Lyrian made his way back to the spot where they had initially fallen into the vast cavern. It was evident to him now that the purple gem he carried was also shattered, but fortunately, its adverse effects were no longer present.
Upon his return, Alten greeted him with a sarcastic remark, "Did you have a pleasant bathroom break?" He chuckled at his own joke.
Ignoring Alten's jest, Lyrian focused on the task at hand, "How do we find a way out of here?"
Alten had already co up with an idea, "We can't go back the way we ca, but if everyone else entered through holes within the pools, it's likely our way out lies there as well, don't you think?"
Opting to give it a try, they ventured into the warm pools, and imdiately, a sense of rejuvenation washed over their bodies. To their astonishnt, even the small scratches and wounds on their skin seed to heal rapidly, one after the other.
The water was so pure and fresh that they could comfortably open their eyes underwater, the clarity akin to crystal. It didn't take long for Lyrian to spot a small tunnel a little further down in the pond.
With Alten and Leon in tow, Lyrian led the way into the tunnel, which asured about 3 by 3 feet and was illuminated by several colorful crystals. As they swam forward, they discovered that so kind of flowing current propelled them at significantly faster speeds, sparing them from the need to hold their breath for extended periods.
Within just half a minute, Lyrian managed to lift his head above the water's surface. As he surveyed the surroundings, he observed that they were in what appeared to be a regular cave pathway, resembling the ones they encountered earlier, but this one had a pond located at what seed to be a dead end. However, considering the information they possessed, it now appeared that the pond was, in fact, their intended destination.
ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Erging from the water, they discovered a small pedestal nearby. Approaching it, they noticed that there were about ten bands on it. Curious, each of them picked one and placed it on their wrists. To their amazent, as the bands settled on their arms, they transford into a radiant red aura and assimilated into their bodies.
Alten was the first to react, exclaiming, "Oh, wait! Is this like the gems? Are we being weakened again!?" Concern crept into his voice.
But upon closer inspection, the truth beca evident. Instead of weakening them, the bands granted them a beneficial effect.
[Strength 5%]
[Effect Tir: 8 days, 6 hours]
Observing the tir, Lyrian pondered, 'Ah, it's a countdown to the end of the exam... Did everyone else receive these bands before entering the final boss room? We missed out since we took the unconventional path.'
"Hey, I feel noticeably stronger," Alten exclaid suddenly, and Leon also sensed the difference.
"Yeah, it's probably granting us a 5 percent boost in strength," Lyrian remarked, the others nodding in agreent as the idea seed plausible.
Curiosity struck Lyrian as he realized there were seven more bands available. An idea sparked, and he decided to try wearing all of them at once. As he adorned his wrist with the remaining bands, to his disappointnt, they instantly vanished from his arm and reappeared back on the pedestal. Attempting once more, he faced the sa outco. "Well, it was worth a shot," he shrugged.
With their brief exploration concluded, the trio decided to depart from the cave. They traversed without pausing, making their way out for the rest of the day. Thankfully, Alten still held the map they had obtained earlier, and it efficiently guided them toward the exit from their current location as well.
***
After a grueling six-hour trek through the labyrinthine passages of Flatstone Mountain, they finally erged from the intricate cave system. As they stepped into the open air, they couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and accomplishnt, knowing they had conquered the treacherous depths.
As they stood beneath the vast midnight sky, it felt as though they were enveloped in a deep, dark ocean of ink, punctuated by the shimring brilliance of countless stars. The moon, veiled intermittently by wispy clouds, emitted a subdued, silvery radiance that added an ethereal touch to the scene. Its soft light spilled over the rough and uneven landscape, giving rise to a mysterious ambiance.
As they looked around, they noticed a striking difference in the landscape compared to the entrance they had initially ventured through. The rugged terrain seed unfamiliar and unexplored, adding an elent of uncertainty to their situation.
A foul stench pervaded the air, tingling their senses with its repugnance. Curiosity mixed with apprehension drove them to investigate the source of the putrid odor. To their dismay, they discovered the rotting corpse of a colossal creature lying in the distance. The sheer size of the carcass led them to conclude that it was indeed the fire guardian that Alten speculated.
With midnight approaching, the darkness intensified the eerie atmosphere around them. The exhaustion from a full day of physically demanding travel weighed heavily on their bodies and minds. Yet, they couldn't rest here, not near the grueso sight of the decaying guardian.
Summoning the last of their energy, they trudged away from the foul-slling remains, seeking a more secluded and peaceful spot to rest. Finally, they stumbled upon a small clearing shielded by rock formations. Despite the lack of comfort and the gnawing feeling of unease, they decided it was the best they could find.
"What is the day..." Alten said, his tone extrely tired.
"It's the 21st, soon to be the 22nd," Lyrian replied.
Leon was slightly taken aback by this, "So... we did all of that in a re day?"
Hearing this, Alten also asked, "How many cores did Hashus have?"
Leon answered, pulling out the pouch, "No clue, but here you go." He deposited it to Alten.
Settling down, they scarcely bothered to set up their tents properly. The weariness took hold, and before they knew it, they succumbed to sleep almost instantly.
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