Chapter 70: Endless Darkness

Veronie’s words made the air freeze.

The four words “Divine Corruption” struck like thunder.

After all, everyone understood that there was only one god involved—the Disaster God.

If this truly was Divine Corruption, it meant that this Ancient God, who should have vanished in the river of history, still existed.

They might even find some unknown truths here.

“Divine Corruption?”

Professor Derick’s voice trembled with disbelief.

“Are you sure, Miss Veronie? The power of the Disaster God dissipated a thousand years ago. Their Divine Power should have faded with time…”

“I wouldn’t judge wrongly.”

Veronie’s tone remained cold, yet carried undeniable certainty.

“The traces remaining on this stone door are indeed power from the Divine Domain. As a Spirit of Vitality, I’ve sensed the aura of gods for years—there’s no mistake.”

The faces of several Academy Mages showed worry and gravity at her words.

At that moment, a gentle voice sounded.

“It seems Veronie’s judgment matches my previous detection results.”

Everyone turned toward the voice.

An elderly man in a gray Mage’s robe walked over at a steady pace.

His hair was snow-white, his face gentle, and he held an Oak Staff.

As he approached, Vellandelle could sense the surrounding Magic Elements becoming more active.

Theoretically, this was Elemental Projection—a phenomenon only Grandmasters could achieve.

So this old man was at least at the Grandmaster level?

“Teacher Lawrence.”

All the Academy members, including Vivilian and Derick, bowed respectfully to the elder.

In the Magic Department, this senior’s status was so high that even the young Teachers had once been his students.

“No need for formality.”

Lawrence waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over everyone, lingering briefly on Vellandelle before falling on the massive stone door.

“I’d only heard that those old immortals took two good relics and left us a useless one in the Magic Department to fool the juniors into research. I came to question it, only to witness this scene and gain an unexpected harvest. Even if you beat them, they wouldn’t believe how shocking our discovery is.”

“Teacher Lawrence, when we first found the ruins, Divine Corruption didn’t exist. It’s no wonder those History Department fossils didn’t notice anything special here. Besides, this Dungeon isn’t easily opened.”

“The old man knows a bit about this Dungeon too. Legend says it opens for those lost in desperation, and the true Key is said to have been lost in the dust of history.”

“Teacher Lawrence, um, maybe we can try this Key.”

Vivilian interrupted awkwardly.

She reached out, and as she neared the door, the Key in her hand glowed with a strange black light.

“Hmm? This Key…”

Seeing the Key, Lawrence couldn’t help but show surprise.

“Where did you get it?”

“From this student of mine.”

As Vivilian turned to look at Vellandelle, everyone’s gaze focused on her.

Originally, Vellandelle was hiding behind Veronie, secretly trying to tug at a nearly-falling strand of Veronie’s hair.

But just as she pulled, she sensed something was off and looked up to see the confused stares around her—and Veronie’s death glare.

“Ahem, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Vellandelle had been wary of this prison at first, but after surveying the powerful people around—one Grandmaster Knight, one Grandmaster Mage, five Great Mages, three Great Knights, and an elder possibly at the Legendary level—she relaxed.

Goodness, even if the Queen of Purity herself appeared, they’d still be able to take her down.

Holens’s strength lay in gaining power through Disaster God Corruption, but since the seal was still intact, how strong could he get?

So she decided to treat this exploration as a field trip.

“Haha, truly young.”

“It’s nothing, little one. I just wanted to ask if this Key is yours.”

To the young Vellandelle, Lawrence spoke even more gently.

“Not really mine. I just got it by accident.”

Vellandelle explained how she’d come by the Key.

“Hmm… According to this, the Key’s origin is indeed strange. Maybe someone in the shadows foresaw the Academy would uncover this Dungeon and used you… But that doesn’t add up. If someone was behind it, how could they know you’d keep the Key safe and give it to Vivilian?”

“Hmm… Or maybe it was a lunatic who lost their mind from Ancient Falen Power inheritance and handed it to you by chance…”

After Vellandelle’s explanation, Lawrence bowed his head, muttering to himself.

It made Vellandelle’s head spin.

In the end, she felt her role in giving the Key to Teacher was pure coincidence!

“Hey, Veronie, do you have any ideas?”

Vellandelle nudged Veronie.

Veronie just shook her head lightly.

“Whatever the case, let’s try it first. Little Vivilian, give me the Key.”

“Yes.”

Vivilian handed the Key to Lawrence, showing special respect for this senior who had once taught her.

Lawrence stepped forward to study the Key.

Behind him, the others watched silently as the Knights who’d stood far back approached.

“Ah, Vivilian, it’s been so long~”

A female Knight laughed, wrapping her arms around Vivilian from behind.

Vivilian’s eyes widened, and she struggled, her voice soft and whiny—nothing like her usual sunny demeanor.

“Who said I’m your wife!”

This outburst stunned Vellandelle and Veronie.

Wife?

Teacher actually has a lover?

Vellandelle couldn’t believe it.

Even in the game, after Vivilian’s death, she’d never heard of her having a lover.

Veronie looked at the two together, a hint of envy in her eyes.

“Te…Teacher, do you have a partner?”

Vellandelle blurted out.

“No. This bad woman just won’t stop clinging to me.”

Vivilian pushed the Knight away.

“Stop it, Kaylina.”

“Hehe, you’re still so shy, wife. Are these cute kids your students?”

The female Knight, Kaylina, smiled and looked at the two.

Vellandelle’s eyes sparkled as she moved closer.

“Hello, sister. I’m Vellandelle, originally Teacher Vivilian’s student, now her assistant. So, you’re Teacher’s lover. Please take care of me!”

Vellandelle grabbed Kaylina’s hand and acted cute on purpose.

Just as she expected, Kaylina was instantly charmed and hugged her tightly.

“So cute! I love you!”

Kaylina squeezed Vellandelle’s cheeks, delighted by her adorable yet bewitching face.

“Little Vellandelle, I’ve remembered you. From now on, if anyone bullies you, tell sister. I’ll protect you!”

“Thank you so much, sister.”

Vellandelle smiled in satisfaction.

She’d waited for this line, having noticed that Kaylina was the leader among the Knights—and a Grandmaster Swordsman. With her around, they’d be safe in any danger.

“Vellandelle!”

Vivilian called out angrily, grabbing Vellandelle.

“I have no special relationship with her. Don’t spread nonsense!”

“Yes, Teacher, I understand~”

Vellandelle replied with a knowing smile, making Vivilian fume.

She always showed that smile to Vellandelle and Veronie, never expecting her student would one day use it on her.

“Veronie, keep Vellandelle in line.”

At Vivilian’s order, Veronie instantly nodded.

“Understood, Teacher.”

Vellandelle was promptly dragged away by Veronie.

When she looked at Veronie, she seemed to catch a trace of grievance in her eyes.

While the group was busy with their antics, Lawrence had figured out how to unlock the Dungeon with the Key.

“Derick, I’ll open the Dungeon now and take these juniors in for research. Please inform the Academy to secure the area. I’m worried there may be ill-intentioned people waiting for us to open it.”

“I understand, Teacher. I’ll stay here and wait for Academy support.”

“Good.”

Lawrence nodded, holding the Key as he approached the massive stone door.

But instead of inserting the Key into any obvious keyhole, he closed his eyes and began to chant.

A low voice echoed, making the ground tremble.

“What’s happening? An earthquake?”

Kaylina looked around in confusion.

“No, Teacher Lawrence is casting a spell.”

Vellandelle answered.

The Key in his hand emitted a deep black light, which flowed like a living thing, tracing the intricate patterns on the stone door.

Lines lit up one by one, energy flowing upward like water, illuminating the entire wall.

An eerie sensation filled the air, as if countless eyes opened in the darkness, watching everything outside the door.

The Knights, sensitive to danger, gripped their weapons and scanned their surroundings.

Kaylina’s smile vanished as she silently stepped in front of Vivilian and the students, hand on her sword.

“Rumble…!”

With the insertion of the Key, accompanied by smoke and an eerie aura, the great door opened completely.

Behind it was not darkness, but a deep crimson glow, as if it led to a vast underground world ablaze with embers.

A stone staircase descended before them, its sides lined with walls carved with strange reliefs, stretching into the darkness beyond sight.

Lawrence withdrew the Key and turned, face grave as he addressed the assembled team.

“The door is open. The path ahead is unknown. Remember to protect yourselves, stay behind me, and only begin research once it’s safe.”

“Yes.”

Everyone replied in unison.

Kaylina signaled, splitting the Knights into two groups.

“Teacher, these people will stay with Derick.”

She pointed to half the group.

Lawrence nodded, agreeing to her request.

“Then you stay here. The rest, follow me.”

Lawrence gripped his staff and stepped into the darkness.

Vivilian took a deep breath and nodded to Vellandelle and Veronie.

“Let’s go, too. Remember Teacher Lawrence’s words—safety first.”

“Okay.”

Vellandelle looked back once at the blue sky, then turned and followed Teacher into the Dungeon of the Lost, glowing with crimson light.

As she descended the steps, she felt a little nervous, but not too much.

“This feels strangely thrilling.”

Kaylina couldn’t help but speak.

“Hmph, we’re here to research, not adventure!”

“Hey, it’s all the same to me.”

“Hey, wife, do you think any prisoners from a thousand years ago still survive down here?”

“Think we’ll meet the famous Queen of Purity? Or has she turned to dust?”

“…”

Suddenly, Kaylina bumped into someone ahead.

“Simi, what’s wrong? Why’d you stop?”

She rubbed her head, puzzled.

Vellandelle and Veronie peeked forward.

Lawrence had stopped.

“No way forward.”

Vivilian explained.

No way forward?

Vellandelle’s eyes widened.

At the bottom, there was no passage—only thick stone walls, no sign of the Dungeon.

“Are the walls blocking us?”

She asked.

Veronie stared thoughtfully at the floor.

“Beneath us is a great Altar.”

“What?”

Vellandelle looked down in shock.

Twisted lines formed an irregular pattern on the ground.

The others had clearly noticed this earlier.

“No problem. Let’s study it—”

Lawrence hadn’t finished when a strange black light burst from the Altar.

Shadows danced on the walls.

“What’s happening!”

Vellandelle cried out.

No one had touched it, yet the Altar activated.

Lawrence frowned.

He sensed no danger from the Altar, but its power was strong—a spatial formation even he couldn’t resist.

Everyone’s gaze fixed on the Altar, except one.

Veronie stared at the shadows on the wall.

Countless silhouettes played out scenes like a shadow play.

Veronie couldn’t understand them, but committed everything to memory.

Finally, all the shadows merged into a single phrase.

The twisted characters left Veronie bewildered.

If Vellandelle were looking, she’d have recognized it immediately.

Because the phrase was spelled out in Chinese.

“He wears the black crown. Suffering gives birth to the world.”

The black light erupted, blinding their sight.

Though pitch dark, it dazzled Vellandelle, forcing her to shut her eyes.

Faint cries and the sound of stone doors echoed in her ears, muffled and distant, as if through thick velvet.

At last, the unbearable brilliance faded.

Vellandelle cautiously opened her eyes.

Silence.

A deathly silence engulfed her.

Her companions were gone.

She felt trapped in a black void.

A sense of near-blindness overwhelmed her.

She could see only a few steps ahead, everything else blurred.

Beyond that, endless darkness.

“I’m doomed. I’m alone…”

Vellandelle’s heart raced with alarm.