmly.
He noticed the name 'Melissa' engraved on the Chief Warden's nameplate.
Although she seemed somewhat aloof, she was a practical and reasonable official, and didn't seem inclined to make things difficult for them, making her the most amenable person they had encountered in Helrom Prison so far.
Just as Great Lover prepared to end the conversation and turn to leave...
"Wait."
Chief Warden Melissa suddenly spoke up.
Great Lover turned back, unsure why she had stopped him.
Melissa paused for a moment, then slowly raised her eyes to meet his gaze once more.
"Where are your companions? Did you get separated from them all when you came to this level?"
Melissa's attitude remained distant as she sat there, scrutinizing Great Lover.
"I'm on my way to meet them at the exit teleportation hall," Great Lover replied.
"You have little combat capability, so being alone will make you an easy target. If you happen to run into the phantoms of other prison guards, they may attack you as well. I'll escort you and make sure you get to the exit teleportation hall safely."
As Melissa spoke, she wearily rose to her feet and headed for the door.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Lanchi asked, sensing that the Chief Warden had just endured a life-or-death battle, her life force hanging by a thread.
"It's fine. I've cleared my own phantoms on this level, so dealing with others' phantoms will be a breeze."
Melissa's voice was devoid of any emotional fluctuation as she reached the door and stepped out of the Chief Warden's office.
"Then, I appreciate your help," Lanchi said.
Although the Chief Warden had apparently won her battle, it seemed to be a close call. The bloodstains on her white bandages were starting to darken as she simply moved about, as if she had barely scraped by with her life.
It was hard to imagine what kind of battle maniac would challenge their own phantom to a deadly duel every day on this level.
In the Great Demon Tribe Trial, only the most fanatical and powerful demon warriors would choose to fight and temper themselves here.
Obtaining the Mark of Hopelessness required pushing one's battle intent to the extreme, facing eighth-rank phantoms stronger than oneself, and defeating them through one's own power.
Only by transcending one's limits and achieving a breakthrough in the midst of battle could one hope to triumph over phantoms far stronger than oneself.
The three seventh-rank Chief Wardens on the inner levels of Helrom were all rare talents of the Protoss Empire, entrusted with important positions while also finding the perfect place to hone their skills.
Great Lover followed Melissa out of the office.
He now felt that the Chief Warden on Level Negative Five was surprisingly reliable.
Despite her cold exterior, she seemed to genuinely care for the intern prison guards.
Initially, Lanchi had braced himself for the possibility of continuing to serve as a doctor in Helrom Prison, but now it seemed that Chief Warden Melissa had a healthy mindset, unlike Selena on Level Negative Four. He wouldn't need to engage in any unnecessary conversations with her.
Lanchi was always willing to lend a hand when asked, but he wouldn't interfere unless there was a clear need.
Previously, on Level Negative Four, Hyperion had been anxious about not seeing the Chief Warden after waking up, fearing that Lanchi might deceive the officials and cause them to lose merit points with Goddess Talia.
Now, Hyperion could finally rest easy.
(End of Chapter)
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