Red Dragon Monster Hunter Template.

Chapter 452 Underground Labyrinth

The first floor of the underground labyrinth, which had just been scorched by flames, was still filled with the lingering heat and the air was thick with the smell of burning. The surrounding stone walls had a glassy texture, as if they had melted and then solidified.

Thor was not surprised by the group of powerful northern warriors who followed behind him.

These guys are all shrewd people who have lived for decades, hundreds, or even thousands of years. They naturally know how to make choices that are most beneficial to themselves.

The statement that they shared the portal-building technology was not a lie.

Given Thor's level of spellcasting skill, he didn't think he could understand such profound knowledge. Having these advanced spellcasters from the chosen ones of the goddess of magic as a reference was always safer.

As for whether they're trying to fool him... if he can kill one mad mage, he can certainly kill a second one.

After the group reunited, they quickly headed deeper into the underground labyrinth.

The long-term exploration by numerous adventurers has not been without its rewards. In addition to some treasures, the top few layers have been explored and detailed maps have been drawn.

Therefore, Thor and his companions were able to bypass all detours and reach the entrance to the next level directly in the shortest distance.

Of course! There is an even simpler method, which is to forcibly blast through the rock layer. However, the space here has been distorted. Sometimes going down is not necessarily going down, but may lead directly to some outer plane.

At the same time, all the buildings are protected by a powerful, twisted magic, making the rock layers extremely tough and difficult to destroy; ordinary people can forget about it.

…………

As they descended, the charred corpses they encountered along the way left the group of powerful figures from the north speechless with astonishment.

Such extensive destruction in such a short time means that, if left unchecked, the destruction of the deepwater port would likely have been a mere breath.

Near the entrance to the second level, Thor also saw a spiky-tailed lion that had miraculously survived.

This monster, with the body of a lion, the face of a human, the wings of an eagle, and a spiked tail hammer, is also common in the wilderness. Because it has an intelligence only slightly lower than that of an adult white dragon, it can barely be considered an intelligent creature.

It was huddled in a crevice, shivering, with large patches of charred fur on its body, clearly caused by its previous breath.

As Thor passed by, his whole body trembled violently, and he buried his head under his body, pretending to be dead.

Those present were all powerful figures with names and titles, so naturally they wouldn't pay attention to such a weak monster, even though it was a nightmare for ordinary low-level adventurers, and dozens or even hundreds of people had probably already died in its lion's mouth.

The group quickly entered the second floor through the passage ahead, where goblins and dark elves, enslaved by the mad mage, lived.

Thor even discovered shrines for slimes and temples for dwarves in some empty caves, possibly left behind by the dwarves when they were mining mithril long ago.

These low-level monsters naturally posed no obstacle, and Thor didn't even need to lift a finger; the dragon's might and gravity field surrounding him were enough to crush them into mud.

The third level has numerous underground rivers and waterways, seemingly leading to Skull Harbor. The monsters living here are the Koto fishmen and the sea ghost widows.

When Thor saw those emaciated, yellowish-green witch-like creatures with rotting seaweed on their heads, looking utterly disgusting, he couldn't help but think of the witch he had once subdued.

That guy was ordered to lure more spellcasters, but he hasn't returned yet, which means he's clearly betrayed us.

This is intolerable. After this matter is resolved, even if we have to turn the entire Prime Material Plane upside down, we will still send our subordinates to capture it!

The sudden surge of rage in Thor's heart transformed into countless bolts of lightning, spreading continuously along the intricate waterways of the third level of the underground labyrinth.

This time, the Kou Tao fishmen and the sea ghost woman were in trouble. Without even uttering a sound, they all died on the spot.

Here Thor also saw some temples, including the temple of the dark maiden Elestridge, an exhibitionist who liked to run around naked.

The environment of the fourth floor is similar to that of the third floor, with some aquatic monsters, but with the addition of a dark elf family.

It wasn't until he reached the fifth level that Thor was somewhat surprised to discover that there was a large forest deep underground.

The space here is extremely high, with a ceiling over 120 meters high, inlaid with a large number of luminous crystals, barely enough to accommodate Thor revealing his true form.

The ground was not cold rock, but a thick layer of humus, where a large number of underground trees that did not need sunlight, glowing ferns, giant mushrooms and vines grew.

The extensive network of underground rivers meanders through the woodland like streams, forming numerous small lakes and marshes, filling the air with the pungent smell of vegetation.

The faint chirping of birds, beasts, and insects echoed through the woods, and Thor's keen hearing detected many familiar sounds among them.

Did they steal my things and put them here? It's certainly a nice place.

Seeing that the Red Emperor suddenly stopped and deviated from the original route, heading deeper into the underground forest, the group of powerful figures from the North could only follow, though they were puzzled.

Skimming close to the sky, Thor quickly arrived at the source of the sound, where a huge Tyrannosaurus Rex, over 20 meters long, with bulging muscles and dark green skin, was roaring angrily.

This is one of the many monsters that Thor gradually evolved from the Tyrannosaurus Rex hatchlings of this world, using the Deviljho as a template.

Aside from lacking dragon-attribute energy and having relatively low physical strength, it is about 70-80% similar to the Deviljho in other aspects, and in close combat it is even no weaker than some real dragons.

However, this terrifying and savage beast was now covered in tough vines, and no matter how hard it struggled, it could not break free.

This was clearly some kind of magic, not a natural phenomenon. As Thor followed the magical fluctuations, a moon elf with long, jet-black hair, emerald eyes, and a robe woven from vines and leaves, with a cool and aloof expression, immediately came into view.

This is a Druid, a powerful Druid, with a challenge level of at least 15, possibly even close to legendary.

Why would such a character appear in the Mad Mage's Underground Labyrinth?

Druids, who revere nature, should never associate with mad mages, who enjoy twisted magic like biological modification.

This aroused Thor's curiosity, and he slowly descended from the sky, landing on the head of the unfinished Deviljho and speaking.

"Pointy-eared bug, what are you trying to do to my pet?"

A stream of orange-red flames erupted from beneath Thor's feet, flowing rapidly down the half-finished Deviljho's body and burning away the snake-like vines that coiled around it.

Sensing the intense heat, Willow's eyes immediately showed a hint of apprehension.

The surrounding forest seemed to be giving her a frantic warning, as if telling her that this was an opponent she could not afford to provoke.

Chapter 453 If you set your sights on something, you must get it.

Willow is a moon elf who has lived for over a thousand years. About two hundred years ago, she fell in love with Inak, a disciple of the mad mage Hyrast, and voluntarily followed him to the underground city.

In the years that followed, Inak insisted on preventing her from returning to the surface, and the two engaged in a magical duel, in which she ultimately killed her partner by mistake.

Whether out of guilt or for some other reason, she remained in this underground place for a long time afterward.

Subsequently, the mad mage repeatedly used the wish-granting spell to create a forest out of thin air in the deep underground, in order to study the evolution and changes of organisms in a lightless environment.

Over two centuries have passed, allowing Willow's footprints to traverse every corner of the forest, forging a deep connection with this woodland.

That is why she was able to sense the terrifying power contained within the young man who had appeared out of nowhere, through the essence of nature.

That was no ordinary living thing; it was more like a volcano poised to erupt, a wildfire capable of spreading, a surging wave strong enough to sweep across the entire world.

Beneath the humanoid form lies a terrifying entity that, once unleashed, could destroy the world.

A strong sense of crisis gripped her mind, preventing her from becoming angry despite the other person's rudeness. She cautiously took several steps back. The ancient tree beside her immediately stretched out its thick branches, like a city wall standing between the two of them, before she spoke.

"Who are you? I have never seen you before and do not understand what you are saying."

As soon as she finished speaking, she caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye and was shocked to see that the ferocious Tyrannosaurus Rex, which had been severely disrupting the forest ecosystem, was now like a docile pet, standing motionless as the other party trampled on its head.

These two actually know each other?

Considering that these strangely shaped monsters were brought to this place by Hylast recently, she quickly deduced that the mad mage must have stolen or robbed someone else's belongings, and now the owner had come looking for them.

In preparation for a potential conflict, a subtle magical message emanated from Willow, spreading rapidly through the vegetation and vines into the distance.

At the other end of the forest stands a huge ancient tree. Due to the limited space underground, the tree is not particularly tall, but its trunk is exceptionally thick.

The dense branches and vines intertwine to form a natural nest, where a green dragon nearly twenty meters long lies coiled.

He was covered in dark green scales, his body was as long as a snake, his broad wings were folded at his sides, the thorns on his back resembled sails, and a unicorn horn made of platinum and emerald was inlaid on his head.

When the green dragon received the magical signal from Willow, it immediately opened its emerald eyes. In them, there was no cunning and cruelty that green dragons were born with, only a calm as still as a lake.

Then a whooshing sound arose, and the green dragon leaped out of its lair, rushing rapidly toward the forest.

…………

When asked by the moon elf, Thor simply looked up and glanced around.

This underground forest cannot compare to the surface woodland; it is not only much smaller in area, but its ecosystem is also extremely fragile.

He could sense all the monsters that Hyrast had abducted from his territory, and they were all placed on this floor.

These enormous beasts are far more savage than ordinary creatures, and their appetites are astonishing, already pushing this fragile underground ecosystem to the brink of collapse.

If it weren't for this moon elf's constant care and maintenance, the forest ecosystem would probably have completely collapsed long ago. In that sense, she is quite a valuable asset.

When a dragon is still weak, it will not hesitate to destroy any enemy that offends it, eliminating threats and building its own sense of security through slaughter.

But when one becomes as powerful as Thor, one's perspective and thoughts are completely different. Upon seeing something of value, one's first thought is to take it into one's possession.

Therefore, he did not delve into the other party's reply, but spoke with great interest.

"My territory contains vast forests, home to many unique plants and animals, and needs a suitable gardener to look after and care for them."

You are quite good. Submit to me and serve me.

His plain words carried an undeniable pressure, as if what he said was the absolute truth of the world.

Willow felt a surge of displeasure, his brow furrowed, and he resolutely refused.

"I will not leave here. If you have nothing else to do, please take your pets and leave my forest."

"Your forest?" Thor smiled and shook his head gently. "From now on, this is my forest."

Wherever the Red Emperor's footprints reached, it all belonged to his territory. Naturally, he would not give up this vast underground area for nothing.

As he traveled downhill, Thor had already sown a large number of fungal spores along the way, and this forest full of humus was an excellent breeding ground for fungi.

As Thor finished speaking, a bright sun slowly emerged behind him, and the immense magical power within him transformed into radiance that spread outwards, like a newborn sun.

The underground dark forest, which had never been bathed in sunlight, was instantly thrown into turmoil, with countless native creatures scattering in panic.

But an even more terrifying sight followed: under the radiant light, dense mycelium spread and proliferated from the soil, rock walls, decaying wood, and damp moss.

Through her connection with the forest, Willow clearly sensed that a grand consciousness was gradually replacing the original spirit of nature, and the unfamiliar aura made her uneasy.

A rapid flapping sound came from afar, and a snaking figure flew rapidly closer, accompanied by an anxious roar.

"Willow, what happened? I sense the spirit of nature sending out a distress signal; it's about to be devoured. We have to do something..."

Before he could finish speaking, the green dragon, who had rushed over, was already upon him. The moment he met those molten gold vertical pupils, an immense fear welled up from the depths of his heart, and his words abruptly stopped.

"I never expected there to be a green reptile hidden here, and a neutral and benevolent one at that. Its rarity is almost comparable to that of a white dragon spellcaster."

Is this all you're relying on, you pointy-eared bug? Planning to rely on an equally weak reptile to fight me?

A brilliant light continuously emanated from Thor's body, as the triple powers of the sun, decay, and fungi surged together, nourishing the fungal strains he had previously sown.

The dense mycelium quickly spread across the ground, climbing upwards along vines and tree trunks, its surface shimmering with iridescent colors, transforming the entire underground forest into a dreamlike mushroom kingdom.

Willow soon discovered that the nature spirit that had been close to her was increasingly oppressive, subtly compelling her to kneel and submit to the boy standing atop the tyrant's head.

All natural spells cast in the forest became ineffective, and his own strength was suppressed by at least 80%.

"In this prime material plane, there is nothing I cannot obtain if I set my sights on it. You have no right to refuse me!"

Chapter 454 The Holy Sword of the Elf

The so-called elves are not as indomitable as in legends, possessing all the good qualities of the world.

Otherwise, how could one of the most evil gods and races in the entire multiverse have been born from the Elf race?

Given enough temptation and power, even the divine servants of the celestial realm can be corrupted, and celestial spirits can also fall into depravity.

At this moment, Thor is naturally no match for those coercive beings who can corrupt the entire multiverse, but he is more than capable of coercing a mere moon elf.

Once the entire underground forest is completely invaded by fungi, what can Willow do even if he wants to remember his lost lover and doesn't want to leave this place?

As for whether loyalty obtained through coercion will breed hatred and lead to betrayal, this is a problem that only the weak need to consider.

A powerful red dragon never grants its subordinates any chance of successfully betraying it.

After the moon elf was forced to submit to the situation, Thor turned his attention back to the green dragon that had rushed over.

As mentioned before, neutral and benevolent green dragons are extremely rare, comparable to white dragon spellcasters. Moreover, elves are the green dragons' favorite food, so how could the two be mixed together?