Chapter 500: Plans Almost Complete
In an unknown location beyond the Crimson Dune, rocks of various sizes, shapes, and heights could be seen scattered everywhere.
An oppressive atmosphere filled the entire region.
Cracks appeared across the rocky ground, while the space around them seemed to twist inward and outward like reality itself was struggling to remain stable.
From the void, small red stones occasionally dropped toward the ground, dripping with crimson liquid.
As far as the eye could see, the rocky plain remained completely barren.
Not a single sign of life could be seen anywhere.
That was to be expected.
The gravity within the rocky barren plain was entirely different from the outside world. Worse, the atmosphere seemed to lack oxygen entirely.
Combined with the unstable space that appeared to be on the verge of shattering into pieces, the entire region was nothing but a death zone.
Under such a dangerous environment and oppressive atmosphere, beneath one of the massive rocks that resembled the open maw of a gigantic beast, a small cave entrance could be seen.
The cave entrance was terrifyingly dark, even with the three moons hanging high in the sky and illuminating the surrounding area.
When their pale light approached the cave entrance, it seemed to be devoured by an invisible entity.
Not even the moonlight could penetrate deeply into the darkness.
Deep within the cave, a narrow tunnel snaked downward into the earth like the belly of a gigantic beast.
The deeper it went, the darker and more suffocating the environment became. At the end of the tunnel was a massive cavern.
Unlike the barren land outside, the cavern was brightly illuminated by strange stones embedded along the cavern walls.
Their gentle radiance provided enough light to reveal everything inside. At the center of the cavern stood many makeshift wooden beds covered with scattered beast fur.
In one corner, piles of bones had accumulated into a small mountain. And in another area stood a long wooden table that served as a dining table.
Apart from these simple furnishings, several circular cave entrances were scattered across the cavern walls.
They looked like small rooms used as individual living quarters.
Inside some of the smaller caves, human Awakeners could be seen seated together and talking quietly.
Some were smiling.
Others were eating.
A few were even sleeping, seemingly unconcerned about the dangerous environment outside.
The scene was strangely peaceful.
It was difficult to imagine that such a place existed within a region where almost everything outside was capable of killing an ordinary person.
Meanwhile, one of the larger cave entrances was different from the others.
Instead of leading into a small room, it extended into another tunnel that continued deeper into the earth.
The tunnel descended for some distance before finally opening into a much larger underground chamber.
At the center of the chamber stood a small circular wooden table while three people were seated around it.
Their expressions were solemn as they discussed something in low voices. The atmosphere between them was noticeably heavier than the peaceful atmosphere outside.
"Is the news true?" one of them asked.
The voice belonged to a woman, and there was a faint trace of disbelief hidden within her words.
"Of course, it is true." One of them responded in a firm voice.
His answer was immediate and carried absolute certainty.
"How is that even possible?" The second man asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
His brows furrowed deeply as he struggled to believed the news they just heard.
"That shouldn’t be our concern right now," the first man said in a grave tone. "We should consider the implications of this to our plan."
"If it is about that, we don’t need to worry about it," the woman said, her voice dismissive.
"The plan has already reached the last stage, and nothing can stop it." Her voice was filled with confidence.
"If not for the command from the top, we wouldn’t have allowed him to grow to that level." Her voice was filled with anger, masked by envy and jealousy.
"I heard the Young Lord even died by his hand," the second man said.
"Indeed. The Holy Son had warned him never to look down on his enemy. Alas..." His voice trailed off, filled with bitterness.
"That serves the fool right. If he had followed the Holy Son’s arrangement and had taken more strong men along, he wouldn’t have died like a fool," the woman spat in disgust.
Shaking his head, the first man said, "Let’s not talk about him any longer."
His voice became serious.
"With him having taken down the Horn Lizard Clan, do you think he might confront the Scorpion Clan?"
"If he were to confront them, that might not be good for us." The more he spoke, the more solemn his voice became.
"Our plan might be close to being successful on this floor, but we cannot afford to lose this floor."
"If we are to lose this floor, its implications might be beyond our imagination."
Listening to him, the woman and the second man remained quiet for a moment. They had never thought in that direction.
With the near completion of their plan, they had let down their guard and become complacent.
"I don’t think he can achieve it. Even our guild dares not go against the Scorpion Clan," the woman said, taking a deep breath.
"Not to mention a single necromancer. After this is over, we must strengthen our grip on each of the towns and take control of them."
"This includes the Scorpion Clan. Now, we have no reason to fear them. Moreover, they might be at our mercy."
"So now, our goal is to complete the order of the Holy Son and wait for his good news."
"Anything else will have to wait," she said calmly.
"You’re right. As long as the plan is completed, everything on this floor will belong to us," the first man said, his voice filled with anticipation.
Unknown to them, the necromancer they believed would never dare confront the biggest clan on the Bleeding Desert was already having a life and death battle with them.