Rogue Villain-Chapter 338: Hopes Up

After a while of walking with nothing happening, Ackster could confirm and notice two things. The stone was gradually turning greener, and the tunnel started sloping downward. Ackster saw that Mara and Karandiel also noticed, so he didn’t bother mentioning it.

However, when he heard faint sounds travel and echo up through the tunnel, Ackster stopped and held up a hand, signaling the others to stop and be quiet.

*I heard something. I can’t tell what.*

Mara and Karandiel nodded.

Ackster couldn’t sense anything dangerous. But that didn’t mean they didn’t have to be cautious. So, they moved forward while making as little noise as possible. It didn’t take long before Mara and Karandiel also heard what Ackster had talked about. Unfortunately, the long and narrow tunnel distorted the sound too much for them to hear what it was.

Still, none of them could sense anything dangerous.

They continued until moss appeared on the walls, ceiling, and floor. It was slightly humid, and the moss was green and slimy. The sound also became clearer. It sounded like howling wind mixed in with a few other sounds of nature.

Ackster furrowed his brow in skepticism. The other two were also suspicious.

They eventually caught a light at the end of the tunnel. Mara and Karandiel squinted until they could adapt to it. Ackster didn’t have the same need, and he sharpened his gaze as he stared at the end of the path, trying to see what lay beyond the square of light. However, the contrast was too great, and only when they stepped up to the ledge did they see everything spread out below them.

Ackster held out his arms to stop Mara and Karandiel from continuing to walk in a daze as they looked.

"’Woah...’"

The three of them all let out sounds of admiration and awe as they looked at what they could only describe as a primal, natural paradise. Lush trees, colorful flowers, roaring beasts, flapping birds, and rustling leaves filled the place Ackster and the others had encountered. There was even a bright yellow source of light high in the ceiling.

"This place..."

Ackster scanned the jungle. They were still underground, and the tunnel had led them deeper downward, and he hadn’t sensed any spatial magic, which he was quite sensitive to.

It didn’t make sense.

"Have either of you heard of the Alchemaze having something like this?"

Ackster didn’t even look at Mara or Karandiel since he was busy looking for the edge of what seemed like another world underground. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Both of them silently shook their heads in response.

They had discovered an entirely new part of the Alchemaze. Of course, there might be some explorer out there who had already discovered this secluded world, and they just hadn’t heard about it. But it didn’t matter, and it was unlikely.

"I guess our only option is to explore it."

Ackster didn’t think there would be much of value to them since ordinary beasts didn’t pose a threat to them anymore. They would need something at or above Tetraxia’s level before they needed to exert themselves.

But then again, this was the Alchemaze. There was no way of knowing what awaited them.

Ackster took a step forward. There was a small ledge outside the tunnel for them to stand on before dropping down to the ground.

However, as soon as he left the tunnel and entered the breezy air, Ackster felt dozens of hostile gazes pinpoint his location. Ackster hadn’t gone to any extreme lengths to conceal his presence. But his existence wasn’t something ordinary beasts or beings, in general, could pick up.

The gazes weren’t quite hostile, as if he were a mere intruder. The gazes were hungry. The beasts or beings that locked onto Ackster weren’t wary of him. They looked at him as prey.

Ackster grinned. Entering the Alchemaze was the right choice.

Mara and Karandiel also felt watched when they stepped onto the ledge, but they were more of an afterthought compared to the radiant bundle of energy and food that was Ackster. They couldn’t help but feel intrigued. The inhabitants of the jungle looked at Ackster as a target. Based on what Mara and Karandiel could feel from the gazes and senses sweeping over them, it wasn’t without reason, either.

*Stay on your toes.*

Ackster dropped in.

He had trouble containing his excitement. It had been a while since he fought with his life on the line. It wasn’t that long, considering he died not long ago. But the demon had gotten Ackster’s hopes up before keeling over and completely losing out to his sword.

In Ackster’s mind, something as famously dangerous as a demon shouldn’t lose to even a Demon Sword. He should be able to go all out without needing to seal one of his cards just because he wanted a fight. Sealing or limiting his strength helped him grow when he was weaker. But now, Ackster needed to push his limits—all of them—in a battle of life and death.

Ackster needed to use every single card in his arsenal and still need to fight with his life on the line. That was the only way he could grow stronger as quickly as possible. Besides, now that he had his Ex-rank Stubborn Well-Being and Conditional Immortality, Ackster didn’t have to worry about anything. He could throw himself into the fight almost with the intention of fighting until he died.

The gazes of the beings that were locked up in this underground world gave Ackster the hope that he would be able to do just that. Not even Mbelg, after he used his name, had looked at Ackster like prey.

But it was the Alchemaze, after all. It was biological life that had most likely survived since the labyrinth’s creation. It couldn’t be ordinary.

Still, Ackster would be pissed if he got his hopes up for nothing again.

"Come on!"

Ackster shouted at the jungle as he stood at its doorstep. He had no intention of hiding.

The residents of the forest might look at him like prey, but he had no intention of acting like one.