Chapter 230: Time flies, but ours don't

Chapter 230: Time flies, but ours don't

Nicet was strongly nodding, his eyes still wide open.

Alith pressed on, Do you need more healing?

No really Im fine, just a bit disoriented. The nest guard got me, I imagine?

More than got you! I thought you were dead! Nicet exclaimed, still shaky and wiping off his sweat. The origin of this chapter's debut can be traced to N0v3l--B1n.

Well. I didnt think I could survive losing a head either, but it looks like it was fine? Pareth was the one who healed me, right?

Alith confirmed that after the graveyard skeletons dropped the headless Sofia on the floor, as soon as she was fully corporeal again, Pareth had appeared inside of the tunnel and had used [Greater Heal] to re-head her.

He couldnt get out before I was corporeal again. I need to think about that and let him out before using the graveyard to escape next time.

So I was likely saved by the one-hit-kill protection of the venerable physique. And ghosts cant bleed out so the graveyard skeletons took me all the way down here while I probably only had one percent health left. And after that Pareth healed me.

Thank you, Pareth, youre a lifesaver once again. Maybe someday Ill be strong enough to save you too

Sofia couldnt tell what the skeleton was thinking, but he was prone and constricted inside of the dwarf-sized tunnels, so he returned to her storage, silent as usual.Leaving the group in the dark. It wasnt an issue for Sofia but she took out a lightstone anyway.

Well, lets n-

Sofia was interrupted by a strong quake and a violent sound that came from above.

Lets not sweat the details, we should move she completed, looking up in the direction of the sound. I think its digging.

That seemed to shake Nicet out of his shocked state and he took the lead of the expedition again, he advanced and helped Sofia up as he passed by her, Yes, I will go first to check for traps and spatial anomalies, were going in the direction away from the mountain, follow me. This thing was at least level 300 if not more, we need to go fast.

The group started moving, eager to leave the giant monster behind, they were about twenty meters away from where they had landed when the tunnel collapsed behind them.

Think itll keep following us?

Nicet kept advancing as he answered, Probably not, no matter the size its not immune to the Ebb.

The tunnel was just like that one leading to Sarias room, it looked like it turned to the right a few hundred meters ahead. Sofia was about to speak when her head was yanked back because of her crown scraping against the ceiling.

Hmm, well, from what Ive gathered, angels are dead people given an opportunity to serve the system. They protect the weaker races like us from external influence. Their autonomy is limited and they cannot leave their designated areas, but they receive immense power to be able to do their job well.

Wait The Angels are undead?

Uh. I never thought of them like that, but I guess, in a way, you could say they are? Youd be better off asking the boss, Im not too sure. Studying undeath and unlife isnt really my thing.

Why did I delete [Lead the Dead] again? What about the Archangels?

Sapient mana golems. They defend the system itself. Or so the boss says, never heard of one leaving its tower. And thats about all I know about them, never seen one either.

And Seraphs like Sen are kind of like Angels but to interact with us?

Your guess is as good as mine. The scribes are a big mystery to me as well, I have my theories, but its the kind of subject ones better off avoiding. If not youll find your own inner monologue censored before you know it, and thats really infuriating.

The group kept walking along the tunnel, they turned a few times before stumbling upon a dead end. The path ahead had completely collapsed. Considering how much the land had moved during the tide, it was almost impressive that they had been able to walk along this tunnel for so long. Sen teleported up to check the situation outside. The nest guard was nowhere to be seen, but it was still night. The swarm of monsters in the sky had immediately noticed him and swooped down, so he teleported back to the group.

They needed to wait until morning in the suffocating dwarven tunnels. The trio sat down and enjoyed some small talk until the subject of leveling came to the table.

I think I should do another few night cleanups while were here, probably around the spot where I did it last time. Its a low effort way to get some levels. Do you both not mind spending a few more days in Sovuln?

Im still leeching off of your experience, wont complain about it. But youll have to come with me to make the candies.

Deal. What about you, Nicet? You can go without us if you dont want to wait, we should still be able to make it out

As long as its just a few days I am fine with it. I can keep studying the Ebb in the meantime even without my tools. Why the rush to level up though? Youre plenty powerful already, this is around the level where most people stop and enjoy a wealthy retirement, only pushing further when their three or four hundred years of lifespan runs out. Youre both pretty young, right?

Arent you too? Alith asked without thinking. Its true that he doesnt sound that old.

Am I? It depends, I will be fifty-eight next month. Not really old if we consider how long I still have to live and how old some people around us are, but Most beastmen my age are grandparents Seeing your childhood friends lose their hair and have grandchildren Sure doesnt make one feel young.

I never thought about this too much. Maybe because I dont really have many friends.

Or theyre already dead.

Sof Why are you staring at me?