Divine Beast Ascension

611 Unable to Clear the Tunnel

Underground, every Prodson elder with earth essence was busy erecting stone columns to save the underground camp. Even with their top two leaders gone, rushing after the intruders, the remaining officers were able to rally and save the camp.

A few dozen troops were still injured after getting caught in the initial collapse of the ceiling. But no one had died. So, with the intruders pursued by the army’s strongest leaders, the Prodson troops maintained their solid morale.

Already, a team of earth cultivators was carving out the collapsed tunnel anew. Leading that band of elder soldiers, two low-perennials were on standby.

One of those perennials could use earth essence as well. But they determined it best for perennials to be battle ready instead of wasting their essence on manual labor.

And they weren’t worried about their general either. Since all of Iron’s known high and peak-perennials were reported to be elsewhere. That’s why their priority was steady advance with preparations to begin battle the moment an opening was created.

“Sir, can’t we just exit the rear tunnel and circle around the hill?” a Prodson captain asked, giving a voice to the thoughts of many silent soldiers.

The nearest perennial shook his head. “No. We’ll stick to our first plan and push forward.

“But sir–”

That low-perennial interrupted the captain, saying, “It’s suspicious that the intruders only destroyed one exit instead of both. If the wind-wielding intruder was fast enough to destroy some pillars while fleeing, then he could’ve done the same thing to the back tunnel. So we’ll push to clear this path and meet our invaders head-on!”

.....

A few men cheered that decision while that order and reasoning were quietly spread down the line of command, keeping the resolve of the soldiers. The last thing Prodson wanted was a loss of morale in an unexpected scenario. So long as they could maintain the hope of the soldiers and get past the new obstacle, the army’s might wouldn’t dwindle during their clash with the invading forces.

“Sir! We’ve hit ice!”

A new cry rang out, startling everyone. Both low-perennials on that side of the camp rushed to the front of the labor team in the tunnel. While most of the camp was confused by the new discovery, those low-perennials grunted in displeasure.

It looked like a glacier had appeared and filled out every nook and cranny of the tunnel. And the ice was still growing, gradually pushing toward the underground Prodson troops.

One perennial pulled out a sword and the other retrieved a hammer.

C-Crack! Ch-ch-chink…

With either fire or earth essence, the low-perennials both left a web of cracks inside the growing mass of ice.

However, the ice quickly started to repair itself instead of pushing forward.

“Clear a new path to the side!” one perennial quickly ordered.

The labor team did just that, hurrying to open a new path.

Crunch! Cru-crack…

Again, the labor team ran into more ice.

Frustrated, the two low-perennials in charge of the tunnel were at their wit’s end.

“Keep digging around the ice! Let the invading perennials waste essence with their wall. Eventually, we’ll dig around it!” a voice rang out from the camp, easing those perennials’ minds.

“Yes, Commander!” the two low-perennials and the labor team shouted.

Turning to face the rest of the army inside the underground chamber, the final commander shouted, “Half of you, with me! We’re circling the hill! Once the tunnel is functional, we’ll attack from two points, so move out!”

“Yes, Sir! Commander Ephar!”

With a battle axe and a suit of polished, full-plate armor, Commander Ephar leaped onto one of two stallions kept within the underground camp. It was huge, definitely a domesticated beast and not a common breed of horse. Beside the commander, his right-hand man hopped onto the second stallion of equal size and muscle mass. And they both led the charge through the back tunnel.

Though the back tunnel was longer than the front tunnel and it might take the same amount of time to cross, if not more, than digging around the ice, the soldiers needed to get moving. The longer the army stood around with nothing to do, the easier it would be for low morale to spread.

So, along with his most trusted man, Commander Ephar rallied the Prodson troops with their new charge, keeping morale from shriveling.

*********

Aftering exiting the back tunnel, two figures were running away from the tunnel and rocky hillside. There were still rock clusters and smaller hills, but Lambier was hurrying to the west instead of the wooded hills to the north.

“You’re Lambier, right?”

Glancing back at his purser, Lambier laughed loudly, “So what if I am?”

“If you’re a mercenary for hire, then why not let me pay you off?” shouted the arrogant pursuer. “That must’ve been your pal, Marsel in the other tunnel, considering the powerful flames. So hurry up and rejoin Prodson! Now more than ever, we need good mercenaries after the fall of Blood Moon. And who better to replace them than the men who did them in?”

“...” Lambier opened his mouth but decided to remain silent for a moment.

After a few seconds, Lambier came to an abrupt stop. Lambier turned to look his pursuer in the eye. “... You, Rakan Prodson, one of Prodson’s potential heirs, want to hire me?”

Rakan stopped as well, about eight krin away from Lambier. Not too close to be threatening but so far away that fleeing would be easy. “Of course. Prodson pays only for the best. And, since you defeated some of our best, it’s only natural for you to fill their positions. You’re from Prodson City, you know how we work!”

Cocking a sly smile and chuckling, Lambier nodded. “You couldn’t be more right. Mars and I know Prodson pretty well…

“So, let me thank you. Thank you, honorable Rakan, for doing exactly as we expected. Offering a counter payment without actually showing any gold or valuable goods.”

Sharp winds rapidly gathered around Lambier as he shot himself toward his would-be pursuer.

Unfazed, Rakan retrieved a one-handed war hammer and a saber. He parried Lambier’s charge and smiled wide. “Ah… So you already know I’d rather pay you first and stab you in the back afterward?”

Nodding again, Lambier boldly bellowed, “Not only that. But I already know how you look down on anyone from a lesser family, just as much as you do with ‘unruly’ beasts.”

Ch-chting!

Their wind-laced swords clashed again, finding neither man superior from a single strike.

“So, let me thank you again,” Lambier continued laughing. “Thank you for taking the bait. Without you, we wouldn’t have been able to pull off such a satisfying, ironic end to the battle.”

Rakan’s arrogant brow furrowed slightly. But, he quickly caught on, stealing a glance at the wooded hills. And a frown began to take root on Rakan’s face.