In a dazed, muddled state.
Yuiyui Gokadoin struggled to open her eyes.
The moment she opened them, she saw Evangeline's pale face.
Realising that she was still alive, Yuiyui Gokadoin was taken aback:
"Huh? Have we reunited in hell?"
"But come to think of it, which underworld realm is this, and which King Yama is guarding it?"
"Stop wailing, we're not dead."
Evangeline, her face deathly pale, couldn't help but retort.
Hearing this, Yuiyui Gokadoin paused, only then noticing that she seemed to be just a head.
Moreover, they were still in the stone cavern with the circular portal.
Except, compared to before, the air in the cavern now carried a faint, rusty scent.
And besides that, Yuiyui Gokadoin also saw a white-haired man smoking a cigarette while swearing and digging a hole.
Apart from this person, there was also a brown-haired man wearing a blue trench coat, and an expressionless black-haired man dressed in white military-style clothing.
Beyond these individuals stood an orange-haired beauty in a business suit and a tall beauty with green hair tied up, wearing a cheongsam.
Yuiyui Gokadoin recognised these people - or rather, it was impossible for the Onmyou Agency not to have intelligence on these individuals who were also in Japan.
The one swearing while digging was Shin Natsume of the Bujin-shū.
The man in the blue trench coat was Kazuma Yagami, an exile from the Kannagi family who had joined China's Union, the legendary contractor of the Spirit King.
The last expressionless man was Tatsuya Shiba, captain of the Cabinet Direct Unit, a man said to possess top-tier Hero Rank strength.
Among the women, the orange-haired one was Ryōko Yakushiji, daughter of the chairman of Asia's largest weapons company.
As for the final green-haired woman in the cheongsam, Yuiyui Gokadoin didn't recognise her.
Just as Yuiyui was identifying everyone, Kazuma Yagami nearby swayed a glass bottle in his hand, saying with a pained expression:
"This is the Water of Life sold by SDS, worth three million US dollars per bottle."
"And we had to pour ten consecutive bottles into you before you recovered. Just what kind of injuries did you sustain, you blonde vampire?"
Hearing this, Evangeline curled her lips in displeasure, her face showing a mix of lingering fear and terror as she said:
"What do you think? I got beaten up by the monster inside."
Upon hearing this, Kazuma Yagami looked somewhat surprised as he glanced at the circular gate, stroking his chin:
"To be able to beat one of the Thirteen Apostles like you to this state - it seems whatever's inside must be a pretty powerful replica!"
However, upon hearing this, Evangeline immediately exploded with anger. Ignoring the pain throughout her body, she started swearing:
"What Apostle? Fuck that Apostle bullshit!!"
"I've had enough of believing MI6's nonsense! When I get back to London, I'm going to twist that old man's head off and use it as a football!!"
Hearing Evangeline's swearing mixed with English, German, French, Chinese, Japanese and multiple other languages, even Ryōko Yakushiji nearby was taken aback. She turned to Yuiyui Gokadoin and asked:
"What kind of shock did she suffer?"
Hearing this, Yuiyui smiled wryly and said:
"She was deceived by the Union into thinking she was a Demigod, but then she encountered the one inside."
"The one inside? Who?" Kazuma Yagami cut in, looking puzzled.
He knew about Demigods, after all. Having joined China's Union, Kazuma had met that Old Celestial Master who ranked first among China's Apostles.
Therefore, Kazuma wasn't completely unfamiliar with information about Demigods. In fact, that Old Celestial Master had even given him some handwritten Taoist scriptures, saying he could comprehend the mysteries of Demigods from them.
To be honest, those Taoist scriptures were quite hypnotic - at least with them, Kazuma had been sleeping very soundly every day:
"Does that mean the thing guarding inside is someone we know?"
At this point, Yuiyui Gokadoin's expression turned somewhat pessimistic as she said:
"The one guarding the gate is a replica of that person from the Hidden Management Department."
Hearing this, Ryōko Yakushiji suddenly shuddered, though no one present noticed it.
"As for the Gospel of Immortality..." Yuiyui Gokadoin said in a subtle tone, "She should have just been attacked by the one inside using Concept Entanglement..."
"So that's how it is..."
Kazuma Yagami immediately showed an expression of belated fear:
"To be hit by that kind of attack... no wonder she was so severely injured earlier. Even with an immortal body, she almost didn't recover."
"Since you've provided such information, I won't charge for these potions."
As Kazuma Yagami spoke, he collected the empty bottles, then turned to Tatsuya Shiba:
"Shiba, shall we withdraw?"
Hearing this, Shin Natsume, nearby, immediately looked up at the three of them, but remained silent. He simply buried Lorena's body in the soil without refilling the grave, then quietly turned and left the cavern.
Noticing this, Kazuma Yagami instantly became alert.
Knowing the Natsume family's Dragon Eye possessed precognitive abilities, Kazuma said without changing his expression:
"With that Director Luo Shu's replica holding the fort, I don't believe we have any possibility of obtaining a Class."
"So, shall we leave?"
Upon hearing this, Tatsuya Shiba remained silent for a moment before asking Kazuma Yagami:
"May I hear your reasoning?"
Kazuma Yagami scratched his head, somewhat troubled:
"Even if you say that, related matters are considered confidential even within the China Union..."
Hearing this, Tatsuya Shiba's eyes flickered slightly:
"In that case, we should leave..."
Just at that moment, a male voice suddenly rang out:
"Isn't it a pity to leave without even taking a look?"
At the sudden voice, everyone present turned to look in its direction.
Then, under the expressions of Evangeline and Yuiyui Gokadoin that suggested they were about to have heart attacks, they saw a youth with neat silver hair wearing a black trench coat beside the circular door.
Just as everyone's gaze turned to him, the youth placed his hand on the door and greeted everyone with a smile:
"Hello, I'm Vali!!"
"I heard there's a Demigod replica inside, right?"
Evangeline felt her scalp go numb - she had just been revived!!
"Hey--!! Don't be impulsive!!"
"It's not impulse, though."
Vali turned his head, grinning widely:
"Actually, my purpose in coming here is to challenge strong opponents!"
"But to be honest, since entering this world and fighting my way through, I haven't encountered anyone who could be considered a worthy opponent."
"And now, I hear you saying there's a master hidden in this room, and if you win, there's a Class as a prize - isn't that super interesting?!!"
"Besides, don't you think it's really unfortunate to retreat without even fighting?"
"This guy... a battle maniac?" Jun Tao couldn't help but frown upon hearing this.
"But in principle, I respect your choices. As long as you don't try to stop me, feel free to leave or stay as you wish."
After saying this, Vali exerted his arm and gently pushed the circular door open.
Seeing this, Evangeline covered her head in despair:
"You damn brat!!!"
"If that door opens, the monster inside will target everyone as enemies!!!"
Hearing this, Ryōko Yakushiji, who had wanted to leave, was instantly stunned:
"What?"
"Does that mean... I have to fight Luo Shu too?!!"
Instantly, Ryōko Yakushiji felt completely numb, murmuring incessantly:
"Can I go back and deal with that Saintess Joan of Arc who's chasing us?"