The air within the cellars of Hustings Cathedral was cold and chilling; Hudi walked with uneven steps, observing the ancient stone carvings that emerged from the darkness on either side, his vacant gaze fixed ahead.

"Hes... what place is this?"

"The underground dungeon of Holite Academy. This is where they killed me, just a bit further inside."

Hudi fell silent.

Just then, a shadow darted through the darkness, making him turn his head.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing... nothing."

He shook his head, thinking it was a hallucination.

The iron torches in the niches, extinguished half a century ago, left this sunless place to the Dragon Worshippers who used it for their ghastly deeds. The damp dungeon still seemed to echo with the sighs and groans of the tormented.

Even the distant corridor echoed with chilling screams.

It was as if the souls of the tormented were still bound here, suffering endlessly day and night.

"They used this place to imprison those 'missing' students and anyone who discovered their secrets. Once here, one could never leave. Those imprisoned here were no more than livestock, living sacrifices, tormented until they finally died."

Hes stopped, unlocking an iron-barred gate. The old prison door creaked painfully, covered in brown stains—whether from rust or dried blood, it was unclear.

Behind the gate was a spacious circular hall with an uneven floor. Hudi looked down to see grooves running toward the center like a spiderweb.

In the center was an altar covered with cobwebs.

Above the underground hall's dome, a Glowstone was embedded, casting a cold, clear radiance directly upon the altar.

On the stone altar lay only a sickle-shaped dagger.

"This is the place," Hes said, her voice slightly hurried, "place the sword on that altar, Hudi."

"Wait, Hes, something about this altar seems off...?"

Hudi felt the sword in his hand tremble slightly as if resisting something.

"That's the evil handiwork of the Dragon Worshippers. It's what binds all the sacrifices here. Quick, Hudi, place the sword on the altar and end everything."

"But—"

"Hudi, don't you trust me?"

Hudi furrowed his brow, gave Hes a look, nodded, and slowly walked over, gently placing the Blade of Victory on the altar.

The moment the sword touched the altar, it seemed corrupted, with black spots surfacing on it, and its already dim blade became even more covered in rust.

And suddenly, the blade shook violently, causing him to instinctively let go, and the sword fell to the ground, cracking it open.

"See, it has absorbed the curse of the altar!" Hes's eyes lit up, her tone involuntarily changing, "Now, Hudi, now's the time. While the sword can still suppress the curse's power, destroy it—take up that dagger, fast!"

She suddenly started coughing violently.

Coughing in pain, she knelt down, coughing so hard her eyes saw stars and covered her mouth with her hand. When she opened her hand, it was filled with glaring crimson.

"Hes?"

Hudi turned back, feeling something strange about the girl, but was startled to see Hes, pale-faced, kneeling on the ground.

Hes shook her head: "Don't mind me, go destroy that sword—"

She gritted her teeth internally: "Damn human brat, just you wait. That woman might have left something in the Upper City District. But no matter, there's still time, my Undead army—"

Her expression suddenly changed.

Behind them, the dungeon door was slammed open with a bang.

A Dragon Worshipper flew in, landing silently on the ground, while a stern-faced elderly knight took the lead, rushing in.

He held a longsword, his gaze fixed on Hes and Hudi, then moved it to the altar in the center of the hall, and finally glanced at the Blade of Victory lying on the ground.

Following Diket in were cursing Papalarian Crossbowmen; of the three, only Red Leaf was missing. Parker backed away while shooting outside but paused slightly in surprise upon seeing the situation inside the hall:

"Someone's here? Wait, Hudi, is that you!?"

He paused his firing.

Dragon Worshippers rushed in from outside, about seventeen or eighteen of them. As they entered the hall, the previously somewhat spacious hall immediately felt a bit crowded.

"Damn dwarf, let's see where you run this time!"

The leading Dragon Worshipper, still bearing grudges from a previous encounter with Parker, cursed continuously, but paused upon entering the hall.

In astonishment, he said to Hudi: "You, the kid from Dragonfire Guild?"

He immediately looked around: "Damn it, where's the Blade of Victory you stole?" Then his gaze fixed on the dark sword beside the altar.

But he was alert, quickly glancing at Diket.

However, the elderly knight didn't spare him a glance, simply telling Hudi: "Young man, pick up the sword, hold it in your hand, don't lose it."

Hudi hesitated, looking at the man confusedly.

He recognized him. This elderly knight was previously seen moving with Fang Hong, but whether he was Ade's teammate or a member of the Tabopolis Knights was unclear.

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