Putting away 'Blue Silk,' Aidan slowly pushed open the stone door. The door was heavy; if Aidan didn't have the strength enhancement from 'Black Boar,' he wouldn't have been able to move it. But now, with a light push from Aidan, the stone door slowly opened.
The scene outside the door unfolded before Aidan's eyes, and his vision suddenly widened!
This was no longer a narrow corridor or a cramped cave, but a spacious underground forest!
Aidan made a rough estimate and concluded that the area of this underground forest was at least ten times standard football field!
"I should be inside a natural underground cave right now," Aidan looked up at the surrounding stone walls.
The walls of this space were all over twenty meters high, with natural stone walls forming the ceiling as well.
From the ceiling hung large dark red stone pillars. Each pillar emitted a faint red light, as did the surrounding walls. Although the light in the space was dim, it was enough for Aidan to see some things.
Looking around, Aidan saw that each stone pillar looked like an inverted tree trunk, devoid of branches, leaving only lonely trunks.
The surface of the stone pillars was not smooth, but filled with numerous black, deep holes. Countless large and small stone pillars hung down, forming an inverted forest inside the mountain.
Nature is indeed a master craftsman.
Aidan, who was knowledgeable and experienced, was not surprised.
He was starting to understand Malagor's intention in arranging 'Blue Silk.'
This subterranean forest, sprawling across countless miles, is a marvel of nature's resilience and adaptability. Unlike the surface forests we are accustomed to, this underground wilderness thrives in the absence of sunlight, relying on the faint glow of bioluminescent fungi and plants to illuminate its dense canopy.
The towering trees, with their thick, sturdy trunks, stretch upward, their branches reaching out as if trying to touch the ceiling of the cavernous space that houses them. These are no ordinary trees; their leaves shimmer with a soft, ethereal light, casting a serene glow on everything below. The forest floor is carpeted with a lush layer of moss and ferns, adding to the mystique of this hidden world.
Rivers and streams, fed by ancient underground aquifers, meander through the forest, their crystal-clear waters reflecting the subtle luminescence of the forest. The sound of water gently flowing over rocks adds a tranquil soundtrack to this secluded paradise.
Despite the absence of sunlight, the forest is teeming with life. Creatures, both familiar and fantastical, roam freely. Some have adapted to the darkness with heightened senses or their own bioluminescent markings, creating a mesmerizing display of lights as they move through the forest.
In this secluded ecosystem, time seems to stand still, with the forest maintaining its primordial beauty, untouched by human influence. It is a testament to the enduring power of nature, a secret world thriving in the shadows, beneath the Earth's surface.
In this primitive forest protected by stone walls underground, there are a huge number of wild animals and even extraordinary creatures living.
For Aidan, this is a natural hunting ground without having to worry about being discovered!
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In the shadowy outskirts of this hidden, subterranean forest, where the dense foliage begins to thin and the glow of bioluminescent plants faintly lights the way, a werewolf prowls in silence.
This creature, part human, part wolf, is a master of the hunt, perfectly adapted to the unique challenges of this underground world. Its fur, a deep shade of grey, blends seamlessly with the surrounding shadows, making it an invisible specter to its prey.
The werewolf moves with purpose, its senses heightened to supernatural levels. It can hear the faintest rustle of leaves, smell the scent of animals from miles away, and see in the darkness as if it were daylight. On this night, it is on the trail of a wild boar, a creature known for its ferocity and strength, a worthy challenge for the werewolf.
The boar, unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows, forages for food among the fungi and moss-covered ground. It is a massive beast, with sharp tusks and a thick hide, capable of defending itself against most predators. But the werewolf is not deterred; it has faced such adversaries before and emerged victorious.
With a burst of speed, the werewolf launches its attack. The boar, caught off guard, reacts instantly, turning to face its attacker with a fierce snarl. What follows is a clash of primal forces, a dance of life and death played out in the silence of the underground forest. The werewolf, agile and swift, dodges the boar's charges, looking for an opening to strike. The boar, powerful and relentless, uses its tusks to fend off the werewolf, refusing to yield.
As the werewolf and the wild boar lock eyes, a palpable tension fills the air, the silence of the underground forest amplifying the sense of impending conflict. The werewolf's muscles tense, coiled like springs, ready to unleash its pent-up energy. Its eyes, glowing with a predatory light, fixate on the boar, which stands its ground, its own eyes reflecting a determination not to become easy prey.
The first move is swift, a blur of motion as the werewolf lunges forward, its powerful legs propelling it towards the boar at an astonishing speed. The boar reacts with surprising agility for its size, sidestepping the initial assault and launching a counterattack, its tusks aiming for the werewolf's side. The werewolf, however, anticipates this, rolling away from the danger and using the momentum to circle around its adversary, looking for a better angle of attack.
In this underground arena, the faint glow from the forest provides a surreal backdrop to the duel. The werewolf, using its superior agility, attempts to wear down the boar, darting in and out of range, delivering quick, sharp bites. Each attack is a test, probing for weaknesses in the boar's defense. The boar, though, is no easy target. It charges, again and again, turning sharply to catch the werewolf with its tusks, each swipe powerful enough to tear through the earth itself.
The battle escalates, becoming a display of raw power and ferocity. The werewolf's attacks become more daring, its leaps and bounds a blur of shadowy fur. The boar, undaunted, meets each assault with fierce resistance, its grunts and roars echoing through the cavernous space.
Then, in a moment of breathtaking intensity, the werewolf finds its opening. As the boar charges, the werewolf uses the boar's momentum against it, sidestepping at the last moment and leaping onto the boar's back. The boar bucks and twists, trying to dislodge its attacker, but the werewolf clings on, its jaws finding the neck of the boar.
The struggle reaches its climax as the werewolf's teeth sink in, and the boar's movements start to slow. With a final, desperate attempt to free itself, the boar collapses, succumbing to the inevitable. The werewolf stands victorious, panting, its fur matted with the struggle's remnants.
As the werewolf stands over its prey, the forest around them seems to hold its breath. In this hidden world beneath the Earth, life and death are intertwined, each creature playing its part in the never-ending cycle of nature.
The werewolf, with its catch, Slowly transformed back into human form.
Yes, that is Aidan.
After this period of hunting, he gained a lot and roughly explored the outskirts of the forest. The main creatures here are still wild boars and wolves, as well as some small animals like wild rabbits, etc. The ecological environment here is very similar to that around Mistavel Keep. However, the creatures here are generally more powerful than those in the forest on the ground. Even on the outskirts, there are some level 1 extraordinary creatures. These extraordinary creatures will occupy a certain area as their territory and command some ordinary beasts. For example, Aidan has just killed this level 1 extraordinary wild boar, and there are 10 wild boars around it resting in the nearby forest, guarding it. However, Aidan had secretly dealt with the other 10 ordinary wild boars before, and now this level 1 extraordinary wild boar also cannot escape its fate. Aidan completely dismantled this wild boar, but unfortunately, this extraordinary wild boar did not nurture any Essence Conduit.
Continuing deeper into the woods, Aidan also discovered level 2 extraordinary creatures, but these are opponents that Aidan cannot handle now.
After packing up his spoils of war, Aidan exited this underground forest.