"Easy for you to say. It's either open space or locked rooms here. Where can I hide?"
John cursed inwardly but obediently took out the carpet and covered himself entirely.
He then crouched in a corner, not daring to make a sound.
The next moment, a nauseating, putrid stench of extreme decay surged from the far end, filling John's nostrils and making him instinctively want to vomit.
Finally, at the far end, a pair of blood-red eyes flickered, peering through the window as if scrutinizing the entire palace.
Oddly, the presence of a living being had completely vanished, and after repeatedly confirming this, the dead dragon withdrew its gaze and returned to slumber.
Seeing this, John finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Feeling his heart pounding wildly, he struggled to stand up, still shaken, and said, "So this is the oppressive aura of a demigod?"
By comparison, the pressure from an [Apostle] seemed insignificant.
"Not all demigods possess such overwhelming power.
In fact, the dead dragon is even stronger than some weaker [deities].
The reason it hasn't ascended to godhood is due to Hades' suppression."
"Is it really called the dead dragon? I thought you were using it as a derogatory term."
"It's not a derogatory term.
To be precise, it's the Dragon of Death and Sin.
It committed unforgivable crimes and was suppressed by Hades, turning it into a watchdog."
Hearing this, John shivered.
Leashing a demigod-level dragon as a guard dog—only a top-tier [deity] like Hades could do such a thing.
"I've always wanted to ask you, since you know so much about the Olympus domain, where do you rank among the gods in terms of power?"
"Why are you asking about that all of a sudden?"
"I just think that your identity must be quite extraordinary. Otherwise, how would you know so many secrets and be acquainted with so many [deities]?"
"Well... it doesn't hurt to tell you. If I must say, I could probably match Zeus in a fight. As for Hades, I haven't fought him, but I shouldn't lose."
John: "?"
"Are you serious?"
"Of course! Why would I lie to you?"
"So you're a pretty strong ally! How did you end up in this situation then?"
"That's a story for another time. I don't want to talk about it, and you shouldn't ask."
Seraphina seemed very reluctant to discuss her demise, and John had no choice but to keep silent and not bring it up again.
"In any case, I can help you solve most of the problems you encounter, but the condition is that I can still leave the underworld alive."
"Leave the underworld alive? What do you mean? Is your remnant soul that weak?"
...
Meanwhile, in the Game World!
The lord of Talcavano suddenly appeared and announced something that excited all the players.
Earlier this morning, Mine No. 3 discovered a massive pit connected to a labyrinth.
This news immediately ignited the enthusiasm of all the players!
Everyone knew that the word "labyrinth" was almost synonymous with rewards and opportunities.
Many had thought Talcavano was just a stopover, not expecting a dungeon to finally open at this moment!
Moreover, the lord also announced that the mine would be open to everyone, including NPCs and players, who could go there to mine ores or hunt monsters.
For people like Qing, who were tired of going to the auction house, sleeping there, and returning home with stuff, this was the best boost they could get.
This monotonous, clock-punching lifestyle was finally over. They could finally engage in activities befitting adventurers—exploring the labyrinth!
Upon hearing the news, Exiled Immortal immediately ran back to their place and knocked on John's door, excitedly saying, "John! The lord's mansion finally has some news. The labyrinth is about to open, and we can finally clear the dungeon first!"
Meanwhile, inside the room.
Elaria, who had been relieved at having passed undetected, suddenly turned pale.
Two days ago, John had left, and during this time, Elaria hadn't told anyone about this. Since the auction was still ongoing, it hadn't aroused any suspicion.
But the truth couldn't be hidden forever.
The moment the labyrinth dungeon was announced, Elaria knew this secret couldn't be concealed any longer.
So she took a deep breath, stood up, and opened the door. Facing Exiled Immortal's ecstatic expression, she said emotionlessly, "Exiled Immortal, can you please gather everyone? I have something important to announce."
"Uh... now? But everyone is..."
Before Exiled Immortal could finish, Elaria repeated, "This matter is really important, so please, do it!"
At this point, Exiled Immortal, though very puzzled, couldn't refuse given Elaria's close relationship with John, which was no longer a secret.
Even for John's sake, Exiled Immortal wouldn't say no.
After calling everyone together, Elaria finally stepped back, making way.
"Everyone... come in."
"Elaria, what's wrong?" Lily asked with a frown. "You look very tired. Do you need me to help you relax?"
"No, it's fine, Lily."
"Strange, where's John? I haven't seen him leave his room these past few days."
Exiled Immortal looked around and, not seeing John, turned to Elaria.
Seeing the puzzled looks from everyone, Elaria decided to reveal the truth.
"Two days ago, John activated that legendary dungeon and chose to enter it alone. He hasn't returned since. I'm sorry I lied to you. There was no illness. It was all just my lie.
I'm sorry, everyone..."