The old mushroom garden—now converted into the training grounds for the cave-dwellers.
Two Pujis followed step by step behind a cave-dweller, while the other cave-dwellers watched the training.
“Yes, just like that, keep the pace!” Norris, holding the yellow-covered book, issued commands through the Mycelium Network. “Pujis have short legs, so take smaller steps so they can keep up.”
Of course, many of these instructions came as subtle reminders from the Yellow Book itself.
“Now try having the Pujis fire their Mushroom Cannons at the target.”
The target was a battered stone slab, already scarred with countless craters.
The training Pujis only had [Mushroom Cannon LV1], so there was no risk of breaking the slab.
The cave-dweller pointed its spear at the stone. The two Pujis mimicked the motion, aiming their cannons at the same target.
Strictly speaking, the gesture was unnecessary—a single thought was enough to command them. But the cave-dwellers instinctively preferred giving orders with physical gestures.
Poof, poof—Two shots burst out. One hit clumsily, the other veered wide.
That was simply because they lacked [Precision]. And since the exercise was about having cave-dwellers control the Pujis, whether they hit or not didn’t matter.
Norris nodded in satisfaction, about to praise them—when out of the corner of his eye, he saw the cave-dweller suddenly tighten its grip on the spear, aiming its tip at the Puji that had missed, preparing to stab!
“Hey! What are you doing?! Stop!” Norris shouted aloud in urgency, not even bothering with the network.
The cave-dweller froze instantly, hands dropping at its sides, standing stiffly as if nailed in place, meekly awaiting his next command.
That cowardly posture—bullying only the Pujis when he thought no one was watching—made Norris roll his eyes.
He had discovered that no matter what they used to be—guards, overseers—once given control of Pujis, every single one developed the same bad habit: flaunting their authority before the Pujis.
Was it instinct buried in their bones?
And how was he supposed to correct it?
Direct scolding worked, and they would bow their heads, submissive as could be.
But the moment his back was turned, Pujis left in their care would turn up “mysteriously dead” one or two at a time.
A real headache.
While Norris was berating them, a black shadow picked up one of the Pujis in her claws.
All the cave-dwellers huddled together, trembling, not daring to look at her.
Exiled Gray gnawed on the Puji absentmindedly, staring dazedly at Norris’ radiant form.
That unblinking gaze made his fur crawl.
Lin Jun had confined her to the old mushroom garden for two days, forbidding her from roaming. With nothing to do but eat and sleep, she was unbearably bored.
But it was necessary—Lin Jun knew she was reckless enough to leap straight into the rift without hesitation.
When this storm blew over, he’d better bring her back upstairs quickly.
Louisa was also at the old garden, though she deliberately avoided Gray.
At the moment, she was leaning against the coarse wall of a mushroom tree, sleeping soundly.
“So peaceful…” she murmured dreamily in her sleep.
It wasn’t a complaint—it was pure, heartfelt contentment.
Lin Jun had withdrawn all the Pujis, leaving her the sole commander of the expedition team. Naturally, they couldn’t advance further like that.
No threats of death, no battles, no missions, no hunger, no mushrooms sprouting—and no watchful eyes of her master…
How long had it been since she felt so carefree?
She wouldn’t mind if these days lasted a little longer.
Of course, only until her stored blood ran out—beyond that, hunger would return.
——
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Another round of Mushroom Cannon fire smashed against the already wavering [Holy Bastion].
The golden barrier shattered into motes of light.
The warrior maintaining it staggered back with a groan, only caught by a quick comrade.
Almost immediately, another warrior stepped forward, raising a fresh [Holy Bastion] to cover the group again.
Within the formation, ranger Aime’s eyes flashed like a hawk’s. Her bowstring thrummed thrice, arrows streaking through the air to pierce the three Pujis that had just revealed themselves to fire.
She flipped her wrist toward her quiver—only to find it empty.
Out?!
Her heart sank.
She had carried triple her usual supply, planning for sustained combat under Church protection, without needing to dodge.
And now… all gone.
Damn it!
These Pujis really were coming too fast and too many!
She looked ahead at the stairway leading to the fifth floor—what then?
…
At last, the battered party filed into the stairway corridor. Solarin’s furrowed brow eased slightly.
No more ambushes followed, but the endless harassment had worn everyone ragged.
At least, no further deaths had occurred.
Priest Mayne dragged himself forward, haggard and hollow-eyed.
A veteran companion of Solarin’s, famed for endurance—yet now even he looked at his limit.
“Solarin, we must rest.” His voice was hoarse. He gestured back at the group. “Archers are nearly out of arrows. The casters—priests and mages—are almost dry. We can’t keep pushing.”
She knew it already, nodding gravely.
“I was going to order rest here in the stairway. We only need guards at both ends.”
After brief consultation, neither Fifteen nor Aiden objected. Everyone knew the fifth floor promised a brutal battle.
Best to recover strength first.
Before resting, Solarin activated [Truth Vision] to glance ahead—but all she saw was chaos. The entire fifth floor was filled with mycelium.
With nothing useful, she warned the guards not to slacken.
“Rest!”
The word was like rain to parched earth. Adventurers collapsed, sighing with relief.
Even the Church warriors, still disciplined, subtly relaxed their rigid posture.
But Lin Jun had no intention of letting them rest.
Nearly a hundred Mushroom Cannons fired at once on the stairway’s barrier.
Caught off guard, the barrier and its bearer were obliterated instantly.
The shockwave blew one exhausted adventurer into the air, his skull cracking on stone—unconscious in an instant.
“They’re here,” Solarin warned grimly.
From the dark depths of the fifth floor, a glowing mushroom cap lit up.
Like a chain reaction, countless others followed.
In moments, an ocean of bioluminescence stretched before them.
Gulp—
That sheer magnitude chilled every heart.
One adventurer broke down, collapsing in a corner, babbling pleas for mercy.
The others looked at him—and felt the same despair gnawing their own hearts. In such a sight, madness seemed natural.
Even Fifteen sweated cold at his temple. “No one… told me there’d be this many…”
His eyes locked on the center of the glowing sea, where a single Fat Puji stood.
Atop its cap—
The so-called King of Pujis awaited.
Six tendrils spread wide, scarlet cloak snapping in the air, a silver pendant gleaming beneath its cap, and a shield as large as its body strapped to its back.
This Puji had armed itself like a warrior.