MM Racing Page 347
Page 347
Soon after, in a dark and dry cave, everyone sat together to rest. Zhao De lit a fire, and the firelight illuminated the surrounding space, instantly dispelling much of the cold with its warmth.
"What should we do next?" the young man asked, his tone full of anticipation. "Should we head straight north to find that ruin?"
“Well, we’d better make a detailed plan first and gather relevant information,” the older man replied after a moment’s thought.
Arya nodded: "I also have some clues that can make the trip easier. For example, there might be traps or mechanisms that need to be solved, and we can prepare countermeasures in advance."
"Then it's settled." Zhao De looked at everyone. "We'll set off first thing tomorrow morning and try to reach our destination as soon as possible."
Just then, Xueyao suddenly noticed several dark figures flash past the cave entrance and then disappear...
"What just happened?" Xueyao asked softly, a hint of worry in her eyes. "I feel like something is watching us."
"Stay alert!" the older man said sternly. "It seems this journey won't be as simple as we thought..."
The wind and rain outside were still fierce, but inside this small cave, the group of people were brought together even more closely by their shared goal and mission.
Chapter 888 Uncertain Factors
Chapter 888 Uncertain Factors
"Are you sure that's not our hallucination?" The young man looked around nervously, his voice trembling slightly.
Xueyao shook her head. "I saw it very clearly. Those shadows moved very quickly, but they definitely existed."
Zhao De pondered for a moment, "In that case, we can't let our guard down. Everyone will take turns resting tonight, and we must remain vigilant." After saying that, he took out some dry food and water from his backpack and distributed them to everyone, "Let's replenish our strength first."
Arya took the food and smiled as she thanked her. "Actually, there's something I've always wanted to say. My senses are quite strong, so it might be better if I were on the first watch."
The older man looked at her, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded in agreement: "Alright, thank you for your trouble."
Time passed slowly, and the cave became unusually quiet under the flickering fire. Arya sat quietly by the fire, gently toying with her staff in her hand. Although her gaze was fixed on the direction of the door, her thoughts drifted to the distance.
Suddenly, the sound of several tree branches snapping rang out not far from the cave entrance. Almost at the same moment, a black figure flashed past, even more conspicuous than before!
"Who's there!" Arya sprang to her feet, her staff already glowing with a blue light, ready to strike. "Come out! I know you can't hide!"
After a few seconds of silence, a figure slowly emerged. This time it was no longer a shadow beast or some unknown creature, but a human male, soaking wet and disheveled.
"No...don't hurt me!" the person said in a trembling voice. "I just got lost and came here for help because I heard some noise."
The group looked at each other, clearly not expecting this outcome.
"What's your name? Why are you loitering here?" Zhao De asked sternly, while observing every detail of him warily.
Before he could catch his breath, the man hurriedly explained, "My name is Jack, and I'm a member of a caravan. The caravan was attacked by monsters and split up, leaving me all alone... I've heard that things are getting unsettled here lately, and many unknown dark creatures have started appearing... Sigh, I don't know if I'll survive."
"Have you ever encountered a woman wearing a black robe and carrying a staff?" Xueyao suddenly asked, her eyes fixed on the other person's expression.
“No, not at all,” Jack replied after a moment’s thought. “However, it’s said that a powerful mage has been active in this area recently, seemingly searching for something.”
Upon hearing this, everyone present was moved – they knew this was undoubtedly a clue about the "Key of Light".
Seeing this, Arya stepped forward and reached out to support the pitiful man. "Don't be afraid, come in and sit down to warm up before we talk. But remember, you must tell us everything you know truthfully."
And so, the five people who originally planned to stay only briefly to rest and recuperate now have another uncertain factor.
Jack slowly walked into the cave, appearing unusually cautious.
Zhao De kept a close eye on his every move. After Jack sat down by the fire, everyone gathered around. Arya handed Jack some dry rations and hot water so he could replenish his strength.
"Eat slowly," Arya said gently. "Warm yourself up first; we still have many questions to ask."
Chapter 889 A Shiver
Chapter 889 A Shiver
Jack took the food and wolfed it down as if he hadn't eaten in a long time. After finishing, he took a deep breath and said, "Thank you for saving me. I will tell you everything I know."
"Then tell me," Zhao De interrupted, "how were you attacked?"
“It was…it happened three days ago. Our caravan was heading to a nearby town to do business.” Jack shuddered as he recalled the terrifying scene from that day.
"Just as we were nearing our destination, a group of dark creatures of unknown origin suddenly charged out. Those things were incredibly fast and powerful. Almost all of my companions were wiped out; I was the only one who managed to escape. I hid in this forest for several days before finally encountering you..."
Upon hearing this, everyone present fell silent. Arya gazed thoughtfully at the firelight before her. Zhao De also appeared to be deep in thought.
"Then what is that powerful mage in the black robe you mentioned looking for?" Xueyao pressed.
“I only heard this rumor from the villagers who fled,” Jack shook his head, indicating that he didn’t know anything about it. “I only heard that it seems to be related to a treasure called the ‘Key of Light.’ But this place is too chaotic right now, and everyone is very sensitive to this kind of thing.”
Zhao De turned to look at his other companions, his eyes filled with determination.
“It seems this mission is unusual; we must be extra vigilant,” he said in a low voice, then turned to Jack to continue asking about the specifics of the monsters.
As time passed, the sound of howling wind gradually rose outside. The atmosphere inside the cave became somewhat oppressive.
Despite having obtained the information they wanted, the group remained heavy-hearted—they realized that this journey would likely not be easy.
Just as the group was discussing their next move, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly broke the silence as they approached from afar.
Almost simultaneously, several figures suddenly rushed in through the cave entrance! Everyone instantly went on high alert, including Jack, who had just recovered and was still adjusting to the new environment.
"Wait, don't do it!" a woman shouted in a panic. Behind her were two men who looked like ordinary homeless people.
"Please, heroes, save us! There are so many terrifying monsters chasing us outside..." As they spoke, the three of them collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, clearly terrified.
Seeing the arrival of these newcomers, especially the woman leading them whose eyes betrayed her despair, Zhao De frowned. "Has the situation really gotten this bad?" she wondered to herself, then turned to her companions.
“Let them come in and rest for a bit, then we can have a proper chat.” Her voice was gentle, yet it carried an undeniable authority. So, after confirming that these people weren't carrying weapons or posing any other threat, everyone gradually relaxed their guard, found places to sit, and prepared to begin a new round of conversation.
"Everyone, calm down," Zhao De said in a deep voice. "Only by clarifying the matter can we make the right decision."
The woman at the head of the group looked up, her face pale, but a hint of gratitude flashed in her eyes. "My name is Lilia… We were just ordinary travelers who encountered these monsters on the road. They were like creatures crawled out of hell; incredibly fast and incredibly strong, far beyond the capabilities of ordinary people."
Chapter 890 Unnecessary Trouble
Chapter 890 Unnecessary Trouble
Xueyao handed her a cup of hot water and comforted her, "Drink some water first, there's no rush."
“Thank you.” Lilia took the cup, her hands trembling slightly. She took a deep breath and began to recount their ordeal in detail.
"On our way to town, we suddenly saw some strange things dart out of the woods. At first, we thought they were animals or something, but we were quickly stunned by what we saw. These things didn't seem to be creatures of this world at all. Their bodies were pitch black, emitting an eerie glow. Most terrifyingly, these monsters seemed to possess some kind of dark power, able to unleash black lightning with a wave of their hands. Some of us tried to fight back, but we were bounced back as if we had hit an invisible wall, completely powerless to retaliate..."
As she said this, she couldn't help but shudder again, her eyes revealing deep fear.
Arya frowned, clearly finding the matter extremely strange as well. "You're saying those monsters can unleash dark lightning? Are you sure you didn't misread it? That's no small feat."
Lilia nodded, her tone certain: "Absolutely true. I was also a magic apprentice before, and although my strength wasn't outstanding, I was still very familiar with these basic elements. Those lightning bolts did indeed carry a strong dark magic fluctuation, which was clearly different from normal electric spells..."
After hearing this, Zhao De remained silent for a moment, seemingly pondering his next move. "If what you say is true, then the power behind these monsters is definitely not to be underestimated. However, the most important thing right now is to ensure everyone's safety and find a place to take temporary refuge."
“But this place doesn’t seem like a long-term solution,” another companion couldn’t help but express his concern. “We’re in the middle of a forest now; if any danger were to strike, we might be caught off guard!”
Just as everyone was feeling anxious about this, Jack, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "Actually, I know a hidden place—in an ancient ruin not far away. It's surrounded by mountains on all sides, and its location is extremely secluded; what's even more remarkable is that there are many mechanisms and secret passages available. Even if an uninvited guest does visit, it can be detected in time and appropriate measures can be taken."
Upon hearing this, everyone present showed expressions of surprise.
Arya asked, "How do we get in there? What preparations do we need to make?"
Jack paused for a moment before answering, "The entrance is hidden behind what appears to be an ordinary boulder, but opening it requires passing a series of tests. These include breaking several ancient seals and solving a puzzle."
Zhao De said firmly, "Then let's do it this way. There's no time to lose, let's set off for the ruins immediately. Try to avoid areas where those monsters might appear along the way."
Lilia looked at everyone gratefully and said softly, "Thank you all for your generosity. May the gods bless us so that we may arrive there safely."
After a brief rest, the group quickly left the cave and headed towards their destination. The atmosphere was tense and solemn along the way, and everyone was careful not to make too much noise for fear of attracting unnecessary trouble.
After several hours of arduous trekking, when they finally arrived near their destination, they were surrounded by swirling mist, as if they were in a fairyland. However, this tranquility did not make anyone lower their guard; on the contrary, it heightened their vigilance.
Chapter 891 Successfully assembled
Chapter 891 Successfully assembled
"Is this the entrance?" Xueyao asked, looking at the faint outline ahead.
“That’s right,” Jack said, pointing straight ahead, “but remember the conditions I just mentioned: you must complete all the steps before you can actually enter.”
After saying this, he took the lead and began the cracking work, while the others stood guard on the perimeter to ensure they were not attacked unexpectedly.
When the last rune stone was successfully pieced together, a flash of bright light appeared, and the entire scene changed. The previously enclosed space suddenly opened up, revealing a deep and winding path leading into the depths of the underground.
Just as everyone was preparing to step in one by one, they heard a low growl from behind them...
Xueyao suddenly turned around and shouted, "Everyone, hide quickly! It looks like something is following us!"
"Quick! Take cover!" Zhao De gave the order swiftly, and everyone tensed up. He directed the team to move closer to the nearest stone wall, using the natural environment for cover.
Arya drew her dagger and warily scanned her surroundings. "What is that? Did you hear that?" she whispered, but no one answered. Only Jack's fingers were still rapidly gesturing in the air, seemingly searching for a way to break the seal.
Just then, the roar rang out again, accompanied by the sound of leaves and branches being trampled, growing ever closer. Everyone's hearts nearly leaped out of their chests. Suddenly, a gigantic, jet-black claw appeared in their field of vision, followed by a pair of eyes flashing red—a monster exuding a black aura slowly emerged from the mist.
Zhao De said in a low voice, "Be prepared. If possible... don't confront them head-on." Although he said this, his hand had already quietly rested on the hilt of his sword behind his back. He would stand up without hesitation if anything threatened his companions.
Xueyao then pulled the terrified Lilia closer, offering her comfort and courage with a resolute look in her eyes. "It's alright, everything will be alright," she whispered softly in her ear.
With a series of rapid footsteps, the monster finally revealed its ferocious form. It was larger and more ferocious than expected, its body covered with strangely irregularly distributed runes. It was clearly extremely excited when it saw so many living, breathing flesh and blood in front of it.
Just as the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, Jack raised his hands high and shouted, "It's done!" As soon as he finished speaking, the void gate made of light suddenly opened to both sides, revealing a deep, dark path behind it. "Follow me, let's go in quickly!"