Chapter 17: Terror in the Abandoned Mine (Part 3)

Li Qiuchen in the outside world was still completely unaware of what was happening inside the dream.

The cave was dark and damp, with many areas apparently collapsed due to explosive blasts, but fortunately there was still enough space to move forward.

Li Qiuchen lowered his head, trying to pick up a stone for self-defense.

Without a word, Jocelyn handed him a Kitchen Boning Knife.

The two nodded to each other and continued forward.

As they gradually moved deeper along the tracks, the sound of dripping water became exceptionally clear in the silence.

Rusty tools and unidentifiable animal remains scattered on the ground kept everyone’s nerves taut.

A sudden burning sensation appeared on Li Qiuchen’s chest, making him halt abruptly.

It was a [Warning] from the Zhesi Gem.

“Stop!”

Li Qiuchen’s voice was short and forceful.

All four immediately froze in place.

The [Warning] from the Zhesi Gem was a reminder triggered by using the Appraisal Technique to probe subtle changes in the environment.

If it was a complete gem, it would have directly identified the problem.

Unfortunately, what he possessed now was only a faint echo.

His gaze swept the surroundings—walls to the left and right, darkness stretching both ahead and behind, and solid coal ground beneath his feet.

The Zhesi Gem had definitely detected something.

Maybe a shift in light and shadow.

Maybe the sound of an extra breath.

Where?

In the tunnel, only the heavy breathing of the four remained.

As a droplet fell to the ground with a crisp sound, Li Qiuchen suddenly realized—this wasn’t water at all.

It was saliva dripping from something hanging upside down from the ceiling, slowly approaching.

“Dodge!”

He shoved Naili beside him, while Jocelyn rolled with Kaili to the other side.

Three terrifying figures crashed down from the tunnel ceiling, smashing huge dents into the spot where the four had just stood.

Dust filled the air.

In the dim light, Li Qiuchen pressed down on Naili behind him, while Jocelyn quickly grabbed a piece of Destruction Armor.

The armor rapidly unfolded and locked in place.

In the blink of an eye, the three figures charged forward.

Naili swung her dagger wildly, her eyes full of terror.

At that moment, Kaili’s resolute eyes blazed like fire in the darkness.

Her Knight’s Longsword flashed out with lethal force, clashing against the monster’s arm with a metallic ring.

Kaili deflected the blow, sweeping her sword in a graceful arc of sword energy.

The three figures nimbly dodged, and the sword energy swept away the dust.

The Illumination Crystal in Kaili’s hand revealed the true forms of the Ghost Shadows.

The tattered clothes on the three hinted they were once traveling merchants.

Their arms were rotten to the bone, thin layers of Magic Corruption covering their flesh, faces shriveled, eye sockets hollow, and razor-sharp bone claws pressed silently against their legs.

“Ah…”

Naili stared at the bizarre scene before her, too shocked even to scream.

Kaili’s expression grew grave.

“Contaminated by Dark Energy.”

She had suspected Magic Corruption, but the blood-drained horse had distracted her.

She never expected to find three of them here, nor knew if higher-level monsters lurked beyond.

But after a moment’s pause, the three Ghost Shadows seemed to receive some command.

They suddenly charged, their bone claws slicing through the air.

Their movements were swift and coordinated.

Kaili didn’t even have time to chant a spell.

“Come!”

Kaili shouted, raising her sword.

The blade flashed in the darkness like an umbrella, as if trying to hold off all three attackers alone.

Long, grueling training allowed her to track each blow even in the gloom.

The sweat shed in the Temple’s training grounds now rewarded her efforts.

She crouched low to reduce her profile, minimizing her target.

Even in an ambush, her defense was flawless.

The air rang with metallic clangs and sparks, illuminating the determined profile of the young Valkyrie.

But within only ten breaths, a bone claw, as if guided by a master puppeteer, twisted at a strange angle, slipping past the Knight’s Longsword’s guard and thrusting straight at Kaili’s chest.

She was going to die.

Unprepared.

Chant interrupted.

Arrogance.

The priest had warned her countless times.

In a flash, a flood of thoughts surged through Kaili’s mind.

She understood clearly—this wasn’t training.

The thing stabbing at her wasn’t a wooden stick, but a deadly weapon.

What if she tried a little harder?

She couldn’t help but think.

At that moment, the shattered Zhesi Gem within Li Qiuchen finally began to function.

Slowly and sluggishly, but enough to push him into the Perception state.

Everything slowed.

He saw Naili curled up, clutching a silver dagger, her fingers whitening.

Jocelyn hesitated, searching for a chance without magic or the Fire of Destruction—relying only on instinct.

He saw Kaili’s sword slash open the enemy.

Her eyes fixed on the deadly bone claw aimed at her chest, face twisted in despair and unwillingness.

Regrettably, he was too late.

No matter what, he couldn’t make it in time.

Perception didn’t truly slow or stop time.

It only stimulated his nerves, making his thoughts several times sharper, giving him more room to think.

If he was at his peak, his body could keep up with his mind, and he could have saved Kaili.

But now, he was just a tavern helper.

Perhaps…

He suddenly remembered the Forest Mark at his abdomen.

The crisp breath of the forest responded to his need.

In fact, any of the marks would answer him instantly.

The world truly slowed down.

He could move freely.

The Wind Element Hestia Shadowsong favored surged through the mark, flooding him with endless magic.

This time, it was enough.

Like teleportation, Li Qiuchen appeared at Kaili’s side.

He gripped the Kitchen Boning Knife with both hands, precisely blocking the bone claw.

The Wind Element faded.

The claw aimed at her chest was somehow diverted, striking with a ringing clash as sparks flew.

Li Qiuchen’s hands trembled from the force, the knife nearly knocked away, but the deadly blow was deflected.

Kaili drove back the infected creature, staring down at Li Qiuchen, who still held the blade that had shielded her.

When did he get here?

Had he always been there?

Kaili gasped, survivor’s relief flooding her.

Her left hand pressed the sword blade, and the blood smeared across it slowly turned gold with her chant.

“Goddess of War above, may glory and courage be eternal.”

Jocelyn, clad in armor, met Li Qiuchen’s gaze.

Yes.

She was from the Temple of the War God.

Shouts from the Patrol Squad echoed outside the mine.

The three infected grew restless.

“Again!”

This time, it was Kaili who charged.

Her sword flashed like lightning, an arcing blade of energy forcing the three infected back.

The sword light barely grazed the rightmost one, leaving a deep gash.

She instantly targeted the wounded one, swinging down with force.

The infected tried to block, but could only raise both arms against the blow.

“Clang—!”

The impact of steel echoed down the tunnel.

Golden light shimmered along Kaili’s blade, crackling as it bit through the Magic Corruption and into bone.

Kaili pressed all her strength into the strike.

The other two infected turned and fled deeper into the tunnel.

“Jocelyn, now!”

Li Qiuchen shouted.

Jocelyn, armored like a mountain, pressed down on the infected trapped by Kaili.

The creature howled, thrashing to break free.

Li Qiuchen was thrown aside by the force, and even Jocelyn’s heavy armor struggled to contain it.

Naili forced herself up, biting down on her silver teeth and throwing herself on top of Jocelyn, pinning the creature beneath.

Its strength was terrifying, still writhing madly.

Li Qiuchen raised the Kitchen Boning Knife and stabbed downward, driving the blade through its injured right arm and pinning it to the ground.

Kaili, following his lead, used the Knight’s Longsword to nail its other arm down.

The Patrol Squad’s torches approached, light flooding the tunnel.

Jocelyn retracted the Destruction Armor, the massive metal shrinking back into an iron block.

The four collapsed to the ground, soaked in sweat, finally relieved.