章節 26: The cave
The underground dripped was overly humid which was quite irritable to the group. The tunnel was dimly lit with medieval torches that had to be constantly ignited.
There were multiple squeaking of rats and powerful hum that emanated an aura that instill dread in the heart of those who were weak. It was a setting literally out of a horror movie.
Mia tightly held Priscilla's hands as she looked around in slight fear. Gena led the way as she was most familiar with the area . She held the torch up driving away the darkness and illuminating the tunnel in yellow light.
Cole was absent minded as he tried actively absorbing mana while walking. It was easy when one was meditating and had a calm peace of mind . However when one was walking it became harder and especially when there was an aura that instilled dread in his being.
He could stop and take a break until he was seated however he had a premonition that something bad was going to happen and he primarily was a mage .
' Damn I wish I learnt fully how to harness ki ' He thought. Mana could function as ki but it lacked the complete power when using as ki as at the end of it all , it was foreign to the body.
Ki on the other hand was your own energy hence more suitable to enhance the body .
Suddenly the vibrated and the pebbles on the ground slowly floated to the air. A sudden influx of ominous energy was felt . An energy way more dreadful than anything The very demon king could accomplish.
Gena covered her eyes when a sudden gust of wind rushed towards them . Mia squeezed Priscilla in fear to which Priscilla squeezed back in reassurance that all will be alright.
THUD!!
The group looked back to see Cole who walked behind them fall to the ground in a kneeling manner.
BLERGH!!!
He spitted a large amount of blood as he breathed ruggedly.
[ You have gained 1056098 mana ]
[ Warning You have absorbed a large amount of demonic mana . The mana is incompatible with your body. ]
[ Fighting off the mana ]
Blood started pouring from his 7 orifices . Mia looked worriedly at Cole.
" Are you alright? " She asked as she went to Cole's side but before she could touch him , Priscilla stopped her.
Mia looked at Priscilla with pleading eyes to help him.
" If we touch him now we will die . " Gena answered for Priscilla.
Cole fell to the ground as his body started spasming.
[ Mana absorbed is now being redirected to Species : ###### Evolution so as to better combat the demonic miasma ]
" Leave him , he will be dead in a minute. " Gena said making Mia look angrily at Gena .
" There is no way am leaving him " Mia declared .
Priscilla looked at Mia and sighed.
" What Gena says is true just leave him " Priscilla emotionlessly stated.
Mia looked at Priscilla in a different light . She had view Priscilla in a certain way and by those two words Priscilla's standing greatly dropped in Mia's view.
" How can you say that , he saved you " Mia said making Priscilla momentarily pause.
Cole couldn't hear a thing other than the system's notifications.
[ Do you wish to evolve Species : ##### .
Y / N
WARNING : Humanity's influence will considerably reduce. ]
Cole gritted his teeth. He knew he didn't have any other option .
' Yes '
[ Evolution process will begin shortly.
Be advised , this process will cause you to be unconscious for three hours. ]
With that Cole stopped spasming in the floor . Gena who was observing Cole paused momentarily in surprise. She then approached Cole's body and using magic cleaned the blood off.
She then picked up Cole and put him in her shoulder's . She didn't do this because she valued Cole . She did this for Mia , her niece.
Mia looked at her aunt with a thankful expression.
" Thank you " She mouthed .
Gena visibly became ecstatic at those simple words.
" Very well then , let us continue our journey and fair warning for the two of you . Do not try to absorb this energy or you'll die . This young man was just lucky . " She said.
The two followed her but this time Mia chose to be afraid alone . After what Priscilla said she didn't want to be near her. She had seen Priscilla change drastically after Lockley's death and she understood she was mourning.
However abandoning the person who saved you was no for her. She was certain had it been Lockley lying there she would have completely disregarded everything just to save him so why not to do it for Cole.
Priscilla felt Mia's coldness and she could only sigh. Her judgment was clouded by Lockley's death so her current thought process didn't particularly care how Mia viewed her .
After an hour of walking Mia heard something. A whisper , a beautiful voice filled her ear drums.
" Help me " The voice angelically cried .
She turned her head to another path the tunnel led to. It was dark but on the farthest end one could see the light .
She looked back and saw no one paid particular attention to the voice. Should she check who was saying that ?
She was afraid of the dark but that shouldn't stop her from helping someone. So psyched herself up and walked there.
The rest of the group didn't notice her move to that direction
" Help me " A melancholic wail assaulted her ears as she grew closer to the area.
Just then she saw the source of the illumination. It was a small blue water spirit chained and trapped . Mia walked to the water spirit and it noticed her.
The face of sadness it had was replaced by that of hope .
" Are you here to rescue me ? " It asked.
Mia nodded and headed to the chains but just when she was about to grab the first chain a hand caught her.
She woke up from her stupor only to see infront of her was a large hole outside the tunnel. The depth was incomprehensible as even sunlight failed to penetrate its true depth. The ominous aura they felt was thicker in this area and seemed to be originating from the hole.
Its radius spanned a kilometer but the lower one went the narrower it became .
" AH !! " She gave a small shriek as she backed off from the edge.
" Are you okay ?" Gena asked . Mia looked confused but she finally nodded her head.
Gena gave a sigh of relief before a magic circle appeared on her hand .
" This will help you with the illusions " She said as a white light got out from the magic circle and hit Mia's forehead.
' It wasn't real ? ' She thought.
Suddenly the ominous aura once again grew thicker and a gust of wind deep from the hole rose to the atmosphere with deep fury . The ground beneath the group started shaking and this time not only the pebbles but the people were levitating too.
The tunnel edge beneath them shook violently and finally collapsed. Gena subconsciously let go of Cole and grabbed Mia and hugged her making sure nothing happened to her.
Suddenly the aura that levitated them receded and .....
Screams could be heard as four figures fell to the hole unsure of their survival.
**** 3 Minutes later ****
SPLASH !!
They had fallen into an underground lake . Gena swam upwards with Mia as an unconscious Cole slowly fell deeper to the lake. As he was slowly drifting down . A hand grabbed him and they emerged on top of the surface.
The one who saved him was Priscilla. The very fact Mia used Cole saving her to blackmail her to good leaved a bad taste in her mouth. She also didn't like owing favors and this little act was her evening it out.
Once on top of the lake they could clearly see the top of the cave being illuminated by blue crystal. The illumination was adequate so torches weren't needed here
To the front of their perception was land. They swam there and once they arrived , Priscilla threw Cole to the ground like a sack of potatoes while Gena used magic to dry them.
Mia looked down and was in fact down. Gena sensing this went to her side and tapped her.
" Hey are you alright ?" She asked.
" Am sorry " Mia whispered.
" If I hadn't been curious and fallen for that illusion we wouldn't be down here. " Mia explained.
Gena held her shoulders and looked at her comfortingly .
" Hey none of this is your fault . It is actually my fault for not closing that route earlier and blocking the ominous miasma . " Gena said. Mia looked up at her with gratitude.
She honestly internally felt conflicted the most today. Gena who she grew up to know was a massive bitch was unusually nice while the kindest person Mia knew was now unusually cold and quite unbothered by anything.
Priscilla watched all of this with an emotionless expression . Everything in life had dulled from a once colorful world with full of joy now in black and white.
Suddenly a magic circle with the same ominous aura appeared on the side of the wall.
Magic particles exited the circle and out of the particles a holographic video appeared.
A mass of pure energy which took shape of a female humanoid being spoke.
" Welcome dear adventurers " Mia gained a flash of recognition from that voice as it was the same that was used to trick her.
" You have been chosen to acquire my inheritance yaaay~ " It said with a childish and casual tone.
It however then turned serious.
" A series of test has been made to determine my true inheritor. The first test comprises of physical strength. You are to fight off my pet dragon with nothing but your fists and qi.
The second test will be that of magic. You will have to survive in my forest for one hour only.
My third and final test will determine my inheritor but that I leave for you to figure out for yourself. " She said the last part ominously and mysteriously .
" Anyway enjoy my little test . " The magic circle glowed brightly and the cave wall split open to reveal a path.
Gena looked around for another way to go but there was none. The only way out was forward.
' Curse my luck ' She thought
A/N
Anyway that is the end of the first arc .
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