Chapter 19 - Tunnel

Tunnel

They ran toward the opening of the tunnel, sneaking around the lumps of ogre mass and the statue. The clouds were thundering as if threatening the players with the wrath of the Hidden Python. 

"What is this?" Orin was bewildered by the amazing realistic design of the game. The black clouds seemed ready to fell on their heads. 

The sky looked like it had descended from the heavens above, ready to crush them. 

"Let's not worry about these clouds for some time. We have this tunnel here to hide." Junan pacified the raising concerns. 

He was just as equally stunned as the others. 

All of them shifted their attention toward the dark tunnel. The inside was pitch black and they could not tell what was making the buzzing sounds. 

"Does anyone have torchlight or anything that could bring light to the surrounding?" Junan asked eagerly because he had some bad premonition regarding the current dark situation that they were put in.

The buzzing sounds were familiar because they had encountered these in the very first colony. The memory of the numerous snakes and the disgusting amount of poison was still fresh in their minds. 

"Actually I collected a ladybird as the fifth weapon because it looked so much cute," Sashi said hesitantly, breaking the silence. 

For the very first time, the male players wanted to praise this female player for picking a cute weapon. 

Sashi tugged the antenna and the ladybird weapon lit up, bringing some glow in the deep dark tunnel. 

"I wish I had not seen such a thing." Albert held his guts inside tightly. There were several holes in the sidewalls and several hundred heads were sneaking out. "When will these snakes leave me alone?" Albert spat with utter disgust. 

"Shut up look at the far corner," Junan said grimly, motioning with his eyebrows to reel their attention to the main object.

They immediately caught the grim tone of the team head and followed. Something was thumping like a heart and several snakes were guarding it in a circle. 

"I am sure that this is the most precious part of the Hidden Python as the signs point out. Else there is no reason for it to be kept under care and guard. Probably lizard army and the ape were also protecting this thing." Junan counted all the events in one line and deliberated mulling over the conclusion. 

"I have no reason to deny this conclusion. What else can it be?" Albert shook his head. 

The dark tunnel and those crawling snakes were proof of the importance of the thumping object. 

"If it is important then we are obliged to destroy it." Orin added. He was excited that they finally found a rather important clue that could rationally lead their level. 

The tunnel was not small enough to simply throw grenades and get rid of it. They had to wade between the snakes and reach the object. The mere distance was enough to bring sweat on their foreheads. 

Just as Junan stepped ahead the snakes started buzzing as if threatening them. Their heads swayed poisonous tongues. The players formed a better formation. Junan gestured the youngest player to remain at his back and use the gun when needed. The Shieldman was covering the right side in case the snakes suddenly approached. 

Three players were ordered to protect the right side wall. Their controls were fast and they could kill snakes at the fastest pace possible. The last player was clearing snakes while the team head was stepping ahead toward the object. His long sword could stab the object from some safe distance. 

They heard a loud bang outside the tunnel and got scared out of their wits; their imaginations running wild. In many games when the players reach something important, the guardian spirit or the real in-game owner comes to kill the players. That was expected. 

"Hell! Is the tunnel going to collapse on our heads?" Albert was the first one to speak out among the terrorised.

Jake was also terrified. He immediately looked at the clue and heaved a sigh of relief. According to the system information the Hidden Python cannot personally come to save the third Heart. They cleared the colony and presently there was no threat other than the snakes. 

"Should we take a look?" Orin asked the Team head. 

They all looked at the team head. 

"See the entrance of the tunnel," he gestured towards it, "even if the opponent is standing on the door, it cannot walk in so we would not be walking out unless the object is destroyed." Junan made a strong decision. 

The sound outside was really alarming especially with the wild thoughts but the team head did not budge an inch from his decision.

They understood the intentions of the team head. "This object is of extreme importance. Destroying it would decrease the strength of the opponent. I am sure." Junan stepped ahead with new enthusiasm budding in his chest. After a very long time, he had managed to meet something worthwhile. The glint in his eyes was increasing with each step. 

The snakes were trying their utmost efforts. Slowly the body count of the dead snakes was increasing on the ground. The team players were very diligent when it came to killing a mass number of small ogres. Their hand movements were agile and their collaboration was set by their knowledgeable team head. 

The leading Gofer felt the screeching sound from above the ceiling. Before he could even look up Junan grabbed him from the back of his shirt and pulled him back. A complete wall fell on the floor blocking the further part of the tunnel. It was a thick wall of grey coloured rock. 

"Where is the hammer boy? Come it is your turn." Junan said quickly.                

Using any type of blast material would not leave them a chance of coming alive from the tunnel so hammering was the best option for now. The player came forward while others retreated making room for him; some of them were still busy with killing the snakes. The wall was strong, however, the weapon matched with the suitability of usage. Every weapon was designed specifically so that the players would not keep worrying about what weapon to use for what. It was all up to the serene choice of weapons and how the players would use them in the game at various places. 

This type of restriction was pretty much boring for those who have taste for customizing their own weapons.. However, the players were given chance with seventy-fiveweapon categories along with several hundred subcategories.