The underground base was like a nest with numerous tunnels that interconnected to each other and linked to dozens of caves that act as housing, storage, and facilities for their rituals and some sort of drug lab.
Aldred found some potion bottles and white powder wrapped in paper.
"This powder is made from Magic Powder," Maverick said. "Don't be tricked by the name magic. All it does is give you hallucinations that make you feel good."
"So these people are drug dealers."
"Yes, it's one of their main sources of income besides extortion."
A man walked inside the lab. "Don't consume them too much. We need to sell them or the boss will kill us. Eh, who are you guys?"
Aldred looked into the man's eyes. "Eye of Nightmare."
His eyes changed into deep dark, and the man's face turned expressionless. Suddenly, the man screamed in pain before rolling on the ground. He clawed his face, ripping off the skin, and then bit off his own fingers.
"AHHH! It hurts! NO. DON'T! AGHH!!"
Aldred transformed his stick into a sword and stabbed the man's thigh. The man came out of the nightmare and screamed again.
"Tell me. Where is the other base of Wildlings Gang."
"I--I don't know. The gang is loosely affiliated with each other. We don't know where their secret base is."
"Smart," Aldred said. "That means I just have to find all the bases and kill everyone. Since no one can answer my question, I will kill everybody."
"Wait, no. Don't kill me. I was forced to join this gang. Nobody can leave once you join."
"What happens if you leave?"
"They will torture my family and kill them. I have seen someone try. I have seen how they tortured him before hanging him inside his own home. But before that, they killed his wife and children right in front of him."
"How cruel."
"Please. Don't kill me."
"I cannot do that, because I cannot trust you. But I will kill all Wildlings Gang in this region that way, your family and everyone's family will be safe."
"Maverick, your father won't mind if I bring the corpses instead right?"
"It's fine. But at least let the leader live for interrogation if we ever find one."
Aldred nodded and raised his palm. "This won't be painful."
He manipulated the blood inside the man's brain to explode. Instantly killing the man without any pain.
They both jumped on top of Xer Xai.
"Xer Xai. Kill everyone in this place and destroy this base."
"Yes, master." Xer Xai burroweed under the ground while clawing the walls. The ceilings fell and everything came into ruins. All the facilities, storages, and drugs were all buried.
When they found some treasures Aldred kept them in his inventory. After a while, they finally found the leader. He was a Gold Rank warrior with thick armor, but in front of Xer Xai, he was merely an ant.
Xer Xai slammed her claws to hold the man on the ground.
"I was planning to interrogate you, but turning you to undead seems to be faster. I will let Lord Aleron ask the questions after that."
The man couldn't even say any words before he was killed and turned into an undead. Aldred asked if he knew where the other base was or not just in case, but as expected, even the leader of this base did not know.
After destroying the base, Xer Xai burrowed through the earth to find more bases. She had a powerful detection ability. Even without eyes, she could sense more than a normal human.
Not long after, Xer Xai penetrated through another base. They seemed to enter some sort of wide hall that was designed for a ritual room.
There were a lot of people here wearing dark robes. And someone familiar was standing in the center.
"Protect master Pepe!"
"Protect master Pepe!"
Everyone raised their staff, swords, and shields.
Aldred raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were killed."
"Those who dare to harm master Pepe are traitors. We killed those traitors yesterday and swore to protect master Pepe."
"Alright, whatever. Tell me. Are you affiliated with the Wildlings Gang?"
"Yes, we are."
"Then fucking die." Aldred raised his hand and clenched his fist. Suddenly, all the cultists exploded into blood.
Only master pepe was left alive.
"If your girl says you're gay, her mother you shall slay."
"Alright, time for you to die as well."
"If a nun prevent you from sin, her anal you shall go in."
Aldred quickly killed him before he said another word. He sighed. "These people are truly evil."
Maverick nodded in agreement. "He's truly a master. Even in the face of death, he didn't even flinch or beg for mercy."
Aldred summoned master Pepe on top of Xer Xai to ask him some questions. "Tell me. Do you know the other base of Wildlings Gang?"
"Dig."
"Dig?"
"Digging on your sister you must."
"Fuck! This guy is broken. Even being an undead he still talks like this."
Aldred willed master Pepe to disappear into dark mist.
The three of them; Xer Xai, Maverick, and Aldred continued to dig around for a base. This time, the base was more reinforced and thicker. It was thick enough for Xer Xai to struggle for one second.
After penetrating the wall, an alert came like a siren with slight magical noises.
Suddenly, a lot of people with proper armor and weapons came.
"A monster?"
"No. Someone breached our base! Unit 1, 2, and 3 attack the beast and wait for reinforcement!"
"Yes, sir!"
They were currently in a large tunnel. Large enough for Xer Xai to stand. In front of them, the enemy magicians cast a shield that protected the infantry as they slowly marched forward with a thick shield.
"Archers, attack!"
Dozens of arrows bounced off Xer Xai's skin and exoskeleton.
"Shit! Bring in the weapon!" The enemies parted, revealing a giant magic balista.
They fired immediately, and the bolt was covered in lightning before it lodged inside Xer Xai's head.
