Chapter 14: No Other Way

Item: Angel of Holy Light
Level: —
Skills: Guardian of Holy Light (resists all negative effects), Blessing of Holy Light (enhances status), Healing of Holy Light.
Attribute: Indiscriminate

“If only it were to scale, life-sized...”
Luo Yong gazed at the tiny Angel of Holy Light, his mind adrift in endless fantasies.
Tsk-tsk.
He felt somewhat shortchanged.
There had clearly been two magic circles on the scroll, yet only one had manifested. The other, a magitech puppet identical to the Empress, why had it not appeared?
Tap, tap, tap!
He rapped lightly on the golden chest.
Click.
The lock opened by itself.
Dazzling light once more flooded the entire chamber.
“Valiant warrior—”
This time, before the little sprite could finish, it shut its mouth abruptly.
It looked at Luo Yong standing there, then at the unchanged surroundings, and huffed indignantly, “You again? Didn’t you just make a wish? Did I not grant it for you...?”
At this, the sprite glanced about nervously, as if searching for something.
“This scroll, there are clearly two magic circles, but only one was summoned,” Luo Yong said dispassionately.
“Young man, don’t be so greedy!” the sprite snapped, displeased. “Getting one is already good—most people can’t even get that!”
“But—”
Luo Yong made it clear he was not most people.
“Aren’t you a wish-granting sprite? Didn’t you say you could fulfill my wishes?”
“Yes, that’s right.” The sprite nodded, saying, “What more do you want?”
“My wish wasn’t fulfilled.”
“You—” The sprite shook its tiny fist, saying, “Greed leads to no good end!”
“Then why not just send me home?” Luo Yong, after careful thought, decided—if even getting two figurines was such a struggle, forced to choose between them, he might as well return to his original world, finish his studies, become a lawyer, and enjoy a promising future.
Figurines and such would be easy to collect then!
“I’ve already done my best...”
At the mention of going home, the sprite poked its fingers together, head lowered, replying meekly, “I’m still young, my magic is limited, I can’t grant your wish.”
“Sigh, you’re not a mature and reliable wish sprite at all!”
“Mm...hm?” The sprite nodded, then suddenly sensed something was off.
“Then what about the figurine—the magitech puppet—on the scroll? Can it still be summoned?” Luo Yong pressed, unwilling to let go.
Tsunade, I desire.
The Empress, too, I desire.
He wanted both—what to do?
“Well...” The sprite glanced at the monster on the large bed nearby and said, “Why don’t you come find me again after some time, when you’re at a higher level, after you’ve defeated, um... all the monsters here, then come open the chest again.”
“Is that related?” Luo Yong asked.
“Mm-hmm.” The sprite nodded.
“Then how about I just take you with me, wait somewhere else for you to grant my wish...”
Before Luo Yong could finish, the sprite was already shaking its head vigorously.
“No, no! If I leave here, I lose all my magic!”
With a small sweep of its arm, the chest closed again, leaving only a narrow seam.
Through the gap, the sprite whispered, “Come find me again after you defeat it!”
With that, the chest shut tight. No matter how Luo Yong knocked, it would not open again.
Moreover, the golden hue of the chest faded, turning silver, then bronze, and finally became just a wooden box.
Luo Yong: “...”

Well, having an Angel of Holy Light is still quite good.
Even if it’s not life-sized.
Ahem.
Disguise skill activated.
The Angel of Holy Light transformed into a tiny ornament, which Luo Yong tucked inside his cloak—just in case someone tried to snatch it.
That barbarian priest outside was no pushover!
Cautiously retracing his steps, Luo Yong glanced back at the still slumbering giant monster, then left the place.
He returned the way he came.
He followed the path to its end, yet found no exit.
Even the skeletal creature he had summoned was stuck among a group of level 9 monsters, utterly outmatched.
Sigh!
How was he supposed to leave this underground palace?
He needed at least to return to the upper floor!
As he walked, a dreadful realization dawned on Luo Yong—
In his previous life—
Ahem, that is, before coming to this world, when playing online games, there were some stages where you had to clear out every monster on the map before the exit would appear.
Only then would the map’s exit be revealed, allowing you to progress.
“Damn...”
At this thought, Luo Yong was dumbfounded.
When he returned to the barbarian priest’s chamber and saw the beautiful woman sitting facing the wall, he couldn’t help but sigh softly.
“We can’t get out.”
“Huh?”
The barbarian priest spun around, saw Luo Yong, and quickly glanced toward the cave entrance. The sound of monsters snarling could still be heard—clearly, the clearing was not complete.
“Why are you back so soon? What do you mean, we can’t get out?”
“I went to the end of the path, saw a monster at least level 15 or higher, opened— ahem, broadened my horizons...”
Luo Yong cleared his throat, speaking seriously, “But I didn’t find an exit—no hidden doors, secret passages, mechanisms, nothing...”
“Oh my god.”
The barbarian priest was equally stunned—never mind the monsters along the way, even that final monster above level 15, the two of them together stood no chance.
To try would be to die.
“Some levels can’t be cleared unless you wipe out every monster.”
The barbarian priest realized this too, her voice trembling.
“Last time, we missed a tiny, inconspicuous monster and were trapped in some ruins for ages...”
“We’re doomed, doomed!”
In her panic, the barbarian priest tried to rush out of the chamber.
“Hey, sis!”
Luo Yong, abandoning all hesitation, threw his arms around her from behind, shouting, “If you go out now, you’re courting death!”
“Let go! What are you doing?! Even if I die here, I won’t let you have your way with me! Don’t you dare!” The barbarian priest struggled fiercely.
“What are you saying? As if I care!” Luo Yong shouted back. “Have you forgotten? I broke the illusion barrier—if you go out now, all the monsters will swarm in!”
“...”
The barbarian priest immediately calmed down and stopped struggling.
“Whew, scared me half to death!” Luo Yong breathed a long sigh of relief, resting his chin on her shoulder.
The two of them were still pressed close together.
Luo Yong’s arms still encircled the beautiful woman.
“If you don’t let go, I’ll punch you,” the barbarian priest said flatly.
“Okay.”
Luo Yong reluctantly released her.

“Let’s try to think of a way out.”
“...”
The two fell silent, as if awaiting the approach of death.
Luo Yong quietly checked his stock of food and water, calculating how long they could survive.
“This doesn’t add up!”
Suddenly, Luo Yong realized something—this shouldn’t be a dead end.
Originally, this place was meant for a group of level 8 powerhouses to grind monsters—even if there were mechanisms or secret passages, the monsters inside shouldn’t be so despair-inducing!
By the logic of any game, it shouldn’t be a dead end—there should be a way to escape.
Wait—
Luo Yong turned to look at the chest where he’d summoned the wish sprite.
Ahem!
So, the exit was there!
Damn it...
Such a golden opportunity, and he’d squandered it.
At this, Luo Yong sheepishly glanced at the barbarian priest, who had been ignoring him since earlier.
This woman... she’s all an act.
Nothing about her is genuine!
“Um...” For a moment, Luo Yong didn’t know how to begin.
He walked over, gently poked her shoulder, and said, “I think I know how to get out.”
“How?” The barbarian priest dodged his hand, stepping back and regarding him with a frown—no trace of a smile on her face.
She was still beautiful, but not as charming as when she smiled.
“Ahem.”
Seeing this, Luo Yong dropped all pretense and lowered his voice, “Earlier, I reached the end of the path, and at the monster’s bedside, I saw a treasure chest...”
“A treasure chest at the monster’s bedside?!” The barbarian priest exclaimed, rushing up to Luo Yong, grabbing him by the collar. “What was in the chest? Was there a way out?”
“Well... maybe...” Luo Yong replied uncertainly.
The chest had turned from gold to a battered wooden box—what good could still be inside?
“You didn’t open it?”
“No.”
“Why not?” The barbarian priest was skeptical.
“Because... the monster suddenly stretched, and I didn’t dare make a move,” Luo Yong said.
“The monster... stretched? Who are you trying to fool...” The barbarian priest was dubious, but before she could finish, she was suddenly stunned.
“Stretched...”
“Could it be...”
“One of those legendary humanoid monsters?!”
The barbarian priest cried out, then quickly covered her mouth, as if afraid of being heard.
“The upper half was humanoid, the lower half was covered—I couldn’t see,” Luo Yong replied flatly.
“How do we get past it?”
“That’s the question.”
Luo Yong admitted all he had was a cloak to hide his presence.
“...”
The barbarian priest’s face turned crimson as she fell into deep inner turmoil.
“There’s... no other way?”