บท 21: Chapter 21 - Cutting Them Down
The next day, things started early. After Fable and Zenith had geared up, Mirabell had already activated the teleporter device in front of the freighter, just like last time. When Zenith walked over, he gazed around, seeing that the usual full swing of the outpost was constant. He didn't think it ever stopped, even for sleep at times, with the larger relic hunter organizations able to rotate members for rest.
"Okay, looks like we're good. Are you ready?" Fable spoke, holding the backpack-like device that Jenabell had rented from the relic syndicate outpost. Zenith nodded eagerly, and soon both of them stepped through. Mirabell waved, a soft jingle of good luck escaping, while Jenabell told them to be careful. The moment they both stepped through the portal, Zenith experienced that odd warped feeling, but it was something he had come to enjoy because he associated it with a new beginning and life.
A moment later, they both stepped out into a large cavern that had enormous bored tunnels everywhere, even downwards. There were also magma pools bubbling, causing the heat to be quite intense. Thankfully, Zenith, having trained under Fable, could still bear it.
"How deep underground are we?" Zenith couldn't help but ask. Fable pulled out some information and responded, "10.34 miles. Which is just about right, otherwise I'd be fine but you would be cooked, haha." Zenith shook his head slightly and looked around a bit more. The only light sources they had were the seemingly endless magma pools everywhere.
"Okay, so there are locator beacons from those prior in every tunnel explored, connected to a master device hidden and installed. Connect your own to it; you'll get a live map feed so you don't get lost," Fable instructed. Zenith nodded, doing so. Soon he looked at the map in astonishment. "There's so many... Was this all done naturally?"
Fable shrugged, giving his opinion. "I doubt it. Too much time would be wasted digging these tunnels from our side, so it's either the resonant creatures or we are really wrong and it's indeed natural."
Fable then picked a direction and began walking, with Zenith following, keeping a steady eye out. The tunnels would often have tunnels as well, dug into the sides. It would be easy to get lost had it not been for those in the past who traveled and left beacons.
After walking for a half hour, Fable, who was humming, took the backpack off and put it down. Zenith walked around, looking at the large chamber they were in. "Are there really no more creatures in this region?" Zenith seemed a little disappointed. Fable, though, laughed quietly. "Don't look down. There's a little trick that can be used. I just wanted to get a bit further into a chamber like this, big with not too many tunnel openings so we don't get swarmed."
Zenith looked at Fable and felt like he had something up his sleeve. He then watched Fable raise his hand and begin to emit his resonance energy, gathering it up into a large ball of light that hovered several meters off the ground.
"Attracting them with resonance!?" Zenith finally understood what Fable wanted to do. Fable confirmed this by nodding. "Let's wait a little here. This is a good chance for you to experience real-world combat risking life or death. Don't know how many will appear, if any at all."
The moment Fable finished speaking, they both quickly looked towards a dark tunnel. They heard skittering and hissing that echoed, getting closer and closer. Both of them pulled out their weapons, with Zenith preparing himself, clenching his teeth. He would be lying if he said he wasn't afraid, but at the same time, he was excited.
The hissing sound that grew closer suddenly stopped for a moment, then a second after, a flood of resonance creatures began to pour out. Fable was stunned. "Uh oh." He rushed over, stepping to the front and called out, "Calm Ocean That Moves Steady And a Rushing Torrent That Drowns the Many." This was a rune ability. Zenith looked intensely, hoping to learn something as he saw Fable wave his index finger and hand before a line of resonance energy twisted and formed, dropping onto the ground before expanding into a large curtain sheen.
This sheen caused the flooding resonant creatures to fall and slow down immensely, almost like an enormous treadmill. "What a windfall! Look how many. Let's get to work. Kill first, pack later."
Zenith dashed over to a nearby resonant creature that was about to leave the sheen on the ground. It made it incredibly easier to hit. In one move, he punched with the gauntlet, causing its head to cave in and drop dead before being dragged away by the sheen to the back of the swarm.
Zenith calmly analyzed every situation. He didn't want to make a mistake, but he also wanted to vent a little bit. He could not remove his hatred for the Vailen clan as much as he tried to hide it. A creature leaped up in an attempt to bite Zenith with its maw, but he swung his laser sword right into its mouth, cleaving it in two.
As nearly 15 creatures were rushing over, many began to reach the sheen's front. Fable took his time in combat. He only killed or kicked back the creatures that got close, his main focus here was to allow Zenith to gain more experience.
"You're doing good. Haha, I dare you to jump in and see how well you can do in that sheen," Fable joked. But his eyes nearly popped out as he saw Zenith jump in.
The moment Zenith landed, he felt like he was on the treadmill again. He quickly adjusted himself, running against it. The resonant creatures, seeing this, suddenly diverted to go to Zenith, wanting the easiest prey.
Though Zenith grinned, this was perfect considering he often had to avoid Fable hitting him on the treadmill. He dodged and often went with the flow of the ability when a resonant creature attempted to bite or tackle. At the same time, he took every opportunity to attack. From punching to slashing and stabbing, the creatures that weren't used to the movement and combat in this scenario eventually piled up. The last two creatures attacked together, one tackling towards Zenith's head, the other making a dive to his abdomen.
Zenith's eyes narrowed. He timed carefully before jumping and punching with the gauntlet's maximum strength, crashing into the first one that then fell onto the second one below. With the force of Zenith's fist atop the first one, he smashed them both into the ground, causing a small two-foot-long and wide hole filled with resonant creature flesh.
Fable waved his hand, dispersing the ability, and whistled a bit. "Not bad. Looks like that treadmill training worked out after all," feeling proud of himself. He went over to the backpack device after dispersing the resonant light that he used to attract the creatures, after all, it would be bad if more came while they were getting the goods.
Walking over to Zenith, he fumbled with the device a little. "Okay, let's see. We just press this and..." He watched as the device charged and emitted an electric hum before releasing a blue and black light. This light caused the creatures' bodies to shrink and eventually be sucked into the backpack.
Zenith walked around and gazed at the backpack. "Looks like it's working. I see a bar that filled up." Fable, hearing Zenith, nodded. "Great. I should have asked grandma for a second one," he grumbled, not enjoying clean-up duty as he began walking while using the backpack to suck up any corpse he came across.
"What did you think of the ability I used?" Fable called out. Zenith, who was looking around, replied, "It's awesome. When do you think I can learn one?" Fable was quiet for a moment. "Well, you've done your best for a while now. I think I can teach you a rune ability that was created by one of Allspace's missing senior members."
Zenith looked with excitement. "Defensive? Offensive?" Fable, who had just finished with all the corpses, spoke up. "It's both. The one I used prior was called Ocean Soul; it's also both. Do you understand what I mean when I say that though?"
Zenith remained quiet for a moment. "Defensive and offensive. It slows the enemy down but also lets you attack at your own advantage for those that reach the front." Fable clapped a couple of times. "Precisely! You see, in battle, the bigger advantage you have, the better, which is why I prefer rune abilities that do both in certain circumstances. The one I'm going to teach you is called Earth Grip."
Zenith, from the name alone, assumed the ability would most likely be one that bound the opponent, leaving them open for attack.
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