When the last of the slime was destroyed at Kalen's hands, he paused and looked around as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
'That was... refreshing'
Action was what Kalen felt was missing from this test. He couldn't try to take on this monster, but he could take on little slime like this.
They weren't a challenge by any means, but at least they helped him warm up a bit.
Kalen turned to the group, who looked at him with different expressions.
Oliver looked at him with some surprise, Talika... with a somewhat strange expression that worried Kalen, and finally Elisabeth with a look of pride.
'Why is she proud?'
Anyway, Kalen quietly approached the group.
"It would have been nice to get some help"
Oliver looked at Kalen and then at the elementals.
"You didn't seem to need it"
Kalen just shrugged and looked at Talika, who was still looking at him a little too intently.
"Are there any more left?"
Talika shook her head quickly and went back to her usual self.
"I-I don't think so...thanks for saving them"
Kalen just smiled.
"It's nothing"
After that, Kalen looked at the elementals curiously.
'They don't seem to be very powerful... but they can be quite useful'
The dozens of elementals that had survived with Kalen's help approached him and began to flutter around him as if they were small children with unlimited energy.
"What about them?"
Kalen was surprised to see them hovering around him, but he didn't move, realizing they weren't doing anything to him.
Realizing that the elementals were interested in Kalen, Talika share the thoughts she was able to perceive.
"They are grateful... and curious to see something so different from themselves"
Suddenly, a heavy voice echoed in the cave they were in.
"Exactly...we are grateful for your help, humans"
Everyone in the group lost their balance and fell to their knees on the floor, finding it hard to breathe, and only after several seconds did, they manage to look up.
There was a brown orb floating a few centimeters above the ground, but compared to the other elementals, this one was extremely huge.
'What is this pressure?!'
Kalen had never felt the pressure that brought him to his knees before. He had met only a few people who had completed their trials and become true challengers or beyond, but none of them could convey such pressure.
The great elemental suddenly faltered, and the pressure they all felt instantly vanished.
"Sorry... I'm not used to interacting with other beings"
The group breathed calmly again, and Elisabeth looked at the elemental cautiously.
"Y-you're an ancient elemental?"
The elemental had no body as such, so they couldn't see its expression. But after a few seconds, it spoke with a slightly discouraged tone.
"No, I'm not... I'm an older elemental. But you don't have to worry, I'm not going to hurt you"
Even though the elemental was telling them that, the group still remembered the pressure they had felt... the elemental in front of them was simply absurdly powerful.
"I guess you 4 must be challengers... On your first test perhaps?"
Elisabeth nodded.
"Yes, sir"
Kalen looked at her a little quizzically, seeing the clear sign of respect for the elementals.
"Well... you must be very unfortunate to go to such depths"
Elisabeth looked at the large brown orb in confusion.
"What do you mean, sir?"
The elemental was silent for a few seconds, searching for the right words.
"In this cave there are two cycles that change every 16 days. The first cycle is mostly peaceful, the second is when things get complicated"
Everyone blanched at the elemental's statement. Considering that two weeks had passed since they had arrived at the Firefly Cavern, it could be said that they were only two days away from the supposed beginning of the cycle... or less.
Finding the strength to speak, Kalen asked.
"What do you mean, things are getting complicated?"
Kalen felt as if the elemental's gaze rested on him, and even though he didn't exert any pressure, he felt his chest sink.
"I mean, the creatures of the abyss are starting a deadly hunt through the entire cave... it's worse at greater depths"
Oliver and Elisabeth, maybe Talika knew about Urasis, but as soon as the elemental mentioned the creatures of the abyss, everyone heard something new about Urasis for the first time.
"Creatures of the abyss?" asked Kalen, sharing the same thoughts as the others.
The elemental didn't answer, instead moving a little erratically.
Everyone looked confused until the elemental's words reached them.
"There is no time for explanations...we must prepare"
None of them knew what the older elemental was referring to until the other elementals began to flit about.
Talika's expression grew visibly darker.
"T-they're afraid"
Kalen frowned slightly, but suddenly felt something change in the cave. The crystals lost some of their glow, making the atmosphere a little darker and more eerie.
"It's started" the elemental said suddenly.
Not knowing what exactly was going on, the group watched as a large wall of earth rose right at the entrance to the cave, shutting them out from the rest of the cave.
They were all trapped with the elementals, not understanding what was happening.
'What...?'
Suddenly, high-pitched howls could be heard through the wall the elder elemental had erected.
Without the need for words, all their questions were answered in an instant.
Oliver and Talika were relieved to see that someone like the elemental was willing to help them, but Kalen and Elisabeth were not so relieved.
According to the elemental and the howling that could be heard over and over again, the people in the cave must be in danger, which put Elisabeth's test in jeopardy.
On the other hand, Kalen was worried, because if the cycle lasted 16 days, when would he look for Rodhlann Danneir?
Seeing that everyone was quite confused, the older elemental spoke.
"Everyone, follow me"
No one wanted to disobey the Elemental, Oliver and Talika might not have been as aware of the Elemental's power, but Elisabeth, who knew much more about Urasis than they did, and Kalen, who lived in a world where whoever had the power ruled, did not dare to question.
The cave of the elementals consisted of 5 different caves, in which there were more elementals, who approached the group with curiosity.
They looked like little children who saw something strange. Kalen was not bothered by the presence of the small spheres, and Talika was quite content as she perceived the thoughts of the elementals.
When they reached the last cave, the older elemental stopped and suddenly a wall began to crumble into dust, opening what looked like a secret entrance.
The elemental entered, and the four followed without question. It wasn't until the few crystals inside began to illuminate the place that they could all see what was inside.
'These are... the remains of something, something big'
A large skeleton was hidden deep within the cave, guarded by the elder elemental.
Without many words, the elemental stopped.
There was silence for a few seconds, until the elemental began to lose its glow almost imperceptibly.
"Humans... I have a proposition for you"
Seeing that the elemental's tone was serious, the four listened in silence.
"I have been here for hundreds of years... waiting for the right moment. I do not have much time left, and I don't want the other lesser elementals to die in a cursed cave on the brink of corruption because of my greed"
The elemental approached the skeleton, and his voice took on a more subdued tone.
"If you humans are willing to help me, I will help you survive the rest of your test"
Elisabeth swallowed her saliva, knowing that this conversation was very important, but using her trait as a leader, she took the lead and kept the same respectful tone as before, beginning to speak to the elemental.
"What business are we talking about, sir?"
The older elemental seemed to like Elisabeth's attitude, for his tone was a bit softer, but still quite serious.
"I want you to help the elementals escape from the cave, I will do my best to keep them safe during this cycle"
Kalen still didn't know what was going on outside the Elemental Cavern, but he was sure that he wouldn't be able to face all the dangers and keep Elisabeth and Talika safe on his own. But he had no idea how to get the hundreds of elementals he had seen earlier out.
"How could we get them out? Besides, why can't you leave?" asked Kalen.
The elemental turned back to him.
"We can't leave on our own, because it's impossible to get out of this place, there's simply no way out. But you don't have to worry about the details, for the elementals it is possible to escape with your help... with yours to be exact"
Kalen frowned, not understanding what the elemental was referring to.
"Me?"
The older elemental nodded.
"Yes, for that we need to create an elemental core for you"