Chapter 98

With a strong push, the grand mansion's gate creaked, and large chunks of mud fell off. Sakura Rain pushed harder and then quickly stepped back, standing beside the others, watching the gate slowly open on its own.

"Boom!"

A huge piece of mud fell, splashing mud everywhere, quickly enveloping Yang Ye and the others. It took a while for their vision to clear, and the interior of the mansion was revealed. The once white, now black and dilapidated dome was full of holes, allowing light to filter through, enabling everyone to see their surroundings. Due to the commotion caused by pushing the gate, black mud occasionally fell from the dome. The dome connected to the surrounding walls, which were very neat and straight. Since they were vertical, they had no mud accumulation, making them one of the few areas without mud. The carvings and paintings on the walls were clearly visible, but the various light fixtures were decayed. Arched windows were scattered along the walls, but the once colorful glass was long gone, leaving only empty frames. Pots and jars were piled in the corners, which seemed out of place in such a setting.

The mansion was symmetrically arranged. From the entrance, a rotten red carpet led forward, flanked by decayed knight armors. Some of the armor and swords still glinted, remarkably uncorroded! The knights faced each other, with rows of iron lamp stands behind them, now decayed into mud and ash, leaving only the red candles visible. The red carpet extended to a platform at the end, leading up to a grand, luxurious chair made of fine stone. The fabric had long since disappeared, but the stone chair remained intact and clean, as if it had been used recently.

Upon entering the mansion, Yang Ye and the others were instantly awed by its grandeur. This place didn't seem designed for living; it more resembled a palace for an emperor or someone of high status.

"Let's... go." Night Curtain trembled, stepping into the mansion.

The others followed.

[System: Miserable humans, you wish to disturb the slumber of the silent one...]

The sudden system message stunned everyone. They didn't understand its meaning, but it seemed like a monologue from someone, likely the boss of this place.

"Continue." Sakura Rain frowned, not fearing the environment but the possibility of the boss suddenly appearing from a corner and instantly killing someone. They had encountered such devious bosses before.

Night Curtain, gripping his longsword, continued forward. His steel boots thudded on the floor, the sound muffled and transmitted through the water, making it hard to hear.

"Night Curtain, be lighter on your feet, you're being too noisy." Sakura Rain frowned, reminding him.

Night Curtain nodded, slowing his steps and nervously looking around...

Who among them was the calmest? Of course, it was Yang Ye. Why? Because he could see...

Because his miner's helmet could see everything! It could distinguish the environment from the monsters, identify dangers and safe areas. The miner's helmet showed him everything! Yang Ye felt frustrated, wishing he could experience the excitement and tension like Sakura Rain and the others when they entered a new, dangerous map. He wanted to solve puzzles, fight the boss, and analyze the monsters' skills, observing everything and utilizing every resource... But he couldn't, because the miner's helmet told him everything.

Yang Ye felt like he was watching a horror movie. The others, who hadn't seen it before, were immersed in the terrifying atmosphere, while he, though watching, had someone constantly spoiling the plot, telling him who the killer was, who would die next, and where the scary parts were... How annoying!

And that someone was the miner's helmet.

"Ah..." Yang Ye sighed, knowing he couldn't do without this magical helmet for now.

"What's wrong? Did you notice something?" Sakura Rain, sensing Yang Ye's mood, asked, thinking he had found something strange.

"Nothing, let's continue." Yang Ye thought to himself, "I can see the boss, but I can't tell you."

The journey continued without any danger, and the group breathed a sigh of relief. As they reached the platform, the system gave another message—

[System: I don't know why you always come to this place. It's not a good place. Why do you come? What do you want to discover...]

[System: Human curiosity is truly amazing. They fear things yet want to approach them. The result is either discovering the truth or dying in the process.]

The group's faces changed, finding these cryptic messages unsettling. They would rather face the boss directly.

Just as the system finished, a sound came from the platform. Everyone looked up, startled—

A giant goldfish, a huge golden-red goldfish, a giant golden-red goldfish with a white belly!

Hey, only dead fish float on their backs, right?

As the group mentally complained, the goldfish suddenly flipped, returning to normal with its white belly down. It slowly landed on the platform chair, which was smaller than one of its fins. Why sit on it?

After a moment of silence, the goldfish spoke: "And you are the latter." Its voice was sharp and unnatural, like metal shards rubbing together, very unpleasant.

This statement left the group even more confused. Yang Ye helpfully explained, "There are two types of people, one of which dies to discover the truth. We are that type."

The group glared at him, as if to say, "We know, no need to tell us."

With a sharp, unpleasant voice, the goldfish continued, "You have never been here, so you don't know what happens here. Killing me is your mission, of course, but I won't let you kill me..." It paused, its round eyes scanning the group, "So, you must die." It growled fiercely, its eyes scanning for a target...

[System: You have angered the Goldfish King - Amy. Defeat her to escape the Deep Freeze Pond!]

This marked the start of the battle.

Yang Ye glanced at Amy's stats, not finding anything particularly noteworthy at first, but one line caught his eye—

Goldfish King - Amy (Boss - Spirit Level)

Level: 37

Health: 700,000/700,000

...

Skills:

Bubble Attack: Blowing bubbles is a goldfish's specialty! Amy blows a bubble that flies toward the target, stunning them in water for 5 seconds. The bubble can hit multiple targets.

Fish Scale Splash: Can fish scales be used as an attack? Unknown, but let's try... Amy shoots her scales at all targets in range, each causing damage. The damage stacks, but subsequent damage decreases by 10%, up to a maximum of 60%.

Swallow: Eat you up!! Amy swallows a target, restoring 5% of her health. The swallowed target takes damage and stays in her stomach for 3 seconds. This skill cannot be dodged.

Transform: I was once a beautiful girl... Amy was originally a beautiful girl but turned into a goldfish king due to an accident. After taking enough damage, she can transform into a human form for 5 seconds, charming all male characters to approach her. The charm lasts 10 seconds, during which the characters are uncontrollable. (Hidden: Killing the Goldfish King in human form completes the hidden quest [Sixteen Years of Repayment], allowing you to bring Amy back to Voss alive and complete the quest, with a chance to obtain a follower: Amy)

(Hidden: Drops: Waterquake Longbow (Spirit Level), Amy's Flower Robe (Gold Level), Amy's Water Flower Necklace (Quest Item), Shrimp Dish (Item))

What attracted Yang Ye was the Transform skill! Killing her in human form could bring Amy back alive, complete a hidden quest, and gain a follower! This was the first time Yang Ye encountered a dungeon that offered a follower. He wondered about Amy's stats and, if she was strong...

After some thought, though it felt a bit selfish, Yang Ye decided not to tell Sakura Rain. He would come back with New B and Wu Di to farm the follower. After all, everyone has some selfishness, and if not for the limit on followers, Yang Ye would have wanted more cute girls...

"Night Curtain, quickly go up and pull the hate, everyone prepare to attack." Sakura Rain called out anxiously.

Night Curtain, following the order, rushed up the platform, stabbed with his sword, used a skill, and quickly retreated.

"Annoying shrimp, I'll catch you all for bait!!"

Amy, enraged, lunged at Night Curtain, revealing rows of sharp teeth with food residue.

This... would Amy's human form have such teeth? Yang Ye shuddered, his desire to make Amy his follower diminishing... Lilianna was better, cute, with fair skin, a rosy face, and beautiful teeth, and she smelled good... Ah, he had to kiss her later.

Yang Ye, with these thoughts, saw Amy rush down the platform and engage in battle with Night Curtain and the others. He quickly joined in to help...