Book 3: Chapter 4: Devils Horn

“Additionally, there’s one more thing you should pay attention to!” Beruses hesitated for a moment before saying quietly, “If you’re unlucky and encounter some Apostles in a remote corner of the city who have failed several Otherworld Missions in a row, it’s best not to risk resisting if your strength is insufficient.”

Qin Lun smiled faintly; he had already considered this problem.

Although the old demon said new Apostles received a certain degree of protection, there would always be some desperate individuals in the city. Even with the Earth Federation’s strict legal system, Serial Killers like themselves who feared nothing still emerged, let alone in Devil’s Horn which followed the law of the jungle!

As they spoke, the team also walked out of the valley and advanced along the mountain range. After turning past a foothill, everyone’s eyes lit up. Another team of demon soldiers was already waiting there, and several huge beasts crouched in the center of the open ground.

These giant beasts had bear heads and ox bodies, with specially designed basket-like saddles placed on their broad backs. Each saddle could seat almost seven or eight people, seemingly serving as mounts to transport the Apostles.

Beruses walked back to the front of the team and gave the Apostles a brief explanation. The terrain of the Scorching Plain was special, making it difficult for ordinary vehicles and mounts to adapt. Only these large-sized Wild Bear Beasts could walk for long periods on the scorching ground.

However, at this moment, the Apostles’ attention wasn’t focused on the Wild Bear Beasts. Instead, they all looked up towards the horizon, where a massive city loomed faintly visible through the mist.

Beruses smiled slightly, not minding the Apostles’ disregard, and simply directed the demon guards to help everyone onto the basket-like saddles of the Wild Bear Beasts. More than ten minutes later, the team set off again, heading towards the colossal figure in the mist.

Roughly half an hour later, the true appearance of the massive entity finally revealed itself before everyone. It was a Floating City a full size larger than Moonlight Forest. Compared to the beautiful, nature-filled Moonlight Forest, this Floating City was filled with a sinister and terrifying atmosphere.

Inside the transparent crystal shield, black mist swirled, and one could even vaguely see some grotesque non-human creatures. The entire city resembled a haunted realm.

Moonlight Forest’s base was equipped with huge mechanical arms, while beneath this Floating City was a thick layer of jelly-like substance. As it moved across the continent, it resembled a crawling snail.

Upon closer inspection, this jelly-like layer seemed to consist of countless octopus tentacle-like things. They appeared soft and boneless but were actually strong and powerful, easily carrying the entire Floating City on their backs.

“This is a soft-bodied shape-shifting demon that our Demon Clan spent countless resources and Magic Cores to cultivate. The number of Magic Cores it devours each year is astronomical. During war, it can form a protective layer outside the city.” Beruses, who had somehow returned to Qin Lun’s side, proudly explained.

“Is this Devil’s Horn?” Qin Lun’s expression turned somewhat unpleasant. This Apostle City’s appearance was too poor; forget other Apostles, even he now felt some regret about leaving Moonlight Forest.

“Heh heh, this is our Demon Clan’s own Floating City—Scorching Cliff. It only receives Apostles from dark races. As for Devil’s Horn…” Beruses mysteriously pointed upwards.

“In the sky?” Qin Lun looked up, but unfortunately, the sky above the Scorching Plain was filled with thick smoke, making it impossible to see Devil’s Horn’s true form for now.

Beruses smiled without speaking. By now, the Apostles on the other Wild Bear Beasts had probably received explanations from the demon guards as well. Their hearts settled slightly, and they secretly rejoiced that they wouldn’t have to actually live in this sinister and terrifying Floating City.

The team entered Scorching Cliff via the huge “passage” lowered by the Floating City. This so-called passage strongly resembled an animal’s intestine. When the Wild Bear Beasts’ hooves stepped on it, it produced slight twitching movements, making everyone feel nauseated and grateful again that they were riding on the Wild Bear Beasts and didn’t have to walk it themselves.

Fortunately, the Apostle team didn’t need to go deep into the city. Right at a reception hall near the entrance, they could directly enter Devil’s Horn via the Teleportation Array.

The reception hall was dimly lit, with bone lamps made from animal skeletons placed around the walls. In fact, some Apostles had already made up their minds: if Devil’s Horn had an environment like Scorching Cliff, they might reconsider and return to Moonlight Forest.

Although the assistance provided by Moonlight Forest certainly wasn’t as extensive as that in an Apostle City, a good resting environment was more conducive to mental relaxation after Otherworld Missions, which was equally important. No one wished to rest in a sinister and terrifying environment after facing life-and-death situations.

The Teleportation Array in the reception hall was circular and enormous, with some shining Magic Crystals also placed around it.

However, Qin Lun noticed that these Magic Crystals, whether in quality or size, were inferior to those used in the previous Elf Teleportation Array. He estimated that the teleportation distance was short, so high-quality Magic Crystals weren’t necessary.

As the Magical Array’s runes gradually lit up, something unexpected happened to all the Apostles.

This teleportation was clearly different from any they had experienced before!

Although they also entered a transmission channel similar to Dimensional Space, the teleportation speed wasn’t very fast. It felt like merely riding a high-speed vehicle, and the scenery outside the Suspended Continent remained clearly visible.

While on the Scorching Plain, the Apostles felt this Suspended Continent was like hell. But now, high in the sky, watching the various strange creatures leaping and bounding across the continent and the violently erupting active volcanoes, they had a different feeling—even a sense of supremacy, as if everything beneath their feet were insignificant ants.

This feeling was fleeting. Due to the many active volcanoes on the Scorching Plain, there was a thick layer of smoke and dust about a thousand meters above the ground. After passing through this grayish smoke, the scenery on the Suspended Continent could no longer be seen, leaving everyone with a sense of loss.

Bright sunlight filled the sky again, and more clouds composed of water vapor finally replaced the polluted, gray volcanic dust below.

“Master, look quickly, what is that?” Didi gently tugged on Qin Lun’s sleeve.

As soon as Qin Lun turned around, his eyes brightened. A thousand meters above and to the left, a massive sky city appeared before everyone’s eyes.

This sky city resembled a mountain peak that had been cut off and floated upside-down in the air. The irregular mountain base floated and sank among the white clouds, with clusters of clouds wrapping around the inverted peak like ribbons, akin to the mythical Penglai Immortal Island in the heavens.

The upper part of the sky city had flat terrain. Through the outer oval crystal shield, one could vaguely see numerous tall buildings inside.

Unlike Moonlight Forest and Scorching Cliff that Qin Lun had seen before, perhaps due to the intense high-altitude winds, this sky city’s crystal shield had five huge curved horns evenly fastened onto it, with the tips converging at the center of the shield’s top.

It looked both like five Devil’s Horns guarding the city and like a giant hand gently holding the mountain peak. It was a marvel of nature’s craftsmanship!

Qin Lun took a deep breath. Out of the corner of his eye, he observed that all the Apostles’ faces were filled with strong surprise and excitement. If they weren’t still in the midst of teleportation, exclamations would surely have erupted around him.

By now, the Apostles understood completely: this was the true Apostle City—Devil’s Horn!

Qin Lun glanced sideways at the smug old demon beside him. No wonder he hadn’t offered any defense for the Scorching Plain and Scorching Cliff, nor mentioned a single word about Devil’s Horn’s actual environment, allowing the Apostles to feel dissatisfied and make unfounded guesses.

Facts spoke louder than words; only through comparison could envy arise!

First, they made the Apostles travel a distance, witness the harsh environment of the Scorching Plain and the sinister Scorching Cliff, then used this slow spatial teleportation to let the Apostles view the floating city—Devil’s Horn.

With this contrast, except for Apostles with dark attributes, probably no one would nitpick about Devil’s Horn anymore.

The demon image in Earth Federation books was simply absurd. Who said they were Evil Creatures that only brought destruction and killing? The one who came up with this crowd-pleasing method to stir the Apostles’ emotions—no wonder the Moonlit Elves were driven into a corner by them.

The demon who devised this plan could truly be called a genius in psychology and hype planning. Even if placed in the Earth Federation, they could probably become the CEO of a major marketing company.

No matter how slow the spatial teleportation was, crossing over a thousand meters took only about ten seconds. The scenery before the Apostles flashed continuously. By the time their bodies passed through the Dimensional Space again and solidified, their original doubts and dissatisfaction had vanished. They began chatting and laughing, discussing their new home.

As for some Apostles’ thoughts about returning to Moonlight Forest, those were already dismissed. The deeper the criticism, the stronger the love; those who were most dissatisfied earlier now felt more eager to stay in Devil’s Horn. Even Qin Lun felt a hint of excitement rising within him. Compared to the beginning, his anticipation had grown much stronger.

The place where the Apostles now stood was the reception hall of Devil’s Horn. Unlike the beautiful garden style of Moonlight Forest or the filthy, animal intestine-like surroundings of Scorching Cliff, this place was filled with a modern technological atmosphere.

The surrounding walls were made of bright, clean metal panels with embedded laser lights. Around the hall stood some demon guards clad in heavy armor, giving a solemn and dignified feeling.

Just as the Apostles were chattering and looking around, a demon girl with enchanting features, dressed in professional women’s attire, entered the reception hall.

The tailored suit outlined the demon girl’s devilish figure. A pair of enormous “white rabbits” on her chest seemed ready to burst through the white shirt at any moment and leap out from the deep V-neck of her dress.

As soon as such a demon girl, full of uniform temptation, entered the hall, she immediately captured the attention of many Apostles. Even Qin Lun stopped thinking and took a few more glances.

“Lord Qin Lun, she is a Succubus. There are many Succubus girls providing special services in the entertainment district of Devil’s Horn. If you have time, you can visit there!” Qin Lun heard Beruses’ tempting words in his ear.

“Hmph!” On the other side, the only Elf who had followed the Apostles into Devil’s Horn finally let out her first dissatisfied snort.

Qin Lun glanced sideways at the clearly displeased Adeline and sighed inwardly. Beautiful females truly could never coexist peacefully!