[Eliminated one Hellhound, Experience +30,000 points]
[Level Up!]
Naruto ignored the splashing high-temperature lava and flew to the Hellhound's side, a dark crown on his head, cold and domineering, like a monarch of the dark world, declaring: "Awaken, throw yourself under my command, become my Shadow, obey me, pledge allegiance to me, surrender to me!"
As the spell-like voice echoed over the lava lake, shadows from all directions, influenced by a supreme rule, surged like a receding tide, frantically pouring into the Hellhound's body.
The Hellhound's entire body ignited with dark flames.
Its previously quiet heart began to beat again, and a powerful aura, no less than that of Dragon Mother Tiamat, erupted from the Hellhound.
"Awoo—"
The Hellhound suddenly opened its eyes, its three massive wolf heads all lifted, then let out earth-shattering roars.
"Alright, stop barking."
Naruto, who had floated into the air, landed on the middle wolf head of the Hellhound and commanded: "From now on, you will lead these Demon Wolves to sweep away the other demon factions in the Underworld, understand?"
"Yes, Master!"
The Hellhound's left and right wolf heads looked towards the middle one, then replied in a muffled voice.
The Underworld, as the highest-level Underground City dungeon in the Goblin Slayer World, was filled with high-tier species.
For example, the Troll encountered earlier in the ancient ruins, who claimed to be a high-ranking official under a Demon God General, but in Chiyue, they were as common as Goblins, forming a thousand-strong tribe.
Like Goblins, they were divided into many different types of soldiers.
Among them, the BOSS of the Troll tribe was the Troll King, whose level and strength were probably not inferior to the Hellhound, and it was also one of the Sixteen Demon Generals of the Underworld!
The Demon Wolf race had a strong sense of territory.
They generally would not cross boundaries or actively invade the territory of other demon species.
On this day, a Troll scout, lazily patrolling the border, yawned. While bored, he suddenly saw nearly a thousand Demon Wolves charging over with menacing momentum.
"What's happening?"
The Troll scout's eyes widened in shock, his mouth agape.
Before he could react, he was bitten and had his arm and neck severed by a Hell Demon Wolf and a Lava Demon Wolf.
"Awaken, turn into a Shadow!"
The Shadow Clone, sitting atop the Hell Demon Wolf's head, wielded the Shadow Monarch's dominion, transforming the Troll scout into a member of the Shadow Army.
Like this Troll scout with severed limbs, under the connection of the power of shadow, his body actually recovered, and then he joined the main army.
As for Naruto's main body, he had already used the transfer mirror to leave Chiyue and return to the Ghost Ship.
From the Ghost Ship, he then departed for the Water Capital to reminisce and exchange feelings with the Sword Saintess.
As for Chiyue, he left behind dozens of Shadow Clones, plus the continuously expanding Shadow Army, to clear this high-level dungeon. He didn't even need his main body to exert effort; he could just enjoy the pleasure of grinding monsters and leveling up.
Troll Tribe.
The Troll King, upon receiving the news, stood up from his throne in shock, immediately grabbed a nearby lava greatclub, and walked out of his barbaric palace. Looking at the distant, dust-billowing, menacing army, the expression on his wide-mouthed, fanged face changed drastically.
He raised the lava greatclub, pointing it at the three giant wolves in the army, and roared hysterically: "Hellhound, why aren't you dutifully guarding the Underworld Gate? Why are you running wild in my territory?"
"Roar—"
The Hellhound completely ignored the Troll King, giving orders for the Demon Wolves under its command to charge collectively.
"Stinky dog, have you gone mad?"
"His Majesty the Demon God King strictly forbids us from infighting, and you still dare— Damn it, bite me! Are you serious? Kill, kill them all!!!"
The Troll King kicked away the Demon Wolf that bit him, swung the lava greatclub, sweeping across the battlefield, smashing all the pouncing Demon Wolves away, then raised his arm high and chanted an obscure and difficult-to-understand incantation.
Before long.
Above the Troll King's head, a giant fireball, comparable to a small sun, immediately gathered.
This giant fireball was dozens of times more powerful than the explosive fireball of the Troll in the Goblin Slayer World!
If it were to strike, it would likely be another world-ending blow that would alter the terrain.
Just then.
Behind the Shadow Army, an even larger and more majestic shadow appeared.
It had a body that blotted out the sky and destructive energy.
"Black—Black Dragon?"
"How is this possible? Why would the sleeping Black Dragon Monarch appear in the Underworld?!"
The Troll's earthy, dark, rugged face turned pale, filled with doubt and confusion.
One Hellhound was enough for him to handle, let alone a more formidable Black Dragon Monarch!
Before long.
The earth-shaking battle ended.
The Troll King, dominated by shadows, stood beside the Hellhound, having impressively become a great general under Naruto's command, leading the Troll unit of the Shadow Army.
However.
Grinding monsters and clearing the map had only just begun.
Next to the Troll tribe were the Giant Eye tribe, the Gargoyle tribe, and so on.
Like the Trolls, the Giant Eyes were also high-tier demon creatures. In the Goblin Slayer World, they would be sufficient to serve as a BOSS for a labyrinth room.
Naruto had eliminated one before, in the Water Capital's underground labyrinth, and even obtained a small piece of the [Decurse] rune fragment.
But because the Giant Eye in the underground labyrinth was actually summoned by the Dark People, and there was no such race in the Goblin Slayer World, Naruto wanted to gather the complete [Giant Eye's Talent Rune] but struggled to find Giant Eyes to farm.
Now, the Underworld dungeon above Chiyue finally allowed Naruto to complete the [Giant Eye's Talent Rune], successfully mastering the Giant Eye talent: Decurse.
Decurse!
Within Naruto's line of sight, Ninjutsu and Genjutsu were ineffective!!
This was a rather buggy ability.
If Taijutsu Ninja like Might Guy and Rock Lee knew about it, they would probably be ecstatic.
Thus, Naruto continuously had his Shadow Clones and Shadow Army grinding in the Underworld.
His experience and level soared like an airplane.
Naruto's Shadow Army also grew increasingly powerful.
Until this grinding team pushed all the way to the shaded side of Chiyue, where they were blocked by an invisible wall.
That was the dungeon barrier. Behind it should be where the Demon God King slept.
Without a special mission or waiting for the dungeon to open, it was highly probable they couldn't enter.
So Naruto gave up.
Time flew by. A month later in the Fire Shadow World, the final official match of the Chunin Exams finally arrived.
The air in the circular arena was so hot it felt like it would ignite.
The stands were packed with people.
There were wealthy merchants and tourists from various regions, villagers and Ninja from Konoha Village, prestigious families, as well as nobles from the Land of Fire and the other Five Great Nations, including the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Orochimaru disguised as the Kazekage.
And the first match was Naruto versus Rock Lee!
One was Konoha Village's Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki.
The other was Might Guy's disciple, a Taijutsu master who had trained in the Eight Inner Gates.
Everyone was curious who would win and who would lose.
Or rather—how far Lee could push Naruto!