Chapter 96: Scouting the Lair (1/2)

”There are still 8 minutes before the concealment ends. Let's split up to look for where they were keeping their captives. See if there are any survivors from the previous expedition.”

I suggested. We couldn't storm this place without any plan or any scouting done. That's just lousy.

”Rei and Ren, you go with me. Jayna and Jagu with Daisuke. Stay close to each other and take care.”

Yumiko nodded and evenly split us.

None of us objected and we immediately started going our way. Time is running so it's understandable to be quick in our decision. With me and Yumiko leading them, we could remind them on the way.

The ritual at the platform was still ongoing. There were at least 10 Ogres that were set to be baptized there and also 10 Ruin Dwellers to be sacrificed.

When the first sacrifice died, it was brought to a corner for it to be skinned and chopped like livestock. For them to have this kind of system, I wonder how those Ruin Dwellers live? For sure, from their digging, they already found out the location of this lair. Scared? Or are they not intelligent enough?

Judging from how they just grab a leg from beneath the ground, it's probably the latter.

Taking Jayna and Jagu with me, we took the right side while Yumiko and the twins took the left. We'll be back to that corner in 5 minutes so that we could leave the narrow pathway before the concealment ends.

Their lair isn't that large, plus there are only one entrance and exit. If we're discovered and they blocked that exit, we'll be trapped. Yumiko was the only one who could fly but there's nothing she could climb on. This place is enclosed with the walls reaching the ceiling.

Just from how it looks, they excavated this place themselves. Though they're trapping themselves inside, it was also easy for them to defend.

With only the Ruin Dwellers as their enemies, it's fairly easy for them to grow like this.

With the number of tents, I estimated that there should be at least 200 of these Ogres, not including the young ones or if there were more Shaman. The Shaman was probably the most dangerous of them all, by being able to use energy, it's strength was surely higher than the Ogres who were baptized from the Altar. According to our short skirmish with them earlier, most of them were only as strong as early Transformed Spirit and a handful of stronger ones.

When we reached the end of the path to the left, we were met with the side walls with few hollowed areas that were surely dug up by them to make a room. In each hollowed area, there's no door but there's a Ruin Dweller's hide which covers whatever is inside it.

Storage rooms?

There were 5 of the same hollowed area so we split up to cut the time needed to check each of the hollowed areas.

I picked the room I will peek in and went next to it. Making sure no Ogre will come in or out of it, I slipped inside making sure that the hide cover wouldn't be able to touch me.

Once inside, I was immediately assaulted by a foul smell which made me run back outside as fast as possible.

That's their d*mn toilet room! What the hell? I should've sniffed thoroughly outside before plunging myself into that room.

When I went out, I saw Jagu having the same expression as me.

”Feces dump?”

He asked.

I could only smile and nod at him. We're unlucky to have chosen the same type of room.

After that, we went to where Jayna entered. Until now, she hadn't come out yet so we both slipped in and found out why.

”These…”

Jagu was also astounded which made him speechless after that first word.

”Daisuke. Are these the same stones we got from the necklace?”

Jayna asked when she saw me entering. Though the color was a bit impure, it's really an energy stone and they have the room full of it. Where did they get this? And who uses this? The shamans?

We couldn't steal all of these yet because the concealment will be cancelled. We could only reluctantly leave the room to check the last two. But yeah I already marked it for later

If there's time, I will take them out by putting them in my necklace storage. Though the space isn't that huge, it can fit at least 1/3 of the stones in the room.

It might not be as useful for me here, however, once we're back on Earth and with the Principal letting me take a rest, energy stones will be crucial to raising my cultivation.

After leaving that Energy Stone Room, Jayna and I will check out one while Jagu will check out the last of the 5 rooms.

As cautious as ever, we slowly approached the room. Waited for a few seconds before going inside.

What registered in our eyes was an empty room.