Chapter 843 - 828: The Promise

"Help me... Help me..."

Amidst the desperate and mechanical cries for help, the D Level personnel participating in the challenge were led away by the prison guard from the caves serving as cells.

Along the way, there were no checkpoints or guards, giving an impression of an easy prison escape.

However, the D Level personnel present all knew this was just an illusion; the owner of the Fungal Mat was eager for them to voluntarily offer this comical escape performance.

Sigmund followed along in the group, keenly noticing the abnormality, as the other prisoners would intentionally or unintentionally sneak glances at them with malicious intent hidden in their eyes.

It likely wasn't because of the fact that they were both Puki.

There was another Puki prisoner in the group, but they didn't receive such attention.

I just don't know whether it's because of myself, the new Mushroom prisoner's reason, or Ocas...

The group eventually arrived at a large cave with a considerably more complicated terrain, unlike some large caves that were spacious and could be seen at a glance. This cave had numerous strange roofless structures added to both the ground and rock walls.

At this moment, Ocas privately spoke to Sigmund via the Fungal Network: "Partner, I know what the first game is."

"What is it?"

"Hide and seek!"

"Huh?"

Before Sigmund could ask in detail, the prison guard had already turned around to begin his return, while several large mushrooms moved over in the passage, blocking the way back.

The other challengers plunged headlong into the complex structures resembling a maze, and Sigmund was also pulled inside by Ocas.

"Partner, quickly find!"

"Take advantage of this free time, quickly find the key to open the door at the back of the maze! Soon, the hunter Puki will arrive!"

This mushroom form of Sigmund had no special detection methods and could only join in searching around, unfortunately finding little.

Until a loud "poof" was heard from the depths of the cave, Ocas abruptly stopped rummaging through the clutter.

"Quiet...!"

Not only them, but the once bustling maze fell into silence after the sound.

Without seeing the full appearance of the hunter Puki, Sigmund saw numerous hundred-meter-long mycelium tentacles stretching out from the darkness, probing bit by bit along the uncovered maze like a blind man feeling his way.

Fortunately, those tentacles did not directly probe the area where they were located.

Sigmund turned the mushroom cap, noticing Ocas topple over entirely, moving by supporting on four tentacles.

"?"

"I can't help it! That monster only has the ability to sense sound, our feet make 'puki' sounds when walking; we can only move using tentacles. You too, definitely don't move with your feet! Don't be fooled by the hunter's slow movements now; it's because it hasn't detected prey yet. Making a sound spells disaster."

As he spoke, Ocas even demonstrated how to move silently using four tentacles in a practiced manner.

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than Sigmund suddenly turned around, his short legs stepping onto the ground with a "puki" sound.

At the moment of making the sound, those tentacles, which had been probing at a distance, suddenly paused and extended in their direction.

Ocas, spooked, let his spores fall uncontrollably, suddenly regretting having called on this new mushroom: "What are you doing! It's over, quickly leave the spot!"

Only to see Sigmund extend a tentacle, securely catching the stone thrown over from afar, preventing it from hitting the ground.

Then, he rotated his mushroom body and flung the stone back in the direction from which it came.

As the stone landed with a "thud," the new, larger sound far surpassed the "puki" noise, and those elongated tentacles quickly darted toward it.

Soon, a silhouette struggling continuously was swept up.

"Damn, damn! Noooooooo—!"

The one who had thrown the stone in an attempt to harm them met his own fate, screaming as he disappeared into the darkness, and the maze cave returned to silence once again.

"Oh... oh, that was amazing," Ocas belatedly praised.

Sigmund said nothing, only using his tentacles to lift himself up and began moving quietly while imitating Ocas's stance.

During the subsequent time, everyone remained quiet.

But even in absolute silence, those hidden hunter Puki would use tentacles to grope around, occasionally compelling unfortunate challengers to make noise and thus be dragged off screaming.

Sigmund and Ocas were rather lucky and ultimately managed to find the key, progressing to the next stage.

After the maze hide and seek, came the wooden man, leapfrog joy...

Sigmund had to admit that the roommate really had a multitude of tricks, far beyond the antiquated arena battles.

But along the way, they were also targeted quite a bit.

However, just like the stone thrown by others during hide and seek, it was all defused by the experienced Sigmund.

Though this mushroom form was not powerful, Sigmund had ascended from a mere slave to the position of Empire Duke within the Empire, and dealing with these simple direct schemes was effortlessly easy.

Even the final Diamond Level competitor unwillingly fell from the platform into the thorny forest below under the collaboration of the two mushrooms, howling continually.

The finish line was just ahead, and the two mushrooms had become the only remaining challengers.

"Did we... Did we really win! It's time to enjoy freedom! All thanks to you, partner!"

Ocas excitedly extended a tentacle towards Sigmund, as if wanting to celebrate under his mushroom cap.

However, halfway through, a Tentacle Blade suddenly sprung out, slicing towards the unsuspecting Sigmund!

Yet, in a flash, it was Ocas's four tentacles that were cut off.

Ocas stared in shock at his severed tentacles: "You... actually figured it out?"

Another cold flash, and Ocas's legs flew off, he fell with a thud onto the platform.

Only then did Sigmund slowly turn around and disdainfully said, "Is there anything I wouldn't figure out? Did you really think I couldn't tell that all the other prisoners were targeting you, not me? Your reputation here must be quite bad."

"Even those introductory words earlier were fake, weren't they? Lizardmen wouldn't pick a name like Ocas." Sigmund turned his mushroom cap and glanced at the finish line behind him, "You pulled me into a contest but purposefully didn't explain the rules clearly because there's only one final winner, isn't that right?"

"Tch! Thought you were a rookie, but turned out to be a tough character... I really misjudged you this time!" Ocas's tone now carried none of the prior timidity. "Using any means necessary to fight for this only hope in the Endless Prison, this... this is paradise! This time, you've won."

Ocas's severed tentacles had mycelium writhing and almost regained their shape, but he knew delaying time was meaningless; this new mushroom wasn't the kind to leave such obvious flaws.

So, after speaking, he decisively rolled off the platform, and with a "poof" sound, got pierced into a mushroom skewer by a forest of needles.

And awaiting him was the void confinement after resurrection...

Sigmund confirmed he was gone and made the final leap, crossing the finish line.

In the next moment, beneath him, the glow of a Teleportation Array appeared.

Boom—Boom—

Two shots of ceremonial cannons hit the top of Sigmund's mushroom, while a circle of Pukis clapped their tentacles, and that familiar voice finally appeared in his mind again.

"Congratulations, congratulations! Puki, you're the only Mushroom Transformer to pass the amusement park challenge on your first try; truly worthy of being a former Empire Duke!"

Yet Sigmund didn't feel any joy from winning the competition.

"Mushroom Lord...why have I become a Puki? I've already lost the body you wanted; what else do you seek from me?"

The Pukis in front of him parted to either side, and the dashing Marshal Puki emerged, his long red cape dragging on the ground, but with cleaning runes, it remained bright red.

"Seek? How could you think that?"

Marshal Puki warmly placed a tentacle under Puki's mushroom cap, a sight that would surely make other Mushrooms envious.

However, Puki felt anything but honored, filled with discomfort, even wanting to attack the Marshal Puki beside him, knowing it would only worsen his situation, thereby enduring.

"Puki, what bond do we share? We are roommates, after all! I couldn't just let you die like that!"

"Don't be tense, I'm just fulfilling my promise."

"Promise?" Sigmund couldn't recall any promise with this dreadful roommate.

"You forgot? That's truly hurtful to mushrooms. Let me remind you, it was the phrase… 'We can be together forever'!" In an instant, Sigmund lost control of his body, Lin Jun's tone turned sinister, "Thought destroying that usable body could let you die gleefully? No one...can ditch me and walk away!"

"You, you... expect me to yield?" Unable to move, Sigmund roared in anger within the Fungal Network.

Lin Jun remained indifferent: "Do as you please; no matter how many times you commit suicide, I will resurrect you. Your soul is already mine!"

"Want a free death? Then continue participating in challenges to entertain me, but unlike others, you'll need more...more victories..."

"But, for your first clearance, I'll give you a perk."

With that, the surrounding Pukis crowded around and lifted Sigmund.

"What are you doing? You're going to..." Sigmund's words abruptly stopped as Lin Jun muted him.

Then, he was brought before Inanna.

...

"Would you like me to touch it?" Inanna asked, looking at the Puki presented to her.

"Yes, yes. It's a new mushroom, never experienced the joy of being a Puki, so we'd be grateful."

"No problem at all."

Inanna smiled and took Puki, while Number Four, initially in her arms, reluctantly slid to the ground.

Puki can't allow himself to be toyed with like this by an enemy's daughter!

It writhed its body in struggle but to no avail.

Humiliation covered him as Inanna's hands brushed over, spreading across his entire body.

More frightening, as Inanna massaged him, an irresistibly comforting sensation overwhelmed the mushroom body, weakening his resistance more and more...less and less...

RUA-ing the completely limp Puki, Inanna curiously asked, "Boss, why isn't this Puki speaking?"

"Probably shy."

Puki, oh Puki, you'll surely become a good Puki in the future...

...

After dealing with Puki, Lin Jun then turned his attention elsewhere.

Beside a giant pit formed by Leviathan's Self-Destruction, a seemingly evolving Xiao Hai finally had an action!