Seris's pale face had turned slightly rosy. She had recovered a bit from the Sandbone Scorpion poison, and her movement was no longer sluggish.
Walking deeper inside the tunnel, she had grown acquainted with Thoren.
"So, this is your second day in the abyss?" she asked, staring at him with wide eyes.
To reach her current level, she had spent more than a week grinding every day and risking her life to fight a powerful beast.
Many praised her rapid growth.
However, compared to the boy beside her, her speed seemed negligible. She would have been fine if she had measured herself against him, but now her expression could not help but turn unsightly.
"Yes…" Thoren nodded, his eyes fixed on the dark, endless tunnel ahead.
"What do you know about the dark tide?" he asked.
When Seris heard about the Dark Tide, her expression turned grave. She remembered her first experience with it and could not help but shiver.
"Terrifying. I almost died during my first encounter," her voice trembled. "Like everyone else, I know little about it. No one knows the source."
Thoren nodded in agreement. He realized what the girl from the inn had said was mostly true.
"But I heard it can be avoided…" she added after some thought.
"Really?" He turned and looked at her. He was not worried about the Dark Tide; he was simply curious to uncover the truth behind it.
"Yes, but I don't know. It's like a huge secret, and those above level 10 awakened know about it," she said before shifting the topic.
"We're almost there…," she whispered, tensing up. "Less than 50 meters from here, you take the left tunnel. You will enter the range of Level 7 and Level 8 beasts."
She turned and looked at him. "Be careful. I'll need to go back and treat my injury."
"Thank you," Thoren said gratefully.
He could have found the location, but it wouldn't have been easy. The Shadow Cave was too complicated, hundreds of tunnels that looked alike.
A single missed turn would lead to a completely different location.
"It's nothing. You saved my life, and I'm yet to thank you properly for that," she said seriously and departed.
Her thoughts might be simple, but she was not foolish. With her injury, if others found her, they might save her for selfish reasons.
And if that were to happen, she would rather end her life than be used as someone else's plaything.
Thoren did not dwell on Seris's departure; he had already focused his attention on the next battle.
Ace Number 1, Number 2, and Number 3 stood at the forefront, while the three other skeletons, close to reaching Level 5, trailed behind.
"Let's see if I can push myself to Level 8 or 9," he muttered, his eyes alight with battle spirit.
With his skeletons, he walked through the dark, quiet tunnel and took the left turn after advancing 50 meters.
A massive tunnel appeared to their left, and he stepped in confidently. The tunnel was so wide that tens of people could walk side by side without touching one another.
As he walked deeper, he felt an imposing presence settle over him. Every hair on his body prickled, and he tightened his grip on his iron-grade weapon.
Whoosh!
He summoned ten Level 6 skeletons.
[Sandbone Scorpion Skeleton]
[Level 6]
[Attributes: Strength 21, Constitution 14, Agility 10, Intelligence 2]
[Trait: Soul Fire]
With the ten Level 6 skeletons, Thoren grew confident. With this line-up, he did not believe he would fail to take down a Level 8 beast.
He continued deeper, and the air grew solemn; he could hear the sharp howl of wind in the distance.
Shriek!
At a corner of the tunnel, two orbs glowed brightly, staring in his direction. He halted in his tracks and studied the two orbs for a moment, the corner of his lips curling upward.
He could smell fresh human blood in the air, and the shattering of bones emanating from the orbs told him the beast was feasting.
Now that all his summons could understand a basic introduction, he could plan the battle efficiently. Previously, his skeletons killed through sheer numbers and fearless aggression.
But now…
He commanded all his Ace Skeletons to split into two groups—right and left—while he ordered the ten skeletons to form a U shape.
This tactic covered the beast from all angles.
His plan was simple: attack from all sides.
Feeling the strange movement of the beast in the shadows, it could not continue its feast and let out a furious shriek.
It rose to its feet and stepped forward majestically. It was massive and intimidating.
A suffocation pressure descended into the quiet tunnel.
[Sandbone Scorpion]
[Level 8]
[Attributes: Strength 32, Constitution 21, Agility 15, Spirit 2]
[Trait: Bone Carapace – increases defense by 10%; Tail Strike causes Paralysis]
Looking at the beast's information, Thoren furrowed his brow, a deep frown appearing on his face.
He had expected to face a Level 7 beast, but what he encountered was far more powerful. He would have escaped if he were any other awakener, but he was not.
With ten Level 6 skeletons and his Ace Skeletons lying in wait, he could not see how everything would unfold.
Howl!
Watching the puny skeletons stand unflinching in its presence, the Sandbone Scorpion roared in fury and charged forward.
****
[AN: Please support this book with your power stones. Thanks.]