Chapter 285 - 50: Spark

After tagging Cuihua, Duan Fei also copied the effects of the Dark Chef Profession, which happened to form a beneficial combination with the effects of his Darts Guest Profession.

The Darts Guest Profession’s effect was an increase in accuracy, which, when amplified by his Talent, became a 100% guaranteed hit rate.

Meanwhile, Cuihua’s Dark Chef Profession effect was: "When food is used as a weapon, its effectiveness is enhanced, and it will carry poison." The two combined should create an interesting effect.

This time, with the three players cooperating, their progress was much faster, and it wasn’t long before they saw the first room.

Upon seeing the door, Duan Fei immediately said, "Alright, just as we discussed. Retreat as soon as you see the boss, and I’ll handle the ranged attacks. It doesn’t matter if our companions all die. As long as one of us can make it to the second floor, we’ll get more Reincarnation Points and gain more advantages."

After confirming the other two understood, Cuihua took the lead, touching the large door before quickly backing away.

A few minutes later, the door burst open from the inside. A massive, swift snake shot out and lunged toward Cuihua, who was closest to it.

Using a stick she’d picked up as a staff, Cuihua quickly parried the snake’s attack, then shouted, "You son of a..."

Unfortunately, before she could get the last word out, Cuihua was swallowed in one gulp, rolling down into the massive snake’s belly like a sweet dumpling.

From inside the beast’s stomach, Cuihua muffledly finished her shout, "...bitch!"

Watching Cuihua’s demise with a deadpan expression, Duan Fei was suddenly struck by an idea and looked over at the Darts Guest.

A chill ran down the Darts Guest’s spine under Duan Fei’s gaze. He couldn’t help but ask, "Duan Someone, what are you trying to do?"

"Off you go!"

With a mighty shove, Duan Fei rammed the Darts Guest. The entire ball of a player flew over the massive snake’s head, soared toward the back of the room, and crashed into the exit leading to the next floor.

Meanwhile, Duan Fei took out the black mashed potatoes, aimed for the large snake’s belly, and threw the entire batch.

The massive snake began to turn black, and the word "Poisoned" appeared over it.

"-133" continuously appeared above its head. This meant its total health was 13,300; who knows how long it would have taken to defeat it through normal combat.

This also served as a testament to the terrifying power of Eight Desolates, the player ranked second.

After a quick calculation, Duan Fei figured the snake was taking damage every 5 seconds. It would take 500 seconds for the poison to finish it off.

Realizing there was enough time, Duan Fei decisively threw himself into the snake’s gaping maw, having a victorious reunion with Cuihua in its stomach before they were both completely digested.

After respawning, the two Slimes rushed back, arriving in front of the wooden cabin just before the Dungeon reset. They got there just in time to see the enormous python crash heavily to the ground, its black body rotting and oozing pus, emitting an unholy stench.

Witnessing this, the Darts Guest, who had been used as a backup plan, couldn’t help but exclaim, "Duan Someone, you’re actually that incredible?"

"No big deal. Save the compliments for later."

Cuihua proudly puffed out her chest, pointed at Duan Fei, and said, "My... bro, you’re amazing."

"Cuihua, I love that simple, earnest spirit of yours!"

With the massive snake defeated, all three players present received fifty Reincarnation Points. They were confident that the next run would be even easier.

The massive snake’s corpse was already corrupted; even its internal organs had turned to mush.

Knowing there was nothing left to gain from the snake, the three Slimes decisively abandoned the corpse and began to loot the wooden cabin.

The cabin looked like an artificial structure. On the wooden floor lay an exquisitely crafted Persian rug, its intricate patterns giving off a distinct "you can’t afford me" vibe.

There wasn’t much to loot in the room, just a skeleton slumped over a writing desk. Before it lay a letter, evidently written in a great hurry.

The letter was written in an unknown language, but the Abyss system had a built-in translation feature, so all three players could read it.

Huddled together, the three Slimes began to read intently.

"To the esteemed Duke Shrek:

As per your instructions, I have established a forward outpost on the first floor of the Dungeon and have begun observing the local ecosystem.

Frankly, as a scholar, I have never seen or heard of an ecosystem like this. The circumstances here are beyond anything I could have imagined.

The creatures in this Dungeon seem to be infinite. Every time the Dungeon restructures, the creatures inside respawn. We have tested this; no matter how many we kill or how much of their flesh we consume, they always reappear, and their numbers remain roughly consistent.

Furthermore, the predator-prey dynamics of a food chain seem nonexistent here. I have seen, on more than one occasion, fierce tigers coexisting peacefully with reindeer, and foxes walking alongside rabbits.

They seem to feel no hunger, nor do they excrete waste. I captured a rabbit and kept it in isolation for seven days without food or water, yet it showed no signs of distress at all.

And yet, if I offer it food and water, it will consume them, but it absolutely will not produce waste.

It’s very strange, is it not?

Moreover, I weighed it, and its weight did not fluctuate at all during those seven days. Upon killing and dissecting it, I found no food remnants in its stomach, nor any feces in its intestines.

This is all truly bizarre.

More importantly, there is the matter of their hostility toward outsiders like us.

The creatures of the Dungeon do not attack one another, but they are openly hostile to us. Their one and only goal seems to be our death.

Even when injured or maimed, they will tirelessly throw themselves at us. The basic biological instinct for self-preservation seems completely absent.

It is all too strange.

Some say this is because these creatures were all created by the Demon King to be his playthings, but I do not believe that is the case.

These creatures must have some other purpose. There must be a more profound reason for their creation, but I am no longer in a position to continue my research.

After all, I am lost.

The Dungeon is ever-changing. Carrying a Piercing Rope is the only way to leave this place, but ours has gone missing.

I distinctly remember placing the Piercing Rope in my pocket, but it is simply gone. The other Adventurers’ Piercing Ropes have disappeared as well. We are doomed.

Finally, if someone finds this, please deliver this letter to Duke Shrek. He will certainly reward you handsomely.

Thank you, unknown Adventurer.

Lastly, remember to guard your Piercing Rope well. I do not wish for anyone else to suffer a tragedy like ours.

Farewell.

-The final words of Sir Stark"

After finishing the letter and glancing once more at the bleached white skeleton, the three Slimes let out a soft sigh and continued onward.

Even though they knew this was just a plot device in a game, they were still somewhat moved.

A long time ago, a scholar, accompanied by soldiers, had come here to study the ecosystem and compile his findings.

But unfortunately, he lost a crucial item and ended up dying here.

Fortunately, however, his final words had been found by Duan Fei’s party. They served as a tiny spark, guiding them to press onward.