By the time Mike came to his senses, he was already leaving the 99th floor. The Chaotic Lightning Tribulation he had just witnessed left a deep impression on him.
“I’m absolutely speechless,” Shadow Three exclaimed. “Lightning truly is the most powerful damage skill.”
Mike rolled his eyes at Shadow Three. “Do you remember what you asked me earlier?”
Shadow Three nodded. “Yes, about giving me a name.”
“Not that,” Mike said seriously. “About your leg.”
Shadow Three was adorned with a string of bone ornaments, all crafted from the bones of demon gods. According to him, he only needed four more pieces to complete a full skeletal set.
“You mentioned wanting a Vortexarchon leg bone. I spent a fortune having one custom-made for you at the Mystic Market.”
Mike pulled out a small leg bone. This tiny bone had cost him a whopping one hundred thousand Lord merits!
Demon god bone powder was considered a strategic resource. On top of that, Mike had to pay extra to have the bone powder reshaped into a bone.
Shadow Three, ever the pragmatist, asked, “What do you want in return?”
He had spent enough time with Thor to understand his personality. Thor loved making deals where he came out on top, preferably twice win.
Only when a win-win situation wasn’t possible would Thor settle for fairness.
He would never agree to a deal that put him at a disadvantage.
Due to the significant power gap between them, Thor could only engage in fair trade with Shadow Three.
“Consider this a down payment.” Mike handed the small leg bone to Shadow Three and asked tentatively, “If you can kill the Progenitor of Ghosts, I’ll pay the rest within seven days!”
Shadow Three didn’t take the bone. Instead, he shook his head. “Fourth Bro, even for the sake of our friendship, I’d be willing to help you out. But… I can’t kill the Progenitor of Ghosts.”
Clearly, this outsourcing plan was a bit beyond Shadow Three’s capabilities.
Mike didn’t pressure him further. “What can you do then?”
Shadow Three remained silent.
Mike thought for a moment and offered his final bargain. “If I grant you an online alias, a last name, and the Vortexarchon leg bone, what can you achieve?”
Thor’s offer was sincere, to say the least.
Shadow Three replied honestly, “Once the Progenitor of Ghosts’ defenses are broken, I can knock him down to level 989.”
Breaking through the defenses, huh?
That meant he still needed to call in more help.
At the foot of the Tower of Truth, Mike began his recruitment drive.
“Professor Gregory, could you please connect me with your father?”
“Thank you!”
“Immortal Cedric, it’s me. Don’t hang up…”
Mike initially wanted to ask Ares for help. However, as a Supreme Being, Ares was likely to refuse. Reaching out to an Ultimate Lord seemed like a safer bet!
However, Cedric flatly rejected his request.
“Then, Immortal Cedric,” Mike asked helplessly, “who can help break through the Progenitor of Ghosts’ defenses?”
“Break through the defenses?” Cedric sounded exasperated. “Have you forgotten about your Thunderclap Hammer? Are you sure you need someone else’s help?”
Huh?
Cedric had a point!
However, prioritizing safety, Mike clung to his principle of seeking help whenever possible. After all, his opponent was a level 999 entity. It never hurt to be cautious.
Next, Mike tried contacting Maxen!
Maxen, however, claimed to have a more important mission to attend to. Moreover, he wasn’t confident in his ability to break through the Progenitor of Ghosts’ defenses.
Despite being rejected twice, Mike refused to give up. He initiated his third recruitment attempt.
“You there? Can you help me fight a level 999 Progenitor of Ghosts?”
Foreskin: “…”
He never imagined that Thor would one day message him for such a matter.
Foreskin asked tentatively, “How about asking Afterskin?”
Absolutely not!
It hadn’t come to that!
After declining Foreskin’s kind offer, Mike realized he had exhausted all his options.
It seemed like he might actually have to handle this himself.
Judging by the responses he had received, this mission was no walk in the park.
While it might not be on the same scale as the previous war between humanity and the Abyss,
all the top experts were occupied and unavailable.
Mike could hardly find any help!
“This operation seems a bit out of the ordinary.”
Putting away his communicator, Mike returned to his dormitory as dawn broke.
…
“Students of Section C, gather under the Magmafist Corps banner!”
A large group had already assembled beneath a fiery red banner.
Cain rushed over, looking like he had just recovered from a serious illness.
“Mike!”
Finding Mike, Cain, his face pale, came to a stop.
“Be careful. Take this.”
Without further explanation, Cain shoved a storage ring into Mike’s hand. It contained the
unused supplies from their previous mission.
Wiping away the sweat, Cain grinned. “I can’t go this time. I’ll join you guys next time.”
He had just returned from his Astral Projection state and was still recovering. Moreover, he hadn’t fully adapted to his new talent.
Currently, Cain was even weaker than before.
Mike waved his hand dismissively. “It’s alright. You focus on getting some rest.”
In a way, Cain’s absence was a good thing.
Once they entered the Abyss, they were no longer on human territory.
Carelessness could easily lead to casualties.
Thorough preparation was essential!
Therefore, in addition to Shadow Three’s close protection, Mike also kept the currently
unoccupied Shadow Two by his side.
Shadow Thirteen, Violet, was also stationed near the Magmafist Corps!
In total, there were six Lords from the Guardian Shadows alone surrounding the Section C
summer camp students!
With a far greater number of Lords compared to other sections, their safety was practically
guaranteed.
the summer camp students assembled, the fighters of the Magmafist Corps were also
making their final preparations.
“No boasting, but I’m invincible at the Chief tier!” Blaze Morrow declared, surrounded by an eager audience listening to his tales of “Blaze and the Forty-Nine Lords.”
“The fifty of us were absolutely unstoppable!”
The Corps Leader walked past, choosing not to interrupt Blaze Morrow’s storytelling. A single glance from him, however, sent everyone scurrying back to their posts.
Blaze Morrow put on his helmet and mask.
“Little Fox and my granddaughter are both in Section C.”
“Once I break through to Lord after this trip to the Ninth Abyss, I’ll tell Little Fox the news.
His expression will be priceless…”
Beneath his mask, Blaze Morrow was practically beaming.
Time ticked by, and soon it was time to depart.
“Report! Magmafist Corps, expected personnel: 9,896. Actual personnel: 9,892. Awaiting
further instructions!”
“Report! Section C Summer Camp, expected personnel: 56. Actual personnel: 56. Awaiting further instructions!”
Two formations stretched out across the open ground, a sea of determined faces. Before them, an Abyssal portal slowly materialized, tendrils of demonic energy seeping out.
A Lord, accompanied by several peak-level Chiefs, stepped into the portal first. After confirming it was safe, they signaled back. freewebnσvel.cm
“Move out!” the Magmafist Corps Leader roared.
“Our target: the Ninth Abyss!”