Demon King: Hero, don’t run away!

The battle between Yang Yu and the [Centipede Queen] quickly came to an end.

Although the [Centipede Queen]’s beast form provided her with considerable defense and special defense, it was still no match against the combined assault from Yang Yu and Bai Jin.

The [Centipede Queen] attempted to counterattack, but Yang Yu and Bai Jin were too agile, as if they could foresee her every move. They effortlessly evaded her attacks, making her attempts seem futile.

Poisoned, Yang Yu refrained from using [Double-sided Slash] to finish her off and left the final strike for Bai Jin.

Raising the magic wand, layers of white magic arrays nested together as a huge ice spear formed within Bai Jin’s array.

With a downward swing of the magic wand, the enormous Frost Ice Arrow pierced the sky, mercilessly penetrating the dying [Centipede Queen].

Her mouth spewed large amounts of green fluid as the [Centipede Queen]’s body, like a whip, crashed onto the grass, her corrosive blood causing all surrounding plants to wither and decay.

Even in her dying moments, the [Centipede Queen] could not believe she and the Goblin God of War fell so quickly.

She wanted to send information about Yang Yu to Lord Demon King via magic, but Bai Jin had long enacted a magic lock on the sky, leaving the [Centipede Queen] too exhausted to break through it and deliver the message.

Filled with deep resentment, the [Centipede Queen] finally lost her breath, dying with eyes wide open.

Bai Jin slowly descended from the sky, the slime enveloping her transformed back into its round form.

Wiping the blood from his sword and sheathing it, Yang Yu drank a potion, removing the poison status from his body without a trace.

The [Centipede Queen]’s toxin was not as potent as that of Count Blood’s, and a common antidote sufficed to neutralize it.

Following Yang Yu’s instructions, Bai Jin once again burned the [Centipede Queen], reducing her to a puff of green smoke, obliterating her entirely.

As the flames receded, an aged, gnarled magic wand lay quietly amidst the ashes.

Yang Yu picked up the magic wand and found it identical to Bai Jin’s [Sigh Seed] in all attributes, not differing in value at all.

However...

In the histories Yang Yu had studied, the real [Centipede Queen] wielded the magic wand [Sigh Seed] in battle against Hero Lox, as if possessed by something else, unleashing the wand’s true power.

The [Centipede Queen] they defeated seemed standard and clearly did not use the wand’s true strength.

The Hero didn’t know what the wand was or how to replicate its effects.... or perhaps he knew its effects but deliberately didn’t include them.

Since they could acquire the Goblin God of War and [Centipede Queen]’s legendary weapons, most items previously found couldn’t be taken away; perhaps those items were just heaps of data....

”Bai Jin, well done, put away your magic wand and use this one.”

Yang Yu tossed the counterfeit wand to Bai Jin, who caught it effortlessly with magic,

”Try using items from this world as much as possible...

Is it to prevent losing our items if we fail?”

”Nobody knows if this Underground Maze will impose that kind of penalty, stripping us of our resources.

Since we know this place is false, we must utilize everything here wisely.

The consumables we collect have recovery functions.

If those items can’t be taken with us, then we should exchange more consumables on the way and use them up here.”

Bai Jin nodded, putting away the magic wand and taking up the counterfeit [Sigh Seed].

The moment she picked up this wand, Bai Jin realized the difference between the genuine and fake [Sigh Seed].

The counterfeit lacked a soul.

In a true emergency, this wand would not hesitate to urge her to use the power contained within.

Bai Jin gently shook her head, telling herself she had become much stronger, a world apart from a few years ago, and should trust in her and her companions’ strength instead of seeking some illusory power for protection.

Noticing Bai Jin’s subtle gesture, Yang Yu stepped closer, gently patting her head:

”Do you remember what I said before?

You told me everything the wand said.

We still don’t understand how many mysteries are hidden within that wand.

Even if we wish to use its power, we must first understand what it is and its purpose.

Before that, don’t casually trust its temptation.

If it’s just to solve a pressing issue without understanding its principles or other hidden motives...

The price may be much higher than you imagine.”

Pausing, Yang Yu continued:

”If you truly feel insecure, unsure if you can resist temptation,

I’ll find a way to obtain another legendary magic wand.

I don’t remember where I saw this.

Preventing someone from eating chocolate isn’t about suppressing their desire but hiding the chocolate where they can’t see or reach it.”

Bai Jin smiled at Yang Yu, ”No need to worry.

I’ve used [Sigh Seed] for a long time and managed to resist temptation last time.

The Demon King is about to descend.

Rather than finding me another wand, it’s better to upgrade your equipment more.”

”To improve the team’s capabilities, we have come here.

Whether we can acquire a perfectly fitting set of equipment still depends on luck.

I’m not bragging, but although my luck doesn’t match up to Iyas, it’s at least average.”

Speaking these words, Yang Yu did his best to suppress the twitching at the corners of his mouth, stopping the pain in his heart, as his luck was truly lacking.

Looking at the counterfeit [Sky Fall] in his right hand, a complex emotion emerged within Yang Yu.

Not to mention never landing a critical hit in regular battles, even with the Long Stick [Sky Fall] adding 20% critical hit, Yang Yu’s number of critical hits remains zero.

Indeed, unless the critical hit attribute reaches 100%, it’s useless for Africans.

Yang Yu was aware of his luck’s quality, but when reassuring Bai Jin, he used the phrase that his luck was okay.

”If it doesn’t work, I have a few unused pieces of legendary equipment stored. I can swap them for other equipment with other S-Class adventure groups.

If there’s good gear, I won’t hide it and will use it immediately.

You shouldn’t worry too much.

Adjust your mindset a little. Next, we face the Demon King of this world, defeating him means clearing the level.

This rare opportunity should be treated as a rehearsal against the True Demon King.”

Bai Jin nodded.

Yang Yu put away the counterfeit Long Stick [Sky Fall], planning to greet the others and organize the next part of their journey.

Suddenly, Yang Yu felt the space-time around him begin to warp, with distant scenery gradually disappearing.

Yang Yu opened the panel, observing the items he had collected from this world vanishing rapidly, the inventory once filled with items now empty.

Soon afterward, Yang Yu’s system panel also began to distort.

Suddenly, it seemed as if the power was cut off for Yang Yu and his companions, plunging them into darkness.