novelraw Chapter 135: Mechanisms
Chapter 135: Mechanisms
"We're here."
They reached the lake at the very center. The water was crystal clear, and winged fish leaped out now and then.
Some animals drank at the shore, and when they saw Mara arrive, they scattered as if they'd spotted some terrifying predator.
"When the dawn arrives, the entrance will open, but only for a short time. However, as long as someone stands guard at the entrance, it won't close.
"At that point the two of us will go in, and the others will guard the entrance."
Inside would be far more dangerous than outside, and Loren also feared Mara's desperate counterattack at the moment of her death. In any case Loren had Void-walking, so even if Mara self-destructed she couldn't hurt him.
But the children were different;
for their safety Loren planned to leave them outside.
Mara felt regret at Loren's decision. From her perspective, immediately taking Loren's children hostage after obtaining the magic would have been the optimal move;
she might even have kept the magic entirely for herself then.
Otherwise, if Loren learned the magic, he might later use it to counter-kill her.
Mara's ideal plan was beautiful. From the second floor she thought Loren was on the first, while in fact Loren was on the fifth.Everything Mara knew about Loren was what Loren wanted her to see. If Loren planned to ambush her later, she would never suspect it.
Judgment damage plus Sin-Burning Flames damage plus Requiem's defense reduction and true damage plus Lurking Fangs bonus damage—Loren dared not imagine how much HP that kind of nuclear combo would strip.
Mara's breath belt wouldn't help either, and Sin-Burning Flames still caused burns.
They didn't really understand each other's calculations;
or rather, Mara was the only one who didn't know Loren's plan.
Loren's noble character was world-famous, so Mara never thought he would move against her. After all, people Loren wanted eliminated never had the chance to tell others Loren's true face.
While Mara waited anxiously, dawn finally came. At the instant the first ray of light touched the lake surface, everyone witnessed a reversal of heaven and earth.
The lake rose into the sky, and in its original place a hole appeared. Even after thousands of years the site looked brand new. Dawn Princess's magical attainment had no precedent and no successor;
only she could have made something like this.
"Naclis, you and the others guard the gate, we'll go in.
"Be careful and prioritize your own safety. Even if it closes now, it can be opened again tomorrow;
it'll just introduce more variables."
After Loren gave a few instructions, he and Mara stepped inside.
"At least two people must enter to trigger the mechanism, so getting the treasure requires our cooperation and mutual trust.
"Remember, our goal is the final grand treasure. No matter what temptations appear along the way, we must resist them."
"Understood."
Loren still trusted Mara's character to some extent. Although she was wicked, she truly wasn't greedy.
As soon as the two stepped into the hole, a tiger-like Magical Beast lunged out. Its eyes were filled only with hunger, drooling;
it had been trapped here for a while.
It also looked far stronger than the beasts they'd encountered before. Loren immediately cast an enhancement spell on Mara—this was not the time to have her die.
Mara reacted quickly. The instant the tiger leapt, she slid beneath it while firing her harpoon gun, the spear entering the tiger's belly.
It was indeed much stronger than those outside;
Mara's usually unstoppable harpoon didn't even pierce it this time.
But Mara didn't hesitate. She pulled the rope attached to the harpoon from a characteristic angle, successfully tearing the tiger's belly open;
its entrails spilled everywhere.
The tiger howled in pain. The wound alone wasn't enough to immobilize it.
Mara's combat experience was rich. She quickly discarded the now useless harpoon gun and drew a dagger to face it.
"Tidal Slash!"
Mara shouted the martial skill's name, swinging the dagger from below upward. A tide-like blade qi rose from the ground and sliced straight at the tiger. The airborne tiger had nowhere to dodge;
the two collided and Mara's strike exploded, tossing the tiger aside while slashing half its face open.
Seeing this, Loren decisively went for the finishing move. Requiem plunged into the tiger's eye socket, and Loren watched his experience points climb by another ten percent with delight.
"Let's keep going."
Loren carefully wiped the blood from Requiem. Mara ignored Loren's fussiness and continued ahead to clear the path.
There were many corpses along the way, mostly Magical Beasts, not human bodies.
All of them bore wounds and bite marks, proving whatever killed them was even more terrifying.
They stepped over the corpses and reached a corridor. The walls were dotted with many eye-like things—undeniable proof that mechanisms lay ahead.
Loren picked up a bone and threw it. The moment the bone hit the ground, those eyes began to spray lasers, but the laser striking the bone did nothing;
the bone remained intact.
"What's going on?"
Mara asked. She didn't think such mechanisms would be completely ineffective.
"This is a spell that makes limbs stiffen and unable to move, it automatically lifts after an hour."
Loren approached the wall. The eyes that he inspected at close range all closed without warning.
"This is the first trial. The way through is simple: if we stare at the walls on both sides, these eyes will close. Then as long as we walk at the same speed and cooperate, we can pass easily.
"Of course, given Dawn Princess's nature, there are certainly multiple ways to pass. In fact, if one person gets hit, the eyes won't attack while the others carry the afflicted person forward.
"After all, this place is meant to test our cooperation and friendship."
Loren fixated on one side of the wall and signaled Mara to watch the other.
The first method was ideal for them now. Although Mara intended to control Loren, it wasn't the right time. If Loren lost mobility at this moment, they'd fall into crisis.
"Okay."
Trusting Loren, Mara stared at the opposite wall. Sure enough, the eyes on her side all closed as well.
"I'll count down three, then we go straight through. Three, two, one!"
Mara couldn't see behind her, so if Loren failed to move she would be attacked. Still she resolutely stepped into the corridor.
No attack came from behind, indicating Loren hadn't betrayed her.
Loren wasn't surprised by Mara's decision. If he could tell Mara how to bypass the mechanism, he could be sure she'd cooperate, and Loren had Void-walking, so he felt invincible.
Mara didn't truly trust Loren;
she simply pursued a greater gain.