Chapter 115: Research Prototype N-63.
—First Squad!
Viscount Probel’s firm voice echoed throughout the cavern.
Without hesitation, ten Black Iron Guards immediately stepped forward.
They clenched their fists.
Then they began striking the enormous withered oak.
POW!
BANG!
POW!
Each punch made the trunk tremble violently.
Despite the tree’s colossal size, it was already completely dead.
The impacts opened enormous cracks.
Splinter after splinter flew through the air.
For a few moments, it almost looked as though it were snowing dry wood.
The soldiers took advantage of the fractures.
They all pushed together.
The veins bulged in their necks as they exerted every ounce of strength.
Finally...
The gigantic oak slid aside.
Directly beneath it...
A massive dark hole appeared.
A tunnel.
Deep.
Silent.
And so black that the light from the torches seemed to be swallowed just a few meters ahead.
—Here it is.
Lurdot’s eyes lit up.
Without wasting any time, he brought his hands together once more.
He began another incantation.
The little forest mouse, still perched on his shoulder, jumped to the ground.
It ran straight toward the tunnel.
Within a few seconds...
It vanished completely into the darkness.
Everyone waited in silence.
I carefully watched Lurdot’s face.
Through their magical bond, he was undoubtedly seeing everything his familiar saw.
A few seconds passed.
Then...
The color completely drained from his face.
"Ough..."
He raised one hand to his head.
His body staggered.
His eyes completely lost focus.
Before he could fall...
I rushed forward.
I caught him by the shoulders.
—What happened?
I asked while supporting him.
Lurdot was breathing with difficulty.
—Th... there... is... a creature...
He closed his eyes for a few seconds.
—An extremely dangerous creature.
He took another deep breath.
—It destroyed... my precious baby.
His voice carried genuine pain.
Not merely physical pain.
Mages normally developed a deep attachment to their summoned familiars.
Losing one was like losing a tool built over many years.
Or even a companion.
I discreetly looked toward the tunnel.
If it destroyed a familiar within a few seconds...
Then this was most likely a monster’s nest.
The Viscount’s expression became extremely grim.
—What should we do?
One of the acolytes asked.
Judging by the way he spoke...
It was obvious he wanted any answer other than entering that hole.
Probel did not hesitate in the slightest.
—Prepare the torches.
Then he slowly drew his sword.
—We’re going down.
The soldiers answered almost simultaneously.
—Yes, Sir!
Soon dozens of torches were lit.
The flames partially illuminated the entrance.
I exchanged a brief glance with the other acolytes.
No one looked happy.
But...
No one dared refuse, either.
I took a deep breath.
With no other choice...
I began descending with the group.
...
The entrance was wide.
However...
The tunnel quickly narrowed.
For several meters...
We were forced to walk completely hunched over.
My armor constantly scraped against the stone.
The metallic sound echoed throughout the passage.
After a few minutes...
The corridor widened once again.
Now several men could walk side by side.
Even raising the torches above our heads...
There was still an enormous distance to the ceiling.
I examined the vast space.
My stomach tightened.
This is not good.
A creature capable of living in a cavern of this size... certainly won’t be small. I wonder whether this creature possesses a Spirit Core.
However, if I hadn’t prepared so many trump cards...
I would have probably abandoned this group already.
My life was infinitely more valuable than the possible anger of the City Lord.
As we continued walking...
One of the Black Iron Guard captains raised his hand.
—Lord Viscount!
—There’s a fork ahead!
Everyone slowed their pace.
Probel walked to the front.
—Let me see.
Naturally, I followed right behind him.
As soon as we arrived...
I understood the reason for the concern.
The corridor split into two.
Both were absolutely identical.
The same shape.
The same width.
The same incline.
The darkness completely concealed the end of each passage.
The gray-robed figure stepped forward.
—The negative energy has become extremely intense.
His voice remained calm.
—My detection methods can no longer penetrate the interference.
Probel remained thoughtful.
Then he made a decision.
—Choose two men.
—Each group will scout one tunnel.
Before any soldier could take a step...
I spoke.
—Allow me.
Everyone turned their eyes toward me.
—I can investigate both paths without putting any soldier at risk.
In truth...
I simply didn’t want to waste combatants.
We still didn’t know what lay ahead.
Losing men now would be extremely inconvenient.
The Viscount smiled faintly.
—If Lord George is willing to do it, then that truly is the best option.
I nodded.
I took a few steps forward.
Then I slipped my hand beneath my cloak.
I took out two small metallic devices.
Their many articulated legs resembled those of spiders.
Their bodies were spherical.
At the center of each was a single enormous blue crystal eye.
I held them in the palm of my hand.
—Activate system.
—Research Prototype N-63.
The moment I gave the command...
Both crystal eyes shone brilliantly.
Their tiny legs began to move.
The devices awakened.
Immediately, I heard several whispers behind me.
—Underground reconnaissance androids?
—Incredible...
—That kind of technology...
—Only specialists in engineering can build and use something like that.
The looks from others were far less friendly.
Envy.
Suspicion.
Fear.
It didn’t surprise me.
Mages who specialized in metal and engineering had a terrible reputation.
Many traditional mages called them madmen.
People who completely abandoned flesh and emotion to follow only the logic of steel.
Naturally...
I had no intention of explaining my research.
I completely ignored all those stares.
I simply supplied the two small prototypes with mana.
Their large blue eyes glowed brightly, and both immediately began walking in different directions.
I closed my eyes.
My consciousness immediately connected to their sensors.
I began seeing through them.
Behind me...
Silence completely overtook the group.
The only sound that could be heard...
Was the constant crackling of the burning torches.
A few minutes later...
I opened my eyes again.
—In the tunnel to the left, there are only a few mutant organisms.
—At the end, there is a massive granite wall.
I looked toward the other passage.
—As for the tunnel on the right...
I paused briefly.
—It keeps descending.
—Far deeper.
—I was unable to determine its full depth.
I breathed slowly.
—My prototype was detected.
—Shortly afterward, it was completely destroyed.
Several soldiers exchanged glances.
The Viscount simply nodded.
—Then we’ll proceed through the tunnel on the right.
We waited for my surviving prototype to return, and then, without any hesitation, the march resumed.
I soon noticed a change in the environment.
That passage was much more humid.
The stone walls were covered in mud.
I discreetly ran my fingers across them.
Green moss covered nearly the entire surface.
Tiny droplets of water continuously trickled down.
I took out a white handkerchief.
I carefully wiped my hand clean.
My expression remained completely calm.
But internally...
I reached a conclusion.
We are getting close to the nest.
...
1301 Words