From Alchemy Apprentice to All-Powerful God King

How much do you know about the Bloody Calamity?

Inside the cave, Matthew asked Luca with some curiosity, showing his interest in this faction.

They actually managed to extract the demonic insect while retaining its power, and it seems they've already completed their experiments on the alien beast.

None of the strange beasts hidden in the entire indigenous tribe had any demonic insects inside their bodies.

Luca somehow acquired a long animal bone, held it in his hand to probe the path, and shook his head after carefully recalling what he had seen.

"I don't know the specifics, I've only heard my uncle mention it once or twice, and the empire has never been able to do anything about them."

"But judging from the state of this place, something must have happened that caused everyone to die."

After failing to get any specific information, Matthew focused all his attention on the passage ahead. Luca was right; the corpse outside was clearly abandoned below by his companions and trapped there to die.

Moreover, no demonic insects were found inside his body.

After thinking for a moment, Matthew decided it would be safer for him to go in alone, and asked Luca to meet him outside.

"You wait for me here, and keep an eye on the situation outside."

"Okay, I won't go in with you. Be careful."

Luca knew his own limitations; if he went in and encountered danger, he would only be a hindrance. It would be better for him to stay outside and keep watch, where he could provide backup.

He then took out two disposable magical insects and handed them to Matthew; both of them were just as powerful as the swarming insects and fire bees.

However, Matthew politely declined, telling him to keep it for self-defense.

After all, he could see the white mist above his head, so at least for now, being down here, there shouldn't be any accidents.

Moreover, as he went deeper into the passage, he could see wisps of white mist floating in the air.

"Is someone ahead?"

Realizing that Grace might be just ahead, Matthew quickened his pace and followed the white mist.

After passing through a winding passage, the passage disappeared and was replaced by a stone chamber, where Grace stood in the middle with her hair disheveled.

"Grace?"

Matthew didn't rush in; something just didn't seem right about this scene.

The lack of response after calling softly made it even more suspicious.

"Controlled? Like those strange beasts?"

Matthew stood outside the stone chamber, observing the situation inside. Apart from Grace, there was only a stone statue lying on the ground, and nothing else.

"Could it be that this stone statue bound her here?"

Only after confirming that there was no other danger did Matthew enter the stone chamber.

Grace's eyes were lifeless and she seemed completely unconscious, like a wooden doll. Even when someone stood right in front of her, she didn't react.

"Grace, wake up!"

When his calls went unanswered, he reached out and touched Grace, but she seemed frozen in place and did not react at all.

After kneading that soft, bouncy cheek, Matthew determined that the other person must have been affected by something. Fortunately, they seemed to be in good condition and were still breathing.

He then turned to look at the stone statue on the ground and began to study it.

But after touching the stone gate, Matthew realized something was wrong; the "black-hearted merchant" label in the Otherworld Chronicles still popped up with a warning.

[The frozen stone statue uses a special ability to seal itself off, completely blocking out its aura while preserving its magical power.]

[The infection can spread through contact.]

[Pricing: ......]

"No! My body is gradually stiffening!"

Just like Grace, Matthew's feet were rooted to the spot, unable to move, while an unknown magical power, as transparent as ice, continued to spread upwards.

"Damn it, I knew something was wrong!"

Matthew used magic to suppress it, trying to slow it down.

He felt safe enough to touch the statue because he saw that there were no obvious marks on Grace's body, but he didn't expect to dig a hole for himself.

As the magic continued to spread, cracking sounds came from inside the statue.

Under Matthew's gaze, the surface of the stone statue gradually cracked, revealing the person sealed inside.

"Damn! There are people inside?"

Looking at the man who had broken free and was dressed in a black robe, Matthew knew without guessing that he was a member of the Blood Calamity, just like the corpse outside.

The man in the black robe sat up again, looked at Matthew who was gradually turning to stone, and chuckled.

"I didn't expect them to be so gullible; they actually came down."

Immediately, a second-tier magical power emanated from the opponent, shattering the remaining stones on their body.

"Aren't you wondering why this is happening?"

The man in the black robe stood up, looking at Matthew with a smug expression, but offered no explanation.

He walked up to Grace and looked her up and down, licking his dry lips with a burning gaze in his eyes.

"Tsk tsk tsk, top-notch, it's a pity there wasn't much time for it."

After shaking his head a few times, he turned and left, about to exit the cave.

"Wait!" Matthew suddenly called out to the man in black, asking, "Are you from the Crimson Calamity?"

Hearing the voice, the man in black robes turned his head in surprise and looked at Matthew, whose body was still half unsealed.

"You know about the Crimson Catastrophe? Tsk... This is going to be difficult."

He then turned around and walked back to Matthew.

"I was originally planning to save some magic and let you fend for yourselves down here, but since you've been recognized, I'll send you on your way."

With that, pale yellow magic gathered at the black-robed man's fingertips and pressed towards Matthew's heart.

As members of the Crimson Calamity, they knew very well how to kill a power user as quickly as possible.

That means destroying it along with the demonic worm inside the heart.

After all, there are too many demonic insects in this world, and no one knows if they have the ability to come back to life. Even if your head is cut off, it may be pieced back together and restored.

Only by completely destroying the most important demonic insect can we be truly secure.

However, the instant the black-robed man's magic touched Matthew, three or four swarms of exploding insects appeared above Matthew's head and then, activated by the magic, flew towards the black-robed man.

"Heh, you think you can turn the tables with just a few suicide bugs? You're underestimating me."

The next moment, amidst the black-robed man's disdain, an explosion instantly pierced through the entire cave. Matthew also successfully broke free from the rocks, a greatsword appeared in his hand, and his entire body erupted with magical power.

The Heavy-Blade Insect unleashed its full power, and at the same time, using its ability to do good deeds daily, it observed the dense black aura within the thick fog.

puff!

Two consecutive slashes rang out.

As the thick fog gradually dissipated, the man in the black robe clutched his neck and heart, collapsing in the passageway with an incredulous expression.

The skeletal hands, blown apart, were still struggling to crawl out.

But soon, the swarm of exploding insect eggs attached to him exploded a second time.

The entire entrance to the cave was blasted down, burying him alive underneath, and he never moved again.

Matthew leaned against the wall, watching the collapsed opening, remaining vigilant.

"He must be dead..."

He had just unleashed two powerful strikes, one piercing the other's heart, but finding no trace of the demonic insect, he followed up with a second strike, slitting the black-robed man's throat.

Coupled with the sudden attack from the swarm of exploding insects, it was enough to kill him completely.

Matthew breathed a sigh of relief after observing that the black aura had disappeared.

As the man in the black robe died, Grace collapsed to the ground like a deflated balloon.

Upon seeing this, Matthew quickly stepped forward to help him up.

But as soon as he picked the other person up, a sharp pain shot through his palm.

At the same time, Grace woke up groggily and saw Matthew holding her. Her cheeks flushed and she spoke in a weak voice.

"Matthew, I feel a little hot."

Hearing Grace's words, Matthew was somewhat surprised. Before he could even check his palm, the Otherworldly Record popped up a reminder.

[New demonic insect detected – Ice and Fire Fusion Demonic Insect]