Chapter 46: Beneath the Mountain's Shadow
In the world of Gaia, beneath the bustling life and ancient cities, lie vast expanses almost untouched by humanity and other races, known as the Subterranea Glades. Here, beneath the base of a moutain, stretched a vast underground cavern, lit by countless glowing stones set high above in the ceiling. Their light spread wide, casting a gentle glow that stretched to reach the cavern's distant edges, swallowed by darkness.
This enormous space buzzed with life, filled with thick tropical trees and dense, vibrant undergrowth thriving in the stifling heat and still air. Rainclouds hung low, scattered across the cavern, occasionally bursting to drench the flora below. The air echoed with the calls of hidden wildlife and the bustle of life, stirred by the movements of unseen mana beasts lurking in the shadows.
Suddenly, the buzzing noise of the area's wildlife was interrupted by a large explosion, dust erupting from the canopy. Harsh shouts sliced through the air, their urgency clear even above the chaos. Moments later, further explosions boomed, accompanied by the roar of a mana-beast.
Breaking through the dense foliage, a yellow glow streaked into the clearing, furrowing the ground as it crashed to a halt. Encased within the stationary, dense aura, a knight in heavy bronze armor stood imposingly. His gauntlets and sabatons were sheathed in shimmering spectral armor. In his grasp, he held a formidable shield and a spiked, one-handed mace, ready for battle.
After the knight's dramatic entrance, a massive six-meter-tall green-furred ape burst through the underbrush. Its long arms, nearly touching the ground, swung with menacing force. Its bark-like dark brown skin rippled as it charged, eyes ablaze with fury, directly toward the third-tier earth knight.
Bursting from the treeline behind it, a storm of arrows, each trailed by a vibrant purple glow, cut swiftly through the air. They soared past the towering ape, their paths curiously bending in the air, weaving around the beast with tendrils of glowing mana. This web of energy ensnared the ape, dragging it to the earth with a resounding crash.
Bound in chains of crackling lightning mana, the ape shuddered under the relentless surges convulsing through its massive body as it skidded towards the awaiting knight.
"Mountain's Embrace!"
With a forceful thrust, the knight slammed his shield into the earth. Instantly, the ground responded, tendrils of soil crawling up the shield's surface, rapidly constructing a formidable wall. Just as the structure solidified, the entangled ape collided with the newly formed barrier, the impact resounding through the cavern with a thunderous crash.
As the earth knight charged forward and raised his mace for a final, crushing blow, the mana-beast unveiled a startling surprise. From its hulking form, two additional arms burst forth, muscles coiling with power. With lightning reflexes, one of these new limbs snatched the descending mace, halting its deadly arc in mid-air.
With a ferocious roar, the giant ape unleashed a deafening scream that rippled through the cavern. The shockwave that followed was a physical force, surging outward with devastating intensity. It slammed into the knight, hurling him backward. Simultaneously, the electric bindings that ensnared the beast shattered into a storm of sparks, freeing it from its constraints.
Emerging from the dense jungle, two additional figures faced the thunderous roar's aftermath head-on. The older man, his short gray hair barely stirring, stood firm in full-body leather armor, intricately engraved with glowing runes. The armor sheathed his form protectively, extending to cover his arms was the dark purple glow of a Tier 3 knight's manaforged armor.
Beside him, a younger man with tousled blonde hair bore a bright, youthful smile, undiminished by the chaos. His attire shone distinctly in the cavern's dim light—a gleaming suit of armor accented with blue manaforged gauntlets and sabatons, marking the prowess of a Tier 3 water knight. Together, they steadied themselves against the shockwave, poised to confront the upheaval in the cavern.
"Go and help Bagus, keep its attention for two minutes." The older knight's directive was swift, his hand extending to conjure a dark purple wooden longbow from the ether. As he drew back the string, a mana arrow materialized, nocked and ready. He held his stance, the arrow steadily absorbing surrounding mana, the air around it crackling with the growing pressure of its impending release.
"Tidal Charge!" The blonde water knight's command sliced through the air as his aura, a swirling vortex of blue, gathered with a rush beneath and behind him. The force propelled him forward, a torrent of water surging him towards the four-armed giant ape. From the heart of the wave, he summoned a shining two-handed sword, its edge catching the dim cavern light as it solidified from water to deadly steel.
The earth knight, a bastion of defense, positioned himself strategically, his feet planted firmly on the ground as he reinforced his shield with layers of compacted earth. Together, the knights faced the beast, their combined prowess a dance of water's fluid assault and earth's unyielding guard.
As the water knight closed the distance, the ape, towering and fierce, extended its limbs threefold. One massive, elongated arm swung in a wide arc, aiming to swat the knight away like an irritating fly. Quick as a flash, the water knight ducked under the sweeping limb, slicing upwards with his sword, sending a spray of water droplets and blood shimmering through the air.
Unfazed, the ape drew back, its mouth opening wide as it released another sonic scream that rippled through the cavern. The earth knight reacted instantly, leaping forward he slammed his shield into the ground. The barrier he conjured absorbed the brunt of the shockwave, vibrating intensely but holding firm, protecting them from the disorienting blast.
Regaining his footing, the water knight lunged again, his blade tracing arcs of blue light in the humid air. But the ape was ready, its fur bristling as it transformed into sharp, spike-like protrusions. The knight's next strike met a harsh, bristled defense, his sword sparking as it skidded across the hardened fur.
Undeterred, they pressed on, each exchange a test of speed and strength. As the ape fought back with wild, elongated swings, the knights adapted, their movements a blur of tactical precision. The water knight weaved through the ape's defenses, finding openings for quick, stinging blows, while the earth knight's shield was ever-present, a constant thorn in the beast's side.
As the battle reached its crescendo, the earth knight took a protective stance, readying for another of the ape's powerful abilities, his shield up and aura flaring defensively. Just beyond the chaotic fray, the older knight, his dark purple bow drawn taut with a mana-charged arrow, prepared to tip the scales.
Suddenly, the ape ceased its frenzied assault, its massive frame going rigid. Its raging red eyes, once locked in battle, snapped wide open as it bared its menacing fangs, directing a fierce glare toward the lightning knight before it charged.
"Crushing Bolt!"
The lightning knight loosed the charged arrow, which erupted from the bow with a violent burst of thousands of lightning arcs. The arrow tore through the air, ripping directly through the giant ape's neck. The force was so immense it decapitated the beast, its head tumbling from its shoulders as its body continued its charge in a grotesque dance of momentum before crashing heavily.
The knights converged around the fallen mana-beast. As the water knight allowed his shimmering sword to dissipate into a fine mist, the vapor reformed into a sharp dagger in his grasp. With a broad smile playing across his youthful face, he began to skin the carcass. "First time I've ever fought a second stage Spider-Ape, this glade is a paradise!"
"Be careful with the hide, Adam. Don't just tear into it," the elder knight advised, his voice steady and instructive. "Start at the neck wound."
Heeding the elder's counsel, the water knight Adam meticulously began his incisions at the neck wound. With a confident grin, he mused, "This glade is going to make us rich. The strongest aura in here was this guy, so everything else is basically ours."
Surveying their surroundings, the older knight maintained a vigilant watch. His voice, calm yet firm, carried a note of caution, "Don't get ahead of yourself yet. I still feel like something is watching us."
Removing his helmet, the earth knight Bagus revealed a scarred face framed by unruly red curls. Contrasting sharply with his rough exterior, his voice carried a strangely soothing tone. "You've been saying that since we found this place, Brennon. Your artifact showed this guy was the strongest in here, so why are you still being paranoid?"
Brennon, ever watchful, replied with a seasoned wariness, "You younger knights with higher potential wouldn't understand. When your years left become final, you learn to trust your gut."
Adam chuckled as he skillfully continued to skin the Spider-Ape, his movements fluid and assured. "This is why I don't like knights who have reached their limit, they are all just like you, always so cautious."
"He has a point Adam, he is the oldest knight in our company."
"Laugh all you want," Brennon's eyes sparked with lightning, his tone edged with warning, "just don't fuck up the pelt."
Bagus's laughter burst forth, cutting through the tension as Adam, looking slightly offended, chose to remain silent.
After several moments, Adam deftly completed the skinning of the beast, then he stowed the massive pelt into a pouch at his waist. The pouch emitted a soft white glow as he opened it, drawing the giant green and brown hide inside with a gentle pull of light.
"The crystal should be within its abdomen," the elder knight interjected, pausing to offer guidance.
"I know, I know." Adam moved to the ape's stomach and brought down his blade decisively.
Suddenly, the light surrounding them dimmed, swallowed by darkness as a horrendous crunch of flesh and metal shattered the silence.
"What the?" Adam, his blade still embedded in the beast's carcass, glanced up as the shimmering illusion of the night sky rippled before his eyes.
"Thunder Step!"
Boom! A purple bolt of lightning exploded upwards, drawing Brennon within its vibrant surge, only to crash down among the distant jungle trees.
Drawing his blade, Adam's manaforged armor enveloped his arms, while his torso instantly vanished into a gaping maw of teeth and darkness.
Off in the distance, Brennon surged through the jungle, his lightning aura crackling intensely around him. His thoughts raced as furiously as his legs, 'What the fuck was that?! It was right on top of us and we didn't even notice!'
Vaulting over twisting roots and dodging low-hanging branches and vines, his pace never faltered. Reaching into a pouch at his waist, he pulled out a compass, its needle spinning erratically. 'Lying piece of shit! It still shows there's nothing here?!' Frustrated, he stowed the unreliable compass and withdrew a purple Beast-Crystal, its glow intensifying his speed. 'I just need to keep moving, the entrance wasn't too far from here.'
Brennon's gut twisted sharply, an instinctive warning that made him yell out, "Thunder Step!"
Brennon's aura burst into a crackling lightning bolt, catapulting him upwards. But this ascent, unlike before, faltered as the bolt shattered into sparks, leaving him suspended briefly high above the jungle. Bow clenched tightly, his ascent slowed to a hover. As gravity reclaimed him, the sight that met his eyes drained the color from his face, gripping his soul with terror.
Looming before Brennon, a massive wolf-like creature reared, its formidable shoulders cresting at three meters. Its fur, dark as the void of midnight, was speckled with white, the spots swirling in an enchanting dance that seemed to defy nature, gathering intensity towards the tip of its tail. Enveloping its robust front legs and coiling menacingly around its neck, dark blue flames blazed, their sinister light casting a chilling promise of death directly into Brennon's heart.
Jerked from his trance, Brennon barked, "Rapid-Bolt!" Instantly, his bow sang with the release of multiple shots, each arrow crackling with electricity as they sliced through the air, forming a storm of lightning above the looming creature.
The clash was abruptly interrupted by an unfamiliar voice that cut through the storm, "Mystic Water Mirror!"
Above the towering creature, the air suddenly churned as a vast swirl of water mana gathered into a shimmering mirror. Brennon's electrified arrows, fired in rapid succession, plunged into the reflective surface, merging eerily with their own images. With a violent twist, the arrows erupted back out, redirected with lethal precision towards the descending knight. "Thunder St..." Brennon's voice was abruptly smothered under a ferocious explosion of lightning mana, his own arrows enveloping him in a blinding storm of energy.
As the giant mirror began to shimmer and fade, a charred corpse fell from the exploding cloud, trailing smoke until it hit the ground with a loud thud.
"Big brother!" The colossal beast's voice held a whine as it glanced toward the jungle's edge, "I didn't need your help, I was perfectly..." its voice faded into a murmur as a figure stepped forward from the thick foliage, the air around him thickening with a tangible pressure that made the beast's muscles tense. 'Brother is angry again.'
"You were sloppy, Haku. You let that knight escape and you allowed him to execute multiple skills before I had to step in."
"But brother, you know an Iron knight can't hurt me," the large fox Haku spoke, his form slowly contracting to his regular ember fox size.
"What is the rule?!"
Gazing downwards, Haku rolled his eyes and muttered, "No frontal engagement, only strike when you are sure of an instant kill; otherwise, my life is more important. Sorry, Darius."
Darius now stood next to Haku, the soft glow of mana stones high above in the cavern's ceiling casting light upon his figure. His armor was detailed and ornate, fitted perfectly to his chest and shoulders. The dark tones of his attire were highlighted by the subtle gleam of the mana weave within the fabric under his breastplate. His entire right arm was encased in a gauntlet that seemed to merge with his very essence, as if it was part of him, moving with fluid grace. A stylized wolf's head adorned his shoulder guard, its eyes gleaming with a reflective blue light that mirrored his own piercing gaze.
The armor did little to conceal his youth, yet it was clear that the days of carefree innocence had long passed. His eyes, a striking blue that once sparkled with the vibrancy of the skies, now held a depth of weariness, shadows lurking within their worn look.
This young man, with tousled black hair that framed his face in stylish disarray, carried the presence of one who had survived the flames of trials and emerged not unscathed, but scarred beyond the skin. The animal at his side, an ember fox that seemed to share his spirit, watched the world with a similar wariness, its fur carrying the colors of twilight shadows. Together, they were a picture of resilience—a boy and his beast, companions in a world that demanded strength at every turn.
In the depths of the underground cavern, where the heat sweltered like a cloak, Darius turned to the ember fox at his side with a stern look. "You're getting too impatient lately. Do we need to spend some time in the Vault?" His tone was firm, brooking no argument.
Haku barked a retort, the usual spark in his eyes dimming at the thought. "You know I hate it in there, it's boring! I promise I'll do better." His voice carried a note of desperation, a plea laced with sincerity.
Darius's eyebrow arched skeptically as he considered the fox. "Next time your apologies won't mean much. You'll go into closed-door cultivation for a month." The warning in his voice was clear.
With a turn of his heel, Darius began to walk away, his shadow long in the dim light of the cavern.
Haku's mouth dropped open in dismay at the prospect, but as Darius spoke again, his expression shifted. "Come on, Haku. One last area to check and then we can leave this place. But first, let's check these guys' belongings," he suggested, a hint of mischief lighting up his eyes.
Haku's reluctance was palpable as he dragged his paws, whining under his breath. "I hate the Vault, I'd rather play with a pack of Steel-Badgers..." His grumbles faded into the background as the two moved towards the smoldering remains of the fallen lightning knight, their path marked by the quiet resolve to wrap up their search in this vast, hidden world.