Chapter 173 172. Aidin's Choice
The dim room was only dimly lit by a candle, and the flickering candlelight danced restlessly on the wall.
Aidin sat stiffly at the table, his face as gloomy as water.
He stared at the hyphae spreading on his arm. The pale, thin veins were deeply embedded under the flesh, as if they had originally grown there.
Next to him, there was an empty medicine bottle lying quietly - it was the anti-rebirth potion that he had just drunk.
This rare potion, which stimulates life potential and forcibly removes foreign matter from the body, is extremely effective. However, the price of fifty gold coins is enough to discourage most adventurers.
But it was still affordable for Aidin.
However, the result was like a club hitting him hard in the heart. Ten minutes had passed since he took the medicine, and the mycelium on his arm was still motionless, and even... more active?
"It's useless! It's absolutely useless!" Aidin grabbed the empty bottle and threw it to the ground!
The sound of shattering glass was particularly harsh in the dead silence. He clasped his head tightly with both hands, his knuckles turning white from the force.
"Why is this happening? Why is it just me?"
Having said that, Aidin actually guessed the reason why he was parasitized - he was the only one who could easily hide the symptoms of being parasitized.
Not only did his illusion fail to help him escape, but it also became the reason why he was targeted by Puji!
What will I become?
A corpse completely devoured by mycelium?
A twisted mushroom?
He didn't dare to think about it. The slightest thought was enough to make fear instantly wrap around his heart like an icy vine, strangling him so that he couldn't breathe.
That feeling... was exactly the same as when I was being chased in the Scarecrow Abyss!
And this time, faced with fear, he made the same choice again - escape.
Abandon everything!
What follow-up effects, what generous compensation that you should receive tomorrow...to hell with all that!
There was only one thought left in his mind, like a drowning man longing for air:
Run! Now! Right now!
Escape from the Amethyst Dungeon and escape from Puji as far as possible, just like you escaped from the Scarecrow.
Aidin hastily packed his bag and almost stumbled out of the guild.
The night sky was shrouded in thick dark clouds, and only pale outlines remained of the three full moons, sparingly shedding a few faint rays of light.
The shops on both sides of the street had already been closed and there was deathly silence; only the pub in the distance could still be heard with dim light and a faint noise.
A drunk man slumped in the shadow of the street corner, like a bag of abandoned garbage.
Aidin quickly stepped into an empty alley, took a deep breath, and disappeared quietly as if blending into the night.
He planned to leave the town quietly.
However, just as his feet stepped onto the path leading to the wilderness, he suddenly felt a tearing pain in his right leg!
“Ahhh!”
The invisible disguise collapsed instantly, and Aidin's figure staggered into view.
He lowered his head in horror, and saw that under the skin of his right leg, the dormant hyphae were wriggling and swelling like awakened poisonous snakes!
His skin was stretched to a shiny, almost transparent state, and then with a soft "pop" sound, a plump, wet mushroom actually popped out of his leg flesh, its cap trembling slightly in the bleak moonlight.
“Ha…hahaha, hahahaha!”
The laughter was icy cold and full of desperate enlightenment, and he felt that he understood everything.
I have been watched all the time!
Those invisible eyes, or the will of "Puji", never left.
It could kill him at any time like squeezing a bug.
The silence before was just like a cat teasing the mouse under its claws, watching with interest as he struggled in vain, ran away in fear, and drank the expensive potion in hope... In the end, he was gently pressed down on the spot, unable to escape.
Looking at the road ahead leading to freedom, he no longer dared to take another step.
After standing there for an unknown amount of time, Aidin, like a body with its soul drained out, dragged his heavy feet and returned to the streets of the town in a daze.
As we passed by the still bustling tavern, warm yellow light spilled in from the crack in the door, mixed with the adventurers' rough laughter and the crisp sound of wine glasses clinking.
A few scattered conversations, like cold steel needles, clearly pierced his ears:
"Haha, the Pujis are really nice. They know how to release you safely!"
"It's a pity that Jer didn't have such a good life. His leg was blown off. The money is only enough for him to find a place to retire and wait for death."
"Tsk, don't mention him! Come on, this dinner is on me tonight, let's do it!"
Those words about "good luck" and "put back" only made him feel ironic and cold.
As Aidin continued to move forward, the lights and voices around him quickly dissipated and faded away like the ebbing tide.
When he looked up again, he found that he had walked outside the gate of the Amethyst Dungeon without knowing when!
Here, I actually saw a familiar figure.
Fifteen turned around when he noticed someone approaching from behind, with a gentle smile on his face: "Aidin? Why are you running here instead of taking a good rest?"
Aidin could feel Fifteen's sincerity. After going through the battle together, this man also regarded himself as a companion.
But Aidin never expected to meet Fifteen here.
He forced a smile and said, "I just couldn't sleep. What about you? Why are you standing here alone?"
"I was wondering," Fifteen's eyes turned back to the deep dungeon entrance, his voice lowered, "Why did those Pujis... let the expedition team out? Under the circumstances at the time, even if I continued to fight, I might not be able to leave alive."
Aidin's smile became even more forced. Fortunately, the moon was dark and the stars were sparse tonight. The shadows of the trees were swaying, and Fifteen did not stare at his face.
“Who knows… I heard that Puji always strips the unruly adventurers on the fifth floor naked, maybe it will be the same this time?
Or maybe it's afraid of humans and wants to show its friendliness to us?"
Or maybe... it just wants to let me out... this thought silently slipped through Aidin's mind.
"A gesture of goodwill..." Fifteen repeated thoughtfully. After a moment, he shrugged and said with relief, "Forget it. No matter what, it's always good that everyone can survive."
He brushed the dust off the corners of his clothes and stood up to return to town.
Before leaving, he turned back and reminded: "Aidin, don't stay too long, go back and rest early. Don't forget that Farr will gather everyone tomorrow, there are things to discuss."
"Got it." Aidin replied.
It was not until Fifteen's figure completely disappeared on the road leading to the town and more than ten minutes passed that Aidin seemed to have been drained of all his strength. He leaned against a thick tree trunk and slowly slid down to the cold ground.
Yes, it's good to be able to survive...
The thought carries a bitter aftertaste.
He was silent for a long time, and his gaze finally turned again to the gate of the underground city that looked like a giant beast crawling in the night.
This time, he did not resist. His mind followed the new instinct that had grown quietly after the parasitism and had been deliberately suppressed by him, and sank into the invisible network of consciousness composed of countless hyphae.
He knew that he would have no way out after doing this, but... he just wanted to survive...
"King of Puji," his thoughts were transmitted in the fungus web, "no need to beat around the bush, tell me, what exactly do you want me to do?"
After a brief silence, a voice with a strange rhythm responded directly in his mind:
"Edin Krall. From now on, you can call me - 'Boss'."
(End of this chapter)
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