Chapter 945, Probing

Translator: Silavin

 

However, since this matter was something Mikami Saburo, Nichirin Takeshi, and Seifu Murasaki had already agreed upon, how could these Minor Characters dare to defy them?

 

After all, these three could be said to be the ones with the highest authority and strength among those who had entered the Earth Tripartite. If they selected someone to go, who would dare refuse? That person would inevitably be punished.

 

The leaders of their own Clans probably would not dare disobey the orders of these three either. Therefore, whoever these three selected to take the risk had to go.

 

If they went, there might still be a sliver of hope for survival. But if they refused to go, Mikami Saburo and the others might take action themselves and forcibly throw them in.

 

At this moment, about to encounter an Ancient God, no one wanted to lose their life at such a critical juncture.

 

Similarly, Mikami Saburo and the others could not possibly let the search for the Ancient Gods be delayed because someone was unwilling to take the risk.

 

The three swept their gazes across everyone, looking at them one by one. Finally, they selected five Frontliners to enter the palace and investigate the situation.

 

Even if these five had a hundred reasons to refuse, they could only obediently comply, their expressions tense as they prepared to enter the palace.

 

All the Supporters present cast their Buff Spells onto these five, causing their Attributes to dramatically surge.

 

Afterward, the five slowly stepped into the palace under everyone’s watchful eyes.

 

The five were extremely nervous, not even daring to breathe heavily, advancing step by step into the interior. Soon they reached the area where five hundred Asura Guard clay sculptures stood.

 

What no one expected was that after arriving here, nothing unusual occurred within the palace.

 

The five hundred clay sculptures remained exactly as before, unchanged, as if they were merely inanimate objects with no ability to transform into Monsters.

 

This finally allowed those outside the palace to breathe a sigh of relief. Because if these clay sculptures truly transformed into Monsters, they would be extremely difficult to deal with.

 

Seeing this, Nichirin Takeshi wanted to order everyone to enter the palace together to search for the Ancient Gods’ whereabouts.

 

However, Seifu Murasaki raised her hand, stopping Nichirin Takeshi from giving the order.

 

Her face darkened as she commanded the five inside the palace. “You five, go smash a few of the clay sculptures.”

 

As soon as these words left her mouth, the faces of the five inside the palace instantly turned pale.

 

Moving things around recklessly in this place could very likely lead to utter ruin.

 

Just entering had already put them at tremendous risk.

 

And now, they were being told to smash these clay sculptures. Was this not asking them to court death?

 

The five were extremely resistant. One of them even pleaded bitterly, begging them not to force them to do such dangerous things.

 

Since stepping into the palace was safe, couldn’t everyone just enter together and avoid touching these clay sculptures altogether? Why must they attack the clay sculptures and put themselves in such danger?

 

Impatience flashed in Seifu Murasaki’s eyes. A whirlwind formed in her hand as she said coldly. “I’m telling you what to do, so do it. How dare you negotiate with me? If you don’t do it, I’ll release my Skills and destroy all the clay sculptures one by one. Or better yet, I’ll destroy you along with them!”

 

Faced with such threats, the five inside the palace looked ashen.

 

Those that made the decision for their Clan that came here had either already died or were currently keeping silent, with no intention of speaking up for them. This made them even more desperate.

 

With no other choice, the five could only accept their fate, requesting that Seifu Murasaki not take action and that they would smash the clay sculptures themselves.

 

Thus, the five gathered together and selected a clay sculpture closest to the palace gate, taking out their weapons to attack it.

 

If anything went wrong, they could quickly escape through the gate.

 

These clay sculptures did not look particularly sturdy, but in reality, this was not the case.

 

Their material seemed to be somewhere between metal and clay. When swords struck them, they only produced dull *clanging* sounds similar to iron clashing against iron.

 

Although these five Players were Frontliners, they were all Fourth Profession Players. Theoretically, even if their Damage Output was not as good as Players of the same Level, it should not be anything too horrendous.

 

However, they clanged away for a long time, only leaving marks on the clay sculpture without managing to shatter it.

 

This made Seifu Murasaki somewhat impatient. She ordered the five to use their Skills rather than tickling the clay sculpture like this.

 

With no choice, the five could only use Attack Skills to continue attacking the clay sculpture.

 

After using Skills, the five’s Damage Output suddenly increased.

 

Following this, their attacks actually began to show effects.

 

Soon, cracks began appearing on the clay sculpture’s surface.

 

As the five continued their assault, these cracks grew deeper and deeper, spreading across the entire clay sculpture.

 

Finally, under a heavy blow from a Player wielding a heavy hammer, the clay sculpture indeed shattered with a *bang*.

 

Instantly, everyone’s nerves tensed up as they looked toward the clay sculpture’s direction, various Survival Skills at the ready.

 

As long as anything unusual occurred, they could immediately release their Skills to preserve their lives.

 

However, what no one expected was that after the clay sculpture shattered, it merely became a pile of fragments on the ground. Nothing unusual happened.

 

One could see that the clay sculpture’s cross-section was just a special substance that was a mix of clay and some metal.

 

Although they did not know exactly what this substance was, it clearly was not a Monster.

 

The five Players were also thoroughly frightened, clutching their weapons as they waited for Monsters to arrive.

 

After confirming there was no danger, the five finally breathed sighs of relief, unknowingly soaking their clothes through with perspiration.

 

Seeing there truly was no danger, the five were overjoyed and asked Seifu Murasaki if they could return now.

 

At present, it could be confirmed that there was no danger inside the palace.

 

These clay sculptures were merely decorations. Most likely, left behind by that ancient civilization for some kind of ritual, with no practical significance.

 

Seifu Murasaki thought for a moment but did not agree to let them return. Instead, she ordered them to continue attacking other clay sculptures and smash the others as well to see what would happen.

 

With no other choice, the five spent half an hour successively smashing three or four more clay sculptures.

 

Finally, all four clay sculptures completely shattered, and indeed no dangerous situations occurred.

 

With this, it could almost be confirmed that there truly were no Monsters here.

 

Only then did Seifu Murasaki nod, agreeing to let the five return.

 

After this large force left some Arrays at the palace entrance to protect themselves in case of an emergency, they would all enter the palace together to search for the Ancient Gods’ whereabouts.

 

Just as the five completely relaxed and walked toward the palace exit…

 

From the cross-sections of those scattered clay fragments on the ground, ethereal vapor suddenly seeped out.

 

This ethereal vapor instantly condensed into a form, appearing almost identical to the clay sculptures before they were smashed!

 

These Soul-like Monsters moved extremely quickly. Their spears thrust forward, stabbing toward those five.