e-booksonline Chapter 125 Success!
Chapter 125 Success!
Chapter 125 Success!
Despite the excruciating pain in his head caused by simultaneously performing high-intensity energy simulation and precise stellar power manipulation, Luo Lin reached out and accurately caught the flying star core embers in his palm.
The warm, smooth surface instantly released a surge of powerful and stable energy into his body, invigorating him and restoring much of his energy reserves.
Success! Retreat immediately!
Without the slightest hesitation, Rowling turned and ran!
Push your speed to the limit and race up the spiral staircase you came from!
"Stop him! Take back the treasure!"
Behind them came the furious roars of wizards and the booming sounds of spells erupting!
A blazing fireball, sharp wind blades, and energy rays with tracking lock-on all rushed toward Rolin's back like a storm!
Without turning his head, Luo Lin pushed the fluid deflection properties of the [Starflow Aquatic Field] to their limit, constantly changing direction and using the narrow staircases and ruins as cover to narrowly avoid most of the attacks.
A few attacks grazed past, but were blocked by the enhanced protective suit and his own energy resistance, though the impact still made his blood surge.
They rushed back to the damaged opening in the tower, where the battle on the lakeside outside seemed to have reached a fever pitch.
Flame Shield, bearing several scorch marks, was locked in combat with the sinister second-ring wizard. However, the gap between the two was like an insurmountable chasm, and Flame Shield could only passively take the hits. The collision between the tower shield and the staff produced a deafening roar.
Nightingale, like a butterfly flitting among flowers, darted between the smoke and rocks, using crossbow bolts and daggers to restrain another second-ring witch and the remaining first-ring wizards.
Several soldiers from Yaoyan City have already fallen, and the remaining ones are struggling to hold on.
The situation appears to be at a stalemate, but it is actually one-sided. The gap between first-ring and second-ring wizards cannot be bridged by sheer numbers.
The sudden appearance of Rolin, along with the three Ash Ring wizards who were relentlessly pursuing him and acting like madmen, caused a momentary stagnation on the battlefield.
"Got the goods! Let's go!"
With a roar of all his might, Rolin threw the last powerful flashbang he had prepared towards the pursuers!
A blinding white light exploded again!
The Ash Ring Wizard, who was chasing in the lead, was caught off guard. His vision went white, and his movements slowed down.
Upon hearing this, Flame Shield and Nightingale were greatly encouraged!
With a powerful shield strike, Flame Shield forced his opponent back and then leaped towards the rocks by the lake.
Nightingale also threw out a few smoke bombs and retreated quickly.
Rolin jumped onto the first rock first, followed closely by Flame Shield and Nightingale.
Ignoring their disheveled state, the three leaped repeatedly across the scorching rocks, desperately fleeing towards the shore.
Behind him, the Ash Ring wizard's roar and relentless pursuit spells clung to him like a poisonous wound.
The lava lake seemed to be enraged, unleashing even higher waves and spewing out dark purple pillars of fire haphazardly, making it even more dangerous.
Finally, the three of them scrambled back to the shore.
Upon seeing this, the squad leader immediately ordered the remaining soldiers to step forward and form a final defensive line with their shields to block the pursuers.
"Go! Get out of here immediately!"
"Rolin shouted hoarsely, feeling as if his lungs were on fire," he said.
Without any further ado, the seven or eight remaining members of the exploration team, supporting the wounded, desperately retreated towards the top of the mine pit along the passage they had come from.
The wizards of the Ash Ring chased to the shore, watching the figure quickly disappear into the darkness of the passage. However, considering the riot at the lava lake and the possible arrival of a large native army, they ultimately did not pursue further, only letting out unwilling roars.
They ran wildly until they were completely away from that terrifying underground space and back in the relatively safe middle layer of the mine, only then did they dare to stop and catch their breath.
The soldiers suffered heavy losses; of the twenty elite soldiers, only nine remained, and all of them were wounded, their soul flames dimmed.
The slave miners, however, were all hidden in the back and none of them were missing.
Flame Shield and Nightingale were also injured and their mana was greatly depleted.
But as Roland held the warm, dark gold crystal in his hand, feeling the vast and stable energy within it, he felt that all the adventures had been worthwhile.
Star Core Embers, obtained!
However, trouble soon followed.
The Ring of Ashes will not let this go. Having lost a key target, they will surely retaliate fiercely.
Moreover, this conflict also completely exposed their contradictions with the Ash Ring to the natives.
We must return to Radiant Rock City as soon as possible to report to Lord Karug and discuss countermeasures.
At the same time, we should also think about how to make use of this valuable material, whether to complete the task or to improve our own capabilities.
The atmosphere was oppressive and heavy on the way back to Yaoyan City.
The soldiers silently supported the wounded, their spirits flickering, filled with the shock of surviving a catastrophe and the grief of losing their comrades.
Flame Shield and Nightingale also kept silent, taking the time to adjust their breathing and recover.
Luo Lin carefully concealed the embers of the star core close to his body. The warm, smooth crystal seemed to have a life of its own, continuously emitting a stable and restrained energy that nourished his nearly depleted spirit and magical power, even easing the burning pain in his back.
But this treasure is a hot potato right now, and it absolutely cannot be shown to anyone easily.
Upon entering the fortress, they were immediately brought before Lord Karug.
The civil official had already reported the general situation. When he saw the surviving, battered exploration team, especially the heavy losses of the soldiers, the white soul fire in Karug's eyes suddenly rose, and the temperature in the entire hall seemed to rise a few degrees.
"Tell me! What exactly happened?!"
His voice was like two boulders rubbing together, filled with suppressed anger.
Luo Lin stepped forward, bowed slightly, and began to narrate in a deliberately hoarse and tired voice.
He omitted the part about the star core embers, only saying that a huge dark purple lava lake was discovered deep in the mine, with an ancient ruin in the center of the lake, and that the wizards of the Ash Ring had already set up a camp next to the ruin, seemingly trying to decipher it.
After the two sides encountered each other, a fierce battle broke out. The enemy was numerous and powerful. Relying on the terrain, the exploration team was no match for them and suffered heavy losses before being forced to retreat.
"—Those outsiders were extremely arrogant, claiming that the ruins and the entire land should belong to them."
Rowling concluded by saying that the conflict was deliberately escalated.
"The magic they use is aggressive, completely different from our fire, and carries a scent of decay and chaos."
After listening, Karug remained silent for a long time, his fingers unconsciously tapping the metal armrest, producing a dull sound.
The loss of eleven elite soldiers was no small matter for him, a frontier lord.
What's more troublesome is that these outsiders, known as the Ash Ring, have already penetrated deep into the heart of the empire and even occupied an ancient ruin.
"That tower—did you see it clearly? Are you sure it's an ancient relic?"
Karug asked slowly.
"Yes, my lord."
"The tower's style is very ancient, completely different from the existing buildings in the empire, and the runes on it have never been seen before."
The people of the Ash Ring seem to value it highly.
The Flame Shield interface spoke with certainty.
"Ancient Relics — The Infernal Observation Tower —"
Karug repeated in a low voice, his soul fire flickering in his eyes, as if he were recalling something.
"The ancient scrolls of the royal court seem to mention traces left by extraterrestrial observers in ancient times—could these be the towers?"
Observers from outer space?
A thought struck Rolin: this might be related to the legend of the Star Core Ember.