Chapter 9: Escape and Pursuit

After recruiting a small squad of magma elementals and two squads of earth elementals from the Earth Shrine, the group once again set out on the road toward the Temple of Magic.

At first, as they walked, they discussed why there were no wild units guarding the area near the Earth Shrine. Amid the subtle tremors of the ground, an elemental force appeared before them.

Upon inspection, Li Bin and his companions saw that this force consisted of three squads of earth elementals, two squads of magma elementals, and six towering stone giants, each five meters tall.

According to Thunder Bull, these stone giants were a variant unit among earth elementals—level six stone giants, capable of casting Earth Spikes and Stone Projectiles as magical attacks, with formidable melee prowess as well, making them a difficult foe.

Everyone was astonished at this news, but what surprised Li Bin most was not the enemy itself, but the absence of any system warning with each encounter.

Li Bin suddenly recalled a branch skill from the hero logistics tree: Concealment. It was rumored that when this skill reached a high level, it could prevent the system from alerting players to enemy units.

Could it be that each of these ambushes was orchestrated by a hero? Yet NPC heroes usually could only command units of a single type, and cave dwellers and earth elementals belonged to completely different factions. The only way they could be controlled together was if a player was working against Li Bin and his group.

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As this thought struck him, Li Bin was about to share his discovery with Thunder Bull and the others, but Thunder Bull suddenly raised his massive axe and shouted loudly, “Charge, everyone! The Temple of Magic is just ahead—if we get through, we win!”

To everyone’s surprise, Thunder Bull’s command was tinged with a subtle earthy glow. The earth elementals they had just recruited, upon hearing the order, charged recklessly toward the enemy, forcing the others to join the assault.

Only Li Bin and Light Dancing Butterfly were unaffected, having not recruited any earth elementals. Their formations remained intact, but when they saw another earth elemental force emerge behind them, they knew the situation was beyond remedy.

Li Bin quickly released ten newly created Poison Eagle Maidens, using their toxic fumes to obscure the enemy’s vision, and led the Forest Pursuers away at a run.

Meanwhile, Light Dancing Butterfly spat a large mouthful of water onto the ground, which instantly formed a river. She and her followers leapt into it and swiftly left the battlefield.

As he fled, Li Bin glanced back at the scene, catching a glimpse of Winter Wolf Formation and Gate of Excitement falling in the chaos, slain by Thunder Bull.

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Was all this a scheme set up by Thunder Bull? The question echoed relentlessly in Li Bin’s mind, but what was the motive? There had been no conflict between Li Bin’s group and Thunder Bull—why would he devise such a grand plot to harm them?

Moreover, they weren’t the only team undertaking this quest; two other groups of players had joined as well—what had happened to them?

Questions multiplied in Li Bin’s heart, but there was no time for reflection. The powerful footsteps behind him reminded Li Bin that he was now fleeing for his life.

He looked back in frustration, decisively left behind a Forest Pursuer as a rear guard, then picked a direction and sped away.

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He hadn’t run far when the system notified him of the Forest Pursuer’s death, but thanks to the enemy’s Concealment skill, Li Bin had no idea how many foes were on his tail.

All he could deduce from the last message transmitted by the Forest Pursuer was that Thunder Bull, his former ally, was leading the chase.

Unfolding the map of the Underworld, Li Bin, astride his Undead Scorpion, fled while seeking a safe route.

The Underworld wasn’t vast. According to Thunder Bull, its center housed the sought-after Temple of Magic, accessible via seventeen routes from three entrances.

Li Bin guessed that enemies lay in ambush along every path, waiting for fools like him to walk straight into their trap.

Retreating was impossible; he had already lost all his Poison Eagle Maidens in his initial escape, and doubted he could lead his forces back safely.

Return Spell? That was out of the question—it was a skill only mastered by experts above level 15. In Judgement, unlike other online games, rapidly returning to town with a large army could affect the entire campaign.

Thus, only two options remained for Li Bin: surrender to Thunder Bull, or die and resurrect, though surely Thunder Bull’s team would have people stationed at the resurrection point as well. Even if he were killed and sent back, whether he could revive safely was uncertain.

At that moment, Li Bin noticed several other passages marked on the map, each noted as habitats of level six creatures.

He recalled Thunder Bull’s resolute efforts to prevent the giant soldiers from attacking the cave dwellers’ nest—an indication, perhaps, that the Underworld wasn’t entirely under their control.

Wherever level six creatures roamed, there were no enemy units.

Li Bin considered that, either way, he was doomed. Better to fall to the level six creatures than to Thunder Bull’s group. Besides, there was always a chance—if he survived among the level six beings, he could evade Thunder Bull’s relentless search and escape the Underworld.

Resolute, Li Bin scanned the map for a passage leading to the lair of level six creatures, soon spotting one nearby.

Following the map’s directions, he skirted several massive stones and finally discovered a deeply hidden passage behind them. Without hesitation, Li Bin led his forces into its shadowy depths.

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They hadn’t gone far before the Forest Pursuers sensed something amiss. One approached Li Bin and said, “Master, something seems off ahead.”

“I feel it too,” Li Bin replied, frowning. Since a moment ago, a wave of pressure had assaulted him. Were it not for the faint hint of negative energy in the aura, Li Bin might have collapsed on the spot.

Seeing his Forest Pursuers trembling, unwilling to advance, Li Bin cursed, “Are you really level six creatures? Frightened by mere pressure? Don’t you know there are never level seven units in the Bloodthirsty Wasteland?”

“Master, for some reason, we’re just scared. Can we not go forward? Let’s fight our way back instead,” one of the Pursuers pleaded.

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