The maid squad is too strong, what use is there for me, the Demon King?

"This must be the Netherworld Palace."

Gray stood to the side, watching the adventurer teams come and go in and out of the dungeon.

The so-called dungeon is a treasure-hunting paradise commonly seen in Western fantasy novels and anime.

The concentration of magic in the dungeon is far greater than that in the outside world, and only monsters will breed inside the dungeon, not magical beasts.

Dungeons typically have many levels. As you count from top to bottom, the concentration of magic increases, and the rank of the monsters also increases, making each level more dangerous and difficult than the last.

Both monsters and magical beasts possess a core organ called a magic crystal.

Magic crystals are the organs through which monsters (beasts) store magic power, and they are the most valuable items found in the corpses of monsters (beasts).

Magic crystals contain a sufficient amount of magic power, which can be absorbed to lay the foundation for advancement. This is the principle behind advancing by defeating monsters.

There is a widely circulated claim that the best absorption effect is achieved when the killer of a monster (beast) absorbs the dropped magic crystals. However, this claim lacks any basis and its accuracy remains to be verified.

Besides assisting professionals in advancing their careers, magic crystals are also a highly efficient and clean energy source.

It can be used in the forging of weapons and equipment, and can also be embedded in magic circles to provide magic power to the magic circles.

The location of the magic crystal within the monster (beast) is not fixed, but it is generally located in the brain or heart.

When hunting a monster (beast), the most important thing is to be fast, accurate, and ruthless; otherwise, the quality of the obtained magic crystals will be reduced.

During battle, monsters (beasts) will continuously transfer magic power from the magic crystal, which will be applied to various parts of their bodies or used to cast spells.

The more magic power a monster (beast) uses before it dies, the lower the value of the magic crystals it drops.

Therefore, the best adventurer teams often leave no room for monsters (beasts) to fight back, using tacit cooperation to instantly kill their prey.

Besides hunting monsters in the dungeon to obtain magic crystals, treasure chests will also appear in the dungeon, guarded by a large number of monsters.

Treasure chests can contain all sorts of things, including magic crystals, weapons, equipment, and even coins.

It is currently unclear how dungeons are formed, why they continuously generate treasure chests (at certain intervals), and why the rewards from these chests contain all sorts of strange items.

This underground city, known as the "Netherworld Palace," is Gray's destination.

However, Gray didn't come to the Netherworld Palace to grind monsters and get treasure chests (at least that wasn't his main purpose).

A servant from the Shadow Palace mentioned this place in his report, discovering that the deepest 18th level of the Netherworld Palace seemed to be connected with a demon.

Demons are what the evil cult of demons worships, and they are currently sealed in the Netherworld Prison.

The Demon Order, whose members commit countless atrocities including arson, murder, and robbery, is currently the primary target of the Shadow Court's investigation.

Aside from this public reason, the conflict between the Shadow Court and the Demon Order is also a private one.

Alpha, one of the Ten Kage, had his village massacred by members of the Flame and Ash faction of the Demon Order. Ipsilon's mother, also one of the Ten Kage, was killed by members of the Demon Order.

For both public and private reasons, the Shadow Court will fight the Demon Order to the death!

According to the investigations conducted by the Shadow Court over the years, the Demonic Cult has been found to be an unusually large cult.

The Demon Order is divided into seven factions, each with a high priest, corresponding to one of the seven great demons within the Netherworld Prison.

The members of the Demonic Order are scattered throughout the world, not only in human countries, but have even infiltrated various races.

Apart from races like demons and dragons, which are on the verge of extinction.

The Demonic Order is incredibly powerful and has hidden its headquarters and branches very well.

This level of cult is not something that the Shadow Court, a small organization that has only been established for a few decades, can currently rival head-on.

However, the relationships between the various factions within the Demon Order are not harmonious, and conflicts often arise.

This may be the reason why the Demon Cult, despite its immense power, has not unified the continent.

Gray's main mission is to fight against the Demon Cult and find a solution to the problem between the hero and the Demon King.

The moment you step into the Netherworld Palace, a chilling aura washes over you, seemingly penetrating to the bone. The entrance is a narrow passage, the stone walls on both sides covered with thick moss, and dim torches flicker with weak light, casting dancing shadows.

Passing through the entrance, one enters a spacious hall with a high ceiling that blocks out natural light. The air is damp and musty, and the occasional dripping sound echoes through the empty space. In the center of the hall stands a massive stone sculpture, its surface etched with faded symbols, seemingly whispering an ancient curse.

The winding corridor stretched into the depths of darkness, the torches on the walls spaced far apart, shrouding most of the area in gloom. The ground was covered with dust and broken rubble, each step accompanied by a cloud of dust and the creaking of the broken tiles.

At a certain bend in the road, an underground river cuts across the landscape. Its waters are dark and its flow is slow, seemingly carrying countless secrets and the wails of the dead. A dilapidated wooden bridge spans the river; walking on it, one feels a sense of impending doom and a chill runs down one's spine.

Scattered along the way are several secret chambers, some of which were once prisons, and others may have been temples used for sacrifices. Iron chains and instruments of torture remain on the prison walls, while the temples contain decaying altars and dried offerings.

The Netherworld Palace is also filled with echo corridors on each level, where any sound is amplified infinitely. The footsteps of explorers become deafening, and you can even hear your own heartbeat, creating a strange sense of oppression.

The Netherworld Palace is inhabited by various undead and dark creatures, such as skeletons, ghosts, and vampire bats. They roam the darkness, occasionally emitting eerie low groans. The entire dungeon is shrouded in a repressive and eerie atmosphere, keeping everyone constantly on their guard.

However, as he continued downwards, all Gray saw were monster corpses scattered all over the ground and various bewildered adventurer teams who had no idea what was going on.

Gray knew the reason.

Now that they have learned that the Netherworld Palace is connected to the demons worshipped by the Demon Cult, the Shadow Court will naturally send people to investigate this place.

The boss, Alpha, took this matter very seriously and immediately dispatched members of the Ten Shadows to lead an investigation.

The air and the corpses of the monsters were filled with the smell of blood, but this was not the blood of the monsters.

It's her.

Gray pictured a stunning blonde woman with an air of nobility in his mind.

The Fourth of the Ten Shadows - Delta.

Thinking of her, Gray felt a sudden pain in his neck and gently rubbed it.

The 17th floor of the Netherworld Palace...

"What? Lord Shadow Demon is coming?"

The black robes that were standard at the Shadow Court couldn't hide her shimmering golden hair.

Delta received the message and was visibly excited.

"All class members, stand by!"