CHAPTER 952: CHAPTER 951: THE MYSTERIOUS SAFE ZONE

As a hidden dungeon, the creatures here are indeed stronger than those in ordinary instances outside, but for Fang Zheng, it’s not particularly troublesome, if I have to say, it’s just... disgusting.

"Puchi!!"

Fang Zheng swung his sword, directly cleaving the toad in front of him, and seeing the corpses of the toads around, both Asuna and Eiriri let out a sigh of relief.

"This is just too disgusting, they’re all toads."

"It’s worse above, but thankfully no rats..."

"Rats aren’t scary, it’s the hordes of them that are terrifying..."

Saying this, looking at the dark and gloomy corridor ahead, thinking about the image of hundreds of rats crawling over, the two girls couldn’t help but shudder slightly. Even Fang Zheng, upon hearing the low conversations of Asuna and Eiriri, couldn’t help but grip the hilt of his sword tightly.

Even now, having become a knight of the Farron Undead Legion, an adult Time Dragon, and a mage on the verge of entering the Nine Rings, and also the commander of a fleet... Fang Zheng couldn’t forget the fear he felt back when he was dominated by the Rat King in the sewers.

So these rats... if they can be avoided, it’s best to avoid them.

Thinking of this, Fang Zheng turned his head and glanced at Yui, who was obediently standing beside Asuna.

"Are you afraid?"

"Not afraid, Daddy."

However, Yui shook her head, giving a crisp and affirmative answer.

Hearing this, both Asuna and Eiriri couldn’t help but show a bit of frustration on their faces. They initially thought if Yui was afraid, they could leave this ghostly place that resembled a sewer under the pretense of sending her away, but unfortunately, Yui was quite brave. No matter how disgusting the toads looked, she didn’t show a hint of fear.

What could Eiriri and Asuna say to this?

They had to grit their teeth and keep up.

"Wait!!"

Just as the creatures in the passage ahead were cleared out, Eiriri, responsible for scouting ahead, suddenly lit up.

"I can sense a player signal in the space over there!"

"It’s Sinka! It must be him!!"

Upon hearing Eiriri’s words, Yuliel’s eyes lit up, and she rushed forward immediately. However, Fang Zheng promptly stopped her as she was just starting.

"Eiriri, are there any enemies nearby?"

"A few, just small creatures."

"No elites or BOSSES?"

"No."

Hearing Eiriri’s answer, Fang Zheng frowned slightly, then quickly activated his Enemy Detection Skill. Sure enough, on the radar, Fang Zheng could clearly see a room on the other side with two white dots representing players, while scattered red dots on the passage represented small creatures.

This doesn’t make sense.

Looking at the red dots on the radar, Fang Zheng’s expression turned somewhat serious. Before coming, he had asked Yuliel about Sinka’s rank, which was upper-middle at best. But at least from Fang Zheng’s experience, his rank should have been enough to handle the creatures up to this point without too much trouble.

Could it be that the creature’s rank ahead suddenly increased severalfold?

Thinking of this, Fang Zheng quickly opened the interface and checked his communications and Teleportation Crystal.

Everything was normal.

Having not come out for several days, and no news, with his name not crossed off on the Life Monument, this was not uncommon for Fang Zheng. After all, with the increase in level, many maps would have communication and Teleportation restrictions. Especially in the room where the BOSS is, prohibiting teleportation has become standard.

And right now, this player is hiding in a safe zone but can’t teleport or communicate... what kind of structure is this? What kind of dungeon would design such a space?

Fang Zheng stared at the radar in front of him while quickly thinking in his head.

Hidden dungeons are different from normal dungeons. When designing ordinary dungeons, designers need to consider universal adaptability—meaning most normal players can handle and clear it. Of course, poor players can’t be helped, nor can luckless ones, but otherwise, ordinary people can clear it with some grit and effort.

After all, you can’t have most people stuck in the process.

But hidden dungeons are different; they are where designers are most likely to let loose since hidden dungeons aren’t meant for ordinary players. They cater to Luck Emperors, hardcore players, and expert beings. So in such places, designers can try to make players question their existence without worrying about backlash—after all, hidden dungeons have many good things, and certainly more danger too.

This is a rule in the gaming circle; if your own level is average, isn’t it normal not to be able to beat a hidden dungeon?

You can’t blame me for a design flaw, can you?

Moreover, hidden dungeons must be designed more difficultly, otherwise how can experts and Luck Emperors feel superior?

If everyone can beat it, there’s nothing to be happy about if you do too; it would be embarrassing not to. But conversely, if you can defeat something no one else can, that’s truly impressive.

The more abnormal the situation, the more cautious Fang Zheng became.

"I’ll go check first; wait here. Asuna, protect Yui."

Fang Zheng instructed and then moved forward step by step.

"Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit."

Blocking Fang Zheng were still a few toad monsters. Seeing Fang Zheng approach, they hopped and lunged towards him. For an average player, these creatures might be troublesome, but for Fang Zheng, he pulled out his weapon, and a few shapeshifting slashes sent them to the Western Paradise.

Then, Fang Zheng continued to move forward slowly—just slightly slower than a snail’s crawl.

At the same time, he observed his system interface to see if there were any signs that communications and teleportation were blocked.

Before long, Fang Zheng reached the end of the passage, with a fork in the road before him, and opposite him was a glowing space. At the entrance to that space, a man was desperately waving his hands as if trying to say something.

Although Fang Zheng wasn’t friends with the other person, he had a better method for this distance. Fang Zheng raised his head and shouted at the man not far away.

"Are you Sinka?????"

The clear voice echoed in the passage, gradually fading, and soon, a response from the other side of the passage was heard.

"Yes... yes... yes yes yes yes..."

Following far behind Fang Zheng, hearing the two communicate this way, everyone couldn’t help but freeze—for so long used to communicating directly via the system, they had forgotten this most primitive yet direct and effective way of communication.

"Why don’t you come out!?"

"There are creatures... a very powerful BOSS!"

This time, Sinka quickly responded.

"Don’t come over, it will immediately appear when you come over! It’s really strong, with super high attack power!!"

Sure enough!

Hearing this, Fang Zheng’s face darkened immediately, and he stopped. He had suspected there was a trap here; now, it seems there’s indeed a problem!

But wait a moment........

"What’s inside that room?"

Fang Zheng shouted again, and Sinka shook his head.

"Nothing but a black pillar, nothing else!"

"Have you touched it?"

"I don’t dare to touch it!"

This makes sense too, given there’s still an exit here. If you touch the black pillar and suddenly the entrance seals off, followed by some creatures jumping out to have a ’heart-to-heart’... that’s another story.

However... what is that space for exactly?

Fang Zheng suddenly felt a strong curiosity, with no treasure chest, no NPC, only a black pillar, yet protected so tightly... there must be something up!

Thinking this, Fang Zheng took a step forward.

"Thud."

Another step.

"Thud."

Yet another step.

"Thud."

"—————!"

Just as Fang Zheng was about to reach the junction, suddenly, out of the corner of his eye emerged a glimmer, and in the next moment, a creature clothed in a black robe, resembling a Grim Reaper, suddenly appeared from the shadow, raising its scythe, then viciously swinging it at Fang Zheng!