Chapter 168 - 163: Lord of the Gray Swamp
Velin’s message first startled everyone, then was met with a wave of objections.
["My Lord, what are you saying?"] Barrett’s voice was the first to ring out, laced with a pleading tone. ["Please, reconsider. You are our lord. Why must you put yourself in harm’s way?"]
["Father."]
A clear, cold female voice sounded in Velin’s mind.
["Why must you go down yourself? Sarah’s offspring can be your eyes and limbs, exploring all that is unknown for you."]
This was the response from Sarah, the Broodmother.
["I knew you’d say that!"] Ola’s roar followed immediately after.
He had witnessed Velin risk his life before the leader of the Gray Swamp Giant Crocodiles just to get a closer look. Thus, his outburst was born more from a sense of helpless frustration.
["Go down there? To be its after-dinner snack?"]
Velin had anticipated their reactions.
Was it dangerous? Of course.
If he could avoid it, he wouldn’t go down either, but only he could see all the information on this behemoth.
Furthermore, he couldn’t even tell them the real reason for this risky decision.
He could only brace himself and press on.
["Risk and reward go hand in hand."]
["Our ignorance of it is the greatest danger of all. I have the clearest understanding of creature anatomy. I have to go down and confirm its condition up close, to find a way we might defeat it."]
["Defeat?"] Ola thought it was madness. ["My Lord, it could vaporize us with a single breath!"]
["That’s why we need intelligence."]
Velin’s single sentence made Barrett’s next words of persuasion catch in his throat.
The public channel fell silent.
["I’ll go with you."]
Another voice spoke up at the opportune moment. It was Kael.
He hadn’t joined the argument at all. Now, he revealed himself from the shadows, his gaze fixed on Velin.
["If you insist on going down yourself, I will accompany you. I am light on my feet."]
Velin glanced at him and nodded.
["Very well."]
["You... madmen! You’re all madmen!"] Ola felt as if his beard would combust from sheer rage.
["Barrett, Ola, you two stay put."]
["Monitor the situation. If anything happens, retreat immediately. That’s an order."]
Barrett opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed all his words of protest, which turned into a sigh.
["Yes, My Lord."]
Velin said no more. He gave Kael a signal, and the two of them, one after the other, slid silently down the slope at the cave’s entrance.
Kael’s form blended into the darkness as he scouted the path ahead for Velin, each step landing on solid rock without making a sound.
While Velin lacked such skills, Kael had already scouted the path. Combined with the real-time terrain feedback from the Soldier Ants, he too could move without a sound.
Compared to just receiving information from the Soldier Ants, being here in person was different. The air at the bottom of the cave was even more scorching, and the nauseatingly thick stench of sulfur and cloying sweetness was overwhelming.
The two carefully avoided the shattered crystal fragments on the ground and crept toward the giant beast.
The closer they got, the more tangible the oppressive presence of the behemoth became.
They could clearly see the intricate patterns on its black, rock-like Scale Armor, feel the scorching heat from the air expelled from its nostrils, and even hear the low rumble of its blood flowing within its body, like a subterranean river.
The pair stopped behind a massive stalagmite, now only fifty meters from the beast’s head.
Kael gripped the shortsword at his waist, his palm cold and clammy.
Every muscle in his body was tensed, his mind on high alert, ready to face the worst-case scenario.
Velin, however, was focused intently on the giant python.
His consciousness pierced through the veil of reality, concentrating on the behemoth.
’Inspect.’
Lines of data cascaded down his retina like a waterfall.
[Name: Lord of the Gray Swamp]
[Level: Level 5 Magical Beast]
[Bloodline: Molten Fire Dragon Python (Golden Tier) 69%, Alchemical Construct 31%]
’Alchemical construct?! This giant python isn’t a naturally born creature!’
’This is... an artificial monster?!’
’And this method... "Calamity Star"? Hand of Black Stone??’
His gaze continued downward. When he finished reading all the information, his heart went cold.
[Abilities: Immortal Body, Sulfuric Breath, Molten Scale Armor, High Fire Resistance, High Magic Resistance...]
[Overall Evaluation: A creation influenced by alchemical Magic, possessing a terrifying, near-immortal regenerative ability. Its lifeform has been forcibly twisted by an external power. The bloodline power and the alchemical construct are currently fusing and slowly remodeling its body. It is not far from either complete collapse or advancement to Level 6.]
The amount of information was immense.
But it only made Velin’s heart grow heavier.
’Near-immortal regeneration, Sulfuric Breath, resistance to both physical and magical attacks... it’s a tank with a perfect balance of offense and defense...’
’A biological weapon, placed here with malicious intent, on the verge of advancing to Level 6.’
’How are we supposed to fight a monster like this?’
’Unless we can kill it in a single blow, any war of attrition would be suicide.’
’What’s more, they must have left people nearby to watch. Never mind hurting this Magical Beast—if I tried to mobilize resources, they’d spot me instantly.’
’Time is short. It could become an even deadlier Level 6 Magical Beast at any moment.’
At this thought, Velin forcibly suppressed his racing mind. After he and Kael collected some scale fragments shed by the giant python, they began to retreat, moving with several times more caution than they had on their way in.
Just as they were about to reach the cave mouth and rendezvous with Barrett,
["Someone on your right!"] came Barrett’s clipped warning.
His eyes were glued to the shadows on the other side of the cave entrance.
Velin whipped his head around.
There, in the deep shadows, stood a slender figure, as silent as a cat.
The figure had obviously spotted Velin and his group as well. They pressed their body flat against the rock wall, trying to circle around from the other side without making a sound.
But Barrett had already locked onto them; the figure had nowhere to hide.
In desperation, the person seemed to make a decision. They pulled a magical item from their clothes and appeared to be about to activate it.
However, they had underestimated the unique properties of this mineral vein.
The instant the item was activated—
HUMMM...
An extremely low-frequency vibration radiated out from the person, sending a ripple through the cave’s field of Ether Energy.
A mortal might not have perceived it, but to the master of this etheric field, the resonance was no different from a war drum being beaten right next to its ear!
’We’re screwed.’
The thought had barely crossed his mind.
In the center of the cavern, the house-sized head stirred.
Amid the crisp sound of falling Crystal Stones, two enormous eyelids slowly peeled open.
Beneath them was a pair of indifferent, ice-cold, Crimson Red vertical pupils.
Its massive jaw opened and closed, revealing two fangs as long as spears.
A thick, forked tongue flickered like a bolt of blood-red lightning, sweeping at high frequency before locking onto the location of Velin’s party in an instant.
Time seemed to freeze in that moment.
Velin’s heart sank into the abyss.
He had no time to wonder who the stranger was or why they were here.
Only one thought remained in his mind—to issue an urgent command to everyone through the hive matrix.
["Retreat!"]