In an instant, BOOM... BOOM... BOOM... The turbulent aftershocks of a battle between Level Six experts echoed from deep within the cave.

The eerie shrieks of the Demon Spiders intertwined with surges of Shadow energy.

"Damned bitch."

The roar of the Forbidden·Masked Spider King rang out. It had clearly suffered a loss.

The Forbidden·Masked Spider King specialized in area-of-effect attacks and control.

However, the Shadow Blood Race possessed a Shadow phasing ability and had no fear of being controlled by spider silk.

As for area-of-effect attacks, that was even less of a concern. The Blood Race’s agility allowed them to weave through the swarms of Demon Spiders to attack the Forbidden·Masked Spider King.

Those lesser Demon Spiders might even become springboards or cover for the Blood Race.

For Zorn, area-of-effect and control abilities were also largely ineffective.

His trump card, the Evil Spirit Calamity, was the natural enemy of large groups of foes.

Once unleashed, every last Demon Spider in the nest—aside from the Level Six Spider King—would be annihilated.

Deep within his Spiritual Realm, Zorn had already prepared three Catastrophe Ceremonies, ready to unleash the Evil Spirit Calamity at any moment.

This nest, however, was not worthy of Zorn unleashing such a power.

As for the entangling webs and cocoons spun by the Demon Spiders, Zorn’s Calamity Black Mist could easily corrode and destroy them. He could even use the silk as a conduit for Life Absorption to steal the Demon Spiders’ Life Force.

As an Evil Spirit Wizard who had already constructed his Spiritual Realm with a vast amount of Calamity Black Mist, Zorn, despite being only Level 4, no longer feared the Level Six Forbidden·Masked Spider King.

Not to mention, Zorn still had many powerful trump cards he had yet to reveal.

This was why he dared to enter the Demon Spider Nest in the first place.

As the battle raged deep in the cave, the massive swarm of Demon Spiders seemed to enter a frenzied state.

With sharp hisses, countless Demon Spiders swarmed toward Zorn.

Seeing this, Zorn no longer held back.

"WHOOSH..."

The storm of Calamity Black Mist rapidly expanded.

His Life Absorption Ability, using the Calamity Black Mist as a medium, activated at full power, frantically draining the life and blood of the Demon Spiders.

He then channeled the Life Force into the other Level 5 Viscount Blood Race he controlled through his baptism, keeping them in reserve for later.

After all, opportunities to absorb so much Life Force and blood were rare.

About ten minutes later, Zorn had mowed down the swarming Demon Spiders in this part of the cave, slaughtering them completely.

The three sleeping Blood Race within his Spiritual Realm were now sated with blood and Life Force.

However, Zorn had no intention of summoning them.

His plan was to feed these Level 5 Peak Blood Race and let them slowly advance to Level Six.

’Using them when necessary—that’s the proper way to handle this.’

’After using them a few times and they’re spent, their Level Six Shadow Sequence Crystal Cores can be used to cultivate an even stronger Shadow Sequence.’

Other life forms would die if too much of their Life Force was extracted.

But the Blood Race were different.

Even if a large amount of their Life Force was drained, they could preserve their own lives by slumbering in their coffins instead of dying outright.

Under these circumstances, Zorn could use these Blood Race as his personal "Life Batteries."

He would slowly nurture them.

When he needed Life Force, he could quickly recharge at any time.

Just as Zorn was draining a bit more Life Force, a furious roar echoed from the depths of the cave.

"SHHH..."

"Damned bitch, this is my cave! You’ll all die here today...!"

"HISSS—"

The high-pitched screech contained some kind of powerful Forbidden Secret Technique.

Zorn’s vision blurred. A vast expanse of white afterimages intertwined, making it difficult to distinguish the World before him.

Immediately after, SHINK SHINK SHINK... Sharp thorns rapidly shot up from the ground.

The attack should have been aimed at the Blood Race Viscount.

As it turned out, Zorn was caught in the crossfire.

A portion of the thorns burst out continuously from under Zorn’s feet.

Wearing his Shadow Boots and executing the Thousand Stream Mist Step, Zorn easily dodged the attacks.

Just as Zorn was about to go take a look, a cloud of Shadow Bats, like a swirl of shadow and blood mist, descended rapidly and transformed into Lady Livella beside him.

She was heavily injured, and her Sequence was somewhat unstable.

Zorn placed a hand on her shoulder.

"GURGLE..."

A massive amount of Life Force was transferred to her.

As a transporter of life, his healing efficiency was naturally extremely high.

Livia’s injuries recovered quickly, and at the same time, the power of his Evil Spirit Authority soothed her unstable Sequence.

In any case, this was the Forbidden·Masked Spider King’s nest. The suppressive effects of its territory were considerable.

It was normal that Livia couldn’t win on her own.

However, things were different now that Zorn had dealt with all the minions.

Now, it was time to gang up on it!

"BOOM..."

The furious Forbidden·Masked Spider King smashed through a thick wall of ice.

"All of you, die! HISSS—"

The high-pitched Spider King’s Roar was about to erupt.

Eternal Calamity: Whip.

The powerful Forbidden Curse Zorn had prepared long ago was unleashed.

"HISSS—"

The screech still came out.

But it was just a simple roar.

It lacked the powerful Soul Intimidation and Spiritual Suppression effects of the Spider King’s Roar.

A bitter, bone-chilling wind surged forth.

"WHOOSH..."

Ripples of shimmering light appeared on the ground and the ice walls.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Invisible blades from the Forbidden Curse Scythe slashed toward the Forbidden·Masked Spider King.

Sensing the danger, the Forbidden·Masked Spider King’s two arms blurred, transforming into two thick, broad Demon Spider Armor Limbs. It clasped them together in front of itself, forming something like a thick Battle Shield.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG...

The Forbidden Curse Scythe blades struck one after another, slamming into the Demon Spider Armor Limbs and forcing the Forbidden·Masked Spider King back step by step.

"Damn it... He’s a Fighting Master! How can he release the power of a Forbidden Curse?"

The Masked Spider King roared, its face twisted and ferocious.

Just as the Forbidden·Masked Spider King was blocking the powerful Forbidden Curse from the front...

A cold, dark Shadow silently appeared behind it.

By the time it noticed, it was too late.

"SHLICK—"

An assassin’s Shadow Blade plunged viciously into its rear abdomen sac.

"HISSS..."

Intense pain made the Forbidden·Masked Spider King screech erratically.

But it still had to contend with the terrifying Forbidden Curse.

The terrifying Forbidden Curse wasn’t over yet.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH...

A series of Magic Balls came whistling through the air.

BOOM BOOM BOOM...

In an instant, the Forbidden·Masked Spider King was completely engulfed by Zorn’s Magic.

Livia vented all her pent-up frustration from being suppressed by the Forbidden·Masked Spider King earlier, channeling it into her Shadow Blade. She relentlessly attacked from behind with her blade.

She struck so hard that the Masked Spider King’s entrails, mixed with blood, flowed out in a stream of gore.

"HISSS..."

From deep within the swirling mist and Spiritual Energy fluctuations, a massive web, fully two meters in diameter, shot toward Zorn in an instant.

The battered and pathetic Forbidden·Masked Spider King was still trying to counterattack.

Zorn, long since prepared, easily evaded the attack with a Shadow Jump.

HISSS...

Roaring furiously, the Forbidden·Masked Spider King continuously spat out web after web.

It seemed to be trying to capture Zorn.

However, Zorn had already seen through its intentions.

It was attempting to use the massive number of webs to complete its powerful Secret Technique, the Forbidden Magic Net.

Eternal Calamity: Whip.

The formless power of the Forbidden Curse transformed into a forbidden whip that lashed viciously at the depths of the Forbidden·Masked Spider King’s Sequence.

’You want to lay a web? I’ll just seal away your ability to do so.’

Sure enough.

After that ability was sealed, the Forbidden·Masked Spider King, now unable to spit webs, grew even more frenzied.

Its silhouette expanded continuously, and its tyrannical, cruel aura surged.

’Is it undergoing further forbidden mutation?’

Zorn raised an eyebrow slightly.

Although a forbidden mutation would further amplify its destructive power...

...it would also cause it to completely mutate and descend into the Abyss of madness.

But faced with their combined assault...

...the Forbidden·Masked Spider King had no way out. It could only sink deeper into the forbidden.

The massive, swaying silhouette suddenly pressed down on Zorn.

As he used Shadow Jump to get away, Zorn once again activated a powerful Forbidden Curse.

"BOOM... BOOM... BOOM..."

A tremendous roar reverberated and spread.

Even the falling snowflakes outside were constantly being shattered by the vibrations.

Faintly visible through the falling snow and mist, the massive silhouette of the Demon Spider could be seen moving left and right, attacking as it roared.

Under their combined assault, after taking five of Zorn’s Forbidden Curses, hundreds of his Magic Balls, and dozens of stabs from Livia, the Forbidden·Masked Spider King—whose Skills were sealed, repeatedly broken free from, and then sealed again—finally... collapsed!

"HSSS~"

Taking the final wave of attacks from the Forbidden·Masked Spider King...

...Zorn, his heart pierced through, sucked in a sharp breath from the pain.

However, a Fighting Master’s constitution was extremely resilient.

After the initial searing pain, he steadily endured the aftermath.

For a major boss template who was already Level 4...

...physical destruction was merely a minor injury.

The collapse of his Evil Spirit Wizard Sequence was the true sign of Death.

The power of the Golden Skeleton began to take effect.

Zorn’s heart and pierced chest cavity began to recover rapidly.

Then, Zorn looked toward the Level Six Blood Race, Viscountess Livella, not far away.

At this moment, a look of struggle and hesitation flickered across Viscountess Livella’s face.

Zorn could feel it. She seemed to be trying to break free from the shackles of his Evil Spirit Authority.

If Zorn were Level Six...

...she would naturally have no chance of breaking free.

But Zorn was only Level 4, a full tier below her. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Viscountess Livella, it’s better for you to continue your slumber."

Zorn said slowly, activating his Evil Spirit Authority as he spoke.

After a moment’s hesitation, Viscountess Livella’s expression finally calmed.

"As you command, my master!"

After opening his Spiritual Realm and letting the Level Six Shadow Blood Race Viscount enter her coffin to fall back into slumber...

...Zorn finally let out a soft breath.

Then, he looked at the now-dead Forbidden·Masked Spider King.

Its Sequence Crystal Core had already materialized.

’Feed the Masked Spider King’s Sequence Crystal Core to the Magical Castle, and with a few other materials, it should be enough for the Magical Castle to grow castle appendages.’

’Also...’

Zorn looked up at the Demon Spider Nest, which was on the verge of collapse.

’Now that I’ve killed the Forbidden·Masked Spider King, the Harvesters will definitely not let this go.’

’And this time, the Harvesters have come in force. They even want to kill the Extraordinary Tutors of Ogrande City.’

’On this trip into the Ancient Mage Ruins, I have to get my hands on the powerful Ancient God Curse as quickly as possible.’

’Who knows, those madmen tainted by the Forbidden Blood might even attack the Ancient Ruins.’

’In the coming days, the true Calamity for Ogrande City is about to begin!’