Chapter 94: Knight (Fourth Update, Dedicated to Alliance Leader 'Maple Wind Drift')
His body pressed tightly against the rock wall, Su Xiao sidestepped forward cautiously.
He glanced sideways at the other four. All of them stared intently at the lava lake, as if some terrifying thing lurked within.
Though their current position was dangerous, it wouldn't be too risky if they were careful. This suggested these four might be hiding something from him.
Su Xiao stopped focusing solely on his footing and began to observe the lava lake below.
Crackle~.
A basin-sized bubble burst in the lava lake. The explosion sent lava splashing high into the air.
Sizzle~.
The splashing lava landed on the priest's calf. A wisp of black smoke rose, and the smell of seared meat spread.
The priest gritted his teeth in pain but made no sound.
Su Xiao frowned. Could there be something inside the lava lake?
"Father, are you alright?"
Wujima Shin looked at the priest with concern, though his voice was very low.
The priest's expression shifted drastically as he stared straight at Wujima Shin.
"It's fine. That thing's hearing isn't that sharp."
No sooner had Wujima Shin spoken than bubbles began to roll in the lava lake.
Gurgle~.
The lava churned, as if some massive creature was rising from within. Except for Su Xiao, the other four all stopped in place, pressing tightly against the rock wall.
Seeing this, Su Xiao's eyes turned cold. These guys were hiding something from him. After a moment's thought, he too leaned against the rock wall without moving, even slowing his breathing.
Boom~.
The lava in the lake shot skyward, splashing over ten meters high.
Drops of lava scattered onto the five of them. Su Xiao immediately closed his eyes and turned his face aside.
Sizzle~.
A few small pieces of lava landed on him. As the lava touched his skin, the flesh instantly charred.
Su Xiao remained motionless against the rock wall, gritting his teeth to endure the pain, because he saw Wujima Shin not far away, whose entire leg was covered in lava, yet he still didn't move.
Though his whole leg was coated in lava, Wujima Shin's expression remained calm.
As the lava slid off, Wujima Shin's leg was wrapped in a layer of perforated kagune. He had used the kagune to shield his leg.
After the lava surged, a dark red object rose from the center of the lake. It was spherical, four to five meters wide, similar in color to the lava, but definitely not lava itself.
Su Xiao observed carefully. The object's color was slightly brighter than the lava.
The lava churned, and several tentacles emerged from the lava around the spherical object.
It looked like an octopus, but why would an octopus be in lava? That wasn't scientific.
Given the lava's terrifying temperature, how did this thing survive? Perhaps it wasn't a living creature.
Su Xiao didn't want to know what it was. He only knew that its strength was terrifying. The priest, Takatsuki Sen, and the others all stood still, their eyes filled with wariness as they stared at the unknown object in the lava.
Su Xiao held his breath. He was the farthest from it. If the thing attacked them, he wouldn't be the first to suffer.
The 'octopus monster' swam through the lava lake. It seemed to lack vision, only able to detect their positions through sound.
Apart from the sound of the lava churning, everything was dead silent. After about ten minutes, the 'octopus monster' sensed nothing and slowly sank back into the lava lake.
"Whew~."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Takatsuki Sen, at the front of the group, glared angrily at Wujima Shin.
Wujima Shin looked apologetic. The extensive burns all over his body made it hard for Takatsuki Sen to say anything more.
Takatsuki Sen continued sidestepping forward, and the other three followed suit.
Only after observing their actions did Su Xiao begin to move forward slowly. His steps were light, his eyes fixed on the lava lake.
Whether Wujima Shin had made that sound intentionally or not, only he himself knew.
After more than ten minutes, the five of them, moving slowly, finally reached the platform on the opposite shore.
Once on solid ground, Su Xiao quickened his pace, trying to stay as far from the lava lake as possible. The others did the same.
After advancing about a hundred meters, Su Xiao checked his burns. They were all superficial, not serious.
"Wujima Shin, aren't you going to give us an explanation?"
Takatsuki Sen's red eyes appeared, and there was even killing intent in her gaze. She clearly held a grudge about what had happened.
Understandably so. The four of them had nearly died because of Wujima Shin's actions.
Su Xiao said nothing. He just stood a bit farther from the others, to avoid getting caught in the crossfire if they turned on each other.
"Miss Takatsuki, I deeply apologize for what just happened. I didn't expect that monster's hearing to be so sharp."
Wujima Shin showed a look of shame, as if ready to accept any punishment.
"You..."
Takatsuki Sen started to speak but was interrupted by Arima Kisho.
"Enough."
Arima Kisho's meaning was clear: even if Wujima Shin had ulterior motives, they couldn't have an internal conflict now.
"That's right. Mistakes are inevitable. We're a team now, so don't hold a grudge."
The priest also stepped in to smooth things over.
Su Xiao, watching from the sidelines, sneered inwardly. A team? All four of them had been here before, and when passing the lava lake, none of them had warned him not to make a sound, that there was a terrifying unknown monster in the lava.
This so-called team had already half-collapsed by the time they reached here. They were united in appearance but divided at heart.
This stone platform, several hundred meters in diameter, should be the final destination. The moment they found the 'Source,' the team would completely disband.
From then on, no one could be trusted except himself.
"Since we've arrived here, let's talk. Where exactly is the 'Source'? We'll go destroy it."
Takatsuki Sen spoke.
The priest and the other two exchanged glances, as if gauging each other's thoughts.
"I only made it to the lava lake before. I've never been here."
"Same here."
"I haven't been here either."
The three each stated their position, all claiming they had never been to this place.
"In that case, let's split up and search."
Takatsuki Sen was about to walk off to one side.
"I disagree."
Su Xiao spoke. The four of them turned their gazes toward him.
"Splitting up might increase efficiency, but what if we encounter an enemy we can't handle? Can any of you be sure there are no enemies on this platform?"
Su Xiao's opinion was reasonable, but his real concern was that someone else might find the 'Source' and destroy it. Failing a hidden quest would result in a -3 penalty to all attributes, which would be disastrous for him.
"I agree with Mr. White Night's statement."
For some reason, Wujima Shin supported Su Xiao.
"I agree too."
The priest spoke.
"Since that's the case... let's search together."
Takatsuki Sen, the nominal leader, knew she couldn't command anyone here. They had to go with the majority.
The group walked deeper into the platform. Before long, they noticed a structure resembling an altar at the far end.
As they approached, Su Xiao saw a stone pillar at the center of the circular altar. Beside it stood a three-meter-tall suit of full-body armor. The armor was remarkably complete, with details like fingers all present. If not for the empty eye sockets, they would have thought it was an iron man.
The stone pillar was about half a meter thick and one meter tall. Its surface was carved with a strange fish—fat-headed and thin-tailed. On top of the pillar sat a fist-sized crystal.
The crystal was entirely crimson, with visible cracks. A faint red mist drifted from the cracks, rising slowly before disappearing into the rock layer above, likely heading toward the surface.
This crimson crystal was the 'Source'!
Not only did Su Xiao realize the crimson crystal was the 'Source,' but Arima Kisho and the others also came to the same conclusion.
"It seems we've found the 'Source.'"
The priest stared at the Source, his greed undisguised.
Thump!
The platform suddenly shook. The five of them immediately became alert, but after more than ten seconds, nothing happened.
Beside the stone pillar, the eye sockets of the full-body armor, which everyone had overlooked, gradually lit up with a red glow—the unique color of activated RC cells.
"Intruders, die!"
The armor... spoke.
PS: (Fourth update, asking for monthly votes. By the way, the Tokyo Ghoul world will be finished tomorrow.)