Chapter 368 (1/2)
Looking at the old man stepping towards the vortex and vanishing within the swirling waters had Hao Ren stunned. Gelton looked like he’d kick the bucket any time soon, but Hao Ren never thought that old man still had nerves of steel, he didn’t even hesitate when he stepped into the vortex.
He had thought to call the MDT to scan the vortex…. but that doesn’t seem to be necessary now.
The magus, regardless if they belonged to the church, or were under Ophra’s command was stunned by the old bishop[s bravado. Even Vivian couldn’t help but frown, “… Piety is a good thing, but the old bishop didn’t need to do this… he could use another way to check what’s at the bottom of the vortex…”
At the same time, a faint gold pillar of light shot up from the vortex and broke Vivian’s speech. Ophra nodded as she saw the light. “That’s the signal from Bishop Gelton, seems like it’s safe down there.”
As she said that, the general adjusted her gear and turned towards her men, “Wait here, if we cannot return normally we’ll use the teleportation runes to teleport back to the church. If that happens, the usual contact protocols.”
After finishing giving her orders, she looked at Hao Ren and his group. “Seems like the situation here is worse than we thought. It’s hard to determine what’s exactly going on under there. You have the right to withdraw from this. As mercenaries, you had already went beyond the call of duty of your kind. No one will ridicule you for taking a step back…”
Hao Ren interrupted her before she could finish, “What the hell are you on about? We’re the Good… company that always keeps our words. If we promised to come along, we’ll bloody well see it to the end. So.. who first?” He had to keep up the heroic pose, as the four ascetics were right behind them. Given how stubborn these four are, they will probably drag the chosen into the vortex themselves if push comes to shove.
Ophra took a deep look at Hao Ren, there were all sort of complicated thoughts in her eyes. She did not say anything else and turned towards the vortex. An aura-like shield emanated from her as it pushed aside the lake water and she too disappeared into the vortex. The old werewolf behind her jumped it not long after.
Becky grabbed Hao Ren’s hand, “Please make sure that ’emergency stop’ button outside is working…”
Before she could finish, Lily dashed forward excitedly, “LETS GOOOO!!!” and rammed the whole group down into the vortex.
“The Goddess preserve us.” The ascetics made a prayer gesture on their chest before jumping into the vortex.
The whole group quickly vanished in the vortex as the storm the continued.
Hao Ren felt that the world was turning upside down for him. Even if his shield could block out the lake water, it could not save him from being spun about like a rag doll in the vortex. Almost like clothes in a washing machine. He could no longer tell the direction and could only rely on the dimming light to know that he was fast approaching the bottom of the lake. How he wished that Wuyue was here. If the Siren was around the journey to the bottom of the lake would’ve been a stroll in a park. He really missed that water-manipulating super support character!
After being thrown about in the water for a while, Hao Ren saw a flash of light and he started falling, almost like being carried down a waterfall into a deep pool. After struggling for a while he managed to float to the surface..
Lily’s voice followed soon after, “PFAHHHH!!!! I thought I’m gonna die! That feels like being strapped to the ceiling fan at top speed…”
Hao Ren suddenly felt a furry head plonking into him. Lily was still dizzy and after paddling in the water for a while she had relied on her innate sense of smell towards the most familiar scent.
“Are you guys alright?” Hao Ren tried to reorientate himself as he called out the rest. Vivian and Ophra responded from nearby. A few moments later a rather loud plunge rang throughout the place and Y’zaks got up the surface. “I’m here too…”
He demurred for a moment before he went underwater again as if to grab something. “I think I knocked into someone…”
Hao Ren immediately had cold sweat the moment he heard that. He knew Y’zaks was a giant and a fall from that height he was almost like a cannonball, and he did not know which unlucky sod that he knocked into. As he was wondering who the poor fellow as, Big Beardy surfaced near Y’zaks. “No worries, no worries, this is a test from the Goddess…”
Hao Ren turned around to look, and exclaimed, “Master, lets stop the bleeding first…”