The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 285: Plan: Part two (1)

Chapter 285: Plan: Part two (1)

Hex entered the first tunnel for the first time.

It would be funny if not for the prospect of facing two Transformed Knights.

This was his third night exploring the burrow. And since the first night, he suspected something amiss in the first tunnel. Yet, somehow, he only entered it on the night he faced the greatest danger.

’At least I am a bit prepared this time.’

A hundred percent certainty didn’t exist during battles. He knew that. Everything could go wrong. His opponents were on their home turf, their stages surpassed his, and they held more information about Hex and the Serpents than Hex did about them.

They walked through the maze of tunnels with ease. During the past two days, they managed to clear all the dangers. Dollaire and Rublena briefed them about the situation last night.

According to them, Bashar and his team focused on trapping and killing creatures up to the Fiend Stage. They either retreated or collapsed the tunnel when facing Disaster-stage creatures.

They didn’t meet Calamities. Not alive ones. They did retrieve crystals from one corpse and skinned the meat from its body. The meat of Dessert Serpents was a rare delicacy in these parts of the country.

"We are finally close," Hex heard Red Hare say, pulling him out of his pondering.

They stood before a large hole at the end of a tunnel. The tunnels in these parts were larger than the ones behind the other two. Hex never had to stoop while walking. Even Red Hare, who towered above everyone else, didn’t stoop anywhere.

The dense energy fluctuation he sensed through the walls reminded him of the time he saw the Frost Dragon’s crystal. To Hex it seemed this one was a bit weaker. There was no doubt the crystal inside belonged to a Devil. Even those weaker and worse senses, picked the energy waves coming through the wall. Hex noticed them shiver and some even grimace in pain.

"It seems we have found the one thing we have been looking for," Red Hare said. His eyes were fixed on Hex.

"We did," Hex instead focused on the entrance before him. This was it. The moment of do or die.

"Should we enter?" Red Hare asked with a smile on his face.

"Yes. But I do have one request," Hex stated, eliciting a raised brow from the other party. "Let US be the ones to enter. The others are far too weak to make a difference. And rather not spend the night carrying them out of the tunnel if they faint."

"You are right. I didn’t consider that. I rather not waste my time too." Red Hare agreed at once.

’This is it.’ Hex thought as he walked up to the entrance. He glanced at Sterling who gave an almost easy-to-miss nod. ’They are ready.’

The other side of the hole was illuminated in a reddish glow. The glow came from the crystal lying in the middle of the corpse of a giant creature with its chest open. The injury resembled a deep slash—a slash from a sword.

Whatever happened to the swordsman would remain a mystery. Despite the passage of time, the corpse looked well-preserved. A Devil’s corpse wouldn’t rot as no maggot or organism could digest it. They would die due to excessive energy consumption.

Although Time erased some of the creature’s features, Hex could tell the beast had been a hare.

Seeing this, his pupils dilated. The gaps started to fill in his mind.

The room they were in, wasn’t too large. It was a quarter of the size of the grotto where Old Perl was recovering.

It resembled a dome of sorts. The sand seemed to have crystallized at some points. Their glassy structures reflected the light, causing different hues of color. It was a mesmerizing sight. Too bad, Hex couldn’t enjoy it.

The moment he entered the hole, he stopped sensing the people on the outside. Someone else might have missed it but Hex spent his days with a plethora of people prickling his senses. So, when some stopped grabbing the attention of his senses, he noticed. Like he noticed the presence of other humans inside. They were faint and concealed even to a certain extent but didn’t escape him.

"I assume you wish to take the crystal and compensate me once we return?" Hex asked, acting as if he remained oblivious to everything.

"You could say that. But that’s not what we are here for," Red Hare said slowly as he shifted behind Hex. Hex had been on full alert yet he only perceived Red Hare make his move when his opponent stood behind him.

Even then, Hex didn’t panic. He had been in battle mode ever since the night started. The moment he sensed Red Hare appear behind him, his Ice circle flashed.

Frost Dragon – Tailwhip

Spikes shot out his back. He gathered a lot of Ice elements along his spine. The spikes were sturdy and sharp. The sudden attack surprised Red Hare. He took a step back and put his arms up. The spikes hit the arms. But none of the spikes pierced through his skin.

Hex didn’t remain still. While his opponent dealt with the spikes, he jumped forward.

Flex Step

With his impeccable control, he jumped toward the ceiling. When Red Hare crushed the last spike, Hex turned and unleashed another attack. He prepared enough Ice elements to freeze a sand hill. But he didn’t focus only on quantity. He spent the evening concentrating the elements to coalesce as much as he could.

Frost Dragon – Blizzard Strike

Red Hare shifted but the avalanche of Ice suddenly appearing caught him off guard. He landed within its range. Hex unleashed his third Technique. He didn’t hold back. His opponent was a Transformed Knight, after all.

Frost Dragon – Frost Bite

A layer of Ice appeared on Red Hare’s leg, arm, and face. Seeing him freeze a little, Hex started to infuse the soul dust particles in his heart. With gritted teeth, he ignored the pain of muscles tearing through his skin and his bones growing.

Flex Step

He groaned as the pressure of his increased weight put his body under strain. He shot through the short distance and hit Red Hare square in the chest.

The room shuddered due to the impact. The Ice on the floor scattered and hit the walls. Hex suppressed the cry stuck in his throat. He might have broken a collarbone. The sturdiness of Red Hare’s body surpassed his imagination. And he didn’t lack imagination.

"My, My, you are indeed a special case," he heard Red Hare chuckle as the Ice flakes started to settle. Red Hare stepped forward. A thin stream of blood trickled down his face. And his clothes were tattered. And...that was it. No other injuries.

’Damn.’ Hex cursed. He expected it to be a struggle but was not even that. Only his sudden onslaught of attacks caught the guy unprepared. But now, things would become one-sided. And that was without the other person in the room joining the battle.

Red Hare grinned. He didn’t spare Hex a glance as he looked toward the other end.

"I think you need to prepare, my friend. If we wish to catch this young friend alive, we will have to face that man. I don’t see another way."

Silence fell in the room. And then a sigh.

A thin-skeleton-like man stepped from behind the Devil’s corpse.

"I guess you are right. This brat has too many Techniques. If he kills himself, we won’t get the promise we have requested."

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