Chapter 8: Losses

Following the tunnel for only a short distance, Thunder Bull ordered the group to halt. His expression was grave as he said, "This is a zone marked on the map where level 6 creatures are known to roam. Everyone should be extra careful."

Before Thunder Bull had finished speaking, hurried footsteps echoed from the other end of the tunnel. Li Bin and the others looked up to see a group of cave dwellers with mottled black-and-red skin approaching.

The group did not lower their guard simply because the newcomers were cave dwellers; after all, this area was marked as a habitat for level 6 creatures on the map.

Both sides stood in tense opposition for a long moment, neither daring to make the first move. Even the usually incessant system notifications remained silent, offering no guidance.

Li Bin and several other players exchanged quiet words. Based on Thunder Bull’s experience, there were at least two squads of cave dwellers ahead, all of at least level 6. Their other attributes remained unknown.

Just as the group hesitated, one of the cave dwellers stepped forward, producing a small vial from his pack. Under the group’s puzzled gazes, the cave dweller shook the vial gently, then hurled it to the ground.

A blinding flash erupted, searing into their eyes, and at last the system’s prompt sounded: "You are under flash grenade attack from a Blackflame Cave Dweller patrol squad. All units are forcibly blinded for one minute."

Li Bin found himself utterly blind. Ignoring his companions, he shouted, "All units defend in place! Attack any creature that approaches!"

Other players issued similar orders to their troops, but screams still rang out from the darkness.

Time passed—how long, Li Bin could not say—before a glimmer of light returned to his vision. He cautiously opened his eyes to see the cave dwellers surrounding his forces, attacking relentlessly.

The cave dweller who had thrown the flash grenade now held a small hourglass, calculating time with care. Seeing him prepare to throw another grenade, Li Bin hastily cast a curse at his head.

The system then revealed the cave dweller’s profession: a level 5 alchemist—a common enough class, but one who could craft flash grenades bore the title of "Battlefield Controller" among the cave dwellers, orchestrating the rhythm of combat. With two elite cave dweller guards at his side, he was a formidable presence.

Thus, when struck by the curse, the Battlefield Controller flew into a frenzy, hurling four or five more flash grenades in rapid succession.

Li Bin had no time to stop him and could only shout, "Everyone, close your eyes..."

After a cascade of system notifications announcing flash grenade attacks, Li Bin finally dared open his eyes. The battlefield had changed fundamentally.

Though all the cave dwellers were level 6 troops, their experience lay in ambushing others in darkness; they rarely fought in open combat. Many did not realize the flash grenade’s effect had ended and cautiously tried to sneak around behind the enemy, only to be cut down after taking just a few steps.

As for the Battlefield Controller, he had already been smashed to a pulp by an enraged cyclops by the time everyone regained their sight.

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After the battle, the group tallied their losses and were shocked to discover that, for the sake of defeating a single patrol of cave dwellers, they had lost three Steel-plated Winter Wolves, a Siren Enchantress, a Minotaur Guard, and all their Wasp Riders.

The casualty ratio was a staggering one-to-one. The group, so full of confidence at the outset, now hung their heads in dismay; most aggrieved of all was Excitement’s Gate, whose satyr troops had suffered the greatest loss. He loudly demanded they return, leaving Thunder Bull helpless.

Once the troops were reorganized, they set out again, this time with even more caution. Li Bin deployed his Little Eagle Venom Maiden to scout ahead. At the first sign of the enemy, she was to release poisonous gas to block their advance rather than returning to report.

This tactic proved effective. In just ten kilometers, they encountered three more cave dweller patrols. Stimulated by the poison, the Battlefield Controllers in each squad expended all their flash grenades in a frenzy.

Afterward, the main force surged forward and wiped out the defenseless cave dwellers in a single sweep.

Soon, they reached a fork in the tunnel. According to the map, the left path led to the Temple of Magic, while the right path was the very source of their troubles—the cave dwellers’ lair.

The Colossus suggested they storm the lair first to vent their anger, but the others argued that time was short; if they wanted to be first to locate the magical records before the other two teams, they needed to head for the Temple of Magic without delay.

The argument grew heated. In a fit of rage, the Colossus withdrew from the group, leading his troops straight toward the cave dweller lair.

Though reluctant, Thunder Bull still gathered the others and followed after the Colossus. In a world teeming with level 6 creatures, every ally meant another chance at survival.

But they were too late. All they found were the corpses of the Colossus and his troops, mingled with the bodies of at least two squads of cave dweller patrols.

Staring at the cave dweller lair only three kilometers ahead, Thunder Bull gritted his teeth for a long moment before finally declaring, "Everyone fall back—we’re heading to the Temple of Magic."

After witnessing the Colossus’s fate, no one raised any objections. They obediently followed Thunder Bull back to the main path.

They hadn’t gone far when they encountered a pool of liquefied earth, black-gray and constantly bubbling, exuding a pungent odor. In the center of the pool, deep brown mud swirled into a churning vortex.

"It’s an Earth Altar—the recruitment ground for Free-type Earth Elementals!" Excitement’s Gate exclaimed, his eyes shining with delight.

Thunder Bull glanced at the other players and saw similar excitement in their eyes. He sighed and said, "Everyone recruit freely, but be quick about it."

No sooner had he spoken than Excitement’s Gate rushed forward, quickly followed by Winter Wolf Formation. Only Li Bin and Light Fluttering Butterfly watched Thunder Bull helplessly.

"Aren’t you two going to recruit some elementals?" Thunder Bull asked with a smile.

As if to echo his words, Excitement’s Gate shouted from the altar, "My god, there are level 5 Earth Elementals and level 6 Magma Elementals—what luck!"

Light Fluttering Butterfly glanced over and said, "If it were a Water Altar, perhaps I’d be the first one there, but Earth isn’t really my style."

Li Bin sighed softly. "It’s just a pity about the Colossus. If he were here, he’d make the best use of these new troops."