Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Pursuit of Immortality
Chapter 10: Pursuit of Immortality
"This should be the core of the desolate woodland," Ron murmured, adjusting his glasses. "The scouting method I've prepared is ready for deployment." Ron carefully uncorked a vial of dark liquid and poured it onto the forest floor.
Drip, drip! *
To everyone's surprise, the dark liquid transformed into miniature ants that scattered in all directions. After about a dozen minutes, a black ant returned to Ron, crawling up his robes and whispering something to him.
"We've found it! Follow me," Ron instructed, leading the group to a withered oak tree.
"Squad 1, go!" Jackson commanded, and several Black Iron Guards moved to pierce the oak tree with their pikes.
The withered oak tree couldn't withstand the assault and soon revealed a sinister tunnel beneath it.
"This is it!" Ron's eyes gleamed as he chanted an incantation.
The black ants scattered in all directions and entered the tunnel. Suddenly, Ron's face turned pale, and he staggered backward, nearly fainting.
"What happened?" one of the acolytes asked.
"There appears to be an extremely dangerous creature inside. It annihilated all my precious scouts," Ron said with a grim expression.
"What should we do?" another acolyte inquired, looking anxious.
"Prepare a fire!" Jackson ordered. "We'll explore the tunnel. Follow me!"
The guards swiftly obeyed their lord's command, and Leylin, along with the other acolytes, reluctantly followed.
The tunnel was narrow at first, requiring them to crouch to enter. However, it gradually expanded as they delved deeper, allowing several guards to walk side by side without touching the ceiling with their torches.
"Viscount, there's a fork ahead," a squad leader reported to Jackson.
"Let me take a look," Jackson stepped forward and examined two identical tunnels, both extending into the darkness.
"The negative energy here is too dense for some of our scouting methods," the city lord's aide remarked, clad in grey robes.
"Send two men to scout each path ahead," Jackson ordered.
"It might be best if I do it," Ron interrupted, stepping forward. "Since I possess knowledge of the situation, it's safer."
"Very well, Mr. Ron, if you're willing," Jackson agreed, smiling.
Ron advanced a few steps and produced a transparent crystal from his robes. Chanting an incantation, a black vertical pupil appeared within the crystal. The sight of the pure black pupil sent shivers down the spines of the acolytes behind him.
"That's the Negative Energy Eye!" someone whispered, while others exchanged fearful glances. Only those acolytes specialized in negative energy could use such an eye, and they were known for their destructive spells and savage personalities.
Leylin paid no heed to the hostile glares and continued. The black pupil split into two, each floating into one of the tunnels.
Mentally following the vertical pupils, Leylin closed his eyes, causing Viscount Jackson to grow increasingly anxious. The group fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the faint sound of torches burning.
After a few minutes, Leylin opened his eyes and reported, "The left tunnel contains mutated lizards and leads to a large granite rock at the end. The right tunnel extends further, but my spell was disrupted when I tried to probe deeper."
"In that case, let's go down the right tunnel together," Jackson decided.
...
"Light! There's light up ahead!" a guard at the front shouted.
"Charge!" Jackson, holding his large sword, led the way, with the others following suit.
"Argh!" "Monsters!" "Be careful!" Shouts filled the cave as weapons were drawn.
[Alert! Imminent attack ahead! Optimal response: step back and crouch!] the A.I. Chip warned, displaying a faint blue screen. The screen depicted a talon, the size of a palm, reaching for Leylin.
He swiftly stepped back and crouched to avoid the attack. Amidst the chaos, Jackson's cries were heard.
After a quick scan by the A.I. Chip, Leylin observed that lizard-like creatures had launched a sneak attack, inflicting heavy casualties on Jackson and his guards.
As Leylin glanced at the gruesome scene, he realized the floor was strewn with the corpses of the creatures, some of which appeared to have been gnawed on.
At that moment, only two Knight-level squad leaders and the grey-robed figure remained with Jackson. One acolyte lay injured on the ground, while another clutched a severe abdominal wound.
All the mysterious energy in the cave was flowing into Leylin's body, a byproduct of his growing strength. The closer he was to the source, the more efficiently he absorbed it. He made the most of the opportunity.
In the cave's apex, white jellyfish-like creatures floated, emitting the earlier flashes of light.
Murphy arrived, clutching a book to his chest. In the cave, several familiar but mutated creatures surrounded them, including lizards, brown bears, and elks, with the king being an enormous yellow snake, protected by the others.
"It's a Mankestre, a Great Withering Snake!" Murphy exclaimed. "A fully grown one is at least 100 meters long, and it appears this one is not yet an adult. However, it's dangerous due to its parasites."
"The Great Withering Snake is responsible for the withering woods?" Jackson asked as he watched the snake and its parasitic minions.
"Yes, it consumes plant juices and uses parasites to gather food," Murphy explained.
"If we kill it, can the herb production in Dark Night Woods recover?" Jackson inquired.
"In theory, it should help the woods and prey to gradually recover," Murphy replied.
Hiss! The snake in the center of the cave hissed, producing a disturbing sound.
Leylin instructed the A.I. Chip to scan the Great Withering Snake (Half-adult body) and relayed the information to the group.
"Murphy, don't be deceived by its appearance. This is a non-adult Mankestre, and we still have a chance to deal with it," Leylin advised.
Murphy agreed, "Indeed, this one isn't fully grown, and the number of parasites it produces is lower."
As the group discussed the situation, the creatures surrounding them received orders and charged forward.
"A.I. Chip, simulate the optimal attack method," Leylin commanded, drawing his cross blade.
[Beep! Initiating battle simulation with host's stats!] [Calculating the optimal attack strategy!] The A.I. Chip projected a display of the creatures' attack patterns.
Leylin engaged in combat, dodging a brown bear's attack and swiftly eliminating it. The acolytes also used their spells to assist.
As Leylin glanced back, he saw the creature he had killed decompose into a strange, red-veined form that climbed into the Great Withering Snake's mouth.
The snake's crimson eyes blazed with rage as it prepared to strike Jackson.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone