This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 324, Section 323: Rabies Outbreak

Riel's little shop has survived mainly because of the friendly atmosphere among the elves.

If this were to happen in a human city, it would be... much simpler.

With a little bribery, the problem can be easily solved. Why bother making Lin Jun work herself to the bone?!
Of course, good deeds bring good rewards. After this round of intense overtime, my [Mental Guidance] level has actually increased to level six!

But to be honest, I've been getting beaten up every day lately, so it's time for me to improve!
Lin Jun was already rubbing her hands together, looking forward to tonight's dream battle.

Originally, Lin Jun was somewhat unsure about the sudden and significant increase in the intensity of the invasion.

He was even a little worried that if the opponent's offensive intensified for a few more rounds, he might have no choice but to erect a stone tablet for Fenpuji.

However, things did not develop that way.

After a significant intensification, the opponent's intrusion intensity seems to have stabilized and stopped increasing.

Although I can still pound my little finger hard every night, that's about it.

He now only hopes that this "dream" isn't the kind of cheating skill that the other party can unilaterally cancel at any time, leaving him only able to take the beating without being able to fight back.

Of course, Lin Jun had some other things to take care of before the wonderful night arrived.

……

Shenmu Underground City, sixth floor.

Fungal carpets are scattered sparsely in forests where firefly grass is not found.

Lin Jun did not use a large-scale full coverage with fungal mats, as that would be too conspicuous; the underground mycelial network is the key.

However, as the fungal carpet was laid to the sixth layer, he encountered those rats who were keen on digging holes again.

This time the varieties are slightly different, and the quantity is much larger.

They not only gnaw away at the fungal carpet, leaving it riddled with holes, but also ambush the puffy creatures that travel through the mycelial network.

Lin Jun was forced to once again engage in a protracted "tunnel war" with them.

Fortunately, these rats possess the [Acceleration] skill. Although their level is low, it's still a gain in itself.

Dealing with rats was a daily occurrence, but what truly caught Lin Jun's attention this time was an uninvited guest—a tree spirit with only half a body remaining.

Tree spirits are enemies that ordinary adventurers are extremely reluctant to face.

They possess high physical resistance, have no clear fatal weaknesses, and can continue fighting even after being cut in half. Even headshots are unlikely to completely eliminate them.

In addition, they also possess skills such as [Tree Trunk Strike], which, though clumsy, can be fatal with a single blow.

Without a fire mage, the battle will be extremely difficult; but if you bring a fire mage, you will most likely not be able to preserve complete battle materials.

This is precisely why their own tree spirits were able to remain hidden in a corner of the sixth level in the past. If they were truly valuable, adventurers would have found them long ago, no matter how well they were hidden.

The tree spirit before us, now only possessing its upper body, had clearly endured one or even several fierce battles. Not only had it lost its lower body, but even its remaining upper body was shattered and riddled with wounds.

However, contrary to its physical mutilation, it was quite spirited, or rather, too spirited.

[Status: Mania]

A faint, dark red light emanated from the tangled, withered branches.

Even though it was on the verge of death, it stubbornly crawled toward the nearest puji, waving its remaining branches in a posture of relentless attack.

This situation immediately reminded Lin Jun of the group of elves she had encountered before, who had also created a tree spirit that had gone into a frenzy. It was a pity that they hadn't been able to track it down back then.

However, it is not the same one as the one in front of us; the panel shows that its level is two levels lower.

Did those elves transform into other tree spirits? Or... is this "madness" itself contagious?
Try it and you'll see. Soon, a leopard-like monster, stunned by hallucinogenic spores, was thrown near the treant. Without hesitation, the treant shifted its target, dragging its mangled body towards its closer prey.

Unfortunately, it was too weak to exert its full strength, and its desperate attack only left a shallow wound on the leopard before Lin Jun controlled Puji to separate the two.

The leopard did not immediately show signs of being infected.

Just when Lin Jun thought that this might not be contagious, the leopard, awakened by the pain, quickly identified the culprit that had hurt it.

Dragging its still-shaking body, not yet fully recovered from the hallucinogenic effects, it lunged at the broken tree spirit.

One was weak and powerless, and the other was only half a body. The two "old, weak, sick and disabled" thus began a clumsy and ugly battle.

Surprisingly, during the fight, a dark red light began to emanate from beneath the leopard's fur, and its eyes gradually turned crimson.

[Status: Mania]

Same condition! It's contagious!
Lin Jun didn't want to contract any "rabies," so she immediately ordered the Puji to fire mushroom cannons from a distance, quickly finishing off the two monsters.

However, it seems that the specific transmission route is still unclear.
Is it like a zombie, with an incubation period after the body is injured?
still is……

In any case, the fact that it is "contagious" is beyond doubt.

Looking at the seventh floor she had just begun to explore, and the places below that she hadn't yet touched, Lin Jun had a bad feeling.

Before nightfall, the ominous premonition came true—a second monster in a [frenzied] state stepped into the sixth level.

Although Lin Jun swiftly killed it, it was clear that there were many more below...

……

Deep within the crimson spire, in that still dark and secluded hall, where not a ray of light could penetrate, Duke Sigismund once again slowly pushed open the black coffin in the center of the magic circle and sat up.

At this moment, the magic circle beneath his feet was no longer in its original six-pointed star form.

It became enormous and extremely complex, with twisted runes that crisscrossed like living things, shimmering with an ominous glow.

The number of nodes in the formation has also increased significantly, reaching a total of eighteen!
At each node, there lies a lifeless "consumable".

Among them were not only humans, but also dwarves, orcs, and even a lizardman, all of whom were now empty shells with broken spirits.

Hearing the sound of the coffin, Margas pushed open the door and entered.

His face was even paler than before, almost bloodless, and wisps of faint black breath occasionally escaped from his eyes, ears, nose and mouth.

If a brave soul were to investigate his condition, they would find that he had even dropped one level.

It's no wonder he was so eager to follow the progress of "Strange Dream".

However, the result disappointed him once again.

Sigismund's face was grim, filled with extreme displeasure: "We still couldn't break through. Not only did we fail, but this time their mental defenses have suddenly become much stronger, making it impossible to even maintain suppression."

Margas looked puzzled. It was one thing to have no progress, but how could it be even worse than the previous times?

He pondered for a moment and speculated, "My lord, perhaps they have reached their limit and have used some kind of potent medicine at any cost, trying to defeat you once and for all. Although it seems that the two sides are evenly matched at the moment, this kind of outburst cannot last. In my opinion, at most two or three days, the other side will fall into mental exhaustion, at which point they will be at your mercy."

Sigismund nodded. Although he felt something was off deep down, he couldn't find a more reasonable explanation at the moment, so he had to temporarily accept Margas's guess.

Then, his gaze swept over the surrounding "consumables," and his tone turned cold and hard: "Margas, go find Eleanor! Have her send over as many prisoners as possible! If she can't help on the front lines, she should at least contribute something in logistics!"

　Recommended read, link below: A great transmigration novel spanning two worlds. If you're tired of the same old summoning tropes, why not experience the unique charm of a necromancer piloting a warship?
　　

(End of this chapter)