Dusts rained down at them as the underground shelter shuddered. Meanwhile, Zyro was staring nonchalantly above, devoid of fear if this structure suddenly collapses. Not like he can save himself if that happens, anyway. Fortunately, the stone structure held tough even now. Not a single stone fell off crack appeared, it's evident this ruins weren't made of normal rocks. If not, this structure wouldn't stand millennia.
When the ground stabilized after a brief shock, he was just about to say something when Baron gritted his teeth. Before dashing forward to confirm what caused such commotion. He came out from crack, and looked at the sight before him with wide eyes. Speechless.
Zyro quickly came beside him. And frowned deeply.
In front of him was an extremely capacious hollow, spanning about 150 meters in width. Here and there, poles stood with flames burning on their top. The ceiling was so high, even the fires light failed to reach it, leaving it drowned in completely darkness, as if the sky was nothing but black. The huge hollow stretched forward, ending on an inclined, collapsed boulders burying the rest of the ruins within.
On those ruins, where several stone establishments stood on paved ground in the past. But was now reduced to protruding wreckage, their shattered remnants scattered around. However, some of the broken stones were cleared to create an efficient path for people in ragged garments to walk through while carrying blocks of magic stones towards the collapsed boulders under the watchful eyes of numerous mine-guards. The slaves that reach the wall of inclined boulders deliver their blocks to some particular looking guards. Who will then place it in an orderly manner on craters then previously blow up. Few strange devices can be seen, nearby.
It wouldn't be hard to guess that these peoples are blowing up the rubble to dig some sort of tunnel or something.
Zyro and Baron were standing on one of the many cracks, large enough for people to go through. The ones they're at are particularly high, allowing them to have an eagle view at the workers below.
Zyro finds it strange for people from the Mine to use precious magic stones as explosives for the sake of digging up tunnels. Unless there's greater benefits beneath, wouldn't all this resources be wasted?
"Hey, is your brother secretly treasure hunting in this ruins?"
That unlikely though, because all valuables would already be plundered the first discoverers of this ancient shelter.
His carefree question cut out Baron from his stupor. He turned his head slowly, before coming back to reality. He softly laughed.
"Hahaha, treasure hunting? Oh, how I wish that's the case. Truly, I wish..." His unusually somber eyes looked at Zyro. "We are doomed lad. No, the entire Mine is doomed! I don't know what got in that mind of his, but this crossed the line!."
Baron laughter had always been sincere, and his humor had always been joyful in their short time with each other. Only now did Zyro hear him utter a pained laugh and see his face devoid of joy. Rather, he seems desperate, at the verge of losing hope. So, he could tell what he just said was no joke. The Mine are in grave danger.
Baron walked back and leaned against the stone to not be discovered by the guards. As he did, he explained.
"This place was found when people of Foggy Ring joined hands to clear the land from feral monsters a long time ago. The constant appearance of beasts in this area even after multiple sweeping was a mystery back then. After a thorough investigation. It was found out that there are massive ruins of some unknown empire under this land, which is so vast, it even surpassed the Great Wall of Fog covered range. It just so happens that a natural cave formed there, creating an underground passage from the outside world to Foggy Ring." He gazed at the direction where the wall of collapsed boulders is and added.
"That's where they cut the route with the help of bombs... And now, from the looks of it. Boru is attempting to reopen that path again!." Anger slipped in his tone.
Zyro understand his displeasure, of course. Now that he got the gist of what's happening, he deemed the situation truly dire. Boru owns the Mine, therefore, command it. So, his the only person capable of making this numerous people work here for an insane goal. Still, breaking the barrier separating hell from the haven of Foggy Ring is too irrational. Zyro had heard many things about the world outside the misty walls, and all of them told a dreadful truths. That's where countless beasts rule the land, free to grow as much as they could without anyone restraining. Foggy Ring and other primary settlement's can't oppress them.
He could already imagine just how harrowing those creatures are. The wilderness he usually venture are rather harmless, compare to the vast jungle outside. Even the people of this world had to rely on barriers to keep themselves safe from those monstrosities.
Just how bored Boss Boru is to plan unsealing the path, and let those frightening horrors in? If he succeeds, there will be chaos.
Although, the Gricks and vampires are surely capable of resolving this again with some collateral damage. Unfortunately, Zyro is inside the impact zone. Which will be the first to be breached by various terrors without a doubt.
The situation of the Mine isn't favorable either. It was surrounded by dangerous wilderness with blood sucking vampires as neighbors. Zyro's had it worse though - Grickish Scouts were awaiting him in a nearby region of the forest, ready to unleash a full army's pursuit. And about a hundred vampiric assassins were on their tale, each was no ordinary citizens, but trained warriors.
'I guess his right.'
No wonder Baron said the Mine is doomed. Zyro didn't believe when the elderly slave shared Boru's twisted deeds. However, upon seeing what that demented man is doing under their noses, Zyro felt like Baron didn't said it all. That bald fatso is an utter lunatic, he even suspects that guy have read the forbidden scriptures to be this insane!
Baron calmed himself down, then give Zyro an apologetic look. Saying;
"I'm sorry, young man. It seems I failed to pay your kindness. Sigh, not that I could actually be of help. When you want to escape Foggy Ring, I originally just wanted to show you a way to get out through this ruins. It's possible if you dug a small burrow in the boulders to get through. However, that will probably take a few months. After that, you will be traveling through the dangerous jungle until you reach the Kingdom of Strays which is the closest settlement from here. Leaving Foggy Ring illegally is possible, but the chances of survival are slim. Honestly, I'm expecting you to back down. No, I'm hoping you will back down. There's only death outside, young man... Likewise, here in the Mine."
All his words were somber and sincere. At the mention of venturing through the outside jungle where terrible things roamed. Zyro made Aizra calculate his chances of survival. The results had a one number, followed by many zeros - 1.000000000%.
'Not impossible?, that's 1 in a billion chances! Not to mention my rotten luck.'
Baron let out a long sigh.
"This is the life of the poor, kid. We have no freedom to choose, and can only wait as those above trampled on our pitiful lives."
He then got up to leave.
"Cary on now lad, with those workers around. You won't even finish the first pace if you're really determined to escape. It's futile."
Since finding out about the ongoing project of his brother, Baron lost his positive demeanor. Even his words turned gloomy and stern.
Zyro just finished considering Baron suggestion. Indeed, it was a feasible path to freedom. However, too many risk are involved. First of all, digging a tunnel is out of the question because of the workers presence. He can eradicate all of them, if he willed. Doing so would also instantly solve the impending disaster their work will bring. Right now, Zyro, Scarlet and Pert were stuck here till the assassins move elsewhere. So if this people's work suddenly attracted terrifying horrors strong enough to break that barrier, they will be stuck in dangerous stone.
But he still decided against it, because that's a rushed solution careless people might take.
And Zyro was a decisive young man, not a simple minded person. More importantly, his human with conscience. Performing massacre won't let him sleep well in the coming nights. Although, his accustomed to killing by now, the fact remains that he only do so if necessary. And the problem at hand was not.
Sure, poisoning the workers with his Fog Spray skill or corrupt their mind with Utter Vile is easier. But that won't completely solve the problem entirely... unless he aims for the snake head.
As they made their way back, Zyro's chilling voice broke the silence.
"Say, what would happen if I kill your brother?"