Is That A Wisp?

"Ugh. I feel like I would grow old if I lie any further." Feifei rubbed the goosebumps that formed on her arms, trembling once as she sighed. "I feel like I'll become an expert at this sooner or later."

To manipulate the demons, she constantly kept in touch with Hwait, the oldest and most influential Black Demon. Through this, she fed the poor demon as many lies as she could, painting herself as a mysterious enigma that the likes of mortals couldn't ever hope to meet, an entity that mortals like the demons had to be grateful of to even get a chance to meet her. 

She fed Hwait exaggerated tales of herself, making her seem like an overpowered character. Then again, as the labyrinth was something she had created herself, it caused Hwait to drink up any lie she fed it. 

The fact that the other party was ignorant about even the most basic levels of cultivation allowed her to easily lead it through the nose. After all, it had just embarked on the path of cultivation. 

Even though it had figured out a different method to wield Spiritual Energy, it wasn't a proper method. All it did was store Spiritual Energy in the Demon Core and use it. Without the miasma to replenish their reserves, they wouldn't be able to unleash any strong attacks. 

If they used Spiritual Energy in places without miasma, their Demon Cores would be put under a lot of stress. After all, it was because the method Hwait had created, though unique and new, was incomplete. 

Only after it was completed could anything of value be obtained. And to attain that, a tremendous reserve of knowledge was necessary to do so. In Layer 2, Hwait and the Black Demons had to prod through the dark and slowly experiment with things. 

As they didn't have any knowledge, they had to build it up from ground zero. That's why their development had been so slow. 

But through conversing using the Supreme Monster Gecko, Feifei solved some of the puzzles plaguing Hwait, causing it to look at the Supreme Monster Gecko in a new light. 

When it asked about the details, the Supreme Monster Gecko simply replied, "Spiritual Energy is simply the most basic form of energy in the path of cultivation. There are five levels of energy in total: Spiritual Energy, Elemental Energy, Chaos Energy, Divine Energy, and finally, Godly Energy. Every deity wields Godly Energy."

"Standing at the peak of the God Realm, an infinitely vast landmass are the Gods, those that had reached the peak of cultivation. This world you know of is something created for fun by the Gods. My master arrived here to train herself in the ways of mortal warfare."

…

Eight years had passed since the labyrinth had been created. Now, all 108 Black Demons stood at the entrance, fully geared up, ready to engage the labyrinth. They looked at one another, dividing themselves up into teams of five, forming twenty teams in total. 

The final team consisted of eight Black Demons and formed their main force. It consisted of Hwait, Grotak, Doit, Leat, Feater, and other demons that had their respective advantages and were the strongest of the Black Demons. 

All of them branched out through the numerous paths in the labyrinth, their destination being its end. Their expressions were solemn, but there was excitement hidden underneath their solemn gazes. 

They were finally attempting to clear the labyrinth, two years in advance of the stated time. As all the teams began to march into the labyrinth, Hwait turned around, looking at the figure of the Supreme Monster Gecko that was now imposing.

Seeing its stare, the Supreme Monster Gecko understood its implications, grinning as it vanished. "I'll be waiting for you at the end. I'll fight you with everything I got if you do manage to reach there."

"I'll have your word then." Hwait nodded, turning around as it entered with its team of Black Demons, bulldozing through the paths that had already been cleared. Once they crossed the ten-kilometer mark, the uncleared zone started.

Of course, they didn't hold a candle to the Black Demons that simply brushed off any traps and monsters standing their way like swatting dust. Even for Krune, he needed four solid hits from his strongest attack to critically injure a Black Demon. 

And that was eight years ago. Thanks to the explorations, the Black Demons have grown exponentially, now even armed with equipment suitable for their use. They even incorporated Spiritual Energy into their equipment, making it even stronger. 

With zealous excitement, the Black Demons proceeded through the labyrinth, unaffected by whatever was thrown their way. Ten days had already spanned once they had begun their exploration.

Back on the surface, a group of Red Demons were guarding an ice cocoon, looking alert. But unbeknownst to them, a lone figure casually approached the ice cocoon, never sighted by the Red Demons even though she was right before them. 

She then arrived before the ice cocoon, gently tracing her fingers over it, tearing up as she muttered, "I made you wait for too long, didn't I?"

Suddenly, a beam of light flashed before all the Red Demons dropped dead. The area was devoid of demons in an instant as the figure of Zamuria appeared, having long reached the peak of Tier 6. 

She looked at the ice cocoon. "So, this is Krune."

"Please, release him from this," Feifei said as she wiped her tears.

"Leave it to me. I will ensure he wouldn't be harmed in the slightest," Zamuria replied, hacking at the ice with blades of light. She then condensed thousands of tiny fishes that began to gnaw at the edges of the ice, slowly eating through it over time.

Zamuria increased their numbers, beginning to eat through the ice cocoon faster and faster. But even then, when they approached the final layer of ice on Krune's body, a month had already passed. 

Eventually, she condensed a tiny scalpel, gently peeling forth the final layer that was just a gelatinous mixture created from the Healing Extract to keep Krune alive and well-fed. The moment the layer was torn up, Krune's eyes shot open, focusing on Feifei as he smiled. "You've grown old, Feifei."

"You're a grandma now!"