Endless World: The Rise of Leonard Lawson

After subsiding the lingering regret from Vincent's life, Leonard returned to normal.

Maybe it was because he kept using his original name that resulted in some of the old emotions coming back, but he was now back to Leonard's self.

Just like many who were incapable of altering their fate, Leonard was also the same.

Vincent's life in the old world was a past memory.

It wasn't the present world where he now lived.

"Anyway, let's return to the surface." Leonard calmly said. The Dark Chamber could be said to be a lingering sorrow chapter that would forever disappear alongside this particular Slave Coop.

…

Outside the Dark Chamber

"You've finally returned." Jenny heaved a sigh of relief when she saw Shirley appearing from inside the Dark Chamber.

She wanted to approach her, but soon hesitated and paused. Her eyes shifted to the man behind Shirley.

"He's my Master." Shirley noticed her hesitation and promptly explained.

"Master is different from these scums. You don't have to worry about being harmed." She continued.

Although Jenny nodded in understanding, her body posture still betrayed her.

Upon seeing that, Shirley wanted to explain further, but Leonard stopped her.

"Not everyone is like you, who is accepting and adaptable." He softly said and reminded her that these women suffered many times more than she did.

Shirley managed to escape the horrifying fate, but these women didn't.

Who knows how much tragedy they had endured and tried their best to survive?

Shirley seemed to realize her words were quite meaningless. Though it was already decent enough that Jenny was able to communicate with her.

"How come you're the only one here?" Shirley glanced at the surroundings and only spotted Jenny around. "Didn't I tell you all to head toward the exit and wait for us there?"

"I was just a bit worried…" Jenny pursed her lips. Her expression soon turned complicated when she didn't see anyone else coming up from the basement.

"Naomi… she's gone, right?" She asked in a bittersweet tone.

Both Leonard and Shirley remained silent, a subtle indication that she was indeed gone.

Prior to their arrival, Naomi had already been sacrificed and used as a test subject. The evidence was recorded in the last journal that Leonard obtained.

Within the final page of documentation, it mentioned how Naomi pleaded for mercy and desperately struggled to flee. Alas, they were powerless and were injected with a large dosage of Wrathbane Extract.

As for the results… Leonard didn't wish to be reminded again, besides knowing it was a dreadful fate of a tragic end. Having been kidnapped years ago, everything had simply been a living nightmare to her, and even the end was inhumane.

"The foul stench is starting to spread. We should leave." Leonard promptly said.

With the foul stench from deep inside the basement leaking out, the area would soon become impossible to be around.

Sometime later, the trio exited the Slave Coop and met up with the others.

In total, only about 8 survivors were left. None of them appeared lively, but the weird part was that their expression were full of madness and joy.

"What's going on with them?" Leonard turned to Mirelle and asked.

Why did they appear to be out of their mind?

Mirelle spread her arms with a clueless expression in response. She didn't even know either. When these women first arrived, she was vigilant and thought it was more berserk people.

But she soon discovered their state wasn't that of berserk, but more like prisoners.

"It's like this…" Shirley stepped in and clarified the situation.

A few minutes later, Mirelle's eyes flared up, and she unleashed a strike at one of the guard posts in fury.

The sudden actions startled the other rescued women.

However, the destructive sound coincidentally helped mask someone who had been hiding in the shadows.

Swoosh!

From a shaded area, a figure blinked away and emerged behind Leonard.

Their hands were holding onto some relic-like crystal.

"Watch out!" Shirley was the first to notice the danger and called out.

Unfortunately, she wasn't at a distance to push Leonard away because she was trying to pacify the remaining women.

Leonard's eyes narrowed slightly. His barrier automatically triggered in the face of impending danger.

However, the figure seemed to have anticipated the barrier. They activated their relic-like crystal, which somehow caused the barrier to dissipate.

'Huh?' Leonard was startled.

He didn't expect his defensive barrier to have faltered at this moment. He thought the eighth circle barrier was enough to deflect the sudden attack.

"Damn it." He clicked his tongue and wanted to condense some mana to deflect the attacker.

Alas, it was a little bit too late.

The ambusher seemed to be relishing in excitement from their perfectly timed attack.

"Go to hell!" They sneered coldly.

Soon, their weapon made contact!

THUD!

Blood started to spray out like a fountain.

Many people's expressions were filled with disbelief and bewilderment.

Even the ambusher was alarmed by their attack.

After all, their flawless attack succeeded, albeit it was at the wrong target.

Leonard's pupils constricted when he felt the warm, fresh blood splattered on his face.

"Why?" His voice was caught in his throat as he glanced at the figure in front of him: Irene.

Irene held a warm smile on her face as she glanced at him.

"I-I wanted to thank you for the beef jerky. They were really delicious…" Her strength quickly faded away as she dropped into Leonard's arms.

Upon falling to him, Leonard saw that her back had a large empty hole. His hands trembled and shook uncontrollably as he attempted to cover the hole.

As for the attacker, they realized the opportunity had been missed.

"Curses!" They were frustrated and hurriedly turned around to flee the scene.

"HOW DARE YOU!!!" Mirelle roared thunderously and hurriedly gave chase to the assassin.

Everything happened too fast, and Leonard was in no condition to worry about the assassin fleeing.

His eyes only had Irene, who was looking at him with a grateful expression.

"I can see the light, Sir…" She said weakly.

"Stop speaking," Leonard warned gently and extended his hand toward Caroline.

"Give me some recovery potions now!" He demanded.

Before Caroline could even respond, Irene gently touched his face and shook her head.

"There's no need." Shortly after saying that, her eyes lost their color, her hand slowly dropping into his lap.

She no longer showed any sign of life.