Why are all your skill bars full of weird moves?

Grant's lips twitched slightly as he lightly stroked the hilt of his sword at his waist, his tone arrogant as he said:

"A lesson? That was just me not wanting to cause any more trouble. However, I should indeed express my heartfelt gratitude to you. If it weren't for you reckless adventurers opening those disgusting mechanisms for me, this door to the truth behind me would probably have troubled me for a long time."

"So," Gauss said in a flat, even tone, "all this fuss you've made is for that book on the stone platform?"

"Brilliant." Grant pointed to the ancient book. "It's a relic of a great era. In the ancient records of the Elven Court, there are prophecies about the falling of stars and the coming of darkness."

He paused for a moment, looked down at Gauss, and spoke with utter contempt.

"As for the specifics, I'm sorry, a human ranger who can only wallow in the mud is not worthy of touching secrets of this level."

Grant nodded, and his servant stepped out of the crowd, took out five heavy bags, and threw them onto the stone slab, making a clinking sound.

"Take these gold coins and get out of here." Grant arrogantly raised his chin. "This is fair compensation for your work. Fifty coins each, enough for you to squander for half your lives in the slums of Maple Leaf City."

Upon hearing the figure of fifty gold coins, Balk stopped struggling, his Adam's apple bobbing. This enormous sum was enough for him to buy the finest armor and hire the most voluptuous women at the tavern.

But Gauss risked his life to explore this place, certainly not for money.

Having figured this out, Balk gritted his teeth and said fiercely:

"Pah! You pointy-eared bastard! Don't even think about measuring the value of this treasure with money!"

He twisted violently, trying to break free of the ropes, but the ropes glowed with a ghostly green light. It was some kind of restraint device, specifically designed to suppress berserk warriors.

Seeing this, Gauss thought that these mercenaries were well-equipped, and even had prepared magical items specifically for physical classes. This was definitely not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Recalling Grant's mention of "darkness descending," this term inevitably intersects with the hidden setting of "the Night Watchers."

If this book is truly part of the job change clues, then we absolutely cannot back down today.

"Unfortunately, your offer is utterly unappealing." Gauss gripped his short bow tightly, his thumb resting on the string. "I will not relinquish this book; it contains what I seek."

Grant shook his head, his face full of the pity of a high-ranking person for an ant's overestimation of its own abilities.

"Utterly foolish. Since you insist on keeping company with these rotting bones, then I will grant your wish."

He raised his hand, snapped his fingers, and slowly backed away.

"Take care of them."

As soon as he finished speaking, a mage dressed in a gray robe stepped out from the mercenary group.

He waved his staff, his magic surging, and the fire element in the air violently turbulent, forming a blazing fireball in his palm.

"Die, you lowly commoner!"

Just as the flames were about to form—

Tilia casually swiped her finger through the air.

Ding--

The mage's fireball dissipated without warning, turning into blue smoke and disappearing completely.

"What!" The mage looked at his hands in horror, he hadn't even seen what level of spell the other party had used.

Tilia licked her luscious red lips, her voice chillingly cold as she said, "With me here, you still want to use magic?"

Grant stared at Tilia with some surprise, his heart pounding.

That counter-spell just now didn't require any chanting.

He had once met with a high-ranking elder of the Royal City Magic Guild, and even when he cast a counterspell, he could not do it so silently.

This woman's strength is unfathomable.

But Grant dared to venture into such forbidden territory, so he certainly didn't only have the magic-based mercenaries as his trump card.

"It's alright, we have plenty of ways to deal with you."

Grant, trying to appear calm, turned his head to look at the white-skinned Tifflin beside him.

Tiflin nodded, ripped off his tattered cloak, and let out a beast-like growl.

Immediately afterwards, her bones cracked, her muscles swelled wildly, and dark red hair emerged from under her skin.

In just a few breaths, the originally thin Tiflin transformed into a gigantic bear with a massive body and a ferocious aura.

Druid?

Gauss narrowed his eyes slightly.

Instead of charging at Gauss and the others, the giant bear turned its massive body and charged toward a heavy stone door on the side of the hall.

boom!

The stone gate was smashed to pieces by the giant bear's terrifying power.

It turned around unsteadily, its fur quickly receding, turning back into a white tifflin, and quietly walked back behind Grant.

"Enjoy this." Grant retreated into the shadows, and the mercenaries quickly withdrew. "Let the natives play with you for now."

Once Grant and his companions had disappeared, the stone gate slammed shut.

After a long while, a sound of a slippery, sticky substance rubbing against the stone slabs came from the hall, accompanied by a chilling hissing sound.

Tilia frowned slightly and twitched her nostrils twice.

"Gauss, something disgusting is coming."

In the darkness, several enormous shadows slowly crawled out.

With the help of the dim light, Gauss was able to see the full appearance of dozens of tall monsters.

It was a deformed creature that made people feel nauseous just by looking at it.

It is over two meters long and walks upright. Its body structure is extremely similar to that of a toad, and its dark blue skin is covered with extremely disgusting tumors.

With each breath, murky pus swells up from inside the tumor. On the back of their hands grows half-meter-long bony claws that gleam with a ghostly green poisonous light.

Surrounding these dozens of blue monsters were countless smaller red toad monsters.

They lay on the ground, making strange "gurgling" noises from their mouths in an extremely frantic manner.

Gauss activates the Eye of Fate.

Slalan Toad (Elite)

Race: Chaotic Creatures (Alien Species)

Rating: 10

Power: 13

Agility: 10

Physical condition: 13

Intelligence: 5

Perception: 7

Charisma: 0

[Traits: Chaotic Skin, Regeneration, Plague Claws.]

[Note: After being severely injured by its claws, there is a very high probability that a Slafrog egg will be implanted. The larva will hatch from the host's chest cavity twelve hours later.]

Following behind is the [Sila Red Toad], which is only level 5.

Extradimensional beings?

So how did they get here?

"Don't let them get any closer!" Gauss roared, quickly nocking his bow and drawing his arrow.

Whoosh!

The arrow struck the magical ropes binding Balk with pinpoint accuracy.

Balk suddenly flipped up from the ground and drew the greatsword "Ember" from his back.

"The four of us are ranged classes." Gauss quickly drew his bow and gave tactical instructions to Balk. "Mia, cast Holy Light on the whole team. There are too many of these monsters. We'll fight and retreat."

"There's absolutely no need for that." Tilia walked straight to the front of the group and looked at the approaching Slalan toads.

The surrounding temperature dropped sharply.

There are no lengthy incantations, nor the magical fusion before spellcasting by magic-based classes.

Beneath Tilia's feet, a circle of dark red runes rapidly expanded outwards, covering the entire hall.

"Gurgle—!" Slug let out a miserable cry.

The stone slab shattered inch by inch, and countless arms formed from viscous blood burst forth from the ground, their palms gripping the monster's ankles.

"Oh my god... what kind of magic is this?" Mia screamed, instinctively backing away.

Before she could dodge, two scarlet arms emerged from the ground and wrapped tightly around her.

Immediately afterwards, Balk, Ula, and even Gauss's legs were all bound by these red hands.

"Tilya!" Gauss gritted his teeth, trying to keep his voice steady. "This magic doesn't discriminate between friend and foe?"

"Well..." Tilia turned her head away, "I'm not really sure either."

"When my mother taught me, she only mentioned that it was a high-level necromancy spell with terrifying destructive power." Tilia shrugged. "I'll just use it to practice today, so bear with me."

Everyone: "???"

"Death and Decay!"

boom--!

The dark red magic circle was detonated, and devastating death energy surged into the sky.

Rumbling--

The main hall collapsed.