BXBX NOVEL Chapter 157: The Deepest Part of Shadow City
"If you intend to completely resolve the instance of Shadow City, you will undoubtedly need to venture into its underground section. Does our exploration of the above-ground part not count as a contribution?"
"Without our exploration, would you have been able to reach here so easily?"
In response to Howard's retort, Jeremy's expression remained remarkably calm.
"I hope you understand that if it weren't for me, you would have perished here long ago. You haven't even figured out what the most dangerous aspect of the Shadow City instance truly is."
Jeremy's words left those around him feeling slightly puzzled.
Upon entering the Shadow City instance, they had encountered an abundance of monsters.
They were well aware that some of these monsters were mere illusions. Therefore, they had specifically brought items capable of counteracting illusions, but after reaching the center of the above-ground section of Shadow City, those items became ineffective.
They could no longer distinguish between illusions and real monsters.
Under such circumstances, it was perfectly understandable that they encountered danger.
"Isn't the most dangerous aspect of the Shadow City instance the illusions? Although we carried items to counteract illusions, they lost their effectiveness as we ventured deeper into the instance." Howard asked, his tone tinged with a hint of doubt.
Upon hearing this, Jeremy couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"As I said, you truly haven't grasped the essence of the Shadow City instance. On the surface, it appears that the most perilous aspect is indeed the illusions." Jeremy explained, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Moreover, when you first enter the Shadow City instance, you encounter a series of monsters within these illusions. But didn't you notice that these illusory monsters could actually cause you harm? Can monsters that inflict real damage still be considered mere illusions?"
Jeremy's questions sent waves of realization crashing through the minds of Howard, Ella, and the others.
Only now did they understand why they had found themselves in such dire straits shortly after entering the Shadow City instance.
From the very beginning, they had completely misunderstood the true danger lurking within the Shadow City instance.
It seemed that the illusions in the Shadow City instance were merely superficial phenomena, likely sustained by some immensely powerful monster.
Ella finally pieced it together and directly asked Jeremy.
"So, you must have already identified the most dangerous entity within the Shadow City instance, right? What you need to do next is to eliminate this formidable threat and then claim the rewards of the Shadow City instance, correct?"
What Ella said was undoubtedly accurate, yet Jeremy had no intention of entertaining her inquiry.
Howard, too, refrained from further questioning. He realized that if Jeremy's assertions were true, they indeed had no claim to any rewards from this instance.
"Our understanding of the instance is clearly inferior to yours. Therefore, the rewards of this instance should rightfully go to you. What we need from you now is simply to ensure our safe passage out of here." Howard conceded, his tone resigned but respectful.
"We'll handle the rest on our own. While our strength may not match yours, we're still capable of managing less severe predicaments."
In the end, Jeremy and the others reached a consensus.
Jeremy escorted Howard, Ella, and the others to a safe location. Howard and Ella's next task was to ensure that everyone they brought into the instance would be safely led out.
Jeremy, on the other hand, bid them farewell and ventured towards the deepest part of the Shadow City instance.
Jeremy knew that on the surface level of Shadow City, he wouldn't encounter any crises he couldn't resolve. However, he was certain that in the underground section of Shadow City, he would face some formidable challenges.
But no matter what difficulties lay ahead, Jeremy was confident in his ability to overcome them.
After all, the level of the Shadow City instance wasn't particularly high.
The monsters Jeremy had encountered so far were at least ten levels lower than him.
With such a significant level disparity, Jeremy didn't need any elaborate combat techniques, he could simply bulldoze his way through. The downside, however, was that the experience points he earned from defeating these monsters were minimal.
While Jeremy pressed onward to the deepest parts of Shadow City, Howard, Ella, and the others finally succeeded in escaping from the instance.
Despite Jeremy's assistance and the fact that they managed to rescue most of their companions.
Some of their comrades still perished in the Shadow City instance.
Howard and Ella felt a twinge of guilt for those who had sacrificed their lives.
"I should have accepted Jeremy's proposal from the very beginning. If I had agreed to give him half of the rewards at the start, he would have definitely acted alongside us."
"In that case, those brothers of mine who sacrificed their lives wouldn't have perished. They would be here to celebrate our survival from the instance, just like us."
Howard's words left Ella feeling deeply moved.
Ella's Black Dragon Squad also lost a member during this mission. Although Howard's losses were greater, the Black Dragon Squad had fewer members to begin with.
Losing a squad member was profoundly heartbreaking for Ella as well.
"What's done is done. Regretting it now won't change anything. What we need to do next is to cooperate well with Jeremy."
"After offering him half of the rewards, he will surely collaborate with us to the fullest. Once we clear the instances surrounding Moonlight City, we'll have the capacity to handle other matters."
Ella's ambitions were, in fact, quite grand.
The reason she became Kean's fiancée was to leverage the power of the Lannisters to further enhance her own strength. She had never anticipated that Kean would become an adversary of Jeremy.
Moreover, it was astonishing that Jeremy possessed such formidable strength.
Ella was now contemplating whether she should break off her engagement with Kean. After all, Kean's previous behavior had already demonstrated that he was not a person of noble character.
Additionally, Kean's enmity with Jeremy had placed Ella's Black Dragon Squad in a more precarious position.
If Ella could reconcile with Jeremy, the speed at which she and her Black Dragon Squad could enhance their abilities would undoubtedly accelerate. This was because Jeremy would certainly provide assistance during their missions.
At this moment, Howard nodded in agreement.
"You're absolutely right, what's past is past, and there's no use dwelling on it. Let's get these injured people to the hospital as quickly as possible. I will stay here today."
"Although Jeremy is unlikely to encounter any danger, as allies and in gratitude for Jeremy saving us, it is only appropriate for me to wait here until he finishes the entire instance."
After saying this, Howard promptly sat down at the entrance of the Shadow City instance.
Ella hesitated slightly.
She knew well that waiting here with Howard for Jeremy's return could potentially improve Jeremy's impression of her.
However, she also felt the need to tend to the injured members of the Black Dragon Squad.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Ella finally spoke to Howard.
"I'll take responsibility for getting all the injured to the hospital, and you stay here to wait for him. After all, seeing me after coming out of the instance might just sour his mood further."
After saying this, Ella immediately chose to leave.
Howard let out a sigh, fully understanding why Ella had said that.
Yet, there was nothing Howard could do about it, as the conflict between Kean and Jeremy seemed irreconcilable.
Both Benjamin and the federal envoy had already made efforts, but Jeremy had consistently refused to reconcile with Kean.
On Kean's part, he was equally unwilling to make peace with Jeremy.
Kean had even accepted punishment from the Lannisters rather than apologize to Jeremy.
Howard wanted to say something to Ella, but in the end, he remained silent. He could only watch as Ella departed.
Meanwhile, Jeremy was already not far from the deepest part of Shadow City.
At this position, he could sense an extraordinarily powerful presence deep within Shadow City. Moreover, this formidable entity was filled with hostility towards him.
"No matter what kind of monster you are, you will ultimately be defeated! For my strength is far greater than you can possibly imagine!"
Jeremy was exceedingly confident at this moment.
He had been inside the Shadow City instance for nearly an hour. During this time, he hadn't encountered any exceptionally powerful monsters.
This indicated that the overall difficulty of the instance wasn't particularly high.
Given that the instance itself was of a lower level, even with enhancements by the apocalypse game developers, the final instance boss wasn't likely to be overwhelmingly strong.
Although Jeremy's reasoning was entirely logical, his assessment turned out to be incorrect.
What existed in the deepest part of the Shadow City instance was not the instance boss. Instead, it was another monster far more powerful than the Shadow City instance boss.
The enemy Jeremy faced this time was not one that could be defeated easily.
Whether Jeremy could safely exit the Shadow City instance was now an uncertain matter.