"Why are you here?"

Fanen had just uttered this question when he suddenly realized that the other person’s Summoning Rune was placed at the Stoneveil city gate, so it was highly likely he would enter the city.

"It’s a long story."

Roger’s body shook unnaturally, appearing as if injured, and he said with a wry smile:

"Originally, I was avoiding the pursuit by soldiers and had found a safe place. Suddenly, there was a rather loud explosion outside, which led to me being discovered and forced to run all the way here."

He sighed, pointed to the limb-connecting noble nearby, and said:

"When I got here, this guy was injured by the blast when he crashed into the wall. I had no choice but to fight him. Luckily, I won by chance, but as you can see, I’m injured and temporarily hiding here."

"By the way, do you have any clue about the explosion?"

What he got was a weird silence.

Uffie and the others looked around, showing embarrassed expressions on their faces.

Then unanimously chose to remain silent about the matter.

The disturbance they caused could actually affect the residual shadow... In the past, this was absolutely unimaginable. In the old region of Sain, unless you actively attacked, the turmoil outside would not affect the residual shadow.

But now the residual shadow reacts to the outside commotion, which feels strange.

Uffie thought for a moment and finally understood: it’s like the Sain Dungeon is evolving!

The adventurers are progressing, and Sain Dungeon is somehow progressing, even taking strides larger than the adventurers.

This should be a good thing, right?

"By the way, earlier I asked you about the reason for entering Stoneveil City," Roger said: "You must be here for the Great Rune, right?"

People nodded frankly.

"I thought so, I knew it, truly admirable behavior."

His tone carried a sense of admiration as he said:

"I’m also a Faded, but I haven’t seen the guidance of blessing for a long time..." He paused and said: "I happen to know some Combat Skills related to magic. Would you like to learn them? It might help with the challenges you face ahead."

When he said this, everyone became interested, though learning Combat Skills essentially meant exchanging Lune for War Ash, but everyone had gathered plenty of Lune along the way, not poor at all.

Edgar frowned when he heard "Combat Skills related to magic" and was the first to inquire about which skills could be learned.

There weren’t many, only three, namely the War Ash versions of [Luminous Stone Magic Gravel], [Calia Greatsword], and [Spin].

Everyone was choosing, while Edgar went straight to work on the War Ash version of the Luminous Stone Magic Gravel.

"What are you doing?" Fanen leaned over to ask.

"I’m testing," Edgar tried to analyze the composition of War Ash but to no avail. His wisdom couldn’t grasp what principles formed it, but he could confirm one thing.

The War Ash version of the Luminous Stone Magic Gravel is exactly the same as the magic version, without any difference!

His brows furrowed deeper, he muttered to himself: "Turning magic into Combat Skills?"

"This kind of thing..." An unusual light flickered in his eyes, his emotions suddenly becoming somewhat restless "I can’t accept this kind of thing."

Whether it’s his teacher Younka’s improvements or Sain’s War Ash version of magic, both seemed to achieve the same goal, which is to allow a pure warrior to use magic.

But the paths to achieving the goal are different, and the forms are even more distinct.

He can only accept the form of pure magic, not some Combat Skills!

Fanen silently backed away from him, no longer speaking. From the start, he felt Edgar was somewhat mysteriously arrogant, not the kind of person easy to approach.

On the other side, Uffie and others spent some Lune as a burden and pointed at the wall where Grefrey’s portrait was, asking: "Do you know him? We don’t quite understand these things."

"It’s rare to find Faded who are unfamiliar with him."

Although he spoke words of surprise, Roger earnestly explained to them:

"Grefrey was the first Elden King of the Golden Law era, thus called the King of the Beginning. He had outstanding achievements, conquering everywhere, spreading the Golden Law across all places of the Boundary Land. He was undoubtedly a king, even the Shattered Star General Latan worshipped him."

Hearing only Grefrey’s heroic deeds, the people didn’t feel much, but upon hearing that Latan also admired him, they immediately felt that this King of the Beginning was an extraordinary figure.

"He and Queen Marika gave birth to the offspring ’Gold’ Godwin, and later the Golden Clan with his bloodline emerged, Greg was one of them, but due to distant blood relations, his strength was weak, leading him to escape the Royal City and hide in this Stoneveil City."

Why is it always negative comments about Greg... Uffie couldn’t help but inquire:

"This Greg, what is his strength really like?"

"Him?" Roger nodded and then shook his head, which puzzled everyone.

"I haven’t crossed swords with him, only heard a few rumors," he looked at the hanging severed limbs and said, "Ever since retreating to Stoneveil City, Greg has been in pursuit of strength, resorting to the cruel limb attachment ritual, which involves connecting others’ limbs to his own, hoping to gain great power from it. You see those limb-connecting nobles, right? Greg’s appearance might be no different from theirs."

At these words, everyone frowned. The concept of limb attachment seemed outright monstrous; they couldn’t accept it, and it deviated from their image of a demigod.

"Is the power brought by limb attachment truly strong?" Uffie continued to inquire, frowning deeply.

"If you really want to know, I’ve heard some things from Lord Heide, which might serve as a reference."

With a meticulous spirit, Roger stated:

"Greg gained strength from the limb attachment and also diligently learned storm techniques. Additionally, due to his legitimate bloodline, he acquired the Central Magic Ring, greatly enhancing his strength."

"However, after the Broken War, Shattered Star General Latan returned to Galide with his somewhat diminished army, needing to pass through Nimgefo, yet Greg kept the city gates tightly shut, not daring to step outside."

Uffie was at a loss for words.

"Later, Marionia, known as the Valkyrie, also passed through this path. Perhaps looking down on her as merely a woman, this time Greg chose to strike."

"And the result?"

Roger shook his head; the result was self-explanatory.

"Greg returned in utter defeat, kneeling to lick Marionia’s feet and beg for forgiveness just to survive and protect his subordinates."

Uffie was speechless, Uffie was silent, Uffie... found release.

She finally understood something, a faint smile on her lips as she said, "The title of demigod isn’t truly based on strength, is it?"

Roger nodded as expected, "Those with Queen Marika’s bloodline are qualified to be called demigods."

Finally, not only Uffie found release, but Fanen and the others did too.

The good news was that the demigods they understood differed from those in the Sain Dungeon, and their perceived demigod status hadn’t diminished in value.

The bad news was... they felt like clowns for previously speculating about Greg’s immense strength.

Roger seemed to understand what they were thinking and said:

"I believe that, no matter how much the outside world devalues Greg, he is ultimately a Fragment King, a descendant of the Golden Clan, and his strength should not be underestimated."

"Hmm, we haven’t intended to belittle him," Fanen said, "If anything, seeing him go to such lengths for power carries a unique tenacity."

"Is his goal to return to the so-called Royal City?" Tepi’s gaze was in deep thought.

"It should be."

Roger looked at Grefrey’s portrait and said:

"No matter the circumstances, it’s ultimately his hometown; everyone would want to return."

These words touched Tepi, his expression changed, yet it wasn’t sentiment, it was another emotion.

Oh no, I haven’t returned to my hometown in ages, haven’t sent money home, no idea how my wife is doing!

When people get busy with their careers, it seems they forget a lot of things.

After hearing Roger’s account, Uffie and her party were lost in thought, gaining deeper understanding of this world within the dungeon from an unknown time, disproving many of their previous unfounded speculations, such as Greg being extraordinarily strong.

Almost all they heard from Roger were negative reports about Greg. Despite even a slight semblance of glory—for instance, kneeling to Marionia to save subordinates, though he initiated the conflict—the overwhelming bad news couldn’t be hidden.

It seemed Greg’s reputation wasn’t good, and he might even become a target for ridicule.

Yet, Uffie didn’t hastily conclude that Greg was irredeemable scum, as she always believed rumors can’t be entirely trusted without actual contact.

Meanwhile, Fanen was deeply affected by "returning home," likely the one most devoted to his hometown among the group.

He asked the final question:

"Do you know where to find Greg?"

"Naturally."

Soon after.

Passing through the limb attachment abattoir, crossing the plaza with only a few scattered soldiers, gazing at the fog gate right in front of them, the party was fully prepared.

"Let’s begin."

Uffie took the lead, reaching out towards the fog gate.

As long as she touched it, the strange scene would slowly unfold before her eyes.