Besides the abyssal rat swarm encountered earlier, there were other even more bizarre existences.
Originally ordinary reptiles and insects, under the influence of Abyssal Energy, had become abnormally large and their shapes twisted.
A group of spiders hung down from the ceiling, each the size of a plate, their backs covered with tumor-like protrusions, and their eyes bizarrely grew on their abdomens, flickering with a sickly purple light.
The silk they spun was no longer the usual white, but a fluorescent purplish-black, and anything ensnared by this silk would begin to corrode slowly.
"Abyss Spiders! Watch out for their poisonous silk!" Yuni warned, the Purple Flame flickering in her palm forming a protective barrier.
Ron’s gaze sharpened, and with a wave of his left hand, the Stand-In Puppet quietly appeared beside him.
This puppet was vastly different from before, emitting an eerie aura of trepidation, like a predator ready to pounce.
"Go." Ron commanded softly.
The Stand-In Puppet lunged forward like a shadow, its movements as fast as lightning.
Its form underwent an astonishing transformation as it moved—the torso elongated, and its arms turned into scythe-like limbs.
Spikes grew from its back, the entire silhouette looking like a perfect killing machine born for combat.
Most astonishing was its method of attack.
Faced with the hanging Abyss Spiders, the Stand-In Puppet did not simply shred or repel them, but rather devoured them one by one with an almost greedy posture.
That gaping mouth could expand to an unimaginable extent, engulfing each plate-sized spider whole in one bite.
With each Abyss Spider devoured, the black patterns on the Stand-In Puppet’s surface would light up momentarily, as if absorbing and transforming something.
[Stand-In Puppet Charge Progress + 0.2%]
Hayek and Soron exchanged glances, feeling that Ron’s strange puppet looked somewhat familiar, but they couldn’t associate this terrifyingly-featured thing with the mundane "Stand-In Puppet."
After all, after Ron’s transformation into a Demon Hunter, its aura had been completely renewed.
Ron ignored their reactions, focusing solely on controlling the Stand-In Puppet to clear the path ahead.
As they delved deeper, the variety of mutated creatures in the passageway increased.
Besides the Abyss Spiders, there were mutated rat swarms and deformed reptiles.
Even a few creatures that should have been rabbits now had extra heads and limbs, behaving with extreme ferocity.
Yet, none of these seemed to pose a challenge for the Stand-In Puppet. It demonstrated astonishing combat instincts and a special Perception Ability toward abyssal creatures.
No matter how these mutated creatures hid or camouflaged, the Stand-In Puppet always found them with precision, then devoured them without hesitation.
[Stand-In Puppet Charge Progress + 0.3%]
[Stand-In Puppet Charge Progress + 0.1%]
[Stand-In Puppet Charge Progress + 0.2%]
Charging notifications continuously flashed in Ron’s mind, with each act of devouring bringing a boost in energy to the puppet.
"This specialized capability against abyssal creatures..."
Hayek’s eyes flickered with intense academic interest: "It’s almost like the perfect weapon designed to combat the Abyss."
A particularly massive Abyss Spider suddenly sprang from the side, targeting Soron, whose aura was the most fragile among them.
Almost instinctively, Ron raised his hand, and a "Sound Wave Vibration" struck out silently.
The giant spider abruptly halted in mid-air, and then its entire body was crushed by an invisible force, exploding into a mist of purplish-black.
Unexpectedly, this mist did not disperse but was drawn by an invisible force, rushing entirely into the Stand-In Puppet’s body.
[Stand-In Puppet Charge Progress + 1%]
"Truly unbelievable..." Yuni lightly exclaimed: "It’s not just eliminating these creatures, but in a sense... purifying them?"
The passage continued to extend forward, and the degree of spatial distortion worsened.
The walls began to flow like melting wax, the ceiling cracks expanded continuously, and waves of unsettling vibrations emanated from the depths.
"This is the weakest part of the seal, the spatial structure is already starting to collapse." Soron explained weakly: "We must find a way out quickly..."
Though the riot of these abyss creatures was annoying, they could be cleared with ease.
But if faced with a spatial collapse, even at Dark Sun Level, it would be a catastrophe with no chances of survival.
Emerging through the exit, the four finally returned to the surface of the Black Mist Jungle.
The sky remained overcast, but at least the suffocating pressure of Abyssal Energy was gone.
In the distance, the Central Tower of the Black Mist School was faintly visible, seemingly still standing firm amidst the chaos.
Soron let out a long breath, looking up at the sky: "I... survived."
"Yes, you survived thanks to Ron." Yuni gently reminded with a hint of a smile.
Soron, not lacking in tact, directly retrieved a piece of Parchment from the Storage Bag.
He quickly scribbled some terms on it and handed it over, explaining:
"This is a contract, Ron Wizard. Once back at the School, you can use this to exchange with me for Extraordinary Items or Magic Stones equivalent to the aid provided."
The young wizard nodded without pretense and placed it into his Storage Bag.
Suddenly, Hayek sighed and his expression turned grave: "I must tell you some bad news—the Black Mist School might be facing significant changes."
All three turned their gaze simultaneously towards him, Ron’s eyebrows slightly furrowed: "Is the damage to the Bloodline Altar that severe?"
"Far beyond your imagination." Hayek said heavily: