299 Chapter 299: Underground (1/2)

The Blood Slaughter Sect walked through the underground tunnels, encountering a few subterranean monsters here and there, but they otherwise faced little impediment in their progress. Even though the monsters, such as Massive Moles, Dril Sarges, Tunneler Wurms and Giant Ants, were no match for the skilled combatants of the Blood Slaughter Sect, the humans found themselves mired in an endless labyrinth.

”Where are we?”

”The compasses aren't working!”

”This doesn't look like it's on the map?!”

The Blood Slaughter Sect disciples were struggling not to panic, but lost inside such a dark and claustrophobic space, they were unable to suppress their fears. Liu glared at them in disgust, but said nothing because he knew that reprimanding them now would only serve to lower their morale further. That was something he couldn't afford, particularly after the sect's morale had hit rock-bottom upon the calamitous defeat that the Silver Wolves mercenaries inflicted upon them.

”Calm down!” he instructed. ”We'll definitely find our way past these tunnels! I did warn you that the journey wouldn't be easy. We just need to keep going. Give me some time and I'll lead all of you out of this godforsaken place.”

”Yes, Elder Liu!” the disciples chorused, feeling more encouraged. The old man tried not to smirk as he watched them march forward. In the distance, the roar of a Tunneler Wurm echoed, and the twenty-meter long monster burst out of rock and soil to shower the front row of disciples with sand.

”Retreat!”

”Fall back!”

The veterans among the disciples recognized the threat that the rank D monster posed. Keeping their distance as the row of razor-sharp teeth that ringed the gaping maw of the eyeless monster spun rapidly, almost like a chainsaw, the disciples scattered. The Tunneler Wurm plunged after them, but hesitated for just a second when it saw its targets splitting in different directions. With a bellow, it decided to choose the Blood Slaughter Sect disciple unlucky enough to be closest to it.

The pursued disciple did not resent his fate. Instead, he spun around and readied himself, moving to engage the approaching Tunneler Wurm in combat. Blood arced about him and turned into huge, crimson scythes before hurtling forward at the massive monster. The blood scythes bit in deeply, causing scales to flake off and ichor to pour out from large ruptures, but the Tunneler Wurm continued barreling onward, undeterred.

”Ugh!”

The disciple waited until the last moment before he dove to the side, rolling on the ground as the Tunneler Wurm's massive bulk swept past above him. furious at being deprived at its prey, the Tunneler Wurm twisted around, its maw wide open to swallow both rock and human alike, but a volley of blood lances speared through it, impaling it to the ground.

”Wasting our time, what a fool.”

Liu mercilessly decapitated it with a single swipe of his hand, a gigantic blood blade materializing above him before beheading the poor monster instantly. Pinned and helpless, there was no way for the Tunneler Wurm to escape the attack.

”Whoa…”

The Blood Slaughter Sect disciples turned to stare at their elder in amazement, but Liu impatiently waved them forward.

”Let's go,” he ordered stiffly as he strode ahead. ”We don't have much time.”

Even though he knew that to be true, as he stepped into the vast darkness in front of him, he couldn't help but wonder if his sect would be trapped within the labyrinthine tunnels and doomed to wander through the endless subterranean networks for eternity.

*

A few days had passed since the attack from the Blood Slaughter Sect, but thankfully they hadn't returned.

Brent and Redfield were pretty sure they would be back, however, and constantly drilled us to remain vigilant and on the lookout for any sign of enemies.

”Now that their fighting force has been drastically destroyed, they will most certainly resort to more insidious means of subterfuge. That will actually make them a lot more dangerous than before.”

The captain had a great point. But after days of fighting nothing but monsters, the constant tension was starting to wear me down. No matter how many reminders you received daily, it was only human nature to lower one's guard. After all, it was not biologically natural for a person to constantly dope himself up on adrenaline and keep watch for 24/7. Not only would the consistent tension be mentally draining and psychologically detrimental, attempting to maintain such a state of mind would also affect the body physically, such as hormonal imbalance, indigestion and other side-effects.

Of course the perfect soldier was one who could stay vigilant and on alert 24/7 all year round, but there was only so much the human body could do.

”Hu…”

I wearily returned to the space allocated as our sleeping quarters, wondering how much longer the expedition would take. On the other hand, there would be a change in shifts soon, and my contract had stipulated that I would be sent back to the academy in less than a week. I still had to participate in the national tournament, after all. So I would be rorated out with the existing personnel when they send in a fresh batch of mercenaries to take over.

”Oh! Richard! Are you heading back to rest after your shift?”

While I was on my way, Principal Porter happened to pass by and catch sight of me. He gave me a friendly wave and beckoned me over. Even though I was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to hit the sack, I was obligated to politely indulge my employer.

”What is it, Principal Porter?”

”I wanted to ask you for your perspective regarding the tomb. I know that you don't know much about the Dark Age of Technology, or the Era of Unification, but I'm confident that you'll still provide an alternative perspective.”

What use was my ”alternative” perspective when it was uninformed and terribly lacking? At least that was what I wanted to say, but I didn't want to offend Principal Porter, so I nodded amicably and followed him to the inner chamber of the tomb.

”As per the advice from the mercenaries, we have checked underneath the ground and dug into yet another chamber.” Principal Porter was rambling excitedly. Normally I would be curious and inquisitive enough to ask what they found, but at the moment I was too tired. So I merely nodded and went along with the old man. Completely oblivious to my current condition, the principal of Vermillion Academy continued enthusiastically. ”We thought we had discovered another layer to the tomb, but we were mistaken!”

Now that caught my attention, and I almost snapped back to full wakefulness.

”Wait, what? Are you saying that there's something else underneath the tomb?” Recalling what we had discussed several days ago, I frowned. ”A research facility…?”