Chapter 503: The Bronze Altar
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Boom, boom!
Two Red-skinned Sanguine Pig Demons were sent flying into the air. Upon hitting the ground, their lifeless bodies rolled a couple of times until they collided against the farthest corner of the wall.
Their assailants were a pair of meaty arms that had swung out of nowhere. A massive form stepped out from a corner, bringing with it the overwhelming stench of blood. Its shadow fell upon Dumby, enveloping it entirely in darkness.
Its arms were massive and sinewy, its reddish skin covered with a layer of coarse grayish hair that seemed to be slick with sweat. Its hair was bunched up into a beard of sorts that spanned from its lower jaw to its throat. A pair of white tusks protruded from its lower jaw, as well.
Its voice box rumbled thunderously each time it inhaled. The tiles on the ground cracked beneath its feet with each step it took.
What are these tiles made of, really? The pig demons’ bodies barely made a dent on them. Not at all intimidated by the sight of this massive pig demon that had appeared before him, Gao Peng seemed more preoccupied with the mystery behind the floor tiles’ sturdiness.
[Monster Name]: Red-skinned Sanguine Pig Demon
[Monster Level]: Level 54 (King-tier)
[Monster Grade]: Excellent
[Monster Ability]: Muscular Body Level 4, Sanguinary Reaction Level 2, Violent Temper Level 3, Sturdy Pigskin Level 3, Enhanced Durability Level 3, Extreme Violence Level 3
[Monster Attribute]: Blood/Dark
[Monster Description]: A pig demon with a tyrannical temperament. Originally the leader of the gray-skinned pig monster pack, it received an incredible boost in strength after consuming the labyrinth’s Precept Fragments. Unfortunately, it did not receive a boost in intelligence.
Seeing that it was only a King-tier Excellent-grade monster, Gao Peng didn’t think it deserved his attention.
Silly, however, seemed serious about the upcoming battle. After finishing its juice box, it put it back into its portable space and took out another one. “Wow, Dumby is so amazing. He’s just all over the place…” It took a long sip from its juice box and nearly choked.
Dumby, who had reached King-tier not too long ago, had barely broken a sweat when it cut down the Red-skinned Sanguine Pig Demon. All it had taken were a few clean strokes from Dumby, and the pig demon was down for the count. The fact that the latter towered over Dumby was the only reason why the battle took longer than it should have.
The now-deceased Red-skinned Sanguine Pig Demon lay on the ground, motionless. It was clad in a simple armor that covered even its private parts, suggesting that the pig demon seemed to have some sense of propriety.
Silly’s eyes lit up. With just two sips, it was able to suck its juice box dry, then it wiped its mouth clean with its tentacles. Upon seeing Dumby’s triumphant form over the pig demon’s lifeless body, it couldn’t help but imagine itself growing extremely, vastly enormous one day.
Then it could easily lift a normal-sized Stripey in its tentacles and maybe even juggle it in the air. Silly giggled at the thought of itself growing so huge that it could carve out a valley with just one stroke of its tentacle.
After having Dumby reanimate the Red-skinned Sanguine Pig Demon, Gao Peng led his familiars deeper into the labyrinth. The path into the depths of the labyrinth was easy to follow. They only needed to retrace the Red-skinned Sanguine Pig Demon’s steps.
The pig demon’s scent still lingered in the air. Flowing Light sniffed the air for it like a small dog.
After rounding countless corners in the labyrinth, they finally reached the heart of it. It was an empty stretch of ground that seemed to be stained in red. It was at least as big as a football field. In the middle of the field stood a number of crudely made houses made of wood and stone. They didn’t seem to be arranged in any clear order.
Near the edge of this “village” was a wooden rack, on which various dried-out monster corpses were hung. This must have been the pig demon’s food reserve.
Gao Peng surveyed his surroundings intently, then noticed a bronze altar not too far away. Against this rustic backdrop, the bronze altar seemed out of place.
This strange altar was sitting quietly against the northern wall of the village. Dumby sent one of its pig-shaped cannon fodder ahead to investigate.
Nothing happened when the pig skeleton went to the edge of the altar, then climbed onto it. Still, nothing happened.
Even so, Gao Peng wasn’t willing to let his guard down. Only after sending a few more pig skeletons to check out the altar was he finally convinced that it wasn’t a trap.
Gao Peng walked up to the altar and lightly ran a finger against the edge. The bronze altar was marred by countless dark stains. Interlocking gears of all shapes and sizes were on its rim.
The altar’s surface felt rough to the touch. Suddenly, Gao Peng felt a sharp pain in his finger and quickly pulled his hand away from the altar.
Gao Peng was enraged. He realized that he had been playing into the hands of the altar. There was no way someone as cautious and paranoid as he would ever willingly stroke strange altars found in strange labyrinths.
This altar must be up to no good, Gao Peng decided. “Dumby, destroy it!”
Suddenly, bright red light erupted from the altar. There was a strange mumbling coming from it. A dark dwarvish figure appeared on the altar, screaming in a shrill voice, “Don’t break me. Whatever you do, don’t break me. I can help you become stronger!”
However, the strange figure’s words went unheeded. Dumby’s face remained unmoved as it swung its fist at the altar. Boom!
The altar shook violently when Dumby’s fist landed on it. However, the ancient stained altar still remained intact.
The dwarf’s pleading face turned joyful as it chuckled happily. “You can’t break me. You’re too weak, oh ho ho ho!”
Dumby’s face remained expressionless. It swung another fist at the altar, then a third, then a fourth. Each of its punches fell on the same spot.
Dang, dang… A hint of worry appeared on the dwarf’s face. This loon. Isn’t it obvious you can’t break me with your punches? Why are you still punching? Aren’t your hands hurting by now?
Considering that it wasn’t as young as it used to be, the dwarf didn’t know how many more of Dumby’s punches it could take.
It heaved a sigh and in a tone that seemed to suggest that it was ready to negotiate with him, said to Gao Peng, “Mr. trainer, sir, you should know that your familiar will not be able to break my body. I see that you’re a man of exceptional ability. I now acknowledge you as my new master. Now, would you please tell your familiar to stop?”
Gao Peng looked at the dwarf and smiled. “Well, that was easy.”
The dwarf sat on the edge of the altar, its head cocked to one side as it gazed at Gao Peng.
“What are your abilities? Can you fly me around?” questioned Gao Peng.
“In my prime, I could certainly fly,” said the dwarf in an uncertain tone.
“What about now?”
“I probably still could,” it mumbled. “But I can also power up your familiars,” it assured Gao Peng.
“How so?” asked Gao Peng curiously.
“You’ll need to give me an offering first. Only then will I be able to give you what you want,” explained the dwarf.
Gao Peng chuckled, then intently gazed at the bronze altar for three seconds.
[Item Name]: Great Altar Cutter (Ruined)
[Item Description]: Once it receives an offering from its user, the altar will break it down and channel its disassembled contents to its user’s intended target. (Will not work on live subjects. Also, due to the altar’s dilapidated state, the efficiency and rate of disassembly have been somewhat affected.)
It disassembles things? Sounds fascinating. After much thought, Gao Peng proceeded to pick up a piece of wood nearby and placed it on top of the altar.
The dwarf was stunned. This is what you’re offering me? It looked at Gao Peng in the eye.
Gao Peng gave it an encouraging smile. “Good luck,” he said.
The dwarf began to feel exasperated at the sight of Gao Peng’s hopeful face. Good luck my *ss! You’re expecting me to turn this broken piece of wood into gold? Are you the devil?!