Mushroom Lord in the Underground City

Chapter 503 - 493: First Time as a Puki

Mushroom Race.

Elvyn Slyne’s understanding of this intelligent Puki still lingered on the one Shi Wu brought back, the noisy little guy who clamored all day about fighting side by side to slay all enemies, yet fainted at the sight of blood.

After encountering No. 9 Puki, he speculated that the peculiar Puki Inanna acquired in the Underground City was probably also a member of the Mushroom Race.

These enigmatic creatures were identified by numbers, but which number was that one?

Pukis were fascinating mysteries worthy of deep exploration, but unfortunately, at the time, no one had the chance to delve into this matter.

Yet fate plays tricks, and he never expected that after his death, he would become one of them.

Was the previous Puki also someone who transformed after death?

On second thought, it didn’t seem right.

From his brief interaction with No. 9 Puki, he could sense that the other took genuine pride in being a Puki, a pure mindset no reincarnator could possess.

His situation appeared to be somewhat unique.

"What do you call me?" Elvyn tentatively responded with a thought, succeeding instantly, as if it was an inherent ability.

The Pukis in front of him, No. 1 and No. 2, stared blankly for a moment. "Fourteen. Haven’t you received your number?"

Back when they were born, the great Mushroom Lord personally named each new member of the Mushroom Race.

Even now, they could recall that sacred and glorious moment: "Ah... you shall be named... One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen..."

Fourteen...

Elvyn felt that he was somewhat reaping what he sowed.

Back when he adopted those orphans, as he was utterly inept at naming and didn’t see the importance of names, those without names would be simply given numbers. When the children grew up, they had complained to him about this many times.

He even remembered the child named Fourteen, who became a blacksmith.

He never expected to become a numbered Puki himself now?

So, who named the Pukis?

"Of course, it was the Mushroom Lord!" As soon as he hesitantly raised the question, the Pukis immediately answered, then asked back in confusion, "Didn’t you hear the Mushroom Lord name you?"

Realizing he might have misspoken, Elvyn added, "I just woke up, perhaps I missed it."

Elvyn wanted to ask what the Mushroom Lord was, but given the unclear situation, it was better to blend in first.

Soon Elvyn felt waves of sympathy from those around him.

Even before Elvyn woke up, Lin Jun had said this was Fourteen, so it wasn’t in doubt.

So, missing the moment when the Mushroom Lord bestowed the name was clearly because of his blurred consciousness at birth, just as he claimed.

Missing the most important moment in the Puki’s life was truly unfortunate.

No. 1 and No. 2 became more enthusiastic about this unfortunate new member.

"This is the Mushroom Garden, our Mushroom Race’s main base!" They pulled Elvyn through a forest of mushroom houses and then pointed to a tailless lizardman passing by, "Those are Mushroom Servants, serving the Mushroom Lord."

Demon Race!

Elvyn instinctively used his mycelium tentacle to reach for his waist, only to grope at emptiness.

Only then did he realize that he was now a Puki.

Moreover, both of his favorite weapons were destroyed in the battle with the Blood Emperor.

In that case, all his skills...

Elvyn watched his plump tentacle, raised a stone shard from the ground, and made a testing swing.

Before the other Pukis could react, the mushroom house beside them suddenly tilted and gently broke in half.

The tailless lizardman, who had not gone far, glanced back at his collapsed mushroom house, and without expression, turned back — he was used to it, he’d stay at the dome’s side tonight.

The numbered Pukis around instantly gathered excitedly.

"Oh oh oh oh! Amazing! Such a smooth cut with just a stone shard?"

"No wonder the Mushroom Lord said Fourteen is formidable!"

"Fourteen, Fourteen, what skill is that? I want to have it too!"

In a daze, Elvyn seemed to have returned to the days when he had just become an adventurer, when his teammates marveled at his first display of sword skills.

"Fourteen... maybe it’s possible." Five, who had been quietly following at the end of the group, timidly interjected, its mushroom cap drooping slightly, as if uncomfortable with being the center of attention.

All at once, the Pukis fell silent.

Perhaps... there’s really a chance?

"What might be possible?" Elvyn asked, puzzled.

No. 1 placed a tentacle on Elvyn’s mushroom cap and vividly recounted the history of conflict between the Mushroom Race and the Black Demon.

Although it tried to evoke a tragic atmosphere, to Elvyn, it sounded like an ordinary tale of wolves chasing rabbits.

He was only puzzled because when describing being eaten, No. 1 recounted it as if it had truly been eaten.

Besides...

"Did you not say that the Mushroom Garden is the main base of the Mushroom Race?" Elvyn interrupted, "Why would a natural enemy exist within the main base?"

No. 1 Puki’s mushroom cap tilted unnaturally to the side, its mycelium tentacles tangled awkwardly, clearly unsure of how to respond.

Elvyn had no intention to attack an unknown creature for no reason; all he wanted now was to understand his true situation.

Just as he thought of declining, Five shouted, "Here it comes!"

The Pukis, who moments ago claimed ownership, instantly scattered in a flurry of "Puki Puki" sounds, their short legs leaving chaotic prints in the soft ground.

Amid the chaos, the Puki called Thirteen tried to push Elvyn forward, only to be deflected by his tentacle.

Then, Elvyn saw Xiao Hai, drooling uncontrollably, drawn by the aroma.

Dragon Man?!

Elvyn found this place utterly baffling, where Demons, Pukis, and Dragon Men lived in one area?

Elvyn had no intention of causing trouble, but it was clear that this Dragon Man already saw him as food, so he wouldn’t evade.

He is Sword Saint Elvyn, not a Puki!

Tentacles wielding the stone shard struck instantly.

He knew that ordinary stones couldn’t possibly penetrate dragon scales, so the shard deftly slipped beneath the raised scales of Xiao Hai’s joint, slicing through the gaps in the scale armor.

Crack—

The shard broke as expected.

Elvyn was somewhat surprised, were even the skin so tough?

In that case, the weak spot was only the eyes.

As usual, Xiao Hai spread its claws to embrace him.

Elvyn waited silently, at the moment the dragon claws were about to touch—

[Stepping on the Moon]

Smack—

The anticipated lift-off didn’t occur; the Puki’s body fell heavily to the ground.

Xiao Hai joyfully picked up the Puki, eagerly gnawing on the mushroom cap.

The enticing scent emanating from this Puki was so irresistible that it had awakened her from sleep.

Feeling himself being bitten inch by inch, Elvyn wasn’t afraid, only filled with confusion and absurdity.

He was puzzled why [Stepping on the Moon] failed and even more absurd was finding his new life ending once more in such a comical way.

The hatchling’s sharp teeth rhythmically tore at the mushroom body, occasionally stretching out its tongue to lick with satisfaction.

Evidently, he was indeed quite delicious. That was Elvyn’s final thought before he slipped into darkness once more.

...

[Name: Elvyn Slyne]

[Race: Mushroom-Puki]

[Skills: Extreme Sword, Delicious Level 10, Enticing Fragrance Level 8]

[Fixed State: Sword Heart (Counters mind-related damage)]

[Title:

Sword Saint (Sword damage increased by 100%)

Demon Slayer (Damage to Demon Race increased by 10%)

Dragon Slayer (Immune to Dragon Mighty)

Master (Increased chance of triggering instructional insights)]

All Attribute 10.

...

When Elvyn once again broke through the mycelium cocoon, the shock in his heart was uncontainable.

Dream, hallucination?

No, with his Sword Heart clarity, Elvyn was very sure everything before was real.

Reborn again?

What the heck is this...

"How are you finding this mushroom body, Sword Saint Sir~"