Chapter 1514: Chapter 945: The Springtime of the Working Demon (Part 2)
First Layer of Hell, Abyss Eye.
This frontline fortress, personally crafted by Eve and specifically guarded by the Black Dragon King Mairrel, has dramatically changed compared to when it was established over a decade ago.
The once modest fortress has been expanded three times, layered inside and out, resembling a black Demon Palace.
Inside the fortress lies the Gate of Hell, the teleportation point to Seggs World, and outside the fortress, a sizable main city has been built.
This city was constructed spontaneously by players and officially certified seven years ago, becoming one of the main official cities, a crucial player hub on the First Layer of Hell, named Mordo.
It’s filled with a strange sense of humor.
And since becoming a main city, it has become a favorite grinding spot for many players.
Simply put, the First Layer of Hell has officially integrated with the World Tree, becoming part of the Root System World, eliminating the unpredictable Abyss Myths and other frustrating monsters.
Even bosses at the Legend level are often accompanied by system warnings, making it relatively safe for players.
Moreover, the area hosts numerous Abyss Nests, with low-level Demons endlessly regenerating, enabling players to grind indefinitely...
Of course, the most important feature here is the Demon Maze.
Since the new expansion update, the Demon Maze has been completely relocated to the First Layer of Hell, growing larger as time and player numbers progress.
Being the only map that consistently spawns job change slots, it naturally attracts countless players.
Additionally, the entrance to the Demon Maze is located within Mordo City, helping the city in the abyss, with absurdly high prices, to thrive.
At this very moment, at the entrance of the maze, a seasoned player is educating several newbies in his team:
"Everyone, once inside the maze, don’t wander off. The Demons in the maze are different from those outside, very cunning and organized, not only engaging in guerrilla tactics but also fishing, just as troublesome as us players."
Upon hearing this, the newbie players looked surprised:
"Demons have tactics? Wasn’t it said that they just charge forward in packs, howling?"
"Ha... that’s just old news. The clueless ones are outside the maze; inside, only the smart ones remain because the dumb ones have long become experience points."
The experienced player sighed.
"Yes, bring some good food; don’t just pack dry rations, you can also carry some high-end wine, Elf Flower Tea, fruits, pastries, delicious meat sauce, and skewers."
He added.
A newbie laughed directly:
"Pfft... Are we grinding mobs or having a picnic?"
"Grinding mobs! But bringing these things can be life-saving at crucial moments! Remember, the better food you bring, the easier it is to escape safely when in danger!"
The seasoned player widened his eyes.
"But... why would bringing food save our lives? Can we bribe the Demons with it to spare us?"
A player, evidently on their first adventure in the Demon Maze, asked.
Experienced players in the team were collectively silent.
Seeing their reaction, the newbie was puzzled, looking odd:
"No way... is it true? Can we actually get freed by giving food? Are the Demons in the Demon Maze that contractual?"
The seasoned player sighed:
"You could say it’s a kind of mutual understanding formed from long-term combat between us players and them."
"Then... what if I can’t afford tasty food? My pitiful contribution points are all spent on equipment, and silver coins too, all exchanged for contribution points. I’ve practically eating dirt myself frequently."
"Then buy some melons, great value for money; throw them when you encounter unbeatable Demons and run. The Demons likely won’t chase you, oh, also, they’re sold at the maze entrance, only two for one silver coin."
"Oh wow, melons are okay... but wait! Two melons for a silver coin isn’t cheap! In Elf Forest, you could buy a whole basket for that price!"
"Do you think this is anywhere? Bottled water atop Taishan costs ten dollars, while braised pork on the Blue Star train costs several times more! This is the First Layer of Hell, not Elf Forest!"
"Makes sense, I’m at a loss for words... Wait! There’s storage equipment and teleportation arrays in the game; moving goods should have no cost! We’re not mountain carriers!"
"Didn’t you pay when you came by teleportation array?"
"Uh... no."
"Damn... forgot you’re with the Mengmeng Committee, the guild pays for teleport fees... Damn, cross-dimensional teleport fees aren’t cheap."
"Oh... does this mean I can fleece the guild and make extra money by helping transport goods?"
"Dream on, your Mengmeng Committee’s daily free teleportations have limits."
As they walked and talked, the players gradually shifted their conversation from discussing Demon Maze strategies to some galactic system.
But even though the newbie players were wildly complaining, they each obediently followed the seasoned player’s advice and prepared various foods.
At first glance, it looked more like their trip was a picnic rather than a grind.
After preparing everything, the group used the Maze Gate in Mordo City to enter the largest and hottest instance map in Elf Kingdom—Demon Maze.
Inside the maze, the seasoned player continued guiding the newbies and sharing knowledge about the maze.
