Chapter 2, Exchange

Fully aware that he, as a top-level criminal, would undoubtedly be a primary target for pursuit, Mo Ya had no choice but to choose the most dangerous route to escape

Now, it remains to be seen who is more unfortunate between her and Luqi—being chosen as the primary target of the earth dragon's attack

Damn it! That bunch of bastards! Bilfit snapped back from his brief moment of distraction, roaring in anger

After separating from Luqi by a distance of four Kalins, Moya began to walk again

The small thief, with only the upper half of his body lying in a pool of blood, had his lower half either fallen nearby or already consumed by the dragon.

At the same time that Biefite was troubled by the fact that all the first-degree felons had escaped, a strange rumbling emerged from the underground of the prison. The sound grew louder and eventually caused the entire prison to tremble.

Dragon, oh dragon

Although the warden known as "Grig's Fox" possesses both skill and intellect, when it comes to scheming against others, he is still outmatched by the leader who is famously known as the "King of Grig's Death Row".

Among all the functions of the magical map, the most important one is "early warning." It can clearly inform the holder whether there are enemies nearby, determining the intentions of the approaching individuals through the mage's perception. As the mage's own magical power increases, the range that the map can perceive also expands.

Boss, are you alright

Having spent thirty years in prison, Mo Ya has abandoned the moral ethics possessed by ordinary people

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The little thief screamed as he jumped out from the pile of rocks, desperately running forward, while the earth dragon gradually closed in behind him

In the entire prison, there is not a single person who is unaware of her great name; even the arrogant and overbearing guards and soldiers become respectful upon seeing her. The female dark priest completely overturns the notion in the hearts of petty thieves that women are equivalent to the weak.

Only a madman like you would do such a thing; ordinary prisoners would not dare to offend the warden who holds the power of life and death, unless they are tired of living

Gazing at the powerful body of the earth dragon lying on the ground, she was disheartened to discover that the "Ice Spire" and "Burning Flame" unleashed during the earth dragon's attack on Luqi had inflicted no damage whatsoever, not even a scratch on its skin.

Many dark creatures that do not exist on the surface inhabit the underground of the Eastern Continent, and humans who accidentally wander in are unable to leave alive

Knowing that Mo Ya was planning to escape from prison, the inexperienced little thief also followed him into the underground cave

Due to various reasons, Mo Ya and Lu Qi's progress is very slow

Under the dim yellow light, she finally found Luqi among a pile of scattered stones

Suddenly, Luqi, who had been hiding behind a large rock, spoke up. He was very concerned about Moya, who had been chosen as a target by the earth dragon. Not daring to peek out, he could only voice his inquiry.

Is it the giant, highly toxic sword spider living near the swamp? Or is it the cave dwarves who build their kingdoms in the caves? Furthermore, is it the most noble and terrifying assassin that wanders in the darkness—the dark elves

Isn't it interesting that as a dark priest, I can also be cursed by others? The warden must be quite furious right now. Don't you think it's rather enjoyable to see Grig's fox being cursed without any semblance of dignity, Ruch?

Boss... hurry and escape... don't worry about me...

The warden's curse echoed through the narrow underground passage, reaching Moya's ears.

A body measuring at least ten meters in length occupied nearly one-third of the cave's width, with tightly arranged black scales featuring rough, spiral protrusions extending from its back to its tail. Its thick, long tail could easily shatter shields made of fine iron. From its constantly emitting foul-smelling maw, sharp fangs reflected a cold blue light even in the darkness.

Thousands of prisoners escape simultaneously; even the warden, no matter how capable, cannot possibly recapture them all at once. By the time Bilfitt discovers the true escape plan, she will have long since left the borders of the Mingsu Empire. The emperor would never mobilize troops to cross the border for the sake of capturing a dead man on the run

Casually casting a light spell, he temporarily blinded the earth dragon's eyes, which had already adapted to the darkness. Seizing this opportunity, Moya successfully hid in a crevice he had previously selected. Staying here would provide him with a moment to breathe and prepare his spells, even if he were discovered.

In an instant, the dazzling brilliance illuminated the cavern, and the small gnomes lingering in the distance could not withstand the brightness that scorched their night vision, scattering away in a rush.

In order to successfully escape, Mo Ya spent a full five years gradually dismantling the magical devices of the obelisk.

People were astonished to find that the obelisk, symbolizing the perfect defense of Grig Prison, was slowly tilting amidst a tremendous roar

Boss, don't leave me all alone! Seeing Mo Ya take off first, Lu Qi, who was slow to react, finally came to his senses

Adult

Lu Qi immediately retracted his left foot, which had already extended halfway, and quickly ran back to Mo Ya's side. Before he could even flatter the boss, he was drawn to the parchment in her hand

It is unknown which prisoner first discovered that the magical door for confining inmates had malfunctioned, but they all rushed out of their respective cells, vying to be the first to reach the only passage leading to the outside world

Seeing the dense red dots indicating his own coordinates, Mo Ya exerted all his self-control to refrain from cursing out loud. If looks could kill, the little thief walking ahead to scout would have certainly died a hundred times over.

If it weren't for Luqi constantly boasting about how impressive his thieving reconnaissance skills are, Mo Ya, who dislikes trouble, would never take along a seemingly useless little He and the bookish ghost on the journey. With barely enough energy to protect himself, how could he possibly have the capacity to look after a reckless fellow

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The short goblin, wielding a wooden stick and a stone, continuously tightened the encirclement. Under the threat of numbers, Mo Ya had no choice but to retreat with Lu Qi towards the towering stone wall behind them

Living a long life is not always a bad thing

Leaning out half of its head, Mo Ya saw the Luchidilong kick down its prey, then its short forelimbs were thrown into the air, and its foul-smelling large mouth effortlessly bit the human body in half

Luqi's mother was a frail woman. After her husband's death, she took on the heavy responsibility of raising her son alone. When illness took her life, Luqi was driven out of his home by relatives and wandered the streets for a full two years before being taken in by a gang of thieves

It is precisely because of this characteristic that many species at the top of the food chain prefer to have this organism as their servant

Come back

Even if it is hard to part with her, once Luqi is dead, the next target of the Earth Dragon will be her. At that time, without a substitute to take the fall, there will be even less chance of defeating the Earth Dragon

They have been digging in the prison for a full six days, yet they have not even found the correct passage to the surface.

In order to survive, she would not hesitate to sacrifice a little ghost that worships her when necessary, and she would feel no guilt whatsoever

Is this perhaps the legendary magic map

Your Excellency, the Warden

Boom

As the remaining prisoners were all escaping from the prison, the clerk urgently called out to the warden, who had completely fallen into a state of stupor

Few are aware of the existence of the magical map, and wizards never easily reveal its presence in front of outsiders. For wizards, it serves as a life-saving tool, comparable to high-level magical scrolls, and is an important item closely linked to their lives

The clerk pressed against the wall in terror, completely unaware of what was happening

Kind-hearted individuals cannot survive in the city of death row; those who lack sufficient ruthlessness are soon sent to the public cemetery outside the city. "Survival is the only truth" is the motto of every death row inmate who climbs up by stepping on the lives of others.

This underground structure, converted from a fortress, is protected by a powerful magical array, which is incredibly sturdy and was jointly established by thirty Earth Priests.

With a gaze of reverence, Luqi quietly glanced at the pensive Mo Ya

It is not that she enjoys traversing underground caves; the formidable Ironclad Legion of seventy thousand stationed outside White Rose Town is not merely for show. Even the ferocious Orcs can be repelled, so capturing a few death row inmates who have languished in prison for a long time is hardly a challenge

After staying in place for a while and recovering some of the magic power that had been overdrawn, Mo Ya cautiously made her way to the side of the earth dragon and took out the luminescent yellow stone for illumination

After much hesitation, Mo Ya ultimately bit his own middle finger, drawing the twelve-pointed star on the dragon's head with his own blood.

"I called you back, didn't you hear?" Seeing Lu Qi still standing there foolishly, Mo Ya said in a somewhat irritated whisper, "In front is an underground swamp, filled with carrion snakes. If you want to be their dinner, I won't mind."

Although it can only halt the operation of the magical device for half a day, it is sufficient for ordinary prisoners in the jail to escape

Indeed, it is so

That fool

After consecutively casting three "Slow" curse spells and two attack spells, the earth dragon still closed the distance to Luqi at an astonishing speed

Moya silently cursed, how could he still be a thief and not know that in such circumstances, one must not reveal their whereabouts

Hey ... ...

Whispering a spell, the originally blank map began to shimmer with specks of red light

In the distant open space, countless humanoid beings stood densely packed. Their appearance resembled that of goblins, yet they were taller and more robust than goblins, with a height more akin to that of dwarves.

Notify Iderson to assemble all the armored troops; even if it means digging three feet into the ground, I want those damned death row inmates brought back to me

As the grand prison break was in full swing, Mo Ya was troubled by how to quickly navigate the interwoven caves

If he is used as bait, even if any sudden situation arises, it will buy her a little time to escape and devise a countermeasure

Continuing forward, Yilangsuo had already taken down more than ten underground creatures that had attacked. Unconvinced by Luqi's boastful claims of his exceptional scouting skills, Mo Ya took out a leather map from his pocket

Using animal skins that are inherently infused with magical elements as raw materials, a living map with special abilities can only be created after undergoing a series of complex and intricate production processes

Before entering prison, the mentor of the Magic Academy had meticulously described the horrors of the Shadow Realm. At that time, Mo Ya could never have imagined that one day, in her quest for a stable life, she would find herself fleeing into an underground cave that led directly to the Abyssal Demon Domain.

Having roughly estimated the distance between herself and the earth dragon, Mo Ya had already assessed her hiding place

Touch

Just at the moment when she was making wild guesses, a huge head suddenly emerged from a cave below the stone wall

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Not only can the memory mage visit every location, but they can also replicate the routes recorded in books or other maps through the method of copying magic.

The map held by Mo Ya is made from genuine dragon skin, one of the three heirlooms left by her adoptive father, which she has carefully treasured.

Luqi's terrified voice successfully attracted the attention of the earth dragon, but after letting out a roar that was hard to describe as either angry or excited, it moved its massive body without hesitation, charging straight towards Moya and *Tu* Shu

Wow!!

The earth dragon emerged from its hiding cave, and its uniquely massive body added considerable pressure on Mo Ya. Although the young dragon could not be compared to its ancient relatives, the ancient dragons, the melee defense of the spellcaster (the user of the spell, including both arcane and divine magic) was even lower than that of the ranged archer. Once struck by the tail tipped with sharp ancient spines, it would undoubtedly meet an immediate death

The blood curse binding the magical pet contract swiftly permeated, ultimately concealed beneath the deep black scales.

It is the gnome, the most common type of creature found in underground caves

Therefore, upon seeing such a large number of disciplined little dwarfs gathered together, Mo Ya immediately felt a sense of vigilance

Sensing someone approaching, Luqi opened his eyes, his murky gaze glaring maliciously at Moya standing above him

Watching the red dots of the advancing enemy on the map, she could easily count their numbers. Mo Ya once again felt fortunate that it had not been confiscated by the guards when she entered the prison; in this completely unfamiliar underground cave, it was an extremely important talisman for survival. However, according to the map, the enemy's numbers had clearly exceeded what she could handle.

I had thought that relying on the skills of theft would ensure a life free from worry, but unexpectedly, I was caught red-handed during my first burglary. The master, who held the title of Duke, sent the twelve-year-old Luqi to Grig Prison. In a prison filled with vicious death row inmates, had it not been for the rescue by Mo Ya, Luqi would likely have already gone to the underworld to accompany his deceased parents at the very beginning of his imprisonment

Looking at his superior with concern, the clerk was unsure whether he had forgotten his duties due to excessive anger

It is indeed the best kind in the magical map

As soon as I picked up the azure scroll, I heard a muffled sound, like that of some object being crushed or squeezed.

It is precisely because escaping from prison is fraught with difficulties that one waits for thirty years for the new emperor's pardon upon ascension. This is also one of the advantages of being a Trukian—longevity

As expected, upon hearing the sound, the earth dragon immediately found Luqi, who was hiding not far from it, once its vision was restored

Once the brilliance at the top of the tower completely vanished, the underground prison, sustained by magical power, instantly transformed into an unprotected stone fortress

After glancing at Lu Qi, Mo Ya discovered for the first time that this little rascal, aside from flattering and lying, also possessed some knowledge.

The magical device, which was originally supposed to continuously release an unceasing defensive spell, has also ceased its operation after nearly seven hundred years

Damn it... you despicable... wretched little human, how dare you scheme against... '' The following words became unclear due to excessive blood loss.

Considering his own future, Luqi did not seek Mo Ya's consent and shamelessly assumed the role of a servant. As a result, the prisoners who often bullied the weak no longer dared to lay a hand on him.

Ironically, the Truculian lineage, which she originally detested and which had led her into a prison ordeal, ultimately helped her successfully endure the maddening life in prison.

The intellectually challenged small dwarf is the weakest species among the underground creatures. The reason it has been able to survive in the harsh and predatory dark regions, aside from its astonishing reproductive capacity, is another important factor—"an inherent nature of absolute obedience to the strong"

Hearing Luqi say this, Moya did not get angry but instead laughed, leaving the barely breathing thief behind and turning to the equally fallen earth dragon

Suddenly realizing that the female mage who had been following him had stopped moving forward, Luqi turned around in confusion, only to see her looking around before unexpectedly retreating along the same path.

The desperate cries of Luqi on the brink of death prompted Mo Ya to release the blue scroll. She seized the white scroll and crushed it violently, a milky light gradually emanating from her hand as the hurried incantation began to work its magical effects

At dusk, the residents of White Rose Town were stunned by the sudden and unexpected changes.

Moya quickly pulled out three magic scrolls from her bosom; these were her last resort.

In the mind of Mo Ya, who was struggling to find a way to extricate himself, a sudden flash of inspiration struck.

A dragon! It is actually a dragon! No, to be precise, it should be referred to as an adult Asian earth dragon

Run! We are surrounded

Seeing that the enemy had been eliminated, Luqi then returned to the front to continue his duties as a scout

Eh?

As an ancient scroll that has been lost, the magic it contains undoubtedly possesses sufficient power to deal with the earth dragon

Having cast a speed enhancement spell on herself, Moya rushed ahead towards the weakest point on the map

The environment is even darker than a prison, with countless paths in the rugged cave, where a careless step could lead one into the lair or territory of underground creatures

Using a fireball spell to incinerate a sneaky goblin, Moya kicked Ruqi, who was hiding behind him, urging him to release the hem of his robe that he was tightly gripping.

In such chaotic circumstances, the pitifully few guards were utterly powerless to intervene

In fact, Moya's luck is not too bad; compared to other species, the humanoid little dwarfs are much weaker.

Although he thought this in his heart, the little thief Luqi did not dare to voice it. If he upset his boss, it would be himself who would suffer the consequences.

For seven hundred years, even the malevolent beings dwelling deep underground have never breached its defenses. Even the tenth-tier Earth-type spell "Mountain Shakes, Earth Moves" finds it difficult to inflict damage on the prison. What kind of power could possibly shake the steadfast Grig Prison?

Unable to find the correct passage to the surface that was excavated by the ancient subterranean dwarves, she could not leave the Shadow Realm. Moreover, the food she carried could only sustain them for three days; if they exceeded this timeframe, she and Luqi would either starve or become prey for other creatures