"There might be guards stationed at the entrance when we go in. We can't risk our appearance not knowing where the hostages are kept". Mikeal appraised.
There is no telling what is going on down this hole or the cruelty level of the bandits.
They have hostages on their side with their location unknown. That alone hampers Mikeal and his crew's movement to a covert level.
Until they can secure and guarantee the safety of the hostages, abrasive actions need to be ruled out.
"What do you suggest we do". Vincent inquired, understanding Mikeal's point.
"We sneak in". Says Mikeal, already cooking up a plan to do that.
While there is only one hole here and possibly just one entrance in this vast open area, Mikeal being a special kind of case can always use his speciality to his advantage.
Especially for essential cases like this.
"Your Highness, do you have a plan in mind". Asked Anna.
"I do. I am going to use my blessings of the druid's skill to navigate my way through". He says.
Vincent had a question mark on his face as he was unaware of this so-called skill or how he was going to use it.
The bafflement began when he said he was going to navigate through the cave and the way he said it sounded as though he wasn't going to be going in directly.
That made Vincent question how he planned on doing that.
Anna on the other hand did not get the full scope of the gist. But seeing what he did in the battle against Marcus, her believability level toward him had gone up a notch.
If he says he can do this, it is only to be seen how he does it.
While Mikeal did attest to navigating underground using his skill alone, this is an endeavour he would be undertaking for the first time after his awakening.
He hasn't done it before to know things will work out the way he wants them to.
Mikeal crouched his body and placed his pal. on the ground as a way to connect his skill and attain deep concentration on what he was about to do.
He activated his Blessing Of The Druid skill without the need to chant out the name.
This time, Mikeal focused on spreading the roots around the ground and having them grow in length, covering a wide area.
It was working! The roots were spreading inside the earth as he wanted them to, moving through the walls of the underground cave.
By moving the roots around the walls, it was as though Mikeal himself was moving with them. He was able to see the inner part of the cave without the need to go through it physically, feel the surroundings and even navigate his way through.
It's astonishing really, and Mikeal couldn't help but be mesmerized by his skill.
Mikeal was unaware, but this process of his that allows him to see and feel things through the root is the use of his sixth senses intertwined with his skill.
When Mikeal uses his skill to grow vines from the ground, he is innately connected to them. That connection is what grants him the ability to control the vines to his likeness.
He can send them whatever commands he desires and without questions, the grown vines act on that command.
Authority over all wood types. That is what it implies, and said authority remains definite and near impossible to grasp how far it extends along with the grace that comes with it.
For this current Mikeal? It will require training and extensive research before he can fully grasp the potential of his capabilities over all wood types.
His innate connection subconsciously allowed for a scenario of shared senses, a natural ability that lets him perceive the same actions his vines are perceiving.
Through the shared senses is how Mikeal can see and feel the same as the roots moving in the walls.
If there is a flaw to this crazy benefit, it would be the absurd amount of mana he is expending at the moment.
He could feel his body getting drained faster than he could recover. It is ridiculous. The amount of mana it took to create those vines in his battle with Marcus pales in comparison to the amount of mana he is using now.
Apart from the ridiculous mana usage, Mikeal experienced an odd change in his body. He couldn't afford to lose his concentration now so he just let it be.
Mikeal used the roots to find his way through the cave. Everything looks so alike that it's easy to get confused. However, it wasn't the case for Mikeal.
The route the roots took has registered in his mind, making it impossible for him to miss his way.
As the roots were moving, he got into a room in the cave with iron bars at the entrance.
He got through the iron bars and sprouted a single leaf on the wall of the room. Doing that allowed him to get a clearer feel for the room.
"I think I might have found them". He said, calling to Anna and Vincent's attention.
"Ho-How?! We haven't even gotten inside yet". Requested Vincent, questioning for an explanation of what just happened.
"Save the questions for later".
Mikeal got up on his feet and walked northeast from where he was. The two ran after him seeing that he was up to something.
"This is it". He retorts, proceeding to place his palm on the ground.
"You two might want to take two steps back from there". He advised to which Anna obeyed and pulled the hesitating Vincent back.
"Druid Magic! Accelerating Tree Growth!". Mikeal chanted a self-made spell.
Nonetheless, this self-made spell responded to his calling by growing a fifteen-foot tall and matured tree with adage branches from the ground.
Vincent was put in an instant state of shock and it only got worse with his next action.
The root of the grown tree had covered a lot of areas as Mikeal intended. He raised both hands, causing the grown tree to ascend upward by pulling the ground with it.
By strategically using the advantage of his magic, Mikeal was able to uproot a part of the earth's surface, specifically the part that has the hostages captured underneath.
He! He... He created a miracle.