As planned, the Magmafist Corps successfully entered the Ninth Abyss. Simultaneously, the corps previously stationed there withdrew.
This Abyssal expedition wasn’t a small-scale operation but a 7 to 15-day training exercise!
The training program differed depending on the faction chosen by each student. However, the first day’s content was the same for everyone: adapting to the Abyssal environment under the guidance of training instructors.
For most, this was their first time in a major Abyss, and there were many things they needed to get used to. Throwing them directly into battle wouldn’t be training; it would be delivering takeout to the Abyssal demon creatures.
Mike was no stranger to the Ninth Abyss.
After escaping from the Suture Abyss during the mission to rescue Professor Gregory, Mike and his companions had ended up in the Ninth Abyss.
At that time, they had narrowly avoided a major confrontation with the Ninth Demon God. Fortunately, Ares had arrived just in time, halting the Ninth Demon God with a single sword strike.
It was one of the few times Mike had faced a Demon God directly.
“Summer camp students, follow my lead! We’ll rest at the designated camp first!”
The first lesson upon arriving in the Abyss: sleep!
This served two purposes. Firstly, it helped them adjust to the time difference and allowed their bodies to acclimate to the various conditions of the Ninth Abyss during sleep. Secondly, it conserved their energy for the battles to come.
Once the fighting began, they might go days without rest, making sleep a luxury.
Mike was assigned a single-person tent.
As he entered, Shadow Three emerged from the shadows and said in a low voice, “Fourth Bro, Shadow Eight wants to see you.”
Shadow Eight?
Mike recalled him as a taciturn, middle-aged man.
“Let him in.”
With permission granted, a shadow seeped in from under the tent flap.
Shadow Eight materialized, standing at attention near the edge.
“Fourth Bro, Shadow Nine left a letter before he departed, saying to open it when you arrived at the Ninth Abyss.”
A letter?
Shadow Eight handed Mike a red-sealed envelope and waited.
Mike broke the seal and unfolded the letter, reading aloud, “By the time you see this letter, I’m guessing I’m already in the Supreme Abyssal…”
What useless talk! Mike was tempted to rip the letter to shreds right there.
“…Don’t be too quick to tear it up. There’s a secret I haven’t told you yet. There’s a high-level mole in the Ninth Abyss. Only the Supreme Beings and I know their true identity…”
A mole?
Mike hadn’t expected this twist in the Ninth Abyss!
The human race’s intelligence work had always been handled by the Guardian Shadows. Shadow Nine was also the main person responsible for infiltration and counter-infiltration. Their counter-infiltration efforts were quite successful. However, infiltrating the demon race was another story altogether.
And now, Shadow Nine was telling him that there was a high-level mole in the Ninth Abyss! How was that even possible?
At the end of the letter, Shadow Nine wrote, “The secret phrase to contact the mole is: Heh heh heh, Heh heh, Heh heh heh heh.”
Mike stared at the string of “hehs,” utterly bewildered.
Shadow Nine had even meticulously noted the length of each “heh.”
Now that he knew the contact code, a new question arose:
What was the point of finding the mole?
Generally, when a high-level mole was successfully planted within the enemy ranks, their
role was of utmost importance. Otherwise, all the previous efforts would be in vain.
Mike reread the letter several times, making sure he hadn’t missed anything.
“Why don’t you tell me what to do after I find the mole?” he muttered to himself.
Of course, Mike wasn’t entirely clueless.
He noticed that the ink on the last punctuation mark was still fresh…
Mike turned to Shadow Eight, his tone suspicious. “This letter… you just wrote it, did you?”
Shadow Eight offered a prepared response. “The humidity has been high lately. It’s probably just dew…”
Mike: “…”
Did they think he was a child?
“Alright, I get it. You’re dismissed.”
Mike put away the letter and looked out of the tent.
Had Shadow Nine and Calderon managed to get online again in the Supreme Abyssal?
…
At the foot of the Tower of Truth, Shadow Four held a tablet, engaged in a cross-Abyssal chat. “Master Nine, here’s a summary of the current situation within the Guardian Shadows…”
After delivering his work report, Shadow Four cleared his throat. “Master Nine, please wake up. Don’t fall asleep.”
“Oh, are you done?” Shadow Nine yawned, his response halfhearted. “You’re doing well. Our Guardian Shadows are growing stronger by the day!”
“What a load of garbage the Guardian Shadows are. It’s only because I’m not there. Otherwise, I’d beat the crap out of those top three Shadows,” a sneering voice interjected. Calderon had
activated his passive skill, [Trash Talk].
“This online session has been quite long.”
Ignoring Calderon’s provocation, Shadow Nine glanced outside, making sure there was no
immediate danger.
“Tell me, how has Mike been doing lately? Has he been up to any mischief?”
This topic piqued not only Shadow Nine’s interest but Calderon’s as well.
Shadow Four faithfully reported on Mike’s recent activities.
“Pecker actually beat Birch?”
Shadow Nine let out a disbelieving laugh. “Heh heh heh, weren’t you just bragging to me?
How could your apprentice lose to Pecker?”
“Shadow Four, give Birch a message,” Calderon said coldly. “If he doesn’t reach level 994
before I leave the Supreme Abyssal, I’ll break his cock!”
Shadow Four gulped, his expression a mixture of amusement and apprehension. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Only Calderon would dare threaten an Ultimate Lord like that.
“Speaking of which…” Shadow Four quickly changed the subject. “Master Nine, assigning
Shadow Three to protect Thor was a brilliant move.”
“Beep, beep, beep-”
“Master Nine? Master Nine, are you there?”
Shadow Four called out several times, but there was no response.
The tablet screen went dark, indicating a lost connection.
Shadow Four breathed a sigh of relief.
Knowing that those two were safe in the Supreme Abyssal was enough.
With their strength, once they adapted to the Supreme Abyssal, they wouldn’t die, no matter
the danger.
Shadow Four had that much faith in Shadow Nine.
…
Meanwhile, in the Supreme Abyssal…
“Hello? Hello?!” Shadow Nine stared at the blank tablet screen, his face a mask of disbelief.
“Why did we suddenly disconnect?!”
“Reconnect, dammit!” Shadow Nine swore, his composure unusually shaken.
“Look at you, all worked up.” Calderon chuckled from the sidelines. “It’s just a dropped connection. We can chat again later. It’s not like anyone’s going to die.”
“Are you stupid?” Shadow Nine suppressed his anger, his voice a low growl. “Do you even know who Shadow Three really is?”
“Yeah, some trash from the demon race.” Calderon was confused. “What’s the big deal?”
Shadow Three had been loyal for many years. And judging by the current state of affairs between the human race and the demon race, he was likely to remain that way.
“The problem is…” Shadow Nine began, a hint of bitterness in his voice, “I never assigned
Shadow Three to protect Thor.”
Calderon: ???
“Holy shit! What are you waiting for, you idiot?! Get us back online!”