Hearing Cao Ye's words, Alfrigg let out a dismissive laugh, clearly not taking them seriously.
However, Shara's body trembled slightly.
The power of "All the World's Evils" gradually receded.
Her beastly transformation slowly faded, returning her to her serpent-woman form.
The scene left Alfrigg stunned.
That terrifying monster just now… was actually a monster girl?
"Alfrigg, don't forget our mission."
"We're here to capture the Artificial Dungeon, not to slaughter these monsters."
Cao Ye said calmly.
Alfrigg smirked.
"Cao Ye, this monster actually obeys your orders."
"Judging from this situation… don't tell me you have a monster fetish?"
He said it deliberately, with excitement.
If he reported this to Freya, she would surely feel displeased.
And if the goddess became dissatisfied with Cao Ye—
Then this favored pet of hers would fall from grace.
At that point, Alfrigg could deal with him however he wanted.
"Watch your mouth."
"Otherwise I won't mind helping you shut it."
"Oh?"
"You think just because you're a mere Level 2, and the goddess favors you, you can act arrogantly in front of me?"
Alfrigg sneered.
Even Ottar, a Level 7, had never earned his true submission.
In fact, the entire Freya Familia was like this.
They were all rivals.
After all, there were only so many positions beside the goddess.
BOOM—
A terrifying pressure erupted from Cao Ye.
The true aura of "All the World's Evils" spread outward.
If Shara earlier had only wielded fragments of that power—
Cao Ye now revealed a real portion of its fangs.
Even Ottar had once sensed danger from Cao Ye's aura before Cao Ye became an adventurer.
Alfrigg naturally felt it even more clearly.
"Of course, a mere Level 2 like me wouldn't dare act arrogantly before a mighty Level 5 like you."
"But making sure you never speak again…"
"That's still something I can do."
Alfrigg wanted to retort—
But the presence before him felt like a demonic god descending upon the world.
A primal fear crept into his mind.
It was instinct.
The instinct of all living beings to avoid danger.
SHING—
And Cao Ye wasn't finished.
A pitch-black sword appeared in his hand.
The Sword of Promised Victory.
Even after being corrupted into a demonic sword, it was still a Noble Phantasm standing at the pinnacle of holy swords.
"You want to fight me?"
"Then prepare to leave your life here."
Cao Ye wasn't joking.
If Alfrigg attacked—
He would fire a beam blast and erase him on the spot.
As a Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm, Excalibur could easily kill someone like Alfrigg.
Any consequences afterward?
Cao Ye didn't care.
He was confident that even if he killed a Level 5 member of the Familia, Freya wouldn't punish him severely.
To a god—especially one like Freya—familia members were not that irreplaceable.
Before obtaining Excalibur, Cao Ye had no reliable way to deal with high-level adventurers.
But now things were different.
With Excalibur—
Everything changed.
There was nothing a beam blast couldn't solve.
And if one wasn't enough—
Then two would do.
Besides, with the Perfect Form skill, Cao Ye could draw magical energy directly from the earth.
Endurance was no longer a problem.
"Next time… I won't let you off so easily."
Alfrigg glared viciously at Cao Ye.
More precisely, he was wary of the magic sword in Cao Ye's hand.
In such a narrow space, it would be almost impossible to dodge its power.
Furthermore, the goddess's mission was to capture the Artificial Dungeon—not to fight Cao Ye.
So he chose to retreat for now.
However, he would definitely report the matter of these monsters to the goddess.
When Freya questioned Cao Ye later—
Things wouldn't be so easy for him.
From that moment on, the Xenos' gazes toward Cao Ye changed.
Their hostility faded.
In its place appeared reverence.
Creatures instinctively respected those whose strength far surpassed their own.
"Master…"
Shara returned to Cao Ye's side.
"How did it feel just now?"
"F-feel what?"
"Borrowing my mana. My techniques. My power."
"Oh… so that was your power, Master."
"I thought those abilities came from my evolution."
Cao Ye rolled his eyes.
You really dare to think that.
Evolution granting that kind of power?
Don't you know your own limits?
"Take this."
Cao Ye tossed a ring to Shara.
It was the only space ring he had crafted using a magic gemstone.
Inside the small ring was a 20 cubic meter storage space.
It was currently his finest creation.
"Master… what is this?"
"A space ring."
"It has twenty cubic meters of storage."
"From now on, stay in the Dungeon and collect magic stones for me."
"The more, the better."
"I'll come retrieve them periodically."
"Yes, Master."
Subduing Shara had been an experiment.
Xenos were monsters not controlled by the Dungeon.
Yet they possessed considerable strength.
If used properly—
They could become a special team operating within the Dungeon.
With Shara's current power, as long as she didn't venture too deep into the lower floors, she would be safe.
"Let's go."
"I'll take you out."
"Yes."
The Xenos didn't dare make even the slightest loud noise now.
Thus, a strange scene unfolded within the Artificial Dungeon—
One human walking ahead…
Followed obediently by a group of monsters.
"Hmm? Cao Ye?"
At the entrance, Ottar was still standing guard.
Several corpses lay nearby—clearly killed by him.
When he saw the obedient monsters behind Cao Ye, he was momentarily stunned.
"Let them leave."
"When we return, I'll explain everything to the goddess."
Ottar glanced at the monsters.
Aside from the half-serpent girl, none seemed particularly strong.
"Very well."
RUMBLE—
The key emitted a red glow.
The massive door slowly opened.
"Alright."
"You can go now."
Cao Ye said to Shara and the others.
Outside lay Floor 18 of the Dungeon.
With Shara's current strength, it wouldn't be dangerous.
As for the other Xenos—
Whether they lived or died didn't matter to Cao Ye.
They were merely minor pieces.
His true goal was different.
Through Shara, he wanted to see if he could contact the other Xenos within the Dungeon.
After all—
Among them were several extremely powerful individuals.
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