I am the Demon King of the Dungeon!

The five of them passed through the mirror at the exit and entered the passage leading to the fifth floor. Behind them, the Mirror Demon King was still wailing in the hall, its voice faintly coming through the mirror.

The passage was much narrower than the fourth level, with glowing moss embedded in the rock walls on both sides, emitting a soft blue-green light. A chill permeated the air, a stark contrast to the scorching heat of the third level.

"The fifth level is the territory of the Frost Dragon," Kate said as she walked, the strap of her backpack swaying gently with each step. "It's said that it's been acting rather unpredictably lately, and the Adventurers' Guild has received several complaints about it causing trouble."

"It's gone berserk, I heard." Renn waved his hand dismissively. "The third and fourth floors were both shut down for a while before, all the work was put on it. If I were in its place, I'd go berserk too."

Arthas walked at the back of the group without saying a word.

He knew, of course, about the rage of the Frost Dragon. Dracula had reported it more than once. He knew better than anyone else about the increased workload and the lack of overtime pay.

Suddenly, the ring on Kate's hand flashed white light. He looked down at it and frowned slightly.

"The Chapter's communication ring."

The passageway fell silent.

Renn and Oris exchanged a glance. Novalan leaned against the rock wall with his arms crossed. Arthas's gaze fell on the ring, and he sensed a very subtle magical fluctuation that extended from the ring, through the layers of the dungeon's walls, and pointed to the distant south.

It's in the direction of Holy Radiance City.

Kate listened for about ten breaths, his expression changing from focused to serious, and then to silent.

"The mission has been cancelled."

"What?" Renn was stunned.

"The Oracle Squad has been wiped out on the twentieth floor." Kate's voice was low. "The chapter has ordered Novalan and me to return to Holy City immediately and await further instructions."

The passageway fell silent for a moment.

"Completely wiped out?" Oris's voice rose slightly. "The Oracle Squad is the main force of the Dawn of Light, right?"

"That's what the intelligence says." Kate's expression was also grim. "I don't know anything else."

Arthas stood at the back of the group, his expression unchanged, but in his mind, system text was popping up line by line—

[Captain: Alicia Fordring is dead!]

【Adventurer Party: Oracle】

Overall Rating: A

[Short comment: A thrilling battle that brings a little fun to the otherwise dull Dark Hemcast.]

Fear level +1250

Dungeon stability: 69% → 73%

[Warning: The Dawn of Light has issued a mobilization order and is expected to organize a second wave of attacks soon.]

Recommendation: Strengthen the defenses of the dungeon across the board.

Arthas quickly went through the information in his mind, but his face remained expressionless.

"What should we do with those supplies?" Ryan pointed to the large backpack on Kate's back.

"Take it back." Kate patted her backpack. "The chapter will be reorganized; we can't go to the fifth floor."

A hint of disappointment flashed across Ryan's face.

He glanced into the depths of the passage. Just a few hundred meters further ahead was the entrance to the fifth level, the territory of the Frost Dragon. He had never seen the Frost Dragon before.

But seeing Kate's expression, he wisely swallowed back the words, "Why don't we go and see for ourselves?"

"Alright then." Ryan scratched his head. "Shall we head back now?"

"Um."

The five people turned around and walked back the way they came.

As we passed through the third level, the Fire Park was still bustling with activity. Screams echoed from the slides, the spinning cups were packed with adventurous people laughing their heads off, and the roller coaster tracks rumbled loudly.

A long queue formed outside the boss room of the Little Fire Demon, where several adventurers who had just finished the fight squatted down and exchanged tips.

"Um..." Renn's steps slowed down as he looked at the spinning goblets of fire, his eyes filled with "I want to play."

Kate glanced at Raine and gave a rare smile: "Novaran and I are heading back to Holy Radiance City. You don't need to come with us. The mission has been canceled, and I'll send the remaining reward to the Adventurers' Guild when we get back."

"Really?!" Ryan's eyes lit up.

"Of course it's true." Kate patted Ryan on the shoulder. "Thank you for your help. I'll treat you to drinks after things settle down with the chapter."

Arthas nodded.

Novalan took the paper star out of his pocket, glanced at Arthas, and nodded slightly as a farewell.

"I'm going to play!" Ryan shouted as he rushed towards the teacup queue without turning back. "Dick! Sis! You guys come quick!"

Oris glanced at Arthas.

"Go ahead," Arthas said.

"And you?"

"I'm a little tired, I want to go back to town first."

Oris's gaze lingered on his face for a moment, then she nodded and turned to walk towards Renn.

Alsa turned and walked into the passage leading to the second floor.

He did not return to Greystone Town.

In the shadows around the corner of the passage, a white light silently shone, engulfing his figure.

……

Dark Hemkas, 20th floor.

When Arthas appeared at the edge of the desert, the sun was high overhead, the endless sand dunes were still vast and boundless, and the golden sand grains twisted slightly in the heat.

But unlike his last visit, there was something new in the air that he had never sensed before—a lingering magic that didn't belong to this desert.

Pitch black and cold, like a drop of ink falling into clear water, which has spread almost completely but still leaves a faint trace.

Alsace stepped onto the sand.

The sand did not respond.

He frowned slightly.

Every grain of sand in the Infinite Sand Dunes is part of Pirien's body, and any intruder who steps into the desert will be detected immediately.

"Pirien".

Alsace's voice echoed across the desert.

no respond.

Arthas frowned. He raised his hand, his senses extending in all directions. The desert was vast, but for him, covering the entire area would only take a few breaths.

found it.

Arthas vanished from his spot and reappeared atop the dune in the next instant.

The scene before me filled me with confusion.

In the valley below the sand dunes stands a jet-black crystal, about three meters high, an irregularly shaped polyhedron with a smooth, mirror-like surface that reflects no light. The blazing desert sun shines directly upon it, yet its light is completely swallowed by the crystal's surface, leaving not a trace of reflection.

Inside the crystal, a tiny figure was sealed.

Pirian's amber eyes were half-open, the depths of her pupils devoid of their former luster, like two dusty gems. She was encased in black crystals, like an insect solidified by resin.

Alsace descended the dune and stopped before the crystal. He reached out and touched the surface of the crystal with his fingertips.

A cool sensation came from my fingertips.

His senses penetrated through the crystal, reaching deep inside—

It actually bounced out.

Like pressing your finger on a slippery ice surface, before you can even apply force, the force is not strong, but extremely pure, a pure seal.

World-class Noble Phantasm?