Chapter 732: Expertise
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 732: Expertise
"There's a warning device."
Kadosh raised a hand, and a spherical magic device that had been spinning silently in the darkness flew into his palm.
The cave remained dark and silent. Aside from the dripping of water, the only sound was a faint rasping, like insects scuttling over sand and stone.
Kadosh looked around. This web of underground tunnels stretched out endlessly, its destination unknown. Its complexity was enough to give even demons with specialized exploration talents a headache.
But since there were human warning devices here...
"We're heading in the right direction. We're very close."
"Yes, Lord Kadosh. The demon hounds seem to have picked up their scent as well."
A hideous black demon hound was clawing at the ground; the sound of grinding stone had come from it. Soon, it unearthed a patch of buried blood and several blood-stained rags.
"Lord Zagu was right. The target is severely injured."
Kadosh knelt to investigate. He found that the rags had clearly been discarded after applying medicine and re-dressing a wound.
Humans had far more tricks up their sleeves than the Demon Race.
Even for healing, humans had restorative magic, scrolls that stored such spells, and various magic devices. Many even embedded magic stones engraved with recovery spells into their weapons to increase their endurance in battle.
Yet, despite having so many options, the target had chosen the most primitive and least effective method: bandages and topical medicine.
"It seems our prey is truly at the end of her rope."
Kadosh stood up and issued orders to the shadows surrounding him. "Keep moving. Give them no room to breathe. If the opportunity arises, we will be the ones to finish them off."
"Understood."
The shadows glided away soundlessly. These well-trained Skinners were a rare organization among the typically crude and violent demons, capable of what could only be described as "absolute obedience." It had to be said that the Grand Duke of Bewitchment was second to none in the Demon Race when it came to "training" her subordinates.
After all, she was the Queen of Succubi. Unless one knew the truth behind her decaying husk, it was all too easy to be ensnared by the "bewitchment" that radiated from her very soul.
Everything for Lady Bewitchment.
Kadosh recalled the moment he was personally appointed as a Skinner captain by the Grand Duke. Her hands had even touched him as she pinned the badge symbolizing his rank onto his chest. Of all the Skinners, she must value me the most...
A flash of fervent devotion crossed Kadosh’s eyes as he quickly joined the hunt.
*
"Found them."
The Skinner squad soon located the spot where Ariel and Miss Muse had previously stayed.
Kadosh raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop and stay alert.
The fire had gone out, but the messy tracks indicated a hurried departure.
"So they’ve already fled? However..."
Beside the extinguished campfire, a figure still lay quietly.
There was no light, as all Skinners possessed night vision. In Kadosh’s sight, the golden-haired girl lay with her fingers interlaced over her chest, looking like a frail princess waiting for rescue.
Unfortunately, they were not princes; they were the Demon King’s minions.
Kadosh wasn't surprised by the scene. According to the intelligence provided by Lord Zagu, their targets this time were likely a pair.
And based on the current evidence...
"Did the one who set the warning devices flee first?"
It was the most rational decision. Leaving behind a useless burden would not only make the escape easier but also stall the pursuers.
If the one who fled was clever enough to set traps around this "Sleeping Beauty," she could buy even more time, greatly increasing her chances of survival.
"Humans are always so cunning, yet we have no choice but to take this bait."
After all, their primary objective wasn't the one who ran, but the golden-haired "Sleeping Beauty" before them.
No, perhaps she should be called the "Sleeping Prince"?
A meaningful, cold smirk played on Kadosh’s lips. Humans didn't just have many tricks; they had quite a few eccentricities as well.
"You. Go."
Kadosh pointed sharply to a Skinner beside him.
Without hesitation, the Skinner drew a sharp boning knife from his waist and slowly approached Miss Muse, who was now completely surrounded.
Even if she suddenly woke up and launched a desperate attack, there was absolutely no chance of escape.
The Skinner soon reached Miss Muse’s side, but he didn't rush to close the distance. Instead, he circled her cautiously, boning knife raised, eyes scanning the surroundings.
Time ticked by.
After a few seconds, the Skinner signaled to Kadosh.
"No traps?"
Kadosh frowned. He approached Miss Muse and warily circled her himself.
Still nothing.
"Strange..."
Had the enemy been so terrified that they lacked even the strength to set a trap, thinking only of flight?
No. These were enemies who had dared to fight Lord Zagu. Even if they were wounded, they couldn't be that cowardly.
Something was definitely wrong.
But his subordinates had searched the perimeter beforehand; there were no issues there either.
Then the problem was...
After considering everything, Kadosh’s gaze suddenly fell upon the "Sleeping Prince."
He abruptly drew his blade and thrust it through the prince’s heart.
But... there was no sensation of steel piercing flesh.
With a soft pfft, the golden-haired beauty known as the prince deflated rapidly, like a leaking balloon.
As the figure collapsed, the objects hidden beneath it—round things very similar to the previous warning devices—were finally revealed.
Those were...
Alchemy bombs.
"We've been played..." Kadosh’s eyelid twitched.
BOOM!
A massive explosion suddenly tore through the underground cavern.
In such a confined space and narrow tunnel, the blast waves bounced repeatedly off the walls, amplifying the power and noise several times over.
Countless rocks and sand showered down, and massive boulders began to collapse. Falling stalactites rained down like a storm of blades, quickly burying most of the space where the explosion had occurred.
*
At the bottom of the river.
Ariel poked her head out from beneath a large rock. She watched the firelight spread like fireworks, gradually illuminating the entire cavern, and a flash of disdain crossed her eyes.
They actually thought I’d abandon Miss Muse?
Laughable. Do you bastards even understand the power of pure love?!
Certain that the enemy was caught in the blast and would be too busy to monitor their surroundings, Ariel grabbed Miss Muse. She had wrapped Muse in a temporary magic barrier to prevent her from drowning, and now Ariel moved through the riverbed as swiftly as a fish.
Before the river channel could be blocked by falling debris, she swam against the current and ducked into an unfamiliar branch of the cave system.
She knew the probability of finding an exit was higher downstream, but the enemy knew that too and would surely intensify their search there.
Besides, in a situation where she didn't know where the exits led and was being hunted by a pack of wild dogs, this complex terrain actually gave her more room to maneuver.
"Phew..."
Once she was certain there were no pursuers, Ariel finally broke the surface and took deep gulps of air.
To conserve mana, she had only cast the water-repelling spell on the still-unconscious Miss Muse; she herself had simply held her breath.
Fortunately, holding her breath for ten or twenty minutes wasn't an issue for her. With her lung capacity, she could probably suck a steel bucket flat if she tried.
"The problem is, there’s no time to recover."
She propped Miss Muse against a rock by the riverbank. Ignoring the need for rest and the stinging pain of her wounds tearing from the exertion, Ariel quickly surveyed her surroundings.
Tunnels branched out everywhere in a dizzying maze of dark stone. Every part of this underground space looked the same. It wasn't just a matter of losing one's sense of direction; one could easily forget a path they had just walked.
The enemy would face the same problem.
"But their advantage is numbers."
Ariel had sensed the squad earlier; there were about a dozen of them.
She couldn't be sure if that was the entire pursuit force or just one team, but either way, it was a dire situation for her, since she was on her own and had to carry Miss Muse.
Moreover, that demon squad was very different from the ones Ariel usually dealt with. Not only were they powerful—at least late fourth-tier, roughly equal to or slightly stronger than her—but they were also highly disciplined.
To send such a formidable force just to hunt down two "low-health" targets... they really thought highly of her.
Is that bastard Zagu really that vengeful?
Ariel gnashed her teeth. She had only toyed with him a little; was this level of retaliation really necessary?
"Because they have the numbers, they’ll definitely split up for a carpet search to be efficient."
Like a net.
They would slowly squeeze her hiding space. Once someone made contact, they likely wouldn't fight to the death but would do everything to pin her down.
At that moment, the net would tighten rapidly until she was completely strangled and trapped, with nowhere left to run.
"So, I have to be fast."
Fast to escape.
Fast to break through.
I cannot get bogged down; I cannot be trapped!
"Sorry, Miss Muse. I’m going to have to get a bit personal here."
Ariel pulled Miss Muse onto her back.
"Ugh... so heavy."
Only then did she realize that Miss Muse was not only much sturdier than she had imagined, but also taller and significantly heavier.
She seemed to be a full head taller than Ariel.
"She looks so slender, yet she weighs this much. Is this the result of her training?"
As expected of Miss Muse. She must be incredibly strict with herself to maintain such a perfect physique!
With no time to overthink, Ariel took out a rope and bound Miss Muse tightly to herself.
Miss Muse’s legs were too long; to prevent them from dragging on the ground and causing further injury, Ariel had to wrap them around her own waist and tie them in place.
The posture was like an "old tree twisting its roots" against her back.
"Ah... this feeling of being completely wrapped up... it’s so warm..."
Ariel couldn't help but indulge in the sensation for a moment.
Unfortunately, in a crisis, there was no time to bask in warmth.
"I’ll have to wait until our hearts are one to truly enjoy this."
Ariel took out a bracelet and tapped it gently against Miss Muse’s wrist.
"Attach."
With a click, the bracelet locked onto Miss Muse’s slender wrist. Accompanied by a flicker of eerie blue light, a form-fitting, sleek set of magic armor rapidly deployed over Miss Muse, providing her with a solid layer of protection.
In that moment, Miss Muse looked not only breathtakingly beautiful but also gained a touch of heroic valor.
Ariel had scavenged this magic armor from a demon camp earlier. It likely belonged to some human adventurer. Because she had been wandering the Abyss, she hadn't had the chance to sell it yet; she hadn't expected it to come in handy like this.
Come to think of it, the reason she had so many tools at her disposal was precisely because she hadn't been able to sell off most of the loot she’d collected in the Abyss.
If she were still in her old state—penniless and using every resource just to fuel her cultivation—she’d be in real trouble now.
Her luck really was consistently good.
Ariel herself didn't put on any armor. She wasn't in the habit of wearing it; such things only slowed her down.
Instead, she used a piece of specialized fabric infused with mana to bind the hilt of the Heavenly Fire Greatsword tightly to her palm.
This way, no matter what happened, the sword would never leave her hand.
"Don't worry, Miss Muse."
Ariel spoke to the sleeping girl once more. The various adolescent emotions she occasionally showed were completely tucked away in this moment.
Only determination remained.
"When it comes to dealing with desperate situations... I'm an expert."