Chapter 143: Enhance Crystal Vein
Before them stretched a cavern of crystals. At first glance, it looked like ice, but it glowed with a soft, ethereal blue that crept up the walls and even the ceiling.
A thin crack split the cave wall. From it, a trickle of spring water seeped out, dripping over several of the crystals.
"You’re saying these are Enhance Crystals?" Gara turned to Madha.
Madha nodded, his expression solemn. "It’s more than that... this isn’t just a deposit of Enhance Crystals, it’s like a natural refiner."
The tall man pointed toward a crystal touched by the water. Its shape was smaller, its glow far stronger than the rest.
"No one knows how long this deposit has been here," he continued. "But it looks like the landslide during the last rainy season shifted the earth.
The spring broke through the wall and spilled onto the crystals. The runoff carried down to the lower ground, eventually seeping into the river and that’s what caused the contamination."
Gara’s mind flicked to the crystal refinery planned for the Suruta Village’s mountain. If that refinery was ever built, Suruta might end up facing the same plight as Bota Village.
If the contamination truly came from this spring flowing through the crystals, then all they needed was to seal the water. As for the mine itself... truth be told, Gara wanted it for himself.
But crystal mine were no trivial matter. A single county could thrive for decades on just one mine.
"We should report this to the village chief." Madha voiced the more reasonable thought.
He started to turn, but the echo of rumbling hooves from deeper within the cavern cut him short. In a flash, he stepped protectively in front of Gara.
Fian and Gara fell into a stance, too.
Bathed in the crystal’s glow, they caught sight of two bulls charging straight at them.
Fian thrust out his hand, summoning jagged glacial spikes that burst from the ground, slowing the beasts’ momentum.
The moment the bulls crossed into range, Gara unleashed his Talent. Water surged from his hands.
Water slashes as sharp as razors struck their hides, while bursts of water bullets shot toward their eyes and legs. His aim wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to throw the beasts into disarray.
Before they could barrel past the crystals, Gara managed to bring one crashing down. The second, however, thundered straight into Madha.
Now Gara understood why Madha was always covered in wounds. The man fought like someone who had no fear of death.
Blood streamed from his arm and shoulder where the bull’s horns had gouged him, yet he hardly flinched. The effect of his Flesh Shield Talent dulled pain, yes, but it was also his sheer recklessness that carried him forward.
With Gara and Fian backing him up, the last bull finally collapsed.
Gara hurried to tend Madha’s injuries, though his eyes kept darting toward the cavern’s dark depths. Something was still lurking there.
"These bulls shouldn’t even be on this mountain, right?" Gara asked.
"They don’t belong here," Madha confirmed grimly. "And no human would raise Mystic Bulls. Only minotaurs would. If they’re here... then so are the minotaurs."
A heavy silence settled. If Gara wanted to claim this crystal mine, then the matter of the Mystic Bulls had to be dealt with first.
"Let’s go check deeper inside." Gara’s tone was resolute as he rose to his feet.
Madha immediately blocked his way. "We should report this first."
But Gara shook his head and laid his intentions bare to both Madha and Fian. Madha’s eyes widened in surprise, yet in the end, he didn’t forbid him.
"...Then I’ll check inside," Madha said at last.
"Don’t talk nonsense! One Mystic Bull nearly cost you your life!" Gara’s rejection was firm.
"But we can’t just march inside without scouting first," Madha countered.
Gara knew Madha was right. He had Woodland Camouflage for stealth, but without trees around, it was useless.
"If only we had a scout..." Gara muttered.
Something tugged at the edge of his shirt. He glanced to the side and found Fian staring at him with a serious expression.
"You want to scout? No! That’s too dangerous." Gara shot him down instantly.
It wasn’t just words. If Gara could do it himself, he would. But putting his friend in danger? Absolutely not.
Fian didn’t seem to care about his protests. With Ghost Walk, his form shimmered, then vanished right before Madha and Gara’s eyes.
Gara clenched his fists. He wanted to shout Fian’s name but stopped himself. Raising his voice in a cavern was a terrible idea.
"We need to follow him, Madha!" Gara took a step forward, but Madha held him back.
"Fian will be fine with his Ghost Walk. If we barge in and alert whatever’s inside, his life will be at even greater risk."
Madha’s reasoning was solid.
So Gara could only pace in frustration, his face drawn tight with worry. The glow of the crystals around them reflected his unease.
Madha noticed and gently reached for his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Don’t worry. I’ve been on the frontlines and seen battle up close. Trust me, Fian isn’t weak. In fact, he’s actually quite strong."
The words didn’t erase Gara’s anxiety completely, but they dulled the sharp edge of it.
Minutes later, Fian suddenly appeared at their side.
"You’re okay?" Gara rushed over and checked him from head to toe.
The old scars on Fian’s body had faded, and only the deepest ones remained visible. Gara didn’t want to see any new injuries added to them.
Fian nodded, his cheeks heating without realizing it.
Madha, seeing Fian’s red face, gently tugged Gara away. "He’s fine."
Fian quickly gave his report. "Five ordinary bulls. One’s huge, with three horns. And... a human-like skul with a bull’s head."
"That must be a minotaur skull," Madha guessed. "Which means there was minotaur here once, but he was already dead."
Gara let out a sigh of relief. So the cavern was unclaimed after all. All that remained was to deal with the six bulls.
The fiery gleam in Gara’s eyes didn’t escape Madha’s notice.
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