Black Stone Town

In the game’s storyline, during this current era, it’s supposed to be a time when both sides are merely in contact and friction, without any large-scale conflicts.

According to the game’s setting, this phase is for players to develop and level up.

Only after this would the first Demon Lord extermination version open—that is, Vivian, the Demon Lord of Evernight.

As for the Winter Territory and the Winter Demon Lord, Catherine, those are special extermination zones unlocked much later in the mid to late game.

In other words, the entire world’s “game version” had fast-forwarded countless times without anyone knowing.

“…But if I look on the bright side, maybe the other [players] don’t even have time to level up?”

Vivian thought to herself—though the world’s progress was completely disrupted, this was equally true for everyone who had transmigrated here.

If it weren’t for Lucia beheading her—Vivian—she wouldn’t have gone to Faro Fortress and discovered that other transmigrators existed.

Honestly, she also believed there was a very high chance that pair of newly minted Heroes were transmigrators too, but she had no way or opportunity to confirm it.

On the other hand, Vivian had lost the forces and army she once commanded and now had to start rebuilding from scratch.

“…Well, judging by the current situation, once we receive supplies supported by the Winter Demon Lord Catherine, the pressure on Evernight City should ease for a while.

I can take some time to do other things.

For example… resuming the mining of Evernight Crystals.”

Vivian began recalculating her plans.

She had to manage all the important affairs of Evernight Territory and get everything on track before the child growing inside her became too much of a hindrance to her movements—and restoring the production of Evernight Crystals was one such priority.

Once Evernight Crystal mining resumed, everything else would naturally start functioning again.

As time passed, Vivian felt the tiny life inside her more and more distinctly.

She could clearly sense her energy waning day by day, and even her hunger steadily increasing.

Time was running out.

Vivian thought so.

“Let As continue scouting the mine’s situation and report back to me.

Speed up the arrangements for rebuilding and cultivation.

Deploy more manpower.

Priority one: redeploy the magic network communications.

Also, announce to the outside territories that Evernight Territory welcomes any former residents to return home.

The Demon Lord of Evernight, Vivian, has returned.”

One mission after another was assigned anew.

Based on the supplies received, Vivian adjusted the workload and priorities within the territory.

She sincerely hoped that the demons who had fled Evernight Territory for various reasons would choose to come back.

Two days later, the scout team returned with new intelligence for Vivian.

“Demon Lord, the situation at the Blackstone Town mine… doesn’t look very optimistic.”

“Hm? Elaborate.”

As returned to Vivian, but wore a hesitant expression—just by looking at him, Vivian knew that some thorny problem had arisen again.

“This is how it went.

When we arrived at Blackstone Town yesterday, it was still as deserted as when we first scouted it.

But as we approached the mine, we suddenly felt an overwhelming surge of chaotic darkness.

I tried to get closer despite this, but the moment I entered that area, I felt all the hair on my body heat up, almost burning.

What’s worse is that the situation beyond that is even more terrible…

I don’t know how to describe the awful conditions there, but it’s obviously not something caused by mere human interference.”

As reported with a trace of fear and dread on his face.

After hearing As’s report, Vivian immediately knew—this was bad.

“Mining Evernight Crystals is extremely difficult and dangerous because the mines themselves are located at nodes of energy currents.

From As’s description, it’s clear that something seriously unfavorable happened inside the mine during the period it was left unattended.”

“I understand.

I will personally inspect the situation tomorrow.”

Vivian considered the matter for a moment.

Although it might not necessarily require her presence, luckily, the Evernight Crystal mine and its adjacent Blackstone Town weren’t too far from Evernight City.

At As’s pace, it only took a day to reach.

Vivian had already roughly planned out the affairs in recent days, and Evernight City was steadily rebuilding.

So now she could afford to step away briefly and see what exactly was happening there.

Leaving Aria in charge at Evernight City, Vivian set out early the next morning, accompanied by Lucia, Luna, Shichui, As, and a squad of elite soldiers toward Blackstone Town.

After a day’s journey, Vivian and her group arrived at the outskirts of Blackstone Town.

The sky above was still draped in thick, leaden gray clouds that seemed to never disperse.

The faint light barely outlined the ruins ahead—that was once the thriving mining town of Blackstone.

True to its name, Blackstone Town was built around the mine, but the once bustling settlement was now nothing more than a blackened ruin tainted by dark forces.

Most houses had collapsed, walls bore strange marks that looked like giant claws had ripped them apart or they had been scorched by some energy.

The streets were covered with a thick layer of black dust that crunched painfully underfoot.

No insects chirped, no birds sang, not even the wind howling through the ruins could escape an oppressive silence—a terrifying stillness.

“What… happened here?”

Luna looked at the scene before her, visibly shaken.

“Even if adventurers had destroyed it, it wouldn’t be this bad!”

“…Something far worse must have occurred.”

Looking at the scene, Luna could somewhat understand why As said he couldn’t even describe the current state of Blackstone Town.

No signs of life remained.

The darkness swirling in the air boiled like scalding water, but this was definitely not the kind of environment a mine for Evernight Crystals should be.

The stray dark mana in the air was violently chaotic and disorderly, like countless tiny poisonous needles constantly stabbing into living beings, eroding their sanity and life force.

Ordinary demons would probably go mad or mutate if they stayed here long—let alone Evernight demons.

Luna raised her hand to cast a spell, and a thin but tough magical shield that absorbed and deflected chaotic dark energy enveloped the entire team.

“Follow me.

Let’s go inside and see exactly what’s going on.”