Chapter 22: The Dungeon - Part One: Mirage City, Part Two: Ghost Realm

The Mirage

Legend has it that a creature known as the Jiaolong can exhale to create mirages. This is also referred to as a mirage.

In the clear waters, the mirage towers transform into a grand city. — As described by Yang Juyuan, a dedicated practitioner returning to Annam.

For instance, ancient people believed that mirage towers were illusions created by the Jiaolong's breath, appearing as distant pavilions on a calm sea due to light refraction. They mistakenly thought it was the creature's breath, envisioning ethereal towers in the air, mistaking them for spectral illusions. The mirage appeared as a goddess in mythology.

— Advanced Chinese Dictionary

White mist rose higher, forming leaping white spirits near the ground; in mid-air, they became swaying white bats; and in the sky, they transformed into towering palaces.

White filled the sky and land, with hundreds of noisy white bats swooping down, attacking and clinging to the faces and bodies of the swordsmen.

Although the spirits' attacks were minor, requiring several hits to cause any real damage, and the white bats merely disrupted vision, the white palaces posed no threat. However, this was enough to inflict significant harm on a team lacking mages and priests, without enough floating scrolls—any small movement could lead them into an imperceptible quagmire.

"It's the 'Mirage Qi,'" the grand mage of the spirits said with slight hesitation but more certainty—everyone around heard his voice.

The old dwarf exclaimed in shock, "It's real," and even the usually calm Afeng turned serious.

"The Mirage Dragon"

"The breath of a high-level dragon"

"This is the dragon's domain"

"The Mirage Dragon Domain"

More terrifying descriptions filled people's minds, and more people spoke aloud their deepest fears.

The word dragon was, without a doubt, utterly terrifying. Regardless of whether the dragon intended harm, a dragon would not relinquish the right to attack those who intrude into its domain. The Mirage Qi was rumored to be an ability possessed only by the highest-ranking dragons. Dragons love to sleep, sometimes for days or even months, and to protect themselves, high-level dragons emit Mirage Qi in their slumber, creating a vast Mirage Qi world around them. As the dragon's dreams shift, the Mirage Qi undergoes countless changes, automatically attacking anyone within its domain.

Depending on the dragon's age, the range and power of the Mirage Qi vary. It is said that on the "Lanfasis Continent," known for its swamps, the largest dragon's Mirage Domain has already covered the territory of an orc tribe with a population of over 50,000.

"Everyone should be prepared; without the appearance of a dragon, this wouldn't be a double-S mission." It was indeed a top mission on the mercenary leaderboard, and Afeng was the first to regain composure.

"We hit the jackpot; the presence of Mirage Qi indicates the dragon is asleep, likely in a long slumber." The old dwarf also calmed down. The elven mage whispered a few words to the dwarf, then took out an old, dark brown scroll from his robe, depicting a golden deity. The elven mage unfurled the scroll—golden flames rose from the mage's hand. "Everyone, gather within the light of the flames," the old dwarf called out to the adventurers. "This is the Holy Light Flame, which can repel the attacks of the Mirage Qi."

The flame's range was vast, allowing even the massive land dragon to easily hide within.

More and more spirits and white bats danced restlessly outside the flames, baring their white teeth, layer after layer.

"Mages and priests, remember to keep casting floatation spells on everyone. We must find the dragon before the floatation magic wears off," Afeng instructed, assigning Aimee and Daqingshan, who had the best sense of the forest, to explore ahead of the team.

Following the warm breeze, Aimee and Daqingshan quickly found the exit of the Mirage Qi. Here, the Mirage Qi formed the entrance to a grand palace. Entering the palace, they were greeted by a vast cave, with an entrance as dark as a gaping maw, standing 10 meters high, devoid of any vegetation, and unnaturally smooth, indicating frequent passage by creatures.

Aimee left Daqingshan to help everyone enter the cave, while summoning a Wizard's Flame—a ball of ice-blue magical fire floated from his palm, illuminating his surroundings as it moved with him.

Then, "Morhelon," Aimee summoned a gigantic silver-gray magic wolf, which began protecting him.

The magic wolf entered the cave first, with Aimee following closely behind.

The cave was dark. Despite being outside in the swamp, inside it was exceptionally dry, with a dry breeze brushing past.

Aimee explored cautiously, always mindful of changes underfoot, while the silver-gray giant wolf stayed close by his side.

"Aimee—" came the anxious call of the old dwarf from the cave entrance.

"Here. No danger so far, and no creatures found yet."

Hearing the reply, the old dwarf quickly made his way to Aimee through the dark cave, taking high and low steps.

"Thud," before Aimee could react, the old dwarf jumped up and gave Aimee a heavy slap, "Are you trying to get yourself killed? Why did you go in alone? You're too young to play hero. Do you know the caves well? Do you have any experience?"

"Yes, Aimee, you shouldn't have gone in alone. Veteran Rock, you're a dwarf, second only to gnomes in cave knowledge. You should lead the way," Afeng and the rest of the group arrived.

Qianlixue and Daqingshan pulled Aimee, who was muttering, "No good deed goes unpunished," back into the group.

With the Mirage Qi gone, the golden flames had disappeared. Several mages cast Wizard's Flames, while the priests cast Glow Spells. Glow Spell: A basic spell of the priest class, praying to the god of light to envelop oneself in a layer of glow, illuminating the surroundings. In places without light sources, once the torches are exhausted, the Glow Spell can be useful.

The group followed three or four meters behind the old dwarf, ready to assist at any moment—the allure of the dragon undoubtedly heightened everyone's combat readiness.

As the underground tunnel made a sharp turn, a large open space suddenly appeared in the dark cave, with over a dozen coffins vaguely visible.

The light of the Wizard's Flame just touched the coffins—

"Creaaaak—creeak—" the entire cave suddenly underwent a dramatic change. The lids of the coffins flew off, spinning and whistling through the air, hurtling towards the mages who had summoned the Wizard's Flame.

"Guard!" Afeng leapt up first, his sword flashing like lightning, striking three coffin lids. The other five Purple Heart Sword swordsmen also leapt up, intercepting the lids with their swords—only the agile swordsmen could react fast enough in this sudden change. Aimee and Daqingshan also leapt high, each intercepting two coffin lids.

"Heehee—haha—hoho—heehee—" eerie laughter echoed from the coffins, resonating throughout the cavern. Several gigantic wolves leapt from the coffins, plunging their mouths into the ground, emitting the unique howl of snow wolves; more than a dozen gigantic humanoid figures clambered awkwardly from the coffins, their movements labored like rusty machines, wielding rusty scimitars commonly used by the Hami people.

All the people and wolves exuded a nauseating stench.

Undoubtedly, these were deceased Hami people and their burial snow wolves.

It seemed some dark, evil force had used some unknown magic to manipulate these soulless bodies.

"Kill them," the old dwarf shouted, charging forward with his massive battle axe, quickly shredding the zombie snow wolf attacking him.

Four more battle axes joined the fray, the berserkers, who had lost a brother, fought with reckless abandon. Apart from Afeng, the other Purple Heart Sword swordsmen also charged in.

Soulless bodies moved more slowly than the living, and under physical assault, the zombies quickly crumbled.

"Could it really be that simple?" Old Rock dusted off his hands and blew the dust from his axe, stained with zombie remains.

"Ah—something's got my leg," a Purple Heart Swordsman suddenly screamed in terror, desperately trying to jump up.

Everyone saw two black hands clutching the swordsman's ankles—clearly belonging to the severed hands of the zombies. The dark fingers gripped tightly.

"Ah—boom—" a horrific scream tore through the air as the severed hands flew up, and the Purple Heart Swordsman was torn apart. Blood rained down, and the severed hands fell, releasing their grip, clawing the ground, and moving towards the next person.

"Quick, grind them to dust," the old dwarf shouted.

Four or five giant battle axes hacked at the crawling severed hands and writhing feet.

"O holy deity, grant me your sacred water." With the chant of the secondary mage and novice priest Nuo, blue holy water descended from the sky, dousing the surroundings. The black and gray limbs quickly vaporized, disappearing into the air. Holy Water Spell: The caster gathers sacred power to create holy water, spraying it at enemies, causing holy damage to all enemies present. This is a basic anti-demon spell, with enhanced damage effects on demons.

"Brother, may you rest in peace. I'll take care of your family," to prevent the zombies from reanimating, Afeng and Qianlixue, along with other Purple Heart Sword mercenaries, gathered the remains of their fallen comrade and sprinkled them with yellow self-combustion ash. Upon contact with air, the self-combustion ash ignited in a blaze. Within minutes, the mercenary's body was cremated. Afeng wrapped up the ashes and, with tears in his eyes, continued forward.

The massive, empty cave rapidly narrowed ahead, forming a small entrance—small only in comparison to the previous cave, as this entrance was over 10 meters wide.

Old Rock signaled everyone to follow closely, leading the way into the next level of the underground city.