BXBX NOVEL Chapter 215 The Map in the Cave
Strange patterns and symbols appeared on the wall.
"What does this mean?" Prolo Hawthorne asked, staring at the images on the wall.
Leizor examined it carefully. "It looks like some sort of instructions, but I can\'t make sense of it."
Dean Bruce thought for a moment. "Maybe this has something to do with the headquarters of the black hole we\'re looking for."
"Could these patterns and symbols be a map?" Prolo Hawthorne speculated boldly.
Dean Bruce didn\'t respond but instead took a step closer.
The others followed, closing the distance as well.
They began to examine the patterns and symbols on the wall more closely.
After some careful observation, Dean Bruce realized that these patterns seemed to depict a complex route, while the text appeared to be mysterious annotations.
Nozer Hawthorne scratched his head. "This route is winding and curving, like it\'s leading through some kind of cave. But which cave is it?"
Leizor narrowed his eyes. "It seems like the text mentions a special marker. If we can find that marker, we\'ll know the exact location."
Prolo Hawthorne said excitedly, "That\'s great! Let\'s go find it!"
Dean Bruce furrowed his brow. "Hold on, don\'t rush. We don\'t know what dangers might be around here. If we act recklessly, we could end up in even bigger trouble."
At that moment, a chilling laugh echoed from outside the room.
The sound made their skin crawl.
"Who\'s there?" Dean Bruce shouted angrily.
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But there was no answer. The laughter abruptly stopped.
"This place is a little strange," Dean Bruce murmured, committing the patterns and text to memory. "We need to leave as soon as possible."
The others, equally startled by the eerie laugh, nodded in agreement.
They quickly followed Dean Bruce, walking behind him.
However, it wasn\'t long before the creepy, terrifying laugh sounded again.
This time.
It seemed to come from right beside them.
Prolo Hawthorne nervously looked around. "Professor, what\'s with the laughter? It feels like something\'s watching us."
Dean Bruce gripped the artifact tightly, scanning the surroundings with heightened alertness. "Everyone, stay calm. Keep close formation. Whatever it is, we cannot let it scare us."
Nozer Hawthorne swallowed nervously. "That laugh... it sounds like it was created by some kind of dark magic. Could it be a new trick from the dark forces?"
Leizor also spoke gravely. "It\'s very likely. We need to be cautious—there could be traps waiting for us."
The eerie laughter echoed, its source shifting, unpredictable. Suddenly, a black mist appeared ahead, within which dark shapes seemed to move.
"Not good, there\'s something up ahead!" Dean Bruce shouted.
As the shapes came into clearer view, it became evident that they were a group of strange, dark creatures. They had sharp claws and blood-red eyes, and their mouths emitted low, menacing growls.
"These are... Black-skinned Red Monkeys!" Leizor shouted in terror. "They\'re vicious, and their teeth are poisonous. If you get bitten, you\'re dead for sure."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the Black-skinned Red Monkeys charged at them.
Leizor immediately cast a spell to create a barrier in front of them and urged everyone to retreat.
Dean Bruce agreed, but insisted that Prolo Hawthorne and the others leave first.
He would stay behind with Leizor to deal with the Black-skinned Red Monkeys.
However, these creatures proved difficult to handle.
Not only were they ferocious, but they were also incredibly agile.
Dean Bruce swung the artifact to block the monkeys\' attacks while calling to Leizor, "Leizor, do you have a way to trap them?"
Leizor recited a spell as he answered, "I\'ll try a binding spell, but I\'m not sure how long it\'ll hold."
With a flick of his hands, a blue light shot toward the Black-skinned Red Monkeys. Several of them were engulfed by the light, momentarily immobilized.
"Quick, we need to move! The binding spell won\'t last long!" Leizor said urgently.
Dean Bruce and Leizor turned and ran toward the others. Behind them, they could hear the enraged roars of the Black-skinned Red Monkeys. The ones trapped by the spell were already struggling, on the verge of breaking free.
They caught up with Prolo Hawthorne and the others, continuing to sprint through the mysterious place. Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to tremble violently.
"What now? Is there another trap?" Nozer Hawthorne asked in panic.
Dean Bruce fought to steady his footing. "Everyone, be careful! Don\'t fall!"
Ahead of them, a massive crack appeared in the ground, and from it, molten lava erupted, filling the air with a sharp, acrid scent.
"How are we supposed to get across?" Prolo Hawthorne asked, looking at the crack with a troubled expression.
Dean Bruce scanned the area, noticing several large stones nearby. "Let\'s push those stones over here and use them to make a bridge. Let\'s see if we can get across that way."
The group worked together, pushing the stones toward the crack. However, just as they were about to finish constructing the bridge, the Black-skinned Red Monkeys caught up with them.
"These guys really don\'t know when to quit!" Dean Bruce said, a touch of frustration in his voice.
"Professor, let me hold them off. You guys cross the bridge first!" Prolo Hawthorne bravely stepped forward.
Dean Bruce hesitated for a moment. "Prolo, be careful!"
Prolo Hawthorne cast a spell he had recently mastered. Beams of light shot out, temporarily halting the Black-skinned Red Monkeys\' advance.
Dean Bruce and the others quickly crossed the stone bridge, calling out to Prolo Hawthorne on the other side, "Prolo, hurry up!"
While fending off the monkeys, Prolo Hawthorne stepped backward, waiting for the right moment. He made a leap, successfully clearing the crack and landing safely on the other side.
"Phew, that was close!" Prolo Hawthorne exhaled in relief.
"Prolo, are you okay?" Leizor asked with concern as he walked over.
Prolo Hawthorne shook his head. "I\'m fine. It was a bit too close for comfort, though. What should we do next?"
With that, everyone turned to Dean Bruce, waiting for him to make the call.
Dean Bruce looked at the group and said, "Let\'s rest here for a bit and go over the clues we\'ve gathered so far. Otherwise, we\'ll just be stumbling around blindly and end up in even more trouble."
The others nodded in agreement and sat down where they were. Dean Bruce closed his eyes, mentally replaying everything they had encountered so far as though it were a movie.
He muttered to himself, "The runes from the magical forest\'s circle, they\'re connected to the runes at the Duchy of Tanya\'s castle. Leizor said they look like a teleportation circle, but this place we\'ve arrived at is full of danger. Those patterns and symbols on the wall look like a map of a cave, but where is the cave? And that strange device… what exactly is it for?"
At that moment, Nozer Hawthorne spoke up. "Dean, do you think those Black-skinned Red Monkeys are guarding this place, preventing us from getting too close to some secret?"
Dean Bruce pondered for a moment. "It\'s possible. Typically, creatures like that don\'t just appear for no reason. And those sounds and shadows... It feels like something\'s controlling them from behind the scenes, not wanting us to get by."
Leizor added, "We need to be careful. There could be something even worse waiting for us next."
Dean Bruce stood up. "Whatever happens, we have to keep moving forward. I feel like the truth is just around the corner. That cave is definitely the key—if we find that special marker, we\'ll have a shot."
Just as the group was about to rise and continue their journey, Dean Bruce\'s communication crystal lit up. Krupp\'s urgent voice crackled through: "Dean, we\'re in a strange valley, trapped by the dark forces. There are dark magic traps everywhere, and my people can barely hold on. You\'ve got to come quickly, or we\'re finished!"
Dean Bruce\'s expression darkened. "Krupp, hold on, send me your coordinates. We\'ll be there soon!"
He turned to the others. "Krupp\'s in trouble, we need to go help him. Get ready, this isn\'t going to be easy."
"I don\'t think we should do that," Leizor immediately disagreed.
Dean Bruce looked at him. "Why not?"
"We\'ve come this far," Leizor said. "If we turn back now, it\'ll all have been for nothing. Dean, I think we should keep moving forward. Or, we could split up. One group continues ahead, while the other goes to rescue Krupp. What do you think?"
"Alright," Dean Bruce agreed after a moment of thought. "You\'re right. I\'ll take Prolo Hawthorne to save Krupp. The rest of you can keep moving forward with Leizor."
Dean Bruce, with Prolo Hawthorne at his side, hurried to follow the coordinates Krupp had sent.
They navigated through a dark, eerie forest, where the trees were tall and twisted, their branches so thick that little sunlight could filter through. The ground was covered in a thick layer of decaying leaves, giving off a pungent, rotten smell.
"Professor, this place gives off a really creepy vibe."
Prolo Hawthorne said, frowning, his magic wand tightly gripped in his hand, faintly glowing.
"Stay focused and stay alert."
Dean Bruce replied, his face grim. The artifact in his hand seemed to sense the danger, subtly vibrating.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from all directions, growing louder and closer.
"Be careful, something\'s coming!" Dean Bruce shouted.
A group of ghostly, black creatures emerged from the trees, their forms ethereal, with eyes glowing a sinister green. As soon as the shadowy beasts appeared, they bared their fangs and claws, lunging toward them.
Dean Bruce quickly swung the artifact, sending a burst of golden light that pushed the approaching creatures back.
"Prolo, use your magic to target their weak spot! Their core should be in the middle of that ghostly glow!" Dean Bruce ordered.
Prolo Hawthorne immediately complied, chanting a spell. "Starburst Light, Break the Evil Ray!"
Beams of white light shot out, striking the central glow of several shadowy creatures. They shrieked in pain and dissolved into thin air.
But the shadowy creatures were relentless, and for every wave that was repelled, another wave emerged.
"We can\'t keep this up!" Dean Bruce shouted as he continued to fend off the creatures. "We need to break through!"