Chapter 118: The Blood Magic Legacy beneath the Ruins of Gorgai (Part 1)
Basilisk Isles, Tear Island, Ruins of Gorgai
When the afterglow of the setting sun reflected upon the Ruins of Gorgai, it seemed to drape a mysterious veil over this ancient and dangerous city.
Though that golden radiance was warm and soft, as the light shifted from orange-yellow to deep crimson, an indescribable and terrifying atmosphere began to permeate the entire city.
This sight was both beautiful and dangerous. It was beautiful because it allowed one to feel the magic of time, as if one could travel back to the past and witness the city's former prosperity with their own eyes.
It was dangerous because every stone and every wall in this city might hide unknown dangers—threats that could originate from the past, or perhaps from the present.
"Awoo…"
Amid bursts of strange roars, blood-red figures appeared on the outskirts of the Ruins of Gorgai. They possessed fur like burning flames, and although their bodies appeared somewhat lean, their speed was incredibly fast.
These demon hounds were extremely numerous, numbering more than a thousand. In order to completely seize this place in a single attempt, Jon had expended all the energy within his magic stones this time.
Although these demon hounds did not possess parasitic abilities and their lethality was relatively limited, their sheer numbers had already compensated for that shortcoming.
"Awoooo…"
As three three-headed hellhounds, each as large as a bull, appeared, the demon hounds immediately began to howl in excitement.
The three-headed hellhound was an evolved form of the demon hound, and after completing evolution, its overall strength increased dramatically. To preserve the strength of these three hellhounds, Jon had deliberately selected three relatively powerful individuals for evolution.
"Awoo…"
Soon, Jon appeared behind the three three-headed hellhounds. Upon seeing Jon, all the surrounding demon hounds immediately became docile.
"Go!"
After issuing the attack command, the demon hounds surged forward like arrows released from a bowstring, while the three three-headed hellhounds remained at Jon's side.
Jon and they would serve as the primary combat force. The combat strength of the demon hounds was still too weak; they were suitable for reconnaissance and exploration, but in battle, they were merely expendable forces.
As the final traces of sunlight disappeared, the cold moonlight began to dominate the land. Under the dim glow, the demon hounds surged toward the Ruins of Gorgai like a crimson tide.
"Hiss, hiss, hiss…"
"Moo, moo…"
…With the appearance of the demon hounds, the entire Ruins of Gorgai seemed like an awakened ancient beast, roaring at these intruders in an attempt to drive them away.
Various roars and growls echoed across the area, as if countless demons were dancing wildly in the darkness.
Because the number of monsters within Gorgai was immense, as the demon hounds flooded in like a tide, they quickly encountered attacks from the creatures inside.
"Moo…"
As Jon stepped through the ruined city gate, he noticed a massive figure.
It was a humanoid creature resembling a minotaur, though it looked far more like a true bull.
Its body was hunched, and its movements resembled those of a brown bear. When it stood upright, its height rivaled that of a cyclops, making it an extremely terrifying presence.
At this moment, the minotaur was attacking the demon hounds, but due to its relatively slow speed, its attacks repeatedly failed to connect.
"Moo, moo…"
When it noticed Jon and the three three-headed hellhounds, the rage it had accumulated instantly erupted.
It roared and charged toward Jon, lowering its horns as if intending to pierce straight through him. Under the force of its powerful charge, the ground itself seemed to tremble.
"Awoooo…"
Before Jon could react, the three three-headed hellhounds lunged forward.
They were extremely fast, and in mere moments, they had leapt onto the minotaur's body.
Like a pride of lions hunting, two bit into its neck while the third clamped down on its rump.
"Moo, moo…"
Nine ferocious wolf heads tore into the minotaur's flesh. Their bites carried a scorching energy that continuously inflicted damage.
With three creatures attached to its body, the minotaur's speed dropped instantly. It was forced to halt more than ten meters away from Jon.
"Moo, moo…"
The once ferocious creature was reduced to hopping in place under the relentless assault.
"Boom… Crack…"
In its fury, the minotaur abandoned its attack on Jon and instead charged into the ruined walls, attempting to shake off the creatures clinging to it.
However, it had underestimated the evolved hellhounds.
After evolution, the fur along their backs had transformed into scale-like armor, protecting them from impact. Instead of weakening, their bites only grew stronger.
"Moo, moo…"
"Boom… Crack… Bang…"
After struggling for more than ten minutes, the minotaur finally collapsed into the ruins, unable to endure the sustained assault.
By now, its body was covered in wounds. Blood poured from its neck and hindquarters, and even parts of its internal organs had been torn out.
If it had been an ordinary creature, it would have died many times over.
"Huff… huff… Moo…"
At this point, the minotaur had completely lost its ability to fight. It lay on the ground, breathing heavily, as helpless as a newborn calf.
If Jon had not sensed the intense malice still emanating from it, he might have approached to inspect it.
"Moo…"
"Squelch…"
Seeing that Jon did not approach, the minotaur suddenly sprang up and charged again in a desperate attempt.
Unfortunately, it had underestimated Jon.
A flash of black light appeared—
And something cold pierced through its skull.
The minotaur collapsed instantly.
"Drag its corpse away. The three of you, go deal with the remaining small creatures. There are no stronger enemies left here."
With the death of the minotaur, nothing significant remained in this area. Aside from some lizardmen and troglodyte-like creatures similar to humans, there were no other threats.
"Awoooo…"
Following Jon's command, the demon hounds began dragging the minotaur's corpse away, pulling it toward the city gate.
After sensing his surroundings, Jon approached the remains of a massive structure.
Upon seeing its circular shape, he quickly identified it—
This had once been the arena of Gorgai.
Since Gorgai was originally built by the Ghiscari, its architectural style resembled that of Slaver's Bay—arenas, pyramids, and slave pits.
If the arena was here, then the slave pits could not be far.
After ordering the hellhounds and demon hounds to spread out, Jon soon discovered the slave pits southwest of the arena.
The underground structure resembled the sewer systems of Tyrosh, though far larger in scale.
Previously, Jon had wondered why no Valyrian black stone structures were visible in the city.
But upon entering the first underground level, he finally understood—
They had always been here.
Just not above ground.
But beneath it.
After locating the entrance to the slave pits, Jon summoned the scattered demon hounds and sent them to explore ahead.
At the same time, he continued searching for the laboratories once used by the blood mages.
Under Jon's control, the layout of the slave pits gradually became clear.
There were five levels in total.
According to the High Valyrian inscriptions:
The first level was for holding slaves.
The second was for training them.
The third stored supplies.
The fourth served as a prison.
And the fifth—
Was the experimental ground he sought.
Having reached this point, Jon lost all interest in exploring elsewhere.
Even though some of the demon hounds had disappeared in distant passages, suggesting unknown dangers—
He no longer cared.
Because whatever awaited in the testing ground was far more important.
"Awoo…"
Even after centuries, the black stone structures beneath the ruins remained almost completely intact.
If not for the mud covering the ground—
Jon might not have believed this place was a ruin at all.
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