Chapter 1269 - 642:
No one in the scene noticed the disturbance in the darkness on the top of the bronze hall.
The enemies were closing in, and the two people supporting the younger one exchanged a glance as they rushed past a pillar that would require six people to embrace. They were planning to abandon him. At this moment, something suddenly sprang from the bronze hall pillar, resembling a thick and long soft rope. It moved so fast that it left an afterimage in the air. Before either human or Mountain Anchor could see clearly, the soft rope wrapped around the comparatively slender waist of the Mountain Anchor and yanked forcefully!
This Mountain Anchor, large as a galloping horse and weighing several hundred kilograms, was pulled into the air by the rope, into the darkness at the top of the hall.
Soon after, a hissing sound came from inside. Everyone could discern it was the Mountain Anchor’s scream of pain, but the strange snapping sounds that followed were unrecognizable. Clearly, the Mountain Anchor was extremely unlucky, crying out several times before quieting down, obviously killed by the unseen foe.
The remaining two Mountain Anchors in the hall screeched to a halt simultaneously, turned, and fled. They ran quickly and steadily, hindered by the numerous legs on their flanks making turning difficult, yet these two managed agilely. Their retreat was even swifter than their chase, clearly understanding the danger had arrived.
They kept a considerable distance from the bronze pillar in the hall, so the enemy finally revealed itself—
A massive creature, about fifteen meters in length, "swam" down from the pillar, as agile as a fish in water. When it was still ten meters above the ground, its tail pushed off powerfully against the pillar, sending its massive body soaring, limbs spread, gliding down at a speed greater than that of the fleeing Mountain Anchors.
It opened its mouth wide in midair, and once again the soft rope appeared, deftly aiming at the Mountain Anchor in front of it, wrapping around its front leg with one swift motion and pulling back hard. Everyone then realized the soft rope was the giant monster’s tongue.
The Mountain Anchor struggled twice but couldn’t break free, spraying acid which sizzled on the soft tongue, yet it didn’t corrode through like it did with the Yellow Turban Warriors, only causing a painful shudder, tightening the grip.
Seemingly aware of its impending doom, the Mountain Anchor showed the courage of a martyr, biting down on its ensnared front leg! With a "snap," the leg broke, and the soft tongue retracted. The Mountain Anchor was left hobbling, but with five legs remaining, it continued running relatively steadily.
The newly appeared monster seemed to run slowly on flat ground and, seeing the opportunity, reluctantly consumed an ant leg as a snack, then turned around slowly.
Only then did everyone see that despite its large size, the creature’s body and head resembled a lizard’s, with skin as rough as rock, covered in cracked patterns. Its bulging eyes could rotate in different directions simultaneously, giving it an indescribably eerie look. It was swallowing a Mountain Anchor’s front leg, its cavernous red mouth filled with fine, dense teeth, gobbling up food as if swallowing whole rather than chewing.
This monster held its limbs low. No wonder it struggled to run, but with membranes under its ribs resembling parachutes, it relied on this floating power when it descended, allowing it to directly reach above the Mountain Anchor. Its flexible tail accounted for one-third of its body length, with spines of varying lengths raised along its back.
The monster fixed its eyes on the fleeing humans in curiosity, before slowly climbing back up to the top of the hall, its movements leisurely like an old man strolling down the street, making it hard to imagine its previous rapid descent.
By now, another Mountain Anchor had reached near the bronze door frame, seemingly at the brink of a great escape, likely even breathing a sigh of relief when suddenly, from the bronze wall above, a tongue shot out, swiftly wrapping it up. Moments later, all was quiet again—there was more than one mutated lizard!
However, the hobbling Mountain Anchor managed to escape into the corridor, surviving the ordeal.
The people didn’t need Boss Kun’s reminder, their feet greased, fleeing faster than anything. No matter how good their vision, they couldn’t see through the darkness above, not knowing how many mutated lizards were lurking up there. They hadn’t attacked yet, probably finding these strange little humans unusual, for over the millennia, Mountain Anchors might have been their only prey. Once they realize these tender little humans are edible, they’re likely to develop a taste for human flesh.
Finally, after sprinting several hundred meters at full tilt, they reached it.
This bronze door was even more imposing, with a height of thirty meters, wide enough for six carriages to enter side by side. Boss Kun looked at the passage before him, a bitterness filling his mouth, for the road ahead was entirely cast in bronze, smooth and clean, instilling a sense of deadly silence, yet with one major feature—width!
With such a wide road, even if the mutated lizards were twice their size, they could easily enter. If such terrifying creatures came swarming, what could they do to resist?
The path ahead lay quietly, free of any Mountain Anchors or mutated lizards. The group treaded the Bronze Avenue, running forward, not knowing how far they had gone when Boss Kun suddenly stopped and lightly shushed, "Stop, there’s the sound of water." (To be continued. If you enjoyed this piece, feel welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation votes, monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)