The Paladin in the Abyss

Chapter 46 - 41 Digging Worm

After setting down the heavy equipment and supplies from their backpacks, Barrend and Lancelot’s group set out once again, this time traveling light, each carrying supplies for two days.

They unanimously agreed to first search for the whereabouts of their Gray Dwarf colleagues. This mission itself was considered a Black Iron Level task, and they had firsthand data on the resource distribution of the ancient mine.

Searching for a mining team in this labyrinth-like mine was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Fortunately, Barrend and Bruto had a set of skills for underground orientation. Dwarves had undergone special training that enabled them to sense the magnetic fields in the rocks.

Walking at the front of the group was Lancelot. As the strongest Warrior in the team, he played the role of the vanguard, the first target of the enemy’s attacks.

Following in second was Barrend. The old Dwarf’s prospecting experience was no less than his craftsmanship. As a top Blacksmith, he often had to search for the best raw materials himself. Now, following behind Lancelot, he was directing the vanguard.

Behind them came Kalalin. As the most vulnerable member of the team, he was both nervous and excited. Researchers who studied the Abyss rarely entered it personally (more precisely, few could come back alive to tell of their experiences), and his curiosity for knowledge now suppressed his fear of death.

Even at this moment, he was continuously scanning the surroundings with the night vision enabled by his potion, and taking notes in a small notebook.

Assigned the task of rear guard was Bruto. The young Dwarf had officially become an Adventurer just over a week ago, but had already shown reliable strength. Bruto was also very familiar with burrowing about in the mines, as his dad had taken him underground before his beard had even started to grow.

They walked through the winding tunnels, where Barrend only needed to glance at the entire structural map and he memorized it in his mind. Under his guidance, the team progressed swiftly.

Suddenly, Lancelot raised a hand, signaling for everyone to stop.

"What’s wrong?" Barrend asked, puzzled.

"I sense danger," Lancelot said, frowning. His Spiritual Sense had just flashed a warning, and this mysterious sixth sense had become increasingly accurate since he became a Spiritual Cultivator, but the complex underground environment made it difficult for him to determine the exact location of the enemy, only that it was somewhere ahead.

"But I don’t see anything," Barrend said softly, frowning. He wasn’t questioning Lancelot; the Knight had already proven his keen Perception Ability back at the entrance of the mine.

"It feels like a big one," Lancelot said, still not reassured about proceeding further. He sensed the threat’s distance once more and sat down cross-legged. "Give me a moment."

The other three looked on in surprise as Lancelot entered a state of meditation, leaving them no choice but to pick up their weapons and stand guard beside him.

Lancelot quickly entered that state with the strange perspective, which according to the bamboo slip in his mind, was a Divine Skill of the High Rank in the Qi Cultivation Stage, called Divine Sense Projection, which for now he could only enter during Cultivation.

Using this ability, he finally discovered the source of the unease. About eighty feet ahead underground, a huge creature was lurking.

The creature looked like a mantis, except its large pincers grew on its lower jaw, and its size was magnified to over ten feet tall, with a carapace covering its entire body, including the belly.

He exited the meditation state and slowly opened his eyes.

"How is it?" Bruto asked anxiously.

Lancelot described the appearance of the enemy, and as soon as Barrend heard the word "mantis," his face showed a look of recognition.

"Do you know what this is?"

"Hmm, it should be a burrowing worm," the old Dwarf nodded, "These creatures use that terrifying mouth to dig tunnels and extend their antennae above the ground to sense movement around them. Once someone passes directly above, it will leap from the ground and seize the prey, eagerly spraying a potent Acid Digestive Juice while using its terrifying jaws to tear the victim into pieces."

"That does sound quite troublesome. How do we deal with this creature?"

"Their most damaging attack is their ambush; few creatures can survive such an assault. Their Acid as well, it can spray up to thirty feet, which will be hard to deal with in these tunnels," Barrend said seriously. "But it also has clear weaknesses.

These creatures have almost no intelligence, and all their threats come from that mouth, so as long as you can attack from the side or behind, they’re not as ferocious as they seem. Another is their legs. Breaking just three legs on one side will make them fall, and in that state, they’re basically at our mercy."

"Understood. Kalalin, I remember you mentioned a spell..."

Gazing at the fairly spacious tunnel, a plan began to take shape in Lancelot’s mind.

...

After discussing their tactics, the four of them carefully approached to about thirty feet from where the burrowing worm lay in ambush.

Thanks to Lancelot’s reminder, they had already spotted the neglected feelers of the burrowing worm on the ground, and upon closer observation, it wasn’t difficult to notice the slight bulge on the surface.

"Are you ready?" Lancelot turned back to look at the spellcaster in the team.

Kalalin nodded, a small scroll already clenched in his hand.

Lancelot suddenly charged forward with large strides. The moment the sound of his footsteps rang out, he distinctly felt an excited tremor from the monster beneath the ground.

True Qi was already surging through his meridians, and when he was ten feet away from the underground maw that resembled a pair of pincers, Lancelot suddenly leapt up, his body nearly skimming the top of the tunnel as he flew forward.

However, the sound of footsteps did not cease, for Kalalin had also activated the ’Lesser Illusion’ magic from his scroll at the same time.

This spell could create an image of an object or a sound the caster wanted, like the roar of a lion, human conversation, and of course, footsteps. It was merely a 0-level trick that could easily be seen through by any creature with a bit of intelligence.

However, the burrowing worm was probably only a little smarter than a rock and relied solely on its feelers to sense vibrations on the ground.

As the sound of footsteps passed over the burrowing worm’s hiding spot, the ground suddenly burst open, a pair of three-foot-long fangs snapped shut like a pincer, an attack no flesh and blood could withstand.

But what awaited it on the ground was not flesh and blood. Lancelot, who had jumped into the air, dangled his great sword below him, and the burrowing worm emerging from the ground bit down right on it.

The chitinous jaw naturally couldn’t contend with a weapon made of steel, and with a snap, a fist-sized gap appeared on the worm’s pincers, while Lancelot’s weapon remained unscathed.

After landing, Lancelot immediately turned back and charged at the burrowing worm. He had to restrain the enemy to allow his companions to complete a pincer attack from behind.

This burrowing worm was clearly influenced by the Abyss, its body covered with demonic-like spikes, and its two front limbs were like two longswords, characteristics not seen in a normal burrowing worm.

His great sword executed a flurry of airtight thrusts, enveloping the burrowing worm’s mouthparts and keeping it too busy to spray acid.

Bruto finally reached the enemy’s rear. He jumped high, letting out a roar as his warhammer smashed down fiercely on the bending part of the burrowing worm’s hind leg.

"Knees! My favorite!"

Lancelot couldn’t help but wonder if Bruto had some kind of special fetish for knees.

The burrowing worm let out a pained and angry shriek from its mouth. It twisted its head sharply, planning to deal with the foe at its rear with a spurt of acid, while relying on the thick carapace on its back to fend off the sword blade in front.

The Scholar, standing at the very back, was fully focused on watching the battle unfold, while Baron stood in front of him with a shield raised.

In the instant it turned its head, Kalalin made his move as well. He raised his arm, and on the ring finger of his right hand, a spell was already poised to release.