CH373 - CH374

CH373


Even as Helag was tossed around, he held onto the dagger tightly.

The giant worm hadn’t expected its prey to be so troublesome.

No matter how it thrashed or swallowed, Helag wouldn’t go down.

After struggling, the worm seemed to give up, letting Helag remain.

But soon, Helag realized the worm’s intent.

It began swallowing dirt and rocks, which rained down on Helag.

In Titan form, the rocks didn’t harm him.

The worm continued swallowing, creating a mudslide.

Helag held firm, resisting the onslaught.

Eventually, the worm stopped, unable to consume more.

Despite its efforts, Helag remained.

The worm resumed its underground roaming, destination unknown.

Helag couldn’t let it wander aimlessly, unsure where it might take him.

But controlling it seemed impossible…

Helag considered using the Elven spell, All Things Have Spirits, to communicate.

He tried, channeling magic into the worm’s tissue: “Take me to the surface.”

The worm received the message but ignored it, continuing its journey.

Helag sensed the worm understood but didn’t respond.

“Looks like I’ll need to persuade it…”

Helag conjured a fireball, launching it at the worm’s tissue.

The fireball exploded, leaving a burn mark.

The worm growled in pain.

Helag was unsatisfied with the fireball’s effect.

The worm’s internal defenses were strong; a basic fireball barely singled it.

“I’ll need the World Tree Bow.”

Last time, Helag used the bow to injure the worm.

Conventional spells were ineffective; the bow’s arrows were more potent.

But with one hand on the dagger, using the bow was tricky.

Helag gripped the dagger with his right hand, retrieving the bow with his left.

He brought the bow to his mouth, using his teeth to pull the string.

A green arrow formed; Helag released the string with his teeth, sending the arrow flying.

The arrow vanished, reappearing at the tissue, exploding and scattering flesh.

The blast created a bloody crater, blood oozing out, with bits of flesh clinging around.

The explosion caused the worm immense pain, prompting a loud wail and violent thrashing.

Helag held tight to the dagger and bow.

Losing the bow would be a significant loss.

The worm’s frenzy lasted half an hour before it calmed.

Even Helag, with his resilience, felt dizzy from the ride.

The worm seemed exhausted, its speed reduced.

Seizing the moment, Helag negotiated: “Take me to the surface, and I’ll spare you. Otherwise, I’ll kill you from within.”

The worm paused, then responded: “Okay… okay…”

The message, transmitted through the spell, wasn’t in any language.

Helag instructed, “Head to the surface.”

Deep underground, Helag felt unsafe.

If the worm were smart, it would know Helag couldn’t kill it.

If the worm died, Helag would be trapped, relying on the worm to reach the surface.

The worm, lacking complex thought, wanted to avoid pain.

It moved toward the surface, quickly ascending.

Helag hung from the dagger, holding on tightly.

In ten minutes, the worm surfaced, opening its mouth for Helag.

Seeing the light, Helag paused, not rushing out.

Using Deep Blue, he scanned the area, finding barren hills and no creatures, seemingly safe.

Helag considered the worm’s interior, forming an idea.

He pressed the tissue: “Go back underground, head east.”

Helag realized the worm was a convenient high-speed train, worth utilizing.

The worm hesitated, confused.

Through the spell, Helag sensed its emotions.

The worm felt conflicted, unable to understand Helag’s change of heart.

“Keep going east; I’ll leave when we arrive,” Helag instructed.

The worm growled softly, displeased.

But the pain lingered, compelling it to comply, dive underground and heading east.

Helag checked the stars, confirming the direction.

The worm’s journey was smooth.

Moving horizontally, Helag could finally sit.


CH374


Helag kept a firm grip on the dagger with his right hand, wary of the worm’s sudden movements that might dislodge him.

The worm traveled about 3,000 meters underground at high speed.

Helag monitored the soil’s color, indicating proximity to the Land of Dawn.

Near cities, the soil was normal, while the polluted zone’s soil was black.

If the soil turned yellow, he’d reach the Land of Dawn.

Helag pondered which city lay eastward.

Cities in the west belonged to the Eye of the Storm, an unfavorable prospect for Helag.

In the polluted zone, he clashed with their explorers and killed some members.

He escaped during the Great Demon encounter, leaving Bawei and others to face it.

Survivors might pose a problem if he encountered them upon entering a city.

Especially the second-level wizard, whose survival odds were higher.

Complicating matters, Helag’s communication stone was destroyed by Bawei.

In the Land of Dawn, the stone facilitated many tasks, including identity verification.

Without it, everything became inconvenient.

In Seranthiel’s cities, replacing a lost stone was simple, done at the local city hall.

There, identity proof was easy, as everyone’s magic aura was unique.

Magic auras were like fingerprints, with no duplicates.

When Helag registered in Silvermoon City, his aura was recorded, recognizable by Seranthiel.

But in the Eye of the Storm’s territory, they lacked Seranthiel’s data, as such information was private.

Though the Land of Dawn’s wizard organizations cooperated, they maintained boundaries.

Population and aura data weren’t shared between organizations.

Thus, Helag couldn’t prove his identity in the Eye of the Storm’s cities.

Visiting their city hall to contact Pruis was an option.

But Helag distrusted the Eye of the Storm.

In their city, caution was essential; they controlled everything.

Known for their assertiveness, they’d likely detain him if they learned of his actions in the polluted zone.

Without a stone, they’d exploit the situation, possibly probing Seranthiel’s secrets.

Helag foresaw these possibilities.

He couldn’t risk relying on their goodwill.

As the worm sped on, Helag contemplated his next steps, forming a plan.

***

One day later.

The worm halted, reluctant to proceed.

Using All Things Have Spirits, Helag sensed its fear, indicating a powerful presence ahead.

“Turn, bypass it, and continue east.”

Helag directed the worm to avoid the area.

The worm traveled north before resuming its eastern course.

At 3,000 meters deep, Helag couldn’t discern the threat that scared the worm.

This happened thrice, with the worm refusing to advance.

Helag repeatedly guided it around, returning to the original path.

Deep Blue’s map showed distinct detours.

Helag steered the worm, bypassing danger, then returning eastward.

This ensured safety, albeit at the cost of time.

Observing the map, Helag noted they’d have arrived sooner without detours.

After half a month, the soil’s color changed, prompting Helag to halt the worm and approach the surface.

Though the surface soil was black, its depth varied.

Closer to the Land of Dawn, the black layer thinned.

Helag noticed this days ago, signaling his approach to the Land of Dawn.

Today, the black soil thinned considerably, suggesting proximity.

He had the worm surface.

Emerging, Helag held a live mouse, swallowed by the worm earlier.

He caught it, anticipating its use.

Using All Things Have Spirits, Helag controlled the mouse, guiding it from the worm’s mouth.

His vision shifted to the mouse, which he directed eastward.

The mouse ran far, eventually spotting a high wall.

Relieved, Helag confirmed his return to the Land of Dawn.

He cautiously sent the mouse closer for observation.

Satisfied it was a city, Helag released the mouse.

Glancing at the worm’s interior, Helag patted it, saying, “I’m leaving; you can go back.”

Using Flash, he exited the worm, distancing himself to avoid attack.

The worm didn’t immediately notice Helag’s departure.

Only when it saw him did it realize its long-term occupant had left.