Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

CHAPTER 118: Wiping the Slate Clean - The Infamous Slum Sprites

The chase led Daisuke and Zephyr along the back alleys of Wonderelle's eastern district. The farther southeast they went, the more dilapidated and depressing the buildings became, similar to the slums of Dusthaven.

Finally, they halted in the doorframe of an old building that had mostly collapsed in on itself. Within its ominous confides is where the shadow had promptly disappeared.

Zephyr whimpered, the dark entrance seeming more like the gaping jaws of an unfathomable monster rather than a doorway.

"I know," Daisuke murmured. "But I still need to go inside."

The pup followed close behind, refusing to let his friend enter the belly of the beast alone. The telltale of a former home and the presence of a family could be seen—a small wooden table accompanied by four chairs in the dining room, dirty dishes in the kitchen, a doll made of straw left abandoned on the bathroom floor.

The master bedroom had a large hole in the wall that was evidently man-made. The building was artistically constructed into the side of a small hill. The hole in the wall was tunneled into that hill, the path slowly curving downwards and supported by thick wooden beams.

As Daisuke approached the treacherous path, the soft blue glow from industrial-grade mana lambs highlighted his face. "This... it looks like a mining shaft."

"Rawrwu~"

Roughly forty feet down, the slanted tunnel that was roughly two meters in width led into an expansive chamber with level ground. Large holes and mounds of dirt and rocks littered the space—these were accompanied by equipment such as hoes, shovels, and wheelbarrows.

The scene was similar to that of the mining shaft in Elmridge Village, but instead of traces of gold, silver, and other precious materials, there were the skeletal remains of different species of humans.

"...This place," Daisuke murmured.

It was the catacombs of an ancient civilization, which meant this was possibly an archeological dig site. But there was no precision, delicacy, or respect in the state of the uncovered remains. It was almost like the expedition team were frantically searching for something and the humanoid fossils were just a means to an end.

Brushing the unsettling thought aside, Daisuke briefly admired the fascinating monuments of wood and rock that decorated the ancient tomb. Then he scanned the dimly lit chamber with the Eye of Verity, but wasn't able to find a trace of the vile bastard who had lured them here.

Before he could begin to despair—

"Woof!"

The hushed bark of his canine companion echoed from across the chamber. Where his visual prowess had failed, Zephyr managed to rediscover the trail with his keen sense of smell. It led into another narrow corridor that eventually fell off into a pool of water radiating a mesmerizing blue glow.

"They must have placed mana crystals inside so that no one would accidentally fall in," Daisuke deduced in a whisper.

Zephyr made some grumbling sound, likely dreading the idea of falling in when water wasn't exactly his most favorite element.

At the same time, Daisuke assessed the area, noting the narrow ledge at either side of the pool that would allow them to shuffle past it without the need to get wet. There was also a crudely fashioned railing along the side of the wall that could be used for support.

Without hesitation, the duo made their way toward the ledge, well aware that stalling would simply add more distance between them and Adrian, making it even less likely that he would be found.