Just by seeing the black mud erupting from the ground, the Fran Guard along with the wolf pack sensed extreme danger.

The giant wolf beneath Dal made an unreasonable maneuver to turn its large body in the air, kicking off a piece of rock fragment that was sprayed up, narrowly leaping out of the range of the spraying black mud.

"Woo..."

The giant wolf lowered its body and let out a threatening low growl towards the fountain-like black mud, with traces of erosion appearing on its tail from brushing against the mud, and although it wasn't injured, the destruction of its sleek and beautiful fur was enough to make it angry.

"Captain..." The Fran Guards following along also halted their steps, casting their gaze towards Dal.

"Retreat."

Dal drew out the Fran Greatsword and Artorias Greatsword, and the giant wolf also "ugh" vomited out a Great Sword it had held in its mouth.

Seeing this, the Fran Guards also took out their weapons, shields and riding spears, straight swords and magic wands, even Meteor Hammers with chains and scythes. They were not confined to specific weapons, only valuing the efficiency in killing the Demon Clan.

As long as these weapons combined can achieve maximized efficiency in wiping out the Demon Clan, they would gladly use them.

The giant wolves, however, consistently used what would be a Great Sword to humans, mainly because they could only learn weapon handling skills from the imagery of the giant wolf Shif, and were not adept at using other types of weapons.

At that moment, the erupted black mud finally fell to the ground, rapidly spreading in the direction of everyone as if it had life, where it instantly poisoned, corroded, and finally dissolved all in its wake, making it look like the abyss had devoured them from afar.

Everyone cautiously retreated, and the Fran Guards at the sight of the black mud instantly recalled the abyss that existed in Fran Fort and Casas Underground Tomb.

Since the two really looked too similar.

They had a pitch-black, sticky look, emanating a poisonous aura of "no entry", even mimicking the abyss's ability to devour living beings with precision.

If Dal and the others hadn't observed the abyss closely and felt its incomparable malice, they probably would have believed the Demon Clan had brought the abyss to the surface world.

"Did they mimic the abyss's characteristics to create this thing?"

The black mud in front was like a collection of people's stereotypes about the abyss, presenting it to people who haven't seen the abyss firsthand but only heard descriptions, making it impossible to discern the truth, but in the eyes of someone who's seen the abyss, it was a blatant fake.

Dal could almost guess the mindset of the Demon Clan who made this thing.

Abyss is blackish? Then I'll dye my invention too.

The abyss can devour creatures it contacts? This is indeed hard to achieve, so I'll add features of poison killing and corrosion, making the appearance look like devouring.

The abyss can drive people insane? Then, I'll add a Fear Aura? That should achieve a similar effect.

Dal actually noticed the existence of the Fear Aura magic on this black mud, immediately verifying his conjecture.

The Demon Clan indeed mimicked the abyss and created this thing before them!

But, why?

Why did they do this, and also, where did the Demon Clan hear about the abyss, what is their stance on that thing now?

From his understanding after contacting the Demon Clan, these disgusting guys covet anything that might transform into their power, therefore, creating such blatant mimicry of the abyss surely holds no good intentions — at least for humans and other races, it's definitely not a good thing.

Since when did even the Demon Clan start learning to develop things?

"Rumble..."

Suddenly, an almost imperceptible tremor came from beneath the ground, a movement very familiar to the Fran Guards, it was the Mole Demon Race's noise from digging the ground, they were trying to escape!

Someone immediately mounted the giant wolf to pursue, they couldn't let the Mole Demon Race escape after finally catching their trail.

But the black mud flowing on the ground suddenly stood up, transforming into a giant snake-like shape, opening its bloody mouth to bite towards the Fran Guard!

"Huh! It can even transform!"

The Fran Guard quickly shot a series of Fran Short Arrows, the azure Magic Arrows instantly creating holes in the Black Snake's body.

Yet, this attack did nothing to halt its advance, the black mud was not a creature, naturally lacking pain sensation!

Just as the Fran Guard was about to raise his Shield defensively.

"Boom—"

The barrel-thick Magic Cannon immediately engulfed the upper half of the Black Snake, successfully alleviating what was an imminent hit, while the giant wolf beneath him quickly retreated on the unpolluted ground, retreating to the side of the Fran Guards.

"Thanks, Brother Dal." The Fran Guard gasped, appearing a bit startled.

"We can't catch them now, focus on what's ahead." Another Fran Guard said solemnly.

The appearance of the black mud brought unbearable toxic fumes, instantly destroying the remnants left behind by the Mole Demon Race, making subsequent tracking a mere luxury.

Tracking along the tunnels dug by the Mole Demon Race? It's not something the Fran Guards haven't done, but if it worked, they wouldn't have already judged they couldn't catch up by now.