To rescue someone lost in a shattered space… at any time, that was nearly impossible.
Forcing a rescue usually meant brutal sacrifice and an unknown ending.
Before committing, one had to weigh: was the person waiting for rescue really worth such a cost?
For Lin Jun, the answer was obvious—worth it. After all, the Pujis feared nothing less than sacrifice!
One Puji dashed across what looked like a “wall,” slammed into a floating clump of earth—and in the next instant, it appeared on an inverted stone floor far away!
It kept running, leaping across three disjointed fragments in succession… but stepping into the fourth, it plummeted into nothingness and the connection was severed.
Another Puji ignored the ground entirely, charging straight into the center. After several “blinks,” it smashed into a rock and died.
The scouting Pujis fell one after another, but still they poured into the broken lower layer without pause.
The tunnel connecting middle and lower layers was packed with a line of mushrooms.
“Boss, what’s going on?”Outside the tunnel, Norris sat cramped inside the bulky Gida(Jida), too large to enter, so he could only ask.
“Don’t bother me—go play with Gray. We’re rescuing your Sister Pig here, and you can’t help!”
“Oh…”
After brushing him off, Lin Jun refocused entirely on directing Pujis to their deaths.
Through this near-brute-force method of exploration, almost every corner of the fractured lower layer echoed with “puji puji” footsteps.
Little Pig stood dumbly on her platform. Above, left, right—Pujis flickered in and out all around her.
She had chased the Qis here, killed it, and then found herself trapped deeper instead of escaping.
After witnessing a block collapse with her own eyes, she dared not move again.
At first she tried tossing stones, hoping to hear an echo—if she did, the area beyond was intact.
But sound didn’t always carry, and far-off blocks remained silent.
Eventually, with every path tested, she was stuck in a dead end.
Her choice: wait for rescue, or gamble everything for a sliver of life.
She chose to endure. Only when all else failed would she stake her life.
Time here was a dull knife, cutting at her will and body.
To last longer, she even forced herself to swallow nauseating purple blood.
The half insect leg in her hand was her final ration. When it was gone… she’d risk everything.
But no matter what, she never let go of the burning stone in her palm.
It wasn’t just a stone—it was her proof of loyalty, the token tying her to the boss’s cause.
Her only rope upward, when she had nothing left.
No one knew the Pujis’ strength—no, potential—better than her.
Boss… had the makings of a true overlord.
She didn’t want to fade into obscurity. She craved strength, she craved power!
If not, she never would’ve accepted that suicidal quest to find the Holy Book.
She’d once missed her chance. But now, the second chance burned painfully in her hand.
Even if it seared her palm to ash, she would never let go!
And at last—luck favored her.
Pop—
A Puji dropped from above, landing solidly on her platform.
Instantly, every Puji in the lower layer halted exploration and retraced its steps.
They all converged, following the exact path of that lucky one.
One after another, forming a bridge of mushrooms.
Soon, a Puji-road stretched straight to Little Pig.
Still not safe enough—ten more surged forward, wrapping around her body until she was bundled tight.
Any danger would have to kill them first, buying her time.
With no block collapsing at the worst moment, fifteen minutes later, Little Pig was finally back in safety.
“Little Pig! Well done! Go get some proper rest!”
One Puji, perched on another’s cap, patted her shoulder.
At the same time, delicate tendrils eagerly, carefully coiled around the Sunstone fragment in her hand.
“Boss… do you… have any blood?” she asked weakly.
“Of course…”
Hmm.
Fresh beast blood wasn’t lacking—they could fetch it from Amethyst Dungeon.
But given the merit she’d just earned, her treatment should be raised.
The demonkin corpses? Already decomposed.
Should he go tap some troglodytes?
That’d take half a day…
He should’ve kept a stock of “blood packs.”
Lin Jun’s gaze swept across Mushroom Garden No. 3.
He skipped past Gray, who was gnawing on a burrower in her sleep, and finally landed on Norris in the Gida(Jida).
“Norris,” Lin Jun said warmly, “you’ve been stuck in that Gida(Jida) all the time. Not much mobility, huh? Go to the mushroom house and get ready. While we’ve got downtime, I’ll reinforce your cold resistance, and upgrade your Gida(Jida) too.”
“Upgrade Gida(Jida)?” Norris’ eyes lit up.
“Yep. It’s too clunky. I’m planning to add a jump skill to the legs for more mobility.”
“True, it is kind of heavy. Boss, you really get it! Thanks!”
“Don’t mention it. Oh, and I’ll need a little of your blood. That okay?” Lin Jun added casually.
“My blood?” Norris blinked, puzzled.
“Relax~” Lin Jun reassured instantly, cheerful and convincing. “Just like last time—eyes shut, blink, it’s done. Won’t even hurt.”
“Well… alright then.” Norris scratched his head. For a sleeker, stronger mech, such a “small request” was nothing.
…
…
…
Norris got his upgraded Gida(Jida), Little Pig had her feast, Lin Jun claimed the fragment—everyone lived happily ever after!
Except for a certain black dragonkin, woken cold again…