Chapter 378

Chapter 378: White Rock Cave

Returning to Black Rock Cave, everyone—the loud Dwarfs, the simple-minded goblins, even the cold dark elf prisoners—silently gave up the largest room at the hallway’s end for Midi.

No one questioned it. Midi ruled here now.

But true to his nature, he cared nothing for hoarding the slave warriors’ food.

His first and only rule was to maintain basic order: no one could exploit others. Beyond that, everyone kept to themselves.

Midi spent most days refining Dark Magic, pulling the "Radiance of Darkness" into himself.

Yet after reaching level 60, progress slowed. Absorbing more Radiance of Darkness barely matched the swift gains he’d made from mere wisps of Radiance of Light in the Sea of Clouds.

Days passed, but he only crawled from the early stage to the small success of level 60. The Spirit Dragon Sword’s dark patterns grew sluggishly. Direct battles sharpened its aura, but quality over quantity did little for leveling.

Three days after Midi took charge, the Wolfspider tribe came. They weren’t here for battles—they came for him.

“Human,” the lead dark elf said, no trace of scorn left, “your showing in the selection proved your worth. The Wolfspider tribe recognizes your power.”

This was the Shaded Realm, where strength mattered more than in the Sea of Clouds. “Slave” wasn’t a title—it was an outcome. Lose or get captured, you became a slave. Win, and you shed the chains. Simple.

“So I’m free?” Midi smiled.

“Fool!” A icy voice cut in. “Your power’s acknowledged, but not enough to make you a warrior!”

Midi turned. There stood Galantis, the Black Dragon Priestess, arms crossed and face stony. She’d been in the escort team all along.

Every time she saw this human, irritation prickled her. He was hers—her slave, her future Tribe Warrior. His strength should please her. Yesterday, his jaw-dropping performance had humiliated her rival, Zaride. Yet she felt no joy.

As a woman sharp to emotions, she sensed it: this black-haired, black-eyed human, though lowly, never wavered. His calm eyes hid everything. To her, used to towering above others, it felt like control slipping through her fingers.

However, Midi still needed several steps to shed his identity as a slave warrior, which at least allowed Galantis to maintain her role as his master.

“Do you think defeating a muscle-brained Lizardman makes you strong?” Galantis snorted, seemingly forgetting her stunned reaction from the day before. “Facing such an opponent head-on shows some skill, but your approach was foolish!”

Midi knew exactly how foolish a direct clash could be.

But from the start, he hadn’t fought recklessly. Instead, he’d treated the Lizardman as a hammer to temper himself—a Grinding Stone.

Different intentions led to different outcomes.

Yet Midi didn’t argue. He sensed this arrogant priestess hadn’t come solely to scold him. There was a hint of genuine concern beneath her words.

He simply nodded.

After drawing attention earlier, staying low-profile was wise. He still relied on others’ mercy and needed their acceptance.

Seeing Midi’s rare silence, Galantis’s mood improved. She hummed softly before declaring, “By tribal rules, you’ll be promoted to White Rock Cave. Every slave warrior there survived Black Rock’s selection. Each has unique skills. Your brute force might work here, but in real battles? Countless ways exist to kill you. Be careful. Understood?”

Midi nearly rolled his eyes at her nagging.

*She actually came to warn me.*

Come to think of it, she’d even brought her dual swords “Eliminate” and “Kill” to the arena earlier, saving him trouble.

*Should I thank her?*

The thought flickered through his mind.

But hadn’t all his troubles begun when she forced him into slavery? If she’d simply accepted him as a traveler, he wouldn’t be fighting these Shaded Realm races endlessly.

*Antonym!*

His feelings were tangled. This priestess—sometimes haughty, sometimes oddly considerate—was even more contradictory.

Still, he nodded. “Thanks for the warning.”

“Hmph!” Galantis’s ears twitched. She turned away sharply. “You’re my property. Of course I’ll protect my investment. Don’t die foolishly!”

Without another word, she strode off, cloak billowing.

*Women…*

Midi sighed inwardly.

“Why not read her mind? That priestess might fancy you,” Rot’s voice slithered into his thoughts, tinged with amusement.

*Since when do Apostles gossip?*

Midi sighed again. “I know the difference between interest and infatuation. She’s just intrigued by something new. Nothing more.”

“Proud fool. But those two wait for you regardless,” Rot chuckled.

Midi instinctively checked the Fate Binds within him. The warm white glow remained steady—Fina and Alice were safe. For now.

No time to linger. Rapid advancement was his only path forward.

“Take me to White Rock Cave,” Midi ordered, though technically a prisoner.

The dark elf escorts obeyed without protest—strength commanded respect here.

They passed through shadowed buildings, reaching the cavern’s far side quickly. White Rock Cave mirrored Black Rock’s layout—central passageway flanked by rooms—but with marked improvements.

Each promoted slave warrior received a private room here, stocked with supplies and tended by life slaves. The dual-level structure offered spacious quarters, surpassing even Black Rock’s leader chamber.

Best of all—

Light.

Though normally dark, smokeless resin torches could illuminate the caves. One such torch now burned brightly at the entrance.

Its holder was a lean dark elf with striking features.

“Zaknavan,” he introduced with a confident smile, extending his hand—unusual warmth among his kind.

Midi shook it firmly. “Midi Asreks. You watched my match from the central stands.”

Zaknavan’s eyes gleamed. “Noticing spectators mid-battle? Impressive awareness.”

“Old habit. True threats rarely announce themselves.”

The dark elf nodded approvingly, then addressed the Wolfspider warriors. “I’ll handle his orientation.”

The leader agreed instantly—deference reserved for someone important.

Zaknavan gestured forward. “Come. Let me show you White Rock Cave.”