Chapter 445 - 413: A Little Gift (Part 2)

Chapter 445: Chapter 413: A Little Gift (Part 2)

This force was strong enough to conquer a small city.

"Also."

Hector pulled a dark gold stud from his breast pocket and tossed it to a tall, heavily armored Knight beside him.

"Put this on. I want to hear what’s happening inside in real-time."

It was a "Twin Listener."

A pair of wondrous items worth thirty thousand Gold Coins.

It could clearly transmit sound from up to ten kilometers away.

"As you command, my lord."

The Level 5 Knight, Galron, took the stud and put it in his right ear.

Without another word, he turned and gestured to the four elite warriors behind him.

"Move out. Any living thing, kill without mercy."

The clang of armor rang out.

Five figures, each exuding a terrifying aura, strode into the mine.

Hector sat on a plush chair his attendant had brought down from beside the wyvern’s saddle.

He closed his eyes, his fingers drumming lightly on the armrest.

From the Magic stud in his ear came the sound of Galron’s steady breathing and the crunch of military boots on gravel.

"Report," Hector said calmly.

"The outer defenses have been breached," Galron’s voice came through, perfectly clear. "No signs of a fight. The guards were killed in a single blow. The wound is to the throat. Vicious."

Hector’s brow twitched.

"Continue."

"We’re entering the second level. It’s... a mess here."

Galron’s voice paused, as if he were observing the scene.

"The ground is covered in bodies. Most were killed by each other. It looks like there was a riot. Wait a second..."

The sound of a body being turned over followed.

"Traces of a High Tier stalker. And... residual Holy Light? That’s strange. Why would a Priest be in a filthy place like this?"

’A Priest?’

Hector’s heart clenched. A few days ago, to save the lives of his loyal subordinates, he had indeed requested his superiors to dispatch a Priest here.

’But isn’t the church on my side?’

’If he was one of ours, why would he fight Adam? It makes no sense.’

"Go to the core area," Hector’s voice grew cold. "I need to know if my things are still there."

"Yes."

The footsteps quickened.

The oppressive, dead silence traveled through the Magic connection, making Hector feel inexplicably agitated.

"We’re here."

Galron’s voice grew grave.

"The main gate is open. The defensive Array inside... has failed."

Hector shot to his feet.

"Get inside! Now!"

A burst of frantic running.

It was followed by Galron’s sharp intake of breath.

"My... my lord."

"Speak!"

"Adam... Adam is here."

Hector breathed a sigh of relief.

’As long as the Level 5 construct Warrior is still there, the situation hasn’t hit rock bottom.’

"Put him on."

"No... he can’t."

Galron’s voice trembled with disbelief.

"He’s sitting in the chair. But... it’s only his upper body."

"What?"

"His legs are gone. His armor too. It’s like he was forcibly torn apart. And... there’s a long, narrow wound between his eyes."

Hector felt a BUZZ ring through his head.

’A Level 5 Warrior.’

’Torn apart like a toy?’

’And here of all places? In his own territory?’

"What about the core Array?!" Hector practically roared.

"My lord, I’m going to check now."

Just then, a strange sound suddenly came from the stud.

"SCRITCH... SCRITCH..."

It sounded like countless tiny feet crawling.

Or the crisp scraping of carapaces rubbing together.

"What’s that sound?" Hector asked, alarmed.

Galron had also noticed something was wrong.

"Alert! Something’s approaching!"

The rasp of a sword being drawn.

The hum of erupting battle aura.

"It’s on the ceiling! Dammit! What the hell are those things?"

The panicked shout of a squad member came through.

"Bugs! Green bugs! They’re glowing!"

Hector froze.

’Bugs?’

’This is an Alchemy Workshop. Where would bugs come from?’

"Ignore the bugs! I want to know if my Array is still intact!" Hector bellowed.

Galron’s voice was filled with bewilderment.

"Yes, my lord! Uh... the bugs are... gnawing on the pillars?"

’Gnawing on the pillars?’

Hector’s heart skipped a beat.

A terrible thought exploded in his mind.

’Those load-bearing pillars.’

’They’re the key support points for the entire underground structure.’

’If they break...’

"Run! Get out of there!" Hector shrieked into the stud.

But it was too late.

「Deep underground.」

「The core control room.」

At first glance, the four massive granite pillars supporting the dome still stood tall and majestic, their surfaces showing no signs of damage.

In reality, the pillars had long been hollowed out from the inside by a highly corrosive acid secreted by the creatures, leaving only a skin as thin as a cicada’s wing to maintain a facade of integrity.

Hundreds of corroders swarmed densely over them, hidden in the shadows.

The moment they sensed the intruders’ presence, the swarm stirred, instantly gnawing through the last, fragile layer of support.

CRACK.

A sharp crack echoed.

Before Galron’s horrified eyes, the first load-bearing pillar crashed down.

Then the second.

And the third.

The underground structure, already weakened by the earlier battle, began to groan and collapse without its supports.

Millions of tons of rock and soil, pulled down by gravity, began to roar with glee.

RUMBLE—!!!

The very earth trembled.

Even Hector, standing on the surface, could feel the ground bucking violently beneath his feet.

The distant mountainside began to give way.

Massive cracks spiderwebbed across the land, swallowing the surrounding trees and rocks.