Chapter 349

Chapter 349

Ryan swung his pickaxe against the rocky formation before him, creating a loud clang that reverberated through the dimly lit chamber. When he attempted to pull it back, he discovered that the head of the pickaxe was lodged firmly in the stubborn rock. He yanked it, but it wouldn’t budge.

Frustrated, he planted his feet firmly and gave it another try, digging his heels into the ground for leverage. He pulled again, but the pickaxe remained stuck. Taking a deep breath, he paused to evaluate the situation, noticing how the jagged formation encased the head of the pickaxe.

He gathered his strength for one more pull, focusing on how the tool was wedged within the stone. With a determined grunt, he yanked hard, feeling the resistance give way just enough for the pickaxe to come free with a satisfying pop.

He stumbled backward but managed to regain his balance. The pickaxe swung free, and in its wake, a small cloud of dust rose, swirling gently in the dim light. With his other hand, Ryan wiped the sweat from his brow. 

He then stole a glance around the cavern. The other survivors continued swinging their pickaxes at the rock while the mechs stood guard, their powerful weapons aimed at them. One of the mechs spotted him looking at the guards and barked, his voice amplified by the speakers, “What are you staring at, you lazy bastard? Quit lollygagging!”

Ryan turned away, gritting his teeth in frustration. How he hated those bastards who made them labor in this damned place! He knew he could make a run for it, but whether he could escape the chamber before the mechs opened fire on him was an entirely different matter.

But even if he managed to get out of the chamber, where would he head next? The maze-like network of underground tunnels was vast, and without a map, navigating it was impossible. He would likely be discovered by either the bandits or the bugs, and he wasn’t sure which fate would be worse.

Ryan longed for the resistance to launch an attack on this chamber and free him and the other captives. If that happened, he would eagerly join them in their fight against Los Demonios. He didn’t know much about the resistance, and neither did the other captives. The scant information he had gathered about them came from eavesdropping on the bandits’ conversations.

According to what he had heard, the leader of the resistance was a woman named Samantha. She had been forced to work at Base Miller, where her defiant nature drove her to constantly sabotage the devices. Eventually, the guards discovered it was she who had been messing with the machines and sent her to the main base. There, she was supposed to be turned into one of the cybernetic monsters the bandits created in the tech lab.

However, she somehow managed to escape, though he had no idea how she pulled it off. The bandits attempted to find her but were unsuccessful. Since then, she had been hiding away in the deeper sections of the mines. Eventually, the bandits ceased their search, determining that she must have been killed by the giant bugs that dwelled in the depths below.

To everyone’s surprise, Samantha eventually showed up, attacking one of the guards who, for some reason, was alone. After killing the bandit, she took his weapons and vanished, only to reappear later to ambush a small group of bandits. For a time, she continued her hunt, attacking various groups of bandits and consistently slipping into the deeper sections of the underground tunnels before reinforcements could arrive.

Eventually, Samantha succeeded in freeing some of the captured survivors, equipping them with weapons taken from the bandits she had slain before. This marked the birth of the resistance. Since then, she and her team have carried out successful attacks against Los Demonios

No one was certain how she achieved all that on her own or how the resistance could consistently attack the bandits while evading capture. Rumor had it the resistance was hidden within the underground tunnels beneath the mines. However, these tunnels were a dangerous area, teeming with human-sized bugs. Even the mechs were reluctant to enter unless absolutely necessary. Nobody knew exactly how the resistance managed to survive down there in the pitch-black tunnels where only bugs resided. 

The captives speculated endlessly about all of this, hoping that the resistance would soon liberate them and finally put an end to Los Demonios. However, as a realist, Ryan knew that it was easier said than done. To take down the main base, the resistance first needed to make their way through the mines and locate the elevator that could transport them to the main base, situated underground but above the mines. Breaking through all the guards to the elevator would be no simple feat, for sure.

Unlike many other captured survivors, Ryan didn’t believe the resistance stood a real chance of dismantling Los Demonios and liberating the main base. However, if given the opportunity to join their ranks, he would gladly take it. Despite recognizing that the resistance likely couldn’t defeat Los Demonios on their own, he still wanted to fight back against those bastards, knowing that even small efforts could make a difference.

“Get back to work, you lazy asshole, or I’ll kick your ass,” shouted the same voice as before, snapping Ryan back to reality. He shot a brief glare at the guard who had shouted at him. He would do anything for an opportunity to fight back against those bastards! If he had even the faintest clue about where the resistance was located, he would have attempted to escape and find them long ago. 

He returned his attention to the rock face. As he examined it, a glint caught his eye. He moved closer, brushing away the dust to reveal the surface of a shimmering mana crystal embedded in the rock. Leaning in, he continued to break through the surface.

With each strike, more of the sparkling mana crystal was revealed. He worked diligently for several more minutes, engrossed in the task of freeing the crystal from the surrounding rock. He became so absorbed that he didn’t notice the heavy footsteps behind him until they were almost right on him.

Ryan was about to turn around when a heavy metal hand gripped his shoulder.

“Let’s go, scum,” the same voice that had threatened him earlier said. “You’re coming with me.”