Chapter 456: Doesn't this path look familiar?

Chapter 456: Doesn't this path look familiar?



Within the Supreme Abyssal, Calderon effortlessly pulverized a demon creature's head with a single punch.

Since entering this hellish realm, his power had surged, reaching a staggering level 999. He thrived in battle, growing stronger with each encounter, and the Supreme Abyssal, teeming with endless demon fodder, was his personal playground.

Glancing back, Calderon saw Shadow Nine still struggling. A smug grin spread across his face. "What's taking you so long, gramps? Did you forget where you put your dentures?"

"Shut your trap!" Shadow Nine snarled, his blade flashing as he repelled several demon creatures. Calderon stepped forward, his fists a blur as he crushed their skulls.

*Bang* *Bang*

With a few well-placed punches, the demon creatures were dispatched. Both Calderon and Shadow Nine retreated, melting back into the shadows.

As they fled, Calderon couldn't resist another jab. "Weak little Shadow Nine, only two days in, and the Blood Shadow is already taking over."

"Mind your own damn business!" Normally, Shadow Nine would respond to Calderon's trash talk with a swift punch to the face. But his body was acting up, and he had to hold back. Patience was a virtue, or so they said.

"Hold up!" Calderon stopped, pulling out his map again, studying it intently. "There are way too many demon creatures on this path!"

The route was correct, the shortest path to their destination. But they kept encountering unusually powerful demon creatures, and Shadow Nine's Blood Shadow was getting worse... Their situation could be summed up in two words: seriously unlucky.

This level of bad luck was unnatural, even triggering some unpleasant memories for Calderon.

"Shadow Nine," he asked, "doesn't this path look familiar?"

Shadow Nine paused, his mind flashing back. "Now that you mention it... Isn't this the same way we escaped last time?"

How did Calderon know that?

"Oh, crap." Calderon smacked his forehead, groaning. "We can't go this way!"

Shadow Nine's eyes widened in realization. "You don't mean..."

Back then, Shadow Nine hadn't escaped the Supreme Abyssal alone.

Few people knew about the 'lucky charm' who had accompanied him.

That individual had a rather strange name: Afterskin.

Realization dawned on them both simultaneously. "We need a new route!"

===

"Afterskin went to the Supreme Abyssal?" Mike couldn't help but feel a twinge of... schadenfreude.

Excellent!

With Afterskin's bad luck, Shadow Nine and Calderon were in for a rough time.

This also meant that Afterskin wouldn't be showing up at the Tower of Truth or anywhere near Mike anytime soon.

One less thing to worry about.

"Foreskin, I have a question for you." Mike pulled Foreskin aside, lowering his voice. "I just got back from the ninety-ninth floor of the Tower of Truth..."

"What?!" Foreskin nearly jumped out of his skin.

Back from the ninety-ninth floor? What in the world...?

Had he already become a Supreme Being?!

"Relax, your boss just invited me in for a little chat, then sent me on my way." Mike waved a dismissive hand. "The important thing is the robe he was wearing..."

Mike described the new butterfly pattern on Apollo's robe.

Humanity didn't have an abundance of Lord-level fighters. They were needed on the front

lines!

And the Guardian Shadow had a limit of 100 Lords and a limited number of Chief positions.

If they didn't address this limitation, the Guardian Shadow would tear itself apart from internal competition.

"Pay them their back pay. I'll figure out how to cover the shortfall." With over 9 million Lord merits in the account, Mike felt confident.

He frowned. "As for their placement... give me some time to think about it."

Shadow Four nodded. "Understood."

With everything reported, most matters would be handled according to established protocol.

The rest was up to Mike.

Before leaving, Shadow Four added, "Due to the changing situation on the front lines, the Forest of Truth's defenses need to be reorganized. The Joint Corps has requested at least ten Lord-level Guardian Shadow members to be stationed there. Fourth Bro, what are your thoughts? Also... the summer camp has been canceled."

This wasn't surprising.

The summer camp had been organized ostensibly to train talented humans, nurturing the

seeds of future Supreme Beings.

But its true purpose was to keep Thor under Apollo's watchful eye, ensuring his safety.

With Thor's growing strength, this protection was no longer necessary.

Mike knew that the Supreme Demon God had his sights set on him, if it weren't for Apollo holding him back, the Supreme Demon God would have attacked long ago.

The further Mike was from the Tower of Truth, the less pressure Apollo would face.

After dismissing Shadow Four, Mike took a short nap.

Technically, sleep wasn't necessary after entering the Tower of Truth.

A Tier 1 Soldier could fight for a week without rest.

For Mike, at level 499, sleep was more of a relaxation technique.

He woke up, refreshed, and went through his usual morning routine.

Before entering his private space, he instinctively looked down, about to greet Shadow Three.

Then he remembered. Shadow Three was gone.

He chuckled, shaking his head. A flash of lightning, and he vanished.

...

Inside his private space, a split second before Mike appeared, a green light flickered on

Vladimir's hat.

He had saved up his allowance, commissioning Master Fool to create this special piece of

equipment.

The hat had only one function: to alert him before Thor entered his private space.

Vladimir let out a piercing shriek, alerting the others.

*Our master will arrive in 0.5 seconds! Stop slacking and get to work!*