Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 1239: Chapter 1238: Dark Region (I)

To the Gray Dwarves, this was just another routine trade activity.

He had just completed a large transaction with his servants and was riding high on success, making his way back to his warm, comfortable home in Graystone Castle. But this didn’t mean the Gray Dwarf would let his guard down; the poisoned crossbow was still strapped to his wrist, intricately designed to ensure he could unleash a volley of crossbow arrows with just the twitch of a finger.

His servants were not to be trusted. No one knew if they might try to take his position in secret. The Dark Region was not a place known for good reputation; if they thought they could defy him or had a chance to replace him, those bastards would certainly do so.

The Bear Goblins were the same; though foolish and dumb, if they didn’t understand the current situation, who knew if they would choose to rob their employer.

Not to mention the myriad ominous creatures that might exist in the Dark Region......

Thinking of this, the Gray Dwarf turned his head to glance behind. The deep tunnel was in pitch darkness except for the stretch illuminated by flame, instilling a sense of unease.

The Gray Dwarf reluctantly averted his gaze, refocusing on his goods.

No one noticed that the Grim Reaper was quietly approaching them.

The Bear Goblins walking at the back trudged along, swaying their bear-like heads and occasionally yawning. Their heavy footsteps echoed down the tunnel, and nothing else could be heard.

”Pshh.”

Just as the last two Bear Goblins stepped forward, suddenly a sharp, pitch-black tail darted down from above, piercing through both Bear Goblins’ skulls in the blink of an eye. Before they could react, the Alien tail lashed around their necks, lifting them into the air and dragging them into the overhead cavity, disappearing without a trace.

”......?”

Perhaps sensing something, the two remaining Bear Goblins near the Earth Beast turned their heads to look back. But before they could discern anything, Shileh loomed again from above, striking and taking them away.

In mere seconds, more than half the guards in the entire caravan were gone. Only then did the Gray Dwarf seem to sense something amiss.

He turned his head once more, scalp tingling as he saw that the caravan guards who should have been at the rear were all missing!

”Damn it...... Stop! Stop! Hurry, you fools, look back there and see what’s happening......”

However, before the Gray Dwarf could finish, he saw several shadows suddenly leap down from the top of the cave, pouncing towards him!!

”Uwaa!!”

Faced with the sudden Alien attack, the Gray Dwarf’s servants were terrified, one Mage hastily raising his Magic Wand to cast a Spell Text. Yet before he could complete it, an Alien jumped onto him, pinning him firmly to the ground and biting his head off.

Seeing this, the Gray Dwarf’s scalp prickled, he immediately raised his right hand, aiming at the Aliens, and pulled the trigger.

”Dada dada dada!!”

The poisoned crossbow arrows fired like machine gun bullets, hitting the pitch-black Aliens. Yet to the Gray Dwarf’s surprise, these fine steel crossbow arrows couldn’t even pierce the black Creatures’ exoskeletons!

What kind of creatures are these!

”Roar!!”

Just then, the Bear Goblins tasked with guarding the front rushed over, wielding their weapons at the Aliens ahead. Seeing these Bear Goblins, the Aliens immediately released the corpses in hand to engage in the fight.

In the ensuing chaos, the Gray Dwarf made a very wise decision.

Turned and ran!

That’s right, for the Gray Dwarf knew these goods were lost. Despite the Bear Goblins’ strength, they wouldn’t stand against those damned Creatures. So he urgently snatched a whip, lashing it heavily against the Earth Beast beneath him, urging it onwards.

At the Gray Dwarf’s urging, the caravan’s Earth Beasts suddenly sped up, looking like a fusion of giant crocodiles and lizards. Yet their speed, once at full sprint, was incredible; the Gray Dwarf maneuvering the Earth Beast herd to quickly escape the battlefield, taking advantage of the Bear Goblins and Aliens’ entanglement, rushing into the tunnel depths.

He couldn’t care less about the Bear Goblins or the pitch-black Creatures, whether they won or lost. Of course, the Bear Goblins’ fates had nothing to do with him now, and he wouldn’t have to pay them any reward!

Now he just hoped those creatures wouldn’t pursue.

Driving the Earth Beasts desperately, the Gray Dwarf looked back, relieved to see no sign of those pitch-black creatures. They didn’t seem to follow.

That’s good, though there were some losses, as long as he returned to Graystone Castle......

”—————!!”

However, unexpectedly, the Earth Beast beneath him abruptly stopped, catching the Gray Dwarf off guard. With no safety harness on the galloping Earth Beast, he followed the principles of inertia, flipping off the Earth Beast and crashing to the ground.

”Damn, you foolish bastards, what are you doing!”

Luckily, the Gray Dwarf’s physique was as sturdy as his dwarf kin’s, so this injury only resulted in some scrapes. The Gray Dwarf rolled to his feet, rushing to his Earth Beast, whipping it vigorously.

But to his confusion, these normally obedient Earth Beasts now lay still, unmoving despite his beating and shouting. This made the Gray Dwarf realize something was wrong, and simultaneously he heard footsteps behind him.

”Tap, tap, tap......”

The Gray Dwarf turned, seeing several figures emerging from the dark tunnel.

One man and four women, they seemed to be people from the surface.

[Are they adventurers?]

The Gray Dwarf had encountered humans adventuring in the Dark Region, mostly fools. But these seemed different; they weren’t dressed in the leather armor typical for adventurers. Instead, the man leading them wore a pitch-black suit, and the women behind were in light, odd-looking clothes.

[Did they mistake the Dark Region for a peaceful outing spot?]

”Hello, Mr. Gray Dwarf.”

Seeing the pale Gray Dwarf, Fang Zheng smiled slightly. Hearing Fang Zheng speak, the tense Gray Dwarf seemed to relax a bit.

”Hello, I never expected to see adventurers like you in the Dark Region......”

[Can I ask what you’re doing?]

”I’m resting.”

Facing Fang Zheng’s inquiry, the Gray Dwarf didn’t hesitate, lying readily.

”My servants have gone nearby to gather food and water, they’ll be back soon......”

Saying this, the Gray Dwarf glanced surreptitiously behind, relieved not to see anything amiss.

”Oh, I see.”

Listening to the Gray Dwarf, Fang Zheng’s smile didn’t change a bit.

”Well then, I happen to have a favor to ask.”

”A favor?”

”Indeed.”

Fang Zheng nodded.

”Judging by your appearance, you must be a merchant frequenting the Dark Region. We need to find the Dark Elves here; could we trouble you for guidance?”

”Dark Elves?!”

Startled, the Gray Dwarf shook his head quickly.

”I don’t know; I don’t know about the Dark Elves. I’m just an honest merchant and don’t know the way to a Dark Elf city. But someone does; if you want to find Dark Elves, you can come with me to Graystone Castle, where someone is well acquainted with them......”

”I hope you’ll provide guidance.”

Yet Fang Zheng ignored the Gray Dwarf’s excuses, stating his demand clearly.

”Otherwise, you might face some unpleasant experiences.”

”What do you mean? I really don’t......”

Before the Gray Dwarf could finish, he felt a pat on his shoulder, causing him to pause and turn his head.

Then, the Gray Dwarf saw a pitch-black creature quietly crouched behind him, opening its maw.

”—————!”

Viewing the opening, closing, sucking maw from that gaping mouth, a warm sensation spread in the Gray Dwarf’s loins.

Then, he knew nothing.