Chapter 468 (1/2)

Dig!

It was pitch-black within the salt cave.

In the deepest part, there were more than ten people in the fire crystal pit attempting to pry out more fire crystals on the ground.

When the incident happened, the Fox and Shen chief had escaped in a hurry and were not able to bring the fire crystals with them. Along the sides were baskets filled with dug-up fire crystals, which were now scattered on the ground as the baskets were kicked over during the escape. These crystals were now frozen stuck to the ground due to frost.

At the point, some people had left with the Fox chief but some missed the opportunity. There were also people who intentionally remained in the cave, saying that it was the safest.

Without the presence of the chiefs, no one cared about the dead and the injured within the cave. They heard from people running back that there was a giant beast outside that they could not fight so they had to return for cover.

The ones who knew about the fire crystals had the idea to pry the crystals out of the pit. To these totemic warriors, the crystals were still valuable.

Four people were digging, one person held a fire torch while about twenty stood watch in case anyone came. No one had run deeper into the cave because there was a lot of ice and frost inside, plus the frozen dead. Plus if this place was safe, the two chiefs would not have run out.

Even the person holding the fire torch next to the pit could feel the cold air.

White frost was everywhere. While they did not witness what happened, they could guess.

“Hurry up!” said a guard. It was too cold here. It would be better if they could use the fire crystals now.

“You’re just mining crystals, why are you taking so long?” complained another.

“It sounds easy but do you know how hard this ice is?” panted a guy, slashing his sword. They did not know why the ice seemed to be harder nearer the pit. The ice here was different from ice outside. It was too hard! They could already see half a chunk of fire crystal, yet prying it out was so difficult. The bronze weapons they had were not the best either, the kind businessmen sold in bulk.

Ice shavings splattered on their faces, necks and mouths as they hacked away with their knives and swords.

“It’s salty,” said someone.

“Nonsense, of course ice in a salt cave is salty.”

“Ugh, it’s freezing!”

A shivering warrior standing guard heard a sound. Shivering, he asked, “What’s happening outside?”

There were sounds of crowds yelling and this left them unsettled.

They heard a faint shout, “Outside! It’s outside!”

“The beast came in?” The guard panicked.

“No, it can’t come in, it can’t.” Not sure if he was convincing himself or the rest.

“But the people in front…”

Before they finished, they heard a loud cry.

IN the bottom layer, the warriors held up a hand to block the wind. The wind was not obvious here, for there were many people on the upper floor who blocked most of the current.

“Ey, people in the front! What the hell happened?!” A warrior yelled into the wind.

No one answered.

Crack- crack- crack--

They heard cracking around them.

The ones prying crystals in the pit stopped too. The winds had already extinguished the fire torch.

Now that their source of warmth was gone, the chill pierced into their bones.

Based on muscle memory, the warrior holding the torch quickly hid in a hole, turned his back against the wind, took out fire-starting tools and applied a sticky gel on a stick. Then, he started the fire with friction.

Whoosh---

The stick lit up once again. It was not hot enough. He wanted to light the torch now since the wind had died.

However, before he could, the fire on the fire stick went out.

“Aargh!”

The warrior felt the temperature falling around him. He felt like his lungs were frozen. Whispering to a warrior a few steps away from him, “Do you guys have fire sticks? I used my last one.”

No one answered.

Around him was a deathly silence.

The warrior wanted to say something but he realised his consciousness was quickly slipping away. Then he could not feel the cold anymore. His body grew heavier, too stiff to move… then he lost all consciousness.

If there were light, one would see that this warrior was covered from head to toe in a layer of frost.

A few steps away, the person mining the fire crystals was frozen in one position, holding his weapon. There was no breath in him. The twenty guards nearby had no heartbeats.

The crackling noise continued as frost extended throughout two levels of the cave. All life ceased to function.