Putting aside whether this guy called ‘Ankexikaao’ is really a creep or not, if we want to move forward, we’ll have to follow his instructions.
So, who should shout “Lord Ankexikaao is so handsome!” three times? The cute girl requirement—who would it be?
Everyone’s eyes turned to me at once. I shook my head quickly. “No, no, no—the sign specifically says a cute girl has to do it.”
“You are the cute girl!” everyone chimed in together.
“You’re super cute!” Dora added with enthusiastic praise.
But that compliment didn’t make me happy at all. If only she’d said ‘handsome’ instead…
Huh? Could Ankexikaao really be my clone?
Since everyone had chosen me, I couldn’t refuse anymore. Otherwise, they’d start doubting my gender.
Hmm… time for self-hypnosis. Rogied! You are a very cute girl right now!
After repeating it about ten times in my head, I had no doubt left that I was incredibly cute.
*Ahem.* I cleared my throat slightly, then shouted at the top of my lungs into the empty passage: “Ankexikaao is so handsome!!!”
“It’s ‘Lord Ankexikaao is so handsome’!!!” a man’s voice echoed from nowhere.
We were stunned! Was there someone else here?
Dora was even more agitated. Without a word, she summoned a battle-ready light wall to shield us—this big girl was lightning-fast in combat.
But after waiting a long time, the voice didn’t return.
Dora closed her eyes to sense the passage. After a while, she opened them and shook her head. “No life signs within my sensing range.”
I didn’t know Dora’s exact level, but clearly, she was way stronger than Anjelit. Otherwise, she couldn’t have easily subdued her.
Proud Anjelit would never accept being beaten by someone of equal strength. Yet after that stripping incident, she showed no hostility to Sharon’s group.
She was smart. After assessing their power, she swallowed her pride.
Since even Anjelit didn’t challenge Dora, Dora must be over level 25, maybe higher.
“No luck. Still no life signs,” Dora said after another failed attempt.
The voice had sounded close. If Dora couldn’t sense it, there were only two possibilities: either Ankexikaao was far stronger than her, or he was a stealthy magic-class adventurer.
“What now?” We exchanged glances. After a brief discussion, we had no choice but to follow the sign’s instructions.
I took a deep breath. “Lord Ankexikaao is so handsome!”
This time, no correction came.
I shouted twice more. “Lord Ankexikaao is so handsome!” “Lord Ankexikaao is so handsome!”
*Boom!* As my third shout ended, a passage appeared behind us—right between the left and right corridors—where a wall had been.
Huh? So I really am a cute girl?
Dora cautiously advanced with her light wall, then crouched to inspect. “Magic residue… fading. It was a ‘disguise’ spell.”
Sure enough, the fake bricks dissolved into shimmering light.
We moved on, Dora leading with her light wall.
The passage was empty, no life signs in this dungeon.
After about five minutes, Dora signaled to stop.
We halted beside her. She extended her light gem. A wall appeared ahead.
No way again? “Look down,” someone said.
I saw a spiral staircase descending.
A path downward.
Dora checked the map quickly. “This is the right way. Let’s go down.”
She stepped onto the first stair. We followed.
The spiral staircase was strange, getting brighter as we descended.
Every few meters, orange gems were embedded in the walls, glowing faintly.
Though dimmer than Dora’s gem, their numbers provided enough light.
“These are glowstones. Mages use them for lighting,” Dora explained, seeing me stare.
I turned, touching my cheek shyly. “I think they’re so pretty… I really want one…” I blinked hard, silently screaming: I’m so cute, please get me one!
“I’ll get it for you!” Dora’s nose steamed. She tried to pry one out, but it was stuck.
“Never mind…” I sighed, waving my hand.
But Dora didn’t give up. She chanted a spell, her hands glowing white. This time, the glowstone came loose.
“Here.” She smiled, her teeth bright in the dim light.
Just a small moment.
We continued. The spiral seemed endless, sloping down at sixty degrees.
After eight minutes, glowstones were everywhere, lighting was ample.
Dora extinguished her gem.
Two minutes later, the staircase ended. A glowing exit appeared.
We stepped out—and gaped at the ‘world’ before us.
Yes. This truly deserved to be called a ‘world’!
An epic, magnificent underground realm!
A vast space, as if carved from the earth’s heart!
Walls embedded with countless glowstones!
Below, bottomless groundwater… a sea!
Ahead, a narrow rock path for five people, leading to an altar-like platform.
On the altar, a stone with a sword embedded in it!
“We’ve arrived!” Dora’s expression changed when she saw the sword.
