The exclamations rang out, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
Caitlin's many servants promptly emerged from the rooms they were investigating, hurrying towards the source of the commotion.
Seeing Abby hastening there as well, Howard quickly recalled his firedragon and followed in her steps.
During this expedition into the Ruins, Howard had two objectives in mind: to reap the benefits concealed within the Ruins and to protect Abby.
As they entered the room with Abby, rows of shelves came into view, laden with numerous glass bottles, each filled with potions of various hues.
Beside each potion, there was a label detailing its effects.
[Soul Devouring Potion: Capable of consuming souls, rendering monsters into empty husks.]
[Nightmare Potion: Induces deep sleep in the individual, causing them to die in the midst of nightmares.]
[Undead Potion: Can resurrect the deceased, who, albeit devoid of consciousness, retains the ability to move.]
[...]
"Something is off, why are the effects of these potions so perverse?"
"It seems like these are not normal potions!"
Upon reading the descriptions and names of the potions, everyone began to understand the grim reality.
"Hiss, this ruin might be a research facility for potions... a facility for prohibited potions at that!"
Glyn, however, showed signs of excitement, exclaiming joyfully, "The Church and the Sanctuary are strenuously suppressing heretics. These banned potions are primarily concocted by those vile heretics. If we crack this ruin and report it, perhaps, we could be rewarded by the Church!"
The Church was formerly known as the Divine Temple.
After the advent of the aberrations, the Divine Temple split into two factions.
The Church pursued a spiritual path anchored in faith, while the Sanctuary relied on their innate strength to battle the aberrant monsters.
Of course, they hadn't separated entirely; they had simply morphed into two distinct departments, fundamentally unified, with the Pope as the supreme leader.
Hearing Glyn's words, a look of anticipation also appeared on Howard's face.
In today's world, the Church, the Sanctuary, the Moral Celestial Palace, and the Buddhist Sect were arguably the four most powerful forces, possessing a plethora of treasures.
If one could gain benefits from the Church and utilize their synthesis talent, wouldn't that enable them to soar to great heights in one swoop?
However, Howard also understood that the heretics were equally formidable.
Exploring these ruins, even without hidden extraplanar creatures lurking, would undoubtedly be a challenging task.
"Glyn, senior, what should we do with these potions?"
"What else can we do? Gather them all; we will hand them over to the Church later."
Glyn swiftly moved forward, urging the students to continuously collect the potions.
The attention of Caitlin's numerous subordinates also turned towards the scene.
Caitlin, not interested in the potions and unwilling to vie with Glyn for them, shook her head promptly.
And so, Howard and his group watched as Glyn, Abby, Hulles, and others kept collecting the potions.
However, as Hulles led a few students to the last rows of shelves, a sudden roar broke out.
In the next moment, over a dozen figures surged out from the dark corners.
"Ah!"
"Damn it, what the hell are these things?"
Screams echoed non-stop as Hulles and his group quickly retreated.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the sight of over a dozen figures emerging from the darkness, their clothing tattered, flesh deeply recessed to the point where bones were visible.
"Are they human?"
"No, it seems like they have been dead for a long time!"
"Hiss, there isn't any moisture left in their bodies, even their eyeballs are bulging out. These aren't living people."
"Wait, could these be the experiment subjects who consumed the Undead Potion?"
One of the quick-thinking students deduced the possibility, causing Howard and the others to wear grave expressions.
Glyn was the first to inspect the attributes of those who had become corpses, sharing the details with everyone present.
[Death Experimenter]
[Level: 60]
[Tier: Gold]
[Description: Initially innocent humans, they were ruthlessly abducted by heretics to their base where they underwent inhumane experiments. Ultimately, they transformed into mindless corpses, awakening at the slightest disturbance.]
[HP: 29000]
[Attack power: 2600-3100]
[Defense value: 1800]
[Skills: Bite, Virus Spread]
"Holy shit!"
"What the fuck? A Gold tier monster?!"
Suddenly encountering a Gold tier monster, the students from the elite team were instantly thrown into a panic.
Mostly facing Iron or Bronze adversaries in the wild, the abrupt confrontation with a Gold-tier monster indeed instilled fear in them.
Even Abby couldn't help swallowing hard.
Seeing this, Howard discreetly moved a few steps closer to Abby, ensuring he could act immediately if she were in danger.
"No need to worry," Glyn said, breaking the silence. "These monsters are significantly weaker than typical Gold tier monsters. It seems their years residing in this aquatic ruin have degraded their bodies, unable to maintain their original strength."
"Everyone, don't be afraid. Listen to me, form a line. All warrior-class, step forward. When I restrain them, use your control skills to continue the restraint. Magus and archers, unleash your skills to your heart's content!"
It had to be said that Glyn was extremely dedicated, still guiding the group of students even at this critical moment.
Fortunately, Abby and the others were the best of the academy.
Despite most of them having somewhat undesirable personalities, they weren't foolish.
Hearing Glyn's instructions, they promptly sprung into action.
Though the Death Experimenters held a high level, their attributes were indeed somewhat weakened.
Glyn charged forward, his entire body turning crystalline and emanating countless bolts of lightning.
Amid the roaring thunderous noise, Glyn swiftly reached the vicinity of several Death Experimenters, the erupting thunder forcefully stunning them in their tracks.
"-7822!"
"-8137!"
Terrifying damage numbers continually surfaced, revealing the impressive damage Glyn was inflicting even against opponents of a higher level.
Seeing this, the members of the elite team felt a weight lift off their chests.
No longer afraid, they charged forward with furious roars.
Although their levels were lower and their damage insufficient, unable to break through the Death Experimenter's defenses, they could still trigger special effects such as stun or weakness.
Moreover, Glyn was merely aiming to foster their courage.
After the Death Experimenters had been partially weakened, Glyn's subsequent skills tore through them ruthlessly.
In the next moment, Glyn resembled a thunder god, a figure where thunder ceaselessly roared wherever he went, the terrifying bolts of lightning tearing many Death Experimenters asunder.
Within just a few short minutes, all the Death Experimenters in the room had been eradicated.
"My dear, isn't it nice to have someone help with clearing the monsters?"
The bored Caitlin walked over to Howard, smiling as she spoke, "What do you say, shall we team up from now on?"