Chapter 1625: Chapter 1625

After Ferleen admitted he didn't know why the entrance was located within a lake that drained their life force and Mana, Lucifer pressed for more details about this world.

"Can you explain a bit more?" Lucifer asked. "What is this floor?"

"We should see for ourselves first!" Celes said, guiding the bubble out of the water as everyone beheld the sight of Floor 45.

A cloudy sky hung over a tranquil lake shrouded in cold mist. In the distance, lush jungles and swamps stretched out, accompanied by the sounds of bugs, birds, and other creatures echoing faintly, creating a wild, atmospheric cacophony.

"Welcome to Lakevale, a Spiritual Realm centered around a great lake surrounded by swamps and forests, where mist rarely recedes and rain falls almost daily," Ferleen said, sighing. "It's not our favorite floor to visit because you're always wet here."

"Ugh, the air is so misty and humid. It's hard to dry out too!" Melianna said. "You only catch colds here!"

"Lakevale, huh?" Maria mused. "Are there people here?"

"Yes, the inhabitants live mostly underwater or in the swamps and are divided into three main tribes: the Catfishmen, the Frogians, and the Salamandrians," Ferleen explained. "There are also many Water, Swamp, and Forest Spirits roaming this place, but… huh? It feels really empty now. Why?"

"You said this is a Spiritual Realm?" Alma asked, scanning her surroundings. "I can feel it… a world made entirely of Spiritual Energy. It's wonderful… but this world is suffering, this realm… and its people."

"I sense something too," Celes said. "The Spirits are crying, far away… trapped. We have to help them, Mom!"

"Calm down, Celes, one thing at a time, okay?" Nia said, soothing her son. "Maria, how about we start by surveying our surroundings and mapping the area?"

"Good idea," Maria nodded, extending her Aura. "It'll take a moment."

She swiftly analyzed her surroundings, rapidly mapping the area and quickly detecting several presences.

"I sense a large group of people to the northwest, with others hiding underwater or underground. There's also a powerful concentration of divine energy to the north," Maria said. "Something else is out there, though I couldn't discern it clearly. This mist significantly weakens Mana. It felt like… something altering the water."

"Really? You couldn't see more?" Partner asked.

"I could try harder if I unseal all my power, but that risks destabilizing this small world," Maria said. "I might even contaminate the entire lake and…"

"That's fine, Maria. Your information is sufficient," Jonathan nodded. "Let's head to those people first. We might learn what's happening here more quickly that way."

"Yes! I know the way. Follow me," Maria said.

She exited the bubble and soared through the cloudy skies, keeping Celes' bubble close. After a minute or two, they reached an open area near the lake, a swamp dotted with houses crafted from moss-covered wood.

The village was encircled by tall walls of sharp wood rising ten meters high, further fortified by plants bearing sharp spikes, venomous toxins in their flowers, needles, and small fruits.

"Is this it?" Nyx wondered. "Oh, I saw something jump! Is it a frog? A big one?"

"Nyx, don't rush inside!" Maria said, grabbing her. "Phew… calm down, girl. We'll go together."

Maria and her family cautiously approached the massive wooden gate. No guards were visible outside, but she sensed many eyes watching them.

They were hiding in the mud and nearby ponds, their eyes barely discernible through the mist.

A man's voice echoed after a moment.

"I am Maria, and this is my party. We are Players, curious about what's happening here… We would like to help, yes," Maria said.

"Help?! Don't make me laugh! Outsiders are not allowed inside the village… Leave!"

The voice fell silent, and Maria glanced at her family, shrugging.

Then she stepped forward, waving her hand to open the wooden gate with her psychic powers.

Dozens of warriors emerged from their hiding spots. Some resembled humanoid catfish, others large frog-like humanoids, and some salamanders, all attacking Maria with rudimentary wooden spears tipped with stone but imbued with potent spiritual energy from their bodies.

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!

A barrage of attacks struck Maria from every angle, but she withstood the assault and released a shockwave of psychic power, repelling them and shattering their spiritual weapons.

"That's enough, I don't want to fight any of you. I am strong enough to destroy your entire world if I wished."

Maria's Aura surged, causing the Spiritual Realm to tremble intensely. The soldiers panicked, fleeing toward the village. Thɪs chapter is updated by Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

"The invaders are coming for us!"

"Wait! Oh my goodness, why does this always happen?" Maria facepalmed.

"Perhaps if you hadn't intimidated them like that, this wouldn't have happened?" Emeraldine asked. "Ever thought about that, my dear?"

"I'm sorry… Please calm down, everyone…!" Maria said, struggling with her dark presence that only heightened their fear.

Emeraldine stepped forward alongside Nia, Celes, and Alma.

Their Spiritual Auras radiated, spreading through the village. They spoke no words but demonstrated their deep connection with the Spirits, akin to the inhabitants of this world.

"Please, will you listen to me?" Emeraldine asked. "We are not your enemies. Please forgive my beloved's attitude. She struggles with diplomacy but means no harm. Like me, she has been blessed by the Spirits."

"They have Spirits as Familiars!"

"So they aren't invaders?"

"Spirits would never trust evil people."

"And their Spirits don't seem enslaved either."

"They are not dark spirits either… Wait, that woman has dark spirits!"

As they began to calm down, the villagers noticed Maria's dark spirits and grew anxious again.

"Spirits are spirits, regardless of their element," Emeraldine said. "Maria has dark spirits, but they are not evil. It is our natures that shape these pure beings into something evil, isn't it?"

"But this is… really awkward!"

"Who are you people?"

"Are you Druids and Shamans from another world?"

"But so what? Are you truly going to help us? For no reason at all?"

"We don't believe this!"

"We have no money, no system points, if that's what you seek!"

"If you help us, you gain nothing! Will you do it even after hearing that, huh? Huh?!"

"Well, yes. We don't need whatever meager coins you have," Maria shrugged. "The system rewards us anyway. Also, the lake nearly killed us. Why is the portal underwater?"

"No, that shouldn't be happening!"

"Every inhabitant will drown if that's the case!"

"Someone has to do something…"