My Skill Bar is Full of Monster Skills

Chapter 488 - 263: Belendaan (Part 2)

The depths of the cave were densely packed with towering stalactites and stalagmites.

Except for the most sporadic stalactites on the edges that still maintained their original appearance, all the stalactites near the central area had been fully utilized, carved into various houses with arc shapes, varying styles, and different heights.

And situated at the center was a towering giant stalagmite, seemingly the landmark of this city, with a conspicuous blazing white flame burning on top.

Even from at least a kilometer away, its flickering flames could be seen.

"That is the pillar of time. Every morning, a dedicated Drow Mage ignites the flame on top of the pillar with Magic. The flame moves downward with time, and when it reaches the bottom, it marks the end of the day."

Meredith, following Raine’s gaze, immediately understood what he was looking at and introduced it in a low voice.

"Used for timekeeping?"

"Yes, it also serves as Magic lighting."

As the two continued forward.

A rotten protein smell mixed with a metallic tang rushed over them. Raine noticed that among the passing pedestrians, besides the Drow Elves, there were also some Gray Dwarves and Lizardmen wearing shackles.

He even saw many human slaves among them.

Each one was dressed in rags, with whip marks all over their bodies, some already dark red and scabbed, others were fresh and oozing with blood beads. Most of the slaves had expressions of utter despair.

"These are all captured slaves. If they can’t escape, they’ll be enslaved until death."

"Uh-huh." Raine nodded, his expression becoming a bit solemn.

It was then, as they kept moving toward the central area, that Raine realized, around those exquisite houses, there were actually many low stone houses. Many Drow Elf children were holding crude stone daggers and fighting each other.

Although it appeared to be mere playful interest, many of their attack techniques were quite sharp.

The stone daggers were not sharpened, but Raine noticed that many children’s faces and bodies were covered with red scratches. Apparently, this level of attack was very close to actual combat.

"Did you grow up like this?" Raine looked at Meredith beside him.

Unlike the three-line descriptions in books, he now had a specific, real understanding of the living environment of the Drow Elves.

It was almost a complete representation of the dark jungle law.

"Yes." Meredith nodded, "But I wasn’t with these commoners’ offspring, but with other noble offspring. This is the commoner district; ahead is the noble district. The core area is the exclusive territory of the Breagan Family."

Raine nodded.

He realized that those houses he saw utilizing the stalagmites from afar were the residences of the noble district.

"Is your father imprisoned in the dungeon?" At this point, while walking, Raine saw a group of Drow Elf guards escorting several prisoners into a side underground cave.

"No, my father, as a master smith, is imprisoned in the family prison. Every day, after finishing forging, he’s sent back to the cell."

"There, it’s right there."

Following Meredith’s gaze, Raine saw an oval stone wall in the central area of the city appear before his eyes.

The surface of the gray-black wall looked very smooth, about three meters high; it didn’t seem too high, but looking closely at the top, one could see large swathes of dense, translucent webs fixed upon it, making climbing over it quite a challenge.

Moreover, Raine guessed that even if one could successfully climb over, triggering the thin threads would surely alert the people inside.

"Do you know the exact location?"

"Yes, but Raine, your Disguise Spell is quite unique; I think we might have a better plan." Meredith glanced at Raine.

"I was originally planning to wait until the Magic flames of the pillar of time extinguish, as there would be about a two-minute window at that time. We could slip in during that pause."

"Although rescuing my father would surely alert the guards and trigger alarms, we can use an Any Door Scroll to instantly reach the slums and then forcefully break through."

Listening to Meredith’s description, Raine nodded. There wasn’t too big a problem with this plan.

The only uncertainty was that after their first Any Door teleportation, they couldn’t use a second space Magic—Teleport Scroll—within a minute.

And that minute was the most dangerous minute of this operation.

"My current idea is we first go to the Spider Queen Tavern. I know a family member who is a chief responsible for prison security. He likes to drink and comes to the tavern almost every day for a drink. If Raine, you can transform into his appearance, perhaps we can delay the triggering of the alarm."

"Of course." Raine thought for a moment and nodded, "This is a good thing."

This would effectively reduce the one-minute interval. If it shortened to 30 seconds or even 10 seconds before the alarm sounded, they would undoubtedly be safer and more relaxed.

Because not long after the alarm sounded, they could instantly use the Teleport Scroll and leave.

...

Ten minutes later.

Spider Queen Tavern.

At the Drow Elf tavern, Raine noticed a scene almost never seen in surface taverns, with significantly more females than males here, females accounting for over sixty percent.

In stark contrast to Mill Town, where almost ninety percent were male.

Moreover, judging by the expressions on both sides, males appeared more restrained, their expressions more ingratiating, as if they were trying to please the female Drow in front of them.

Sure enough, all aspects of a matriarchal society reflected this difference in status.

"Try this, it’s Blue Phosphorescence, brewed from luminescent moss with a small amount of honey, low in alcohol content, and has a refreshing taste." Meredith placed a glass of faint blue rippling liquor in front of Raine.

"Thank you."

"Try the cave lizard skewers, and this fungal cheese is not bad either." Meredith pointed to several specialty dishes on the table.

"Alright."

At this point, a male Drow wearing dark leather armor, with a long curved sword at his waist, walked in.

"Hey, Kabia’s here!"

Several female Drows greeted this man.

To which he responded enthusiastically.

"That’s him," Meredith whispered.

Raine glanced over, imprinting the man’s image deeply in his mind.

The man’s gaze swept around, momentarily pausing on a few unfamiliar faces including Raine’s before quickly moving on.

At that moment, Raine whispered, "It’s done."

"Let’s go."

They stood up and walked out, but as they did so, the male called Kabia’s eyes lingered momentarily on Meredith’s two curved swords, and his expression subtly changed.

He stood up, raised a glass to Meredith, and said, "A drink for the unfamiliar beautiful lady?"

...

Meanwhile.

At the Breagan Family quarters, inside the Spider Punishment Chamber.

A female Drow wearing a priest’s robe, holding a several meters long whip made of dark bramble vines, walked in.

"Lunen, your time for repentance has come."

Inside the not-so-spacious confinement room, a male Drow knelt in front of the Spider Goddess Rose’s statue, his upper body bare.

"Lady Ilothiel."

"Such a pity, Lunen. Were it not for your daughter Meredith, you would now be the esteemed master smith of our clan." Ilothiel looked at Lunen with some regret, sighing.

"Lunen, are you ready?"

"I’m ready, my lady."

With a crisp ’snap’, the thorny whip lashed across Lunen’s back, immediately leaving a clear bloodstain, while large beads of blood oozed from his purple-black skin.

His not particularly robust body trembled slightly, yet Lunen only let out a muffled grunt, holding back from crying out in pain.

But his back, already marked with dark scabs, grew even more grotesque.

"Lunen, repent devoutly to the Spider Goddess Rose!"

As she spoke, Drow Priest Ilothiel continued her lashing.

...