Chapter 49: Exploration of the Whispering Expanse
The trio stood in solemn silence for a few moments after parting with the humanoid being from the Vatu Tribe. His tale still lingered in their thoughts—a story of despair, survival, and relentless struggle. With a final glance back, Elton, Zoro, and Ramiro pressed forward through the whispering paths of the underground expanse.
As they walked, the scenery gradually changed. Glowing fungi and strange vines clung to the rocky walls. The air became thick with natural energy, yet twisted—almost artificial. Strange herbs grew in abundance along the rocky ledges, and glittering mineral clusters jutted out of the ground like jagged teeth.
"What the hell is that one?" Ramiro pointed to a blue-veined mushroom pulsing faintly.
"No idea," Elton replied, kneeling beside it. "But it's giving off a mild essence signature. Might be alchemical. Let's take it."
The three boys spent some time gathering what they could, picking up exotic plants and shimmering rocks that might later be appraised and placing them into their storage pouches. Zoro, as always, stayed alert, eyes scanning the terrain.
They weren't far from resuming their journey when a thin figure stepped into their path. Gaunt, wearing torn leather and rusted shackles, the man grinned with rotting teeth. A dull dagger hung limply from his grip.
"Three fat lambs... little boys, wandering alone, eh? Drop the packs and I won't stab you more than once."
Zoro didn't even blink. In a flash, his katana's cold steel pressed against the man's throat. The thief froze, the blade so close he could feel the pulse of death.
Elton raised his hand. "Zoro, let him go."
The blade stayed.
"Listen, rat. If you ever try something this dumb again, I won't stop him next time. Understand?"
The thief nodded so hard his shackles clanked. He stumbled backward and bolted into the darkness, feet slipping, Ramiro laughing behind him.
"These underground rats are bold," Ramiro said, shouldering his spear again.
Two hours passed. The quiet hum of the underground world shifted into a distant roar—the unmistakable sound of battle.
"That sounds... bad," Elton muttered.
They crept closer, eventually finding a vantage point over a blood-soaked clearing. Two factions of humanoid beings clashed with feral intensity. The leaders of each side stood out like war gods among men.
One was a monstrous, towering brute with purple skin and a barrel chest covered in matted brown hair. His armor looked like scraps hammered together, and his weapon was a massive, rusted mallet.
The other was a lean, grey-skinned warrior, fanged and wild, with sharp nails and a mane of white hair. He wore only a loincloth, but his aura was deadly.
Despite the shackles on their necks, both leaders fought with strength that shook the ground. Around them, warriors on both sides screamed, bled, and died.
Then someone noticed the boys.
"Intruders!" one shouted, pointing. The fighting slowed, and all eyes turned.
A higher-ranking warrior from the purple-skinned brute's side stepped forward.
"Who are you, children? Scouts from another faction? Spies?"
"We're just passing through," Elton said, hands raised, calm but wary.
"Passing through a battlefield? Ha! More like waiting to strike while we weaken each other," sneered another.
Ramiro rolled his eyes. "You people are insane. We don't want anything to do with you or your nonsense."
But the factions weren't listening. They began slowly surrounding the trio.
Zoro exhaled. His dark Ki surged outward, a wave of killing intent crashing over the battlefield. Warriors froze. Even some of the leaders' lieutenants flinched.
Then came the realization: no shackles. The boys were unbound.
"They're not wearing shackles! Are they children born of this place..?"
"No, they must be from the surface... young geniuses!"
That made them even more dangerous in their eyes.
The encirclement tightened.
Then the roar came.
From deeper in the caverns, dozens of beasts thundered forward. Hulking creatures with jagged horns, thick hides, and furious eyes. And running with them were sleek figures—demi-humans with leopard features, moving with terrifying grace.
The two Gold-tier leaders snarled, glaring at each other with hatred and frustration.
"Damn it... other factions!"
"Kill the surface brats first! Quick!"
The order was given.
Elton stepped forward, his glowing blue longsword humming to life, stars flickering across its blade. His stance was firm, eyes calm.
Ramiro laughed, spinning his spear as lightning danced across it.
Zoro said nothing.
His katana was drawn halfway, his dark aura thicker than ever, eyes gleaming with silent promise.
The battlefield exploded.
A tense silence hovered as dozens of eyes fixated on Elton's group. Just as a warrior lunged forward, Zoro vanished into a blur.
"Two Sword Style: Black Shadows Decapitation," he whispered.
A sharp shhhk! echoed. The attacker's head flew through the air, leaving behind a dark mist trailing from the neck. Panic erupted. Before the shock could settle, Zoro appeared behind another, slicing cleanly through the neck. The severed head hit the dirt with a thud, followed by the clattering of shackles—then, BOOM! Explosions rang out as the fallen warriors' chains detonated, releasing stored energy into the surroundings.
The chaotic impact threw dust and fear into the air. Even the Silver-Tiers paused, their instincts screaming danger.
"Tch... what was that speed?" one muttered.
A deep, coarse laughter erupted nearby. A tall, muscular Leopard Demi-Human stood with wild confidence, his yellow eyes gleaming.
"You two mutts and your little gangs have bled long enough," he growled, pointing his clawed hand. "This land belongs to us now! We'll be taking your heads!"
Behind him, a wave of agile Demi-Humans charged alongside a stampede of snarling Beasts.
"Damn them!" roared the purple-skinned leader.
"You think we'll let you overrun us?!" shouted the grey-skinned brute, fangs dripping blood.
The battlefield erupted into total chaos.
Demi-Human Leopard warriors clashed with grey-skinned soldiers, while the purple faction formed makeshift lines to hold off the beasts. The ground shook with the movement of hundreds, and in the center of it all stood Elton's group—fighting back to back.
"Ramiro, Zoro—defensive formation!" Elton ordered.
Zoro grunted, already slashing through two incoming grey-skinned attackers. Ramiro slammed his spear into the ground and then charged a skill.
"Embestida Mordaz del Dragón!"
A golden ripple of energy surged forward as he pierced through seven enemies in a single charge. The impact caused an implosion, throwing bodies into the air.
Zoro followed up: "Two Sword Style: Black Burning Impact!"
Dark Ki ignited his blades as he cut through four beasts, then spun mid-air to send a fiery arc crashing into two warriors. They screamed, gashes running deep as they collapsed.
Elton exhaled, activating his lightning. White bolts sparked from his shoulders to his blade. His figure blurred into motion, zipping past multiple enemies.
One, two, three—ten figures fell to the ground groaning, cuts and bruises covering them. Not a single one was killed.
"He's holding back?!" gasped a Silver-Tier from the grey-skinned faction.
"These boys aren't shackled... they're not from here!" yelled a Leopard demi human.
Whispers turned to shouts. "Surface dwellers! Geniuses from the cities above! Kill them now before they escape!"
The Leopard Demi-Humans grew cautious. Their leader's gaze narrowed.
"This is bad," Elton muttered, landing beside Zoro and Ramiro.
Ramiro spat. "No kidding."
"We need to move. There's too many enemies. We'll use the chaos. Zigzag pattern, break out through the east line—"
A thunderous roar drowned him out. The strongest beast—a tusked monstrosity glowing with Gold Tier might—charged the center of the field, aiming to crush anything in its path.
The two humanoid leaders momentarily allied, clashing against it and the Leopard Demi-Human leader.
The battlefield turned into a slaughterhouse.
Elton's group darted through the opening chaos, aiming to escape the maelstrom.
Authors Note:
Embestida Mordaz del Dragón en Carga generally means:
"The dragon's sharp/biting charge" or "The sharp/biting charge of the dragon, while it is charging."
It emphasizes the dragon's powerful forward movement ("embestida") combined with the dangerous nature of its bite ("mordaz") happening during the act of charging ("en carga"). It paints a picture of a dragon rushing forward with a fierce, piercing bite.