Chapter 233: Changing the Expedition’s Troop Cla.s.s
[ ding… temporary side quest issued ]
[ temporary side quest: explore the secrets of the ancient pa.s.sage ]
[ reward: level up (village)]
[ introduction: When you stepped into this ancient pa.s.sage, you seemed to have guessed at the myths of the past. You thought that there might be deeper secrets, so you decided to continue moving forward until you explored the secrets of this ancient pa.s.sage. ]
The system dialog box appeared on his retina.
Kant frowned slightly.
“The secret of the ancient myths.”
After scanning through the introduction on the dialog box, Kant muttered softly, “How interesting.”
That’s right.
This was indeed interesting, to the point that even Kant wanted to understand.
The once glorious era of the G.o.ds had come to an end, leaving behind only ruins and debris. There were not many that could pose a threat to him. Even if it was a demonized creature, without a large number of savage species, facing an elite army of more than five hundred people, he would have to bow his head in submission and understand who was the true king of the current era.
Kant’s influence might be weaker, but it was not the same as these mythical survivors who had been struggling for thousands of years. After losing their glory and power in the past, they could still fight with him.
Moreover, after completing the special quest, he might also have to explore this ancient pa.s.sage.
The stone roads were neatly arranged.
The flow of the subterranean river on the side was like a dike road.
However, this dike road was carved along the mountain and the underground stone layer. It was 10 meters wide. Not only were the stone roads paved, but on the right side of the mountain, reliefs of ancient warriors were carved every five meters or so.
The deeper one went, the clearer the reliefs on the side were.
However, the road became deeper and deeper.
It was as if there was no end to it. It had to extend all the way to the dark depths that seemed to be frozen in time.
Kant and his troops had already walked for nearly two hours.
Although they were on foot, the distance was definitely several kilometers. They could estimate it.
However, the ancient pa.s.sageway that was carved along the subterranean river actually extended for several kilometers. They didn’t even know if it had reached its end. Obviously, their original idea had been overturned.
The soldier next to them raised his torch.
The burning flames illuminated the surrounding environment.
The five-meter-high ceiling still had traces of rocks being dug by tools. There was no ceiling or relief sculpture.
It should be a problem of cost and technology.
Even in the age of the G.o.ds, it was impossible to build such a large-scale building without considering the cost. Moreover, manpower and material resources were limited. The fact that they could dig such a long tunnel was already proof of their construction level, even if it was just an ordinary tunnel, it could make the people of this era gasp in admiration.
However, Kant and the others did not come to this ancient tunnel to admire the construction level.
They came here to solve special quest and side quest.
Instead of admiring the buildings, he had already appreciated the excellence of the architects in the era of the G.o.ds in the cave ruins. Even the mountain was completely hollowed out, and even the mountain rocks could be carved into such a great giant statue.
That was already a top-tier architectural level.
“This road.”
Kant opened his mouth slightly and said with a depressed expression, “Is there no end?”
The darkness in front of them was condensing eternally.
After walking for such a long time, even Kant’s knight body was a little tired.
In fact.
The elite soldiers behind them were also tired. After walking for two hours, although it was a flat stone road, they were still panting due to the heavy weight of their weapons and equipment.
Besides, there were several small-scale attacks by demonized creatures.
Bandake walked to the front.
Looking at Kant’s depressed face, he sighed and suggested, “Lord Kant, I think it’s better to retreat now. We are too far away from this ancient pa.s.sage.”
“But it’s a bit regretful to go back like this.”
Kant narrowed his eyes.
Bandake advised, “Perhaps we can send cavalry over.”
“Cavalry?” Kant was slightly stunned.
“That’s right.” Bandake saw that Kant was deep in thought, he quickly suggested, “This ancient pa.s.sage is paved with stone slabs. Even cavalry can march. We don’t need to explore on foot at all. We only need to send a few cavalry into the pa.s.sage to investigate the situation first. After we get an effective conclusion, we can move forward more efficiently.”
“This suggestion is very good.” Kant nodded and agreed with Bandake’s words.
He turned his head and looked at the Swadian heavy calvary who were in charge of the rear, he directly instructed Bandake, “Immediately lead a part of the troops back and bring all the Warhorse of the cavalry over. At the same time, prepare a day’s worth of food and fuel. I intend to lead the cavalry to continue advancing!”
“Uh… Lord Kant, that’s not what I meant.” Bandake’s expression was stunned.
“Don’t explain.” Kant interrupted him and directly instructed him, “Quickly go and handle it. I think you won’t disappoint me. I will continue to wait here for you to return with the supplies.”
“But if we continue to go deeper, won’t it be too dangerous?”
Bandake’s face was slightly anxious.
Kant was the supreme lord in his heart. If he encountered any danger, it was all because of his incompetence. Therefore, for the sake of safety, Bandake continued his attempt to stop him.
Especially when he swept through the depths of the ancient pa.s.sage, Bandake said solemnly, “Just as the mage apprentices said, if we continue to go deeper, we will be able to feel the evil power being emitted. If you continue to lead the team forward, perhaps you will encounter more and stronger magic creatures. This is risking your life to investigate!”
“That’s right, my Lord. Please consider it carefully.”
The mage apprentices also advised him solemnly.
“Yes,” Kant replied.
Although Sergeant Rhodoks and the Ravenston Rangers at the back did not speak.
He could still see the dissuasion in their eyes.
No one wanted to see their lord, whom they were loyal to, meet with the slightest danger, because this was the biggest mistake for them. It was even more serious than being defeated and ma.s.sacred.
Their lives could be ignored, and dying in battle was glorious.
But Lord Kant had to survive.
This was their belief.
Kant looked at the soldiers’ sincere eyes and also understood where their belief came from.
He took a deep breath, and it was a little cold. But Kant looked at Bandake, the Mage Apprentice, and the soldiers behind him. He said in a deep voice, “I want an answer. What is waiting for me in this ancient pa.s.sage? So I will not quit. I must get an answer.”
This was a mission given by the system. Kant would not give up.
Moreover, he believed that the system would not harm him.
After scanning their eyes, Kant continued in a deep voice, “Follow my arrangements and continue to move. We must finish investigating this ancient pa.s.sage this week.”
“Yes!” Seeing that Kant had made his decision, Bandake could only nod solemnly.
“Understood!”
The many soldiers similarly replied in a deep voice.
Since this was an order from Lord Kant, then they would obey unconditionally.
If they were to encounter danger.
They would use their own bodies to build the st.u.r.diest s.h.i.+eld wall for Lord Kant. As a level 4 and Level 5 troop cla.s.s, they also had their own pride and fearless heart in their chests!
Bandake turned around and brought the Swadian heavy calvary back.
The others were stationed at the same spot under Kant’s arrangements.
The torches they brought were only lit three times. They were lit in front, middle, and back respectively, relying on this bit of light to maintain their vision.
The water of the subterranean river flowed with a splash.
In this deep darkness, perhaps the mountains of the senwaya range were above their heads. The entire ancient pa.s.sage was silent. The soldiers all squatted on the damp and cold stone slabs to wait, or took out their own bread and water sack, they ate and drank a few mouthfuls to replenish their energy.
As for sleep, it was shallow. Moreover, the guards were arranged. Similarly, no one slept soundly. After all, there were a group of bloodthirsty and brutal demonized creatures in the ancient pa.s.sage.
Everyone was on high alert.
Kant was also sitting on the stone slabs. Although there was a leather cus.h.i.+on, he still felt a bone-chilling chill spreading.
The underground pa.s.sage and the existence of the river made the temperature extremely low.
Kant even touched the moist water vapor in the corner of the wall and found layers of frost. Clearly, if the temperature was low, this place could be frozen into ice. Clearly, the chill was extremely deep underground!
Even the soldiers could only sit back to back with their bodies curled up.
As for leaning against the stone wall, they did not dare to do so.
Although there was support, the chill on the stone wall was quite strong. It could easily pa.s.s through the linen robe and chain armor, quickly causing the body’s heat to disappear, resulting in a weak status.
It was similar to the weather in the snowy plains of Veruga, so they had some understanding of this.
“It was a mistake.”
Kant frowned at this and was slightly regretful. “I should have told Bandak to bring some leather jackets over.”
This kind of soft fur coat was not worth much in the hard stone pa.s.s.
Thanks to the abundance of wild animals in the Senwaya range, hunters were able to bring back a large number of prey every day. Thus, fur products were equivalent to exports in the hard stone pa.s.s, and the price of self-selling was very low.
In order to solve the problem of the cold night in Drondheim Castle, Ma Nide had purchased quite a number of fur coats.
Similarly, he sent close to 300 sets to Aaron Village.
Although it was not enough for everyone to wear, it was used as a cus.h.i.+on during rest so that everyone had a place to sit and lean against. It was absolutely not a problem to isolate the cold from the stone pavement and the stone walls.
After waiting for close to three hours, the sound of horse hooves came in waves.
The rumbling sound was like a flood that had broken the dike.
It was the Swadian heavy calvary who were riding their horses. They held their torches high and were very conspicuous in this dark, ancient pa.s.sage. They soon appeared in front of Kant and the others and stopped their horses.
“Lord Kant, I’ve brought all the warhorses.”
Bandake got off his horse.
At the same time, he led the warhorse that was not ridden by anyone to Kant’s side and reported respectfully, “The food and fuel that you’ve arranged are all ready.”
“Well done.” Kant nodded at Banake with Satisfaction.
The surrounding infantrymen also stood up.
However, it seemed that they had been squatting for too long, and the cold had invaded their legs and feet, making it inconvenient for them to move around.
However, they didn’t need them anymore.