Chapter 776: The Dark World

Among these twenty-one people, each had learned at least some languages of various races. The most proficient was Nie Yan, who had mastered as many as thirteen languages—some learned by spending money at libraries, others picked up unintentionally during adventures. Even the person who had learned the fewest languages still knew at least five. Common and Old Common were required languages, and others like Orcish and Gnomish were also widespread. Within each major language family existed many smaller dialects; for example, the Coradi Minotaur language was a minor dialect of Orcish.

“What does this writing say?” Nie Yan asked Xie Yao.

“It says, ‘The Lost World, a fallen dimension cloaked in darkness, where there is no sky or sunlight. When the Dimensional Gate opens, ancient world shall receive a glimmer of dawn. Use your hands, touch your heart, and pray to the name of the god: Sigola…'” Xie Yao read aloud. There was much more text afterward, the meaning of which was quite obscure. Behind these sentences were five symbols, consistent with those on the stone pillars.

“What does this mean?” Sha Bu Si De Huai Dan (Killer Who Cannot Die) asked in confusion.

At this point, everyone had defeated the five Hell Hounds and gathered around the scroll. They looked at the scroll and contemplated its meaning.

Nie Yan looked at the symbols on the scroll, then at the stone pillars. The symbols on the pillars appeared like enlarged versions of those on the scroll. Waves of energy radiated outward from these symbols.

Suddenly inspired, Nie Yan walked toward one of the stone pillars. Slowly extending his right hand, he cleared his mind and softly chanted a spell: “Sigola…”

His low, strange syllables gave off a mysterious and awe-inspiring vibe.

“What is Boss doing?” Yu Wang Ran Zhi Qing Chun (Desire Touching Youth) asked curiously.

“Not sure.”

Moments later, the symbol on the stone pillar began to glow faintly with a bright white light, like a lamp.

Seeing this, the entire team felt amazed.

Nie Yan withdrew his hand and glanced upward. Just as he had guessed, he had succeeded.

After lighting this stone pillar, Nie Yan moved toward another.

“Did Boss follow a specific order when lighting the pillars?”

“I think there must be an order.”

The team whispered quietly, careful not to disturb Nie Yan.

Minute by minute, Nie Yan lit the second pillar, then the third, fourth, and fifth. Though seemingly random, they were actually activated according to the scroll’s description.

After the fifth pillar lit up, a beam of light shot into the sky from the center of the five pillars. A white portal slowly opened within the column of light.

Looking into the portal, all they could see was dazzling white light, with no clue as to where it led.

“This must be a portal,” Killer Who Cannot Die said in astonishment.

“It might lead to the dark world mentioned on the scroll,” Xia Chong Yu Bing (Summer Cicada Ice) speculated.

“Boss, should we go in?” Killer Who Cannot Die asked Nie Yan.

“Since we’re here, let’s check it out,” Nie Yan replied thoughtfully. This should already be the heart of Bartel’s inner city. Maybe Mephistopheles wasn’t here but inside the portal.

Led by Nie Yan, they entered the portal. A blinding white light flashed before their eyes. When they opened them again, they were in another world. The sky was gloomy, and light rain drizzled.

Looking around, it was a vast wasteland. The ground was scattered with many stones, with sparse weeds growing sporadically.

System: You have discovered the Lost Bartel Dark World.

Seeing this message, Nie Yan frowned. So this was the true Lost Bartel. The quest to find Mephistopheles in the Paternoster Hammer mission must be in this dark world.

The nearby monsters were gray-furred hounds. They looked extremely ugly, with many parts of their bodies already rotting, hanging with chunks of flesh. Their eyes glowed with a fanatical red light, and their mouths were filled with sharp fangs, making them appear extremely terrifying.

There were a huge number of these hounds, always appearing in packs of hundreds. They gathered in dark swarms, looking quite frightening.

These hounds quickly noticed Nie Yan’s party and immediately began to converge from all directions. The number reached several thousand, and more hounds kept joining from all around, completely surrounding them.

Everyone immediately became tense. Lei Su, Shui Se Yan Tou (Water-colored Cigarette), and Cui Can Dao Guang (Brilliant Blade) took positions at three corners. Hei An Bei Ge (Dark Elegy) and the rogues spread outwards, while the spellcasters retreated inward, forming a circular formation.

The hounds slowly approached, coming within dozens of yards of Nie Yan’s party.

“Damn, so many!” Killer Who Cannot Die said unhappily.

Nie Yan cast Detect on one of the hounds.

Demon Hound: Level 160 Elite, 800,000 HP.

All were at least elite-level creatures. Some larger ones were even a head taller than ordinary demon hounds, with lion-like bodies, truly impressive. These were Demon Hound Lords, with 3,000,000 HP.

They stared fanatically at Nie Yan’s party, prowling around twenty or thirty yards away, baring sharp teeth and growling lowly.

“Quick! Those with Fire Walls, cast them now!” Nie Yan quickly instructed in the party chat.

As Nie Yan finished speaking, Tang Yao, Xia Chong Yu Bing, Mo Jiu (Condor), and others waved their staves. Rows of fire walls, over two yards high, burned fiercely on the ground.

These fire walls were densely packed, with less than a yard between each.

As the flames roared, the frontmost demon hounds took damage, each losing 30,000 to 40,000 HP.

Provoked, the demon hounds charged toward Nie Yan’s party, running through the flames. At about five or six yards away, they suddenly leaped.

Five demon hounds lunged at Cui Can Dao Guang, who let out a low shout and used Shockwave. With a loud thud, the five hounds flew backward.

He raised his shield, continuously batting away the demon hounds that kept coming.

After passing through so many fire walls, these demon hounds had lost over half their HP, but still had around 300,000 to 400,000 HP left, remaining quite formidable.

Everyone engaged in fierce combat, with the team working together seamlessly. The melee fighters formed a wall, the mages dealt damage, and the priests provided healing.

Under Nie Yan’s command, the Golden Earth Dragon charged outward, entering the demon hounds’ encirclement. Amidst their intense attacks, it continuously triggered Counterattack Storm. The Golden Earth Dragon knocked down many, but the demon hounds attacked fiercely. Their sharp teeth bit into the dragon, causing 10,000 damage each hit. With so many demon hounds attacking continuously, the damage output was considerable.

Under Nie Yan’s command, the paladin Lefers kept healing the Golden Earth Dragon.

A huge Demon Hound Lord lunged at Nie Yan, targeting him since he had killed the most demon hounds.

Seeing the hound descending from above, Nie Yan stepped forward and performed a spinning kick, striking the Demon Hound Lord’s throat with a dull thud. The hound let out a whimper, flew dozens of yards, and crashed to the ground.

As the Demon Hound Lord flew away, five more hounds surrounded Nie Yan from different directions.

Nie Yan slightly retreated, delivering an elbow strike to one hound’s head, smashing it onto the ground.

Using Shadow Dance steps, he dodged the hounds’ attacks and performed a Disrupt, stabbing one hound’s back.

Amidst the chaos, one demon hound bit Nie Yan’s right foot.

A damage number over 10,000 floated above Nie Yan’s head. Trying to pull his foot back, he found it stuck, unable to move. More damage numbers, 2,000 to 3,000, kept appearing.

“Be careful! These demon hounds have a bite skill that causes continuous damage!” Shui Se Yan Tou urgently warned in the party chat.

Another demon hound lunged from the side, nearly biting Nie Yan. With Zennarde’s Sword, Nie Yan thrust forward, piercing the hound’s throat. A damage number over 300,000 floated above it, instantly killing it.

After retrieving Zennarde’s Sword, Nie Yan slashed downward, killing the hound that had bitten him.

“Boss, there are too many of them,” Yu Wang Ran Zhi Qing Chun said unhappily.

“Yeah, they just keep coming. How long will this last?” Killer Who Cannot Die added, looking into the distance. The demon hounds stretched endlessly like a tide, dark and thick. If this continued, their mana would eventually run out.

“At least we’re gaining experience. The experience points are pretty decent,” Xia Chong Yu Bing said optimistically.

“Let’s kill some first. Who still has AoE Forbidden Spells?” Nie Yan asked the team.

“Boss wants to use Forbidden Spells?” Everyone was stunned.

“We can’t clear them without Forbidden Spells,” Nie Yan replied. However, Forbidden Spells could only target one side; they couldn’t include themselves in the area.

“I have one,” Tang Yao looked at his skill list.

The magi glanced at each other and said, “Our Forbidden Spells are on cooldown.”

Nie Yan looked at the Magic Ball currently held by Xie Yao and asked, “How many AoE Forbidden Spells does the Magic Ball have?”

“Two,” Xie Yao checked the Magic Ball’s skills.

Currently having three AoE Forbidden Spells was already quite good. Using them effectively could eliminate many demon hounds.