My Divine Beasts Are Really Not Evil Gods

Chapter 40: Mad God!

As a quasi-first-tier city, and serving as a hub itself that radiates out to multiple satellite towns, forming an economic and transportation nexus, housing prices and rent within the city center were extremely high.

Even if they chose to rent in an old residential area in the suburbs, the cost wouldn't be low.

Therefore, their initial plan was to join an adventure group as soon as possible, then quickly distinguish themselves, earn big money, and move into a large villa.

However, imagination is beautiful, but reality is cruel.

Because the three of them had just graduated, they still carried a bit of the arrogance from their ivory tower days. This wasn't necessarily a fault—what's youth without a little audacity?

But the result was that they looked down on the poorer adventure groups, while the good ones were fiercely competitive.

Even when they tried to find a part-time manual labor job, it turned out everyone only wanted Beast Tamers with Undead-type pets, especially Skeletons, which could work day and night without rest and didn't require meals.

Competitive, fucking competitive!

Capitalists should all be hung from the lampposts!

This led to a month passing without the three of them finding suitable jobs.During this time, the feed for their Pet Beasts was also a major expense. This was an expense they couldn't cut back on, as long-term nutritional deficiency would affect a Pet Beast's potential, unless they didn't want to become powerful Beast Tamers.

Consequently, the money they brought from home could only last another half a month. If they still hadn't sorted things out by then, they would have no choice but to slink back home in disgrace.

So the three huddled together for a small meeting, re-established a new direction, and shifted their goal from becoming major figures to becoming excellent Bounty Hunters.

After all, before reaching for highbrow art, one must first be a commoner for a while.

And the first mission they accepted was the one with the richest reward: hunting Maddened Blood Hyenas.

This would be their starting point, the foundation of their legend.

"Got you!"

Song Yue also caught the intentionally slacking Zhao Bin, fiercely hammering his shoulders a few times. The latter put on an act of being in pain, which finally dissipated her anger.

The three gathered together, and Chen Chi, acting as the group's strategist, pointed at the map:

"Keep going forward, and we'll reach the Rune Iron Net marking the border between the Abandoned Urban Area and West City. It's engraved with a Ritual meant to block demonic beast invasions, but it doesn't really affect humans. We can just climb over it to get across."

Zhao Bin was already impatient: "Then let's hurry up.

Saving every penny lately has made my mouth taste bland as a bird. Once we earn some money, I'm treating you guys to a big meal."

"Watch your language!" Song Yue shot him a glare, then said with some concern: "Why did we come here ten minutes early? The Property Owners' Committee said there was a fourth person. Shouldn't we wait for him? Against pack-hunting demonic beasts like the Maddened Blood Hyenas, one more person means more strength."

Chen Chi lowered his head in thought upon hearing this, while Zhao Bin, standing to the side, waved his hand dismissively:

"We're already a mature team.

Not only are we all at Peak Red Copper strength, but I can be the Tank, you're the Healer, and Chen Chi is Control plus Commander. It's already perfect.

Adding a stranger would just make coordination harder.

"It's only because the client insisted the mission must have four people that we have an extra person.

We don't actually need him. Besides, it's not like we're cutting him out; we'll give him his share once the mission is complete.

Getting paid without having to work? He'll be over the moon…"

While that's what he said, Zhao Bin actually had a small ulterior motive.

He wanted to show off his prowess in front of Song Yue.

It would be even better if he could play the hero saving the beauty—maybe it would heat up their relationship.

Adding a stranger, whether too strong or too weak, would make things unpredictable.

Sorry, stranger, you'll have to take the backseat this time. When the mission reward comes, I'll take my share and transfer an extra three thousand to you!

Zhao Bin thought to himself, a slight smile unconsciously curling at the corner of his mouth.

Chen Chi glanced at him, instantly seeing through his scheme. Rather than exposing him, he played along, saying: "Zhao Bin has a point.

While it's one thing to worry about a stranger coordinating with us, the real danger is encountering Dark Beast Tamers. They're known for disguising themselves to backstab and plunder newcomers of their Pet Beasts and money.

Better safe than sorry. We'll simply ensure his share of the money is accounted for."

"What you said makes sense too…" Song Yue was also swayed into apprehension and nodded.

Following the map, the three soon arrived before the Rune Iron Net.

Many of the runes on it were damaged, and the iron net itself had several small holes.

Although the Myriad Beast Tower of the Starry Host was still operational, the nearby residential areas were already filled with anxiety and fear.

After all, there had been incidents of low-level demonic beasts sneaking through before, albeit decades ago, and they were quickly exterminated.

But people still feared becoming the exception.

The three climbed over the wire netting.

After about ten minutes of travel, they soon reached the outskirts of the Abandoned Urban Area.

"So this is the abandoned Old Urban Area of Great Abyss City…" Song Yue's mouth hung open in surprise.

What greeted her eyes was a scene of broken walls and ruins. The once glorious high-rises were now dilapidated.

Strangest of all, a thick layer of reddish-brown iron rust covered everything—the ground, the buildings, even the glass.

Amidst all this rust, a plethora of climbing plants had grown: Boston ivy, climbing roses, Virginia creeper, bougainvillea, and more.

Their colors had also turned a reddish-brown, bursting with renewed vitality, reborn upon these ruins.

Chen Chi looked at his surprised childhood friend and explained with a smile: "I looked it up.

The reason this old urban area was abandoned decades ago was because a group of Evil God Cultists performed a Sacrificial Ritual here. They used the flesh and blood of hundreds of thousands of people to summon a powerful Evil God Servitor, which went on a massive killing spree, causing countless deaths.

"Although it was eventually killed by Alliance experts, the entire urban area was affected by the aftermath of the battle, covered in a thick layer of iron rust, making it uninhabitable. So they had to build a new urban area not far away. The Old City was repurposed as a buffer zone against demonic beasts, which is why many powerful creatures also lair in the central city district."

"What! You're saying this rust isn't from natural oxidation? It's residue from the power of those experts!?" Song Yue's eyes widened.

Given her perspective, she couldn't even imagine what kind of magnificent power could, merely as a side effect of battle, reduce a massive urban area housing over a million people to ruins.

Such existences were no different from Gods and Demons, right?

Chen Chi nodded, marveling: "I was shocked too when I found the information.

These Disaster-like existences seem to wield a power called 【Domain】. I just don't know if this rust was caused by that Evil God Servitor or by the Alliance expert…"

"Whoever it was, they were incredibly powerful.

I hope I can become a top expert like that one day!" Zhao Bin's expression was full of yearning, eagerly anticipating the day he too could overturn clouds and rain with a flip of his hand.

After marveling for a bit, the three quickly adjusted their emotions.

After all, their primary target was hunting Maddened Blood Hyenas.

After more than ten minutes of searching, they soon spotted over a dozen wandering Maddened Blood Hyenas near the entrance of an abandoned convenience store!

Their size was similar to ordinary hyenas.

Their heads were relatively intact, but their original flesh-and-blood bodies had rotted, presenting a dark red hue. The flesh on their thoracic cavities had fallen away, revealing stark white bones.

Yet, within the chest of such a decayed body, there beat a blood-colored heart glowing with red light.

Covered in numerous long, thin red Tentacles, they extended out from between the bones, twisting irregularly, appearing extremely bizarre.

These Tentacles writhed like living things. As the hyenas lowered their heads, the Tentacles would also stretch out, brushing against the ground as if probing for life.

One of the Maddened Blood Hyenas kept probing, startling a rust-covered beetle. Just as it tried to escape, it was caught by a multitude of blood-colored Tentacles.

With a crack, it was torn apart and devoured, ultimately feeding the blood-colored heart.

In addition to claws and fangs, they now also had Tentacles as a means of attack.

"So disgusting…" Song Yue couldn't help but frown. Chen Chi beside her was also somewhat uncomfortable and reminded them:

"I read in a book that Maddened Blood Hyenas are likely the Fallen Species of Bloodthirsty Hounds.

Because they consume massive amounts of blood, during their Spirituality Transformation process, they can easily perceive a hidden existence known as the 【Mad God】 and become corrupted by it. Their hearts mutate, endlessly producing the 【Maddening Blood】 that drives the hyenas insane, along with the Tentacles.

"During this process, they frantically attack all living things, even their former kin and offspring. Even after their bodies rot away, their consciousness merges with this heart, which then enslaves the decaying body to continue hunting for it.

But if they can restrain this madness, they will undergo evolution…"

Just as they were speaking, several Maddened Blood Hyenas suddenly lifted their heads. They had keenly caught the scent of living humans.

"Awooo!"

Following the pack's rallying call, the Maddened Blood Hyenas gathered. With savage gazes locked on the trio, they emitted fierce low growls, then surged forward like a vast, crimson tide.