"Burn, burn, burn..." Li Mengnan spun her sword in her hand, gazing into the distant end of the corridor, murmuring softly.

The Water Charm Illusion Spirit was ablaze with raging Silver Fire, howling madly as it scrambled to escape, finally consumed entirely by the flames.

Because the distance between them was too far, the Water Charm Illusion Spirit didn't even locate its enemy—it just clawed desperately at the walls as it fled, leaving behind deep scratch marks.

Is it that Water Charm Illusion Spirit was too weak, or is my Second Bro just too strong?

Hmm... obviously the latter!

Li Mengnan thought to herself smugly, then turned to Du Yu, "Your Demon Soldier Bow—was that a reward from the Newbie Camp assessment?"

"Yeah, Demon Soldier Silver Fire." Du Yu stood up, sneaking a glance behind him.

"Nice!" Li Mengnan whispered in praise, "It's literally the nemesis of Water Charm Illusion Spirits."

Li Mengnan and Du Yu had been working together in the Demon Spirit Realm for half a month now, and she thought she knew Demon Soldier Silver Fire's abilities well—its ignition effect was insane.

She never expected, though, that the Silver Fire Bow would be so ridiculously effective in Bottomless!

Maybe it's because of the Water Charm Illusion Spirit's special physical makeup—it's so fragile that one hit is enough, and once ignited, the mist-formed body burns up even faster.

"That ponytail girl seems to be following us." Du Yu whispered.

"Huh? She's still tailing us?" Li Mengnan frowned, feeling annoyed. "I already let her off—does she just want to ask for trouble?"

Du Yu put an arm around Li Mengnan's shoulder, gently nudging her forward, hinting she should lead the way: "Maybe she just wants to hitch a ride. We've all got cameras on us; she wouldn't dare pull anything vindictive."

"Hmph." Li Mengnan harrumphed, striding forward with Wind Witch at her side.

Actually, Du Yu had a point—if it weren't for the cameras, Li Mengnan would've already taught that ungrateful brat a lesson.

After all, everyone competing is part of the Human Army—if you start killing each other with everyone watching, forget about ever getting ranked.

"Up ahead should be the entrance to the 2nd Floor," Du Yu spoke, "On the left side—can you see it?"

Li Mengnan wasn't stupid; by now, she could tell Du Yu knew the maze map, but since there were cameras, she never asked him about it directly.

"Yup! Stairs. Stone Gate!" Li Mengnan stopped in her tracks, nodding repeatedly.

Du Yu let out a breath of relief and quickly caught up, "The Demon Beasts on the second floor should be stronger than those on the first. Should I bring out Ghost Firefly?"

"Just hang in there, there's still a 3rd Floor waiting for us!" Li Mengnan strode down the stairs, one hand pressed against the Stone Gate. "Let me and Wind Witch try it out first."

"Uh..." Du Yu was still a bit hesitant, but Li Mengnan was already pressing her fingers to the side of the Stone Gate, clicking in a tiny square block.

The button was pretty well hidden, but before going in, the soldiers had already briefed them about it.

"Ka-chak!" A sound echoed out as the heavy Stone Gate slid open to both sides.

Li Mengnan's eyes narrowed, headlamp swinging through the gap—and directly lighting up a ghastly pale woman's face!

"Ahh!" Li Mengnan jumped out of her skin, shouting for Teacher Li Hong and stabbing her sword right through the door gap.

With a crisp "ding," her sword didn't even pierce the Demon Breath Battle Robe the female Demon Soldier wore.

This one's gotta be an Earth-level Demon Beast!

"Ah!" A sharp, bloodcurdling scream from the female Demon Soldier, who'd just been stabbed in the forehead; she furiously shoved Li Mengnan's sword back, a pale hand snaking through the gap, clawing wildly outside.

Li Mengnan quickly stepped back: "Zephyr Blade!"

The Little Wizard, wearing its hood, looked like just a doll but bravely stood in front of its master.

Unyielding Silver·Zephyr Blade!

A fairly sizable Wind Blade shot vertically forward, instantly slipping through the gap.

Standing so close, Li Mengnan heard the battle robe quiver, but it wasn't the sound of it shattering!

Isn't this Demon Beast maybe a bit too freaking tough?

Thoughts spun rapidly in Li Mengnan's mind; she hurriedly raised her sword and stabbed that hidden square button with the tip.

The Stone Gate, gliding open, suddenly stopped—and began closing again. Yet the pale hand was still grabbing frantically outside, shrieking the whole time...

"Ka-chak, ka-chak, ka-chak!" The Stone Gate slammed shut, and the Demon Breath Battle Robe on the woman's arm shattered explosively!

The thick Stone Gate had crushed her upper arm to pieces—left outside was a twitching forearm and hand.

"Pfft~"

The pale hand turned to mist and slowly faded away.

Li Mengnan, still shaken, turned to look at Du Yu.

Du Yu, a bit dumbfounded himself, thought for a moment, then analyzed, "The gatekeeper Demon Beast is probably specially selected—makes sense it's much stronger.

That first Water Charm Illusion Spirit that came for us when we entered was probably just Peak of Mortal Level. The others we met in the interior weren't as strong."

Li Mengnan's expression was a little grim: "So you think this gatekeeper is Peak Earth Level?"

Suddenly, an idea flashed across Du Yu's mind: "Want to open the door again? But this time, let's not trap its arm—go straight for its head."

"Huh?"

Li Mengnan blinked, then her beautiful eyes lit up: "That's my Second Bro! Diabolical, I love it!"

Du Yu pressed his lips in a smile: "As long as you like it."

"I really, really do!" Li Mengnan nodded enthusiastically, full of approval. "Crushing a Peak Earth Level Demon Beast with a door! That is so our squad's style!"

Du Yu: "..."

Li Mengnan was full of spirit: "Wind Witch, block the door! Little Wind Blow, ready up—don't let the enemy slip out for real."

Du Yu summoned Little You Ying, grabbing it right away, expression serious: "Ghost Firefly, we're fighting now, so no mischief! I'll get you a treat when we're done."

Unlike before when she was summoned, Little You Ying's big eyes darted nervously around, clearly a bit intimidated by this place.

"Second Bro?"

"Come on!" Du Yu strode down the steps, torch in one hand, aiming at the gap.

Wind Witch zipped over and perched right on top of the torch.

"Ka-chak!" As the Stone Gate slid open, that chilling shriek returned—a pale hand snaked out, clawing wildly again.

Li Mengnan twisted her body for a better look, peering at the widening gap and the Water Charm Illusion Spirit desperately trying to burst through from behind the door.

Its shoulder almost squeezed through—Li Mengnan immediately poked the button with her sword.

"Ah! Ahhh!" The Water Charm Illusion Spirit howled crazily, razor claws scraping misty streaks into the floor; it still hadn't realized how bad things were now that its whole shoulder was wedged in...

"Ka-chak! Ka-chak! Ka-chak!"

Crisp sounds filled the air as the heavy Stone Gate slammed shut; amidst the Water Charm Illusion Spirit's screams, half its body was crushed to smithereens.

Li Mengnan poked the button, then gripped her sword and stepped between Du Yu and the two Demon Pets.

This time, as the Stone Gate creaked open, the Demon Sword Array on her sword hilt was already glowing!

"Hya~!" Li Mengnan shouted, not even looking—she just jabbed her sword right into that newly opened gap, slashing up and down like crazy.

Except...there was no response at all this time.

As the Stone Gate swung fully open, no one was there—just a Demon Crystal shrouded in gray mist dropped on the floor.

"Ha!" Li Mengnan gave a tiny excited snort—after all, the enemy was a Peak Earth Level Demon Beast, and she had basically just tapped a button a couple times to make the world peaceful again...

No wonder the official underground palace build is so reliable, huh?

Li Mengnan took a step forward, picked up the Demon Crystal from the floor, and announced triumphantly, "Let's go!"

"To the right." Du Yu handed the Ghost Firefly Torch to Li Mengnan, carefully examining the path ahead.

Li Mengnan didn't even blink—she held up the torch and quickly headed to the right, followed closely by Du Yu, whose vision was now tinged with a faint red hue.

But the more he looked, the more Du Yu frowned.

Why aren't there any Demon Beasts?

This corridor's so long, but there's not a single Water Charm Illusion Spirit in sight—doesn't make sense, right?

"It's so quiet here," Li Mengnan whispered, unconsciously slowing a bit. "It's weird not hearing sobbing anymore—I'm not used to it..."

"Mm..."

In the chilly air, the Ghost Firefly Torch glowed with eerie green fire, making things extra creepy.

Li Mengnan felt more uneasy with every step, but after turning three corners and still seeing no monsters, both of them were completely baffled.

Is this an ambush? Some kind of scheme?

I mean, come on, this is Bottomless's second floor. How could there only be a single gatekeeper Demon Beast?

"We're here, Du Yu!" Li Mengnan raised the torch, illuminating the heavy Stone Gate at the foot of the stairs, sounding almost disbelieving. "So...we're just gonna go up to the 3rd Floor?"

"Be careful. This was way too easy—things are way off," Du Yu summoned Xiaoyan, who hopped onto his shoulder.

"Ying~" Xiaoyan's long tail instantly curled around Du Yu's neck, eyes scanning warily all around.

"Get ready, Xiaoyan—we're up against an enemy way tougher than what we've seen so far!" Du Yu said seriously.

"Ying!" Xiaoyan crouched on Du Yu's shoulder; through the contract she could feel her master's intense seriousness—those golden-brown fox eyes sparkled with determination.

Li Mengnan gestured for the Ghost Firefly Torch and Wind Witch to block the door gap, then stepped to the button, taking a long breath, "Everyone, get ready!"

Du Yu drew his bow and nocked an arrow; in front of Xiaoyan, a Fireball began to coalesce instantly.

Wind Witch's cloak billowed, and sparks flew furiously from Little You Ying's torch, crackling and popping.

"Ka-chak!" Li Mengnan pressed the button, activating the Demon Soldier Sword Array—the sword lit up with brilliance, just in case.

The Stone Gate slowly slid open, and in Du Yu's headlamp beam appeared a massive shadow.

No attack?

No rushing out wildly and clawing around?

Du Yu gritted his teeth—better mark the enemy first! His fingers let go of the taut bowstring without hesitation.

"Whoosh~" A Silver Arrow zipped through the gap, aiming straight for the shadow's face!

In the next instant, Du Yu's eyes widened as the figure inside calmly reached out and caught the arrow aimed right at their forehead.

Even scarier—the attacker's hand showed no sign of burning from Silver Arrow's fire?

"Ka-chak!" The Silver Arrow was snapped in two.

Du Yu's pupils contracted. Even in the dim light, the silver arrow's glow let him clearly see their face.

Wait...it's Old Demon Gong!?

Du Yu blurted, "Instructor Gong?"

Li Mengnan blurted, "Maybe it's a Water Charm Illusion Spirit! Don't let it fool you, dummy Du Yu!"

Then from behind the door came a deep voice: "Squad Leader Du—alive in there?"

"Huh?" Li Mengnan paused, remembering—wasn't that exactly the exchange when Gong Cheng called roll at the assembly earlier, chatting with Du Yu?

Did Old Demon Gong anticipate this exact moment all along?

The more Li Mengnan thought about it, the weirder it felt; she quickly stabbed the button with her sword again.

The Stone Gate stopped, then slowly closed once more.

Gong Cheng: ???

Du Yu turned to look at Li Mengnan, "Why'd you shut the door?"

Li Mengnan was a little lost too, whispering, "Is the so-called Third-level Commander actually Instructor Gong? How are we supposed to fight that...maybe we should just go farm points on the first floor!"

Du Yu: "..."

"Ka-chak!" The Stone Gate slowly slid open again, clearly this time from the inside—Gong Cheng opening it himself.

Li Mengnan blinked, raised her sword, and poked the button with the tip again.

"Ka-chak!" The Stone Gate stopped and once again began closing.

Gong Cheng: "..."

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