The Poet of Great Love followed Hyperion up the steps, glancing back to make sure their companions were ready.
After receiving affirmative nods, the Poet stepped forward once more.
“This time I'll hold on tight to you,” Hyperion promised softly to the poet beside her.
With that, the two stepped into the mysterious deep-purple mirrored portal. The air around the frame rippled faintly under the void's energy, layering outward as if magic were dancing lightly across the surface of a tranquil lake.
Their figures crossed into the portal and disappeared one by one, merging completely into the void enveloped in deep-purple radiance.
In an instant, they felt as if plummeting through a sea of stars, experiencing that wondrous sensation of weightlessness once again. Flashes of light and color wove together at intervals, painting distorted vistas before them.
Not until their descent slowed did a dazzling brilliance burst from the exit, instantly wrapping around them.
“...”
The moment she set foot in the space of Level B6, Hyperion’s pupils quivered slightly.
She found herself standing in the center of a hall as vast as an amphitheater. Intricate murals spanned the soaring dome overhead, depicting totems of ancient Demon Realm myths.
It was an expanse grander than any teleportation hall they had seen before. Atop a raised dais still stood a void teleportation portal in the same deep-purple mirrored state as the previous ones.
Their group hadn't been separated, nor had they met any immediate danger. The only difference was the piercing, frigid chill permeating Level B6. It was like standing in a vast expanse of snow—not just their joints, but even their thoughts seemed to slow.
As the deepest level, Level B6 lacked separate entrance and exit teleportation halls due to its architectural layout; this was the only void portal here.
Before long, their student wristbands lit up with a crimson light screen as usual—
[Survive and perform duties on Level B6 of Herrom Prison to earn a substantial amount of duty points.]
[Upon meeting the assessment criteria to return to the Base Level, trading privileges for the current level will be unlocked. When trainee prison guards complete the assessment, remaining duty points may be exchanged for wages or converted into Protos Royal Magic Academy academic credit points.]
[Current Location: Herrom Prison Level B6, Warden's Office & Teleportation Hall.]
[Duty: Inspection and Maintenance.]
[Note: Once you step into non-safe zones on Level B6, you will be caught in an illusion barrier. As time spent inside increases, the barrier's threat level will gradually escalate, reaching up to Tier 9 illusion magic at its peak.]
[Note: While conscious, the greater the fear in your heart, the higher the proportion of illusory damage converted into actual physical damage.]
[Note: On this level, prison guards may drink special snowfield spirits to dispel the cold and bolster courage, but be wary of alcoholic stupor; please consume in moderation.]
[Condition to return to the Base Level: Complete inspections of the structural integrity and durability of all cells, and obtain the Level B6 warden's authorization and final evaluation.]
Hyperion stared down at the information for Level B6.
They had finally reached the last level before departing Herrom Prison. For now, it seemed only one Great Demon mental trial remained.
Her arduous mission had gone far too smoothly today. She felt as though she had barely done anything at all, and now only one final step stood between her and complete success.
According to what the Ice Snow Witch had explained back in the Kingdom of Asethelan, this Great Demon Trial—known as the "Gateway of Life and Death"—was titled "Inverted Path of Rebirth." The more one feared death, the easier it was to die.
It acted as an illusion while simultaneously dealing lethal, real magical damage.
Once trapped in the illusion barrier of the Inverted Path of Rebirth, the moment a sliver of fear arose, one's inner defenses would collapse in an instant like a burst dam, careening downward to total destruction within the illusion. In essence, it was potentially far more dangerous than a physical trial of combat.
Furthermore, this Great Demon Trial was practically a fated nemesis for Pranay of Truth. Pranay, whose sole desire was simply to cling to life, would suffer near hundred percent damage inside the Inverted Path of Rebirth; daring to flee his cell would be nothing short of suicide.
For the trainee prison guard assessment, the team could choose to drink moderate amounts of the special snowfield spirits according to their individual tolerances, divide up routes, inspect and repair a portion of the cells along the way before the illusion's threat level escalated too high, and hurry back to the safe zone to recover. Meanwhile, one person would stay ready at all times to sprint back and forth to rescue companions. It was a rigorous test of judgment and execution.
Yet Hyperion now felt that none of the guides provided by the Ice Snow Witch were of any use.
No matter how hard the Ice Snow Witch had insisted it would be over the past two months, Hyperion was convinced that the actual experience was baby-tier difficulty.
“...”
Hyperion stole a glance at the dazed Poet of Great Love beside her.
Aside from the modest amount of duty points earned from speed-clearing Levels B4 and B5, Lanqi already possessed a massive hoard of duty points. When asked, Lanqi had replied that Miss Selena, the warden of Level B4, had sponsored him.
Yet Hyperion had been asleep in the dreamscape of the Gentle Land of the Fallen back then, entirely oblivious to what had happened on Level B4.
She had worried whether Lanqi had extorted or robbed her, but Lanqi insisted that Warden Selena had gifted them willingly—he hadn't even brought it up, yet Miss Selena had transferred the funds to him on her own.
Hyperion could only let the matter rest for now.
Just as the group was about to step down from the dais, a warden's voice echoed through the grand hall.
“How rare to see trainee prison guards make it down here. What a relief.”
Hyperion looked toward the voice and realized that on this level, the teleportation hall and the warden's office were combined into a single safe zone.
There, resting her legs casually on her desk, sat a warden whose nameplate bore the name "Daria." Her facial features were sharply defined, and her gaze was intense and piercing, appearing capable of looking straight into one's soul, while a faint, enigmatic smirk played at her thin lips.
Though she wore the uniform of a warden, the top was tight, so she had casually loosened her tie and draped her jacket over her shoulders.
“Down here, there is no road to rebirth and no path toward death. Better to live in a drunken stupor and dream life away.”
Warden Daria leaned back languidly in her chair, tilting her head as she murmured to them.
In her hand, she held a small wineglass, having apparently just taken a sip.
She was visibly delighted by the arrival of trainee guards. Without them to help, she would have had to carry out the routine inspection and maintenance all by herself.
So far, Hyperion felt that apart from Warden Corendan on Level B1 being somewhat difficult to communicate with, the wardens of Levels B4 and B5 had both been quite nice, and this warden on Level B6 didn't seem to have a bad attitude either.
“We will begin working immediately. Please rest assured,” Hyperion bowed slightly to Warden Daria of Level B6 and spoke.
The objective on this floor was crystal clear. With two great demons alongside Lanqi the magic artificer, the maintenance work would be all the simpler.
“Hold on, who told you to rush off to work?”
Daria hastily swung one leg down from the desk, calling the group to a halt and beckoning them over.
Chapter 437