Chapter 235: Kane’s Proposal
Of all the people Zich had thought might stand up for him, he never expected it to be Kane, as the latter had shown his clear dislike for him.
In truth, Zich had already sensed Adrian’s intentions, and sooner or later, even before Kane acted, he would have defended himself.
Of course, he didn’t get emotional just because Kane had stopped Adrian’s attack. If anything, he was even more curious to know the beast tamer’s intentions for doing this.
Kane stood beside the heavily wounded Golden Armored Lion, his expression grim.
"I still don’t like this guy."
He raised his eyes toward Adrian.
"But he won this Trial Mark right in front of all of us. You want one? Then go fight for one yourself at the next Beast Altar."
Adrian tightened his grip around his dagger.
But before either side could make another move, a grand system announcement suddenly resounded throughout the entire Myriad Beast Mountain.
[The Second Ancient Beast Altar has awakened.]
[Region: Bone Mist Swamp.]
[Warning!]
[Challengers have already entered the trial area.]
Despite the announcement, the standoff continued, and it didn’t lessen the tension in any way!
The Golden Armored Lion’s bloodstained giant paw stood between the two of them. Although it had just been severely wounded by the Three Headed Blood Python, with even a large portion of its left shoulder caved in, the aura of a Level 26 magical beast was still something Adrian could not ignore.
Moreover, the five teammates standing behind Kane were looking at him with equally unfriendly expressions.
Earlier, if Adrian had not suddenly abandoned the right serpent head in an attempt to secure more contribution, the Golden Armored Lion would never have suffered that attack.
"Very well."
Adrian put away his dagger and gave Zich a gloomy look.
"This isn’t over."
Zich did not respond. He could not even be bothered to waste time on such meaningless threats.
Adrian clearly understood that there was no benefit in remaining here any longer. He quickly left the valley with his remaining teammates.
Only after their figures had completely disappeared did Kane turn toward Zich.
"Let’s cooperate."
Zich glanced at him.
Kane went straight to the point.
"You should have some way of determining the true locations of the Beast Altars."
Previously, everyone had only received a vague search area. Yet ever since Zich entered Myriad Beast Mountain, there had hardly been any hesitation in the direction he traveled.
If Kane still believed that was merely luck, then he would not deserve to be one of the beast tamers the Locke family had chosen to focus on nurturing in this generation.
"I won’t ask how you’re doing it."
Kane continued.
"We cooperate until we obtain the Second Trial Mark. Ordinary materials we encounter along the way will be divided according to contribution. As for the Trial Mark, whoever obtains it first keeps it."
Zich thought for a moment.
Kane’s team was indeed useful.
There were fewer than six days remaining in Myriad Beast Mountain. There was no reason for him to waste time personally dealing with every magical beast that blocked his path.
"Fine. But anything I personally kill belongs to me."
Kane frowned slightly before eventually nodding.
"Deal."
Almost the moment the agreement was reached, another faint sensation came from Tiamant inside the Graveyard Space.
This time, it pointed southeast.
...
Three hours later.
The temperature in the air began to drop noticeably.
The previously dense ancient forest gradually disappeared, replaced by an endless expanse of black swamp.
Ghastly green mist drifted slowly across the surface of the water. Countless beast bones that had been dead for an unknown number of years lay half submerged in the mud, and occasionally, bubbles rose between the gaps in the skeletons.
Whenever one burst, it released an even denser wisp of gray white mist.
[Special Area Discovered: Bone Mist Swamp]
[Warning: Prolonged exposure to Bone Mist will continuously corrode the soul.]
Several members of Kane’s team immediately took out pale blue potions and drank them.
Even the Golden Armored Lion became visibly restless after entering the area, repeatedly releasing low growls.
Only the five skeletons beside Zich showed absolutely no reaction.
They simply stepped directly into the black water.
Splash.
A beastly skeletal claw half buried in the mud suddenly grabbed one skeleton by the ankle.
The skeleton lowered its head and looked at it.
The next moment, it simply stomped down.
Crack!
The skeletal claw shattered beneath its foot.
The skeleton continued forward.
"..."
Kane remained silent for a moment, then said in a low, almost stiff voice.
"Did your class tell you how to get through this place?"
"No."
Zich looked toward the five skeletons already spreading out ahead.
"The dead simply have fewer things to fear in places like this."
The moment those words fell, the skeleton on the far left suddenly stopped.
Zich disappeared.
[Spirit Exchange!]
By the time Kane and the others reacted, Zich had already appeared several hundred meters away.
After confirming there was no immediate danger ahead, he ordered another skeleton to continue deeper.
One scouted ahead, one tested the depth of the swamp, and the remaining three spread out to search for safe routes.
The Bone Mist, which severely interfered with the perception of ordinary players, was almost meaningless against skeletons that did not breathe, possessed no normal soul fluctuations, and did not even understand what fear was.
Half an hour later, Kane’s entire group had effectively been reduced to following behind Zich.
The expression on Kane’s face gradually became strange.
Who would have imagined that their group of elite players, whose average level was far above Level 20, would have to rely on a summoner who had only just reached Level 20 to guide them through Bone Mist Swamp?
However, just as everyone crossed an area completely submerged beneath black water, Zich abruptly stopped. His expression turned grim, and he opened his mouth to shout, but even before he could...
...
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