The underground of Stormveil Castle is a hidden place unknown even to the residents of the city.
It was fortunate that not many people knew about this place, or else everyone who came would likely die, as the area was saturated with the power of Death Blight.
This pervasive power of Death Blight is the aura of death emanating from the face of the Death Prince Godwyn; carelessness would lead to the curse of death blight.
In the game, Rogier, who came to investigate, was afflicted by the curse of death blight, resulting in the complete necrosis of his lower body and his eventual, tragic death.
After causing a huge ruckus in Stormveil Castle, Xia Yu led the trio to jump down from a platform while evading pursuit. Since all three were warriors, this height was not enough to injure them.
Even if they were injured, Xia Yu could treat them with healing Incantations.
At the bottom of the platform was a dark and damp tunnel, where statues stood precariously, buzzing mosquitoes and flies swarmed, and large, rotting rats scurried around.
These small creatures rustled through the tunnel. Xia Yu showed no hesitation towards these beings that weren't truly animals, clearing the area with a single burst of fire.
These creatures, especially the rotting rats, easily bred in dark corners.
While moving forward, he found a slightly damaged Magic Scroll in a crevice, which meticulously depicted the spell Summon Rancor.
According to the contents described on the scroll, this was an ancient death sorcery performed by those who served Death, capable of summoning relentless rancor spirits to attack enemies. The signature at the end of the scroll belonged to the Death Sorcerer Gories.
Not far from this Magic Scroll was a platform. The underground passage below the platform was incredibly filthy, permeated by the stench of decay, and littered with many mosquitoes, flies, and pale bones.
However, none of this frightened the trio. Led by Xia Yu, the three jumped down and landed in the filthy stagnant water... The underground passage was supported by thick tree roots, the ground was piled high with mud-covered skull heaps, and pale spirit flames that seemed never to extinguish burned on the four walls, bringing pinpricks of light to the darkness.
"The smell here is truly awful."
In the puddle, Blaidd fanned his hand near his nose, but the smell didn't dissipate; instead, it grew even stronger.
"Bear with it. There's a battle coming up."
Xia Yu walked at the very front, already holding his meteorite staff. At the same time, he casually applied temporary buffs to himself, and after finishing, he pulled out his Flask of Wondrous Physick and took two gulps.
As a qualified Tarnished, one must learn to apply buffs before battle.
"Battle?" Darryl took the Longfang from his back, crouched into a fighting stance, and scanned the surroundings. "Where is the enemy?"
Seeing that Darryl was ready for battle, Blaidd also drew his Royal Greatsword, gripping it tightly with both hands.
"The enemy will appear soon... Huh?"
Just as Xia Yu was about to mention the Putrid erdtree Avatar here, his peripheral vision caught sight of a figure that was unexpected yet reasonable.
That figure was wearing a yellow-green sorcerer's robe and a large hat, a typical mage's attire. He was currently pressed tightly against the wall, seemingly moving forward stealthily.
When Xia Yu noticed the figure, the figure also noticed Xia Yu and the others. Seeing Xia Yu's group walking carelessly through the puddle, the figure quickly waved, seemingly wanting them to press tightly against the wall too.
But before Xia Yu and the others could react, the tunnel, filled with stagnant water, suddenly began to shake as if an earthquake had occurred.
Boom! Rumble—!
Debris began to fall from the surroundings, and the stagnant water on the ground vibrated continuously with the frequency. Sensing something moving underground, Xia Yu immediately shouted sternly.
"It's here!"
The next moment, a dark red, rotting, elongated fleshy worm suddenly burst out from the ground.
The worm was covered in dry wooden branches, its dark red body riddled with pustules; it seemed there wasn't a single piece of healthy flesh on its entire body. Along the sides of the worm's body were insect legs composed of wood and pustules.
The two foremost insect legs were significantly larger than the others, resembling biological arms.
Merely looking at this monster that had burrowed out of the ground seemed enough to cause mental contamination.
"What... is that?" Darryl looked up at the tall Putrid erdtree Avatar, his eyes filled with shock.
"This is the enemy!" Xia Yu gripped his staff with both hands. "Let me show you what a true sorcerer looks like!"
Having spoken, Xia Yu stomped the ground, his figure instantly vanishing. The moment he reappeared, he had already condensed a magical greatsword and slashed fiercely toward the Putrid erdtree Avatar.
Pffft!
Dark blood splattered out as the azure greatsword sliced across the Putrid erdtree Avatar's body, leaving a deep sword mark.
"Awooo!"
Raising its two dark red arms high, the Putrid erdtree Avatar opened its wide, jagged mouth, which reeked of decay, and let out a piercing shriek.
This shriek seemed to be the signal for battle. Blaidd and Darryl charged forward almost simultaneously, attacking the frenzied Putrid erdtree Avatar.
The sorcerer on the other side froze for a moment upon seeing Xia Yu's trio suddenly launch an attack against the Putrid erdtree Avatar. Without hesitation, he immediately drew his finely decorated, high-quality rapier.
Then, with a casual wave of the rapier, a light blue crest lit up, and several glintstone swords appeared behind him. Having done all this, the sorcerer also charged the Putrid erdtree Avatar, rapier in hand.
The enormous Putrid erdtree Avatar could barely execute any effective attacks in this narrow tunnel, especially since it was facing enemies with maximum agility.
Under the continuous assault from everyone, and Xia Yu's intentional interference, the Putrid erdtree Avatar was unable to even use its own erdtree Incantations before its life force was severed.
"What the hell was that thing?"
Darryl pulled the Longfang out of the Putrid erdtree Avatar's body and said disgustedly; he had gotten quite a bit of the creature's blood on himself.
"This is a monster formed from a golden seed. In other words, it is an avatar of the erdtree."
Xia Yu stood atop the head of the dead Putrid erdtree Avatar. While explaining, he plunged his hands into its body, and guided by his divine sense, he felt his spoils of war.
Ploink!
"See, this is the proof."
Xia Yu pulled out one hand, clutching a golden seed. Even though the seed was covered in filth, it couldn't conceal its golden brilliance.
"Is that really... a golden seed?"
The sorcerer who had helped in the fight walked forward, staring at the golden seed in Xia Yu's hand and murmuring.
Xia Yu also jumped down from the Putrid erdtree Avatar's head. Besides the golden seed, he also found several Stonesword Keys that the Putrid erdtree Avatar had swallowed.
These were important keys for unlocking certain Gargoyle Seals.
Looking at the sorcerer he recognized, Xia Yu asked with a smile, "Well then, friend, won't you introduce yourself?"
Hearing this, the sorcerer bowed in a gesture common among mages and said, "Hello, I am Rogier. As you may have guessed, I am a sorcerer."
"Rogier, huh." Xia Yu murmured softly, then his expression straightened. "Hello, Big Bro Jie."
Hearing Xia Yu's form of address, Rogier slightly furrowed his brow. "Just call me Rogier. I should be the one using an honorific for you, seeing as your magic is stronger than mine."