Survey, Stone Echo, and Sixth Sense combined to paint a detailed picture of everything near him. He left the yellow overlay visible in case the dim light completely disappeared.
The tunnel to the main cavern angled slightly downward, and a small pipe ran along the bottom right edge in a depression made for it. The pipe connected to the lake and transported oil down the tunnel. The two hundred feet from the lake to the main cavern felt much longer with nothing to hide him. He missed his Observer Skills that had given him some options for remaining unnoticed.
But Ruwen’s map overlay gave him the confidence to continue, displaying no one near the exit of the tunnel. His Mana dropped by twenty-five as he finished the three second cast for Grasp Crate. It would help counteract the slickness of the oil that dripped off his arms and covered his hands in case he needed to use a Bamboo Step.
Crouching, and trusting the accuracy of the map overlay, Ruwen moved out of the tunnel and behind a stack of crates twice his height. The cavern’s ceiling was only thirty feet from the surface. He focused on the air in front of him and pictured the magnifying glass of Analyze. Four seconds later it returned.
Target: Methane Blend
Type: Resource
Components: Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Sulfide
Health: Asphyxiant
Alchemy: Flammable (requires 12% Oxygen)
Uses: Explosives, Fire
The air here would kill him if not for his Fresh Air spell, and it explained why the Stone Breaker’s armor and weapons were bronze. Neither would create a spark and cause an accidental fire. Sixth Sense provided him a detailed breakdown of the air components and only trace amounts of oxygen were present. It appeared they wanted the oxygen levels too low here to worry about an explosion.
Analyze had proven useful, but the four second delay already irritated Ruwen. Rarely would he have four seconds to wait for critical information, and he felt foolish for not recognizing that immediately. Many fights would be over in that timeframe. He added another four Ability Points to Analyze, advancing it to level five and making it instant.
Verifying on the map overlay that no one had wandered too close, Ruwen peeked out from around the crates. In the middle of the cavern, the twenty oblong structures sat evenly spaced in a large circle. A cord or rope exited each one and led to man-sized rectangle structure in the center. The entire thing looked like a wheel and spokes. The pipe from the oil lake ended in the central rectangle.
A robed man stood staring at the central rectangle, and four other robed figures moved between the twenty tubs. The remaining ten people all looked like Fighters and most sat or napped. They certainly didn’t look like they expected trouble.
He focused on the nearest oblong tub and triggered Analyze. Information immediately appeared.
Target: Naktos Revival Pool
Type: Structure
Strengths: High Durability
Weaknesses: Resource Dependent, Power Connection
Uses: Recreate a Naktos follower with last synchronized values.
The only other tunnel in the cavern was to Ruwen’s left, and it sloped downward past the range of Stone Echo. It probably led to sleeping quarters and more Fighters. His Perception confirmed what he’d guessed. The five cloaked figures around the central circle were Naktos equivalent of Priests. The remaining Naktos Class equivalents were one Observer, two Mages, two Workers, and five Fighters.
While most of those present ranged from level fifteen to twenty-five, two of the Fighters, one Mage, and the central Priest were over level fifty. Even with the vast difference in level, Ruwen believed he could defeat one of those higher-level enemies one on one. The benefits of his Fortification, his dual Class, and all the extra Attribute Points made him far stronger than what his level appeared.
But four of them at the same time would be almost impossible.
Ruwen spoke to Rami. I think it’s time to go. We can come back later with a larger force.
Those added points in Wisdom have finally resulted in some common sense.
As Ruwen moved toward the tunnel, a metal door fell from the entrance top and slammed into the ground. His heart raced, and he forced himself to calm down. Had they discovered him?
Chapter 19
Stone Echo showed little movement and none toward Ruwen’s location. He Analyzed the door.
Target: Security Gate
Type: Structure
Strengths: Extreme Durability, Elemental Resistance
Weaknesses: Anchor Points, Acid
Uses: War grade protection impervious to elemental attacks and blunt force.
“Hey! What are you doing?” a male voice shouted.
Ruwen returned to the side of the crate and peered around it. One of the high-level Fighters had stepped up to the outer circle. The methane sack around his neck looked too big, and Ruwen thought he looked like a rooster.
The Priest in the middle, who Ruwen figured was probably the High Priest here, responded. “Two of your Fighters just queued for revival. We might be under attack.”
“Who?” Rooster asked.
“Chummo and Zhano,” the High Priest said.
Ruwen ducked back behind the crate as Rooster looked in his direction. He cursed himself for not thinking the death of those guards through. Of course the people guarding this mobile temple would bind here. So much for common sense.
“They were guarding the oil,” Rooster said. “Open the door and we’ll investigate.”
“No,” the High Priest said. “We follow protocol. Naster, the Digger.”
Ruwen peered around the crates again and watched as the high-level Mage named Naster summoned what looked like an arm-sized porcupine worm. The High Priest opened the cover on the pipe leading to the oil, and Naster shoved the Digger into the pipe. Closing his eyes, the Mage stood very still.
“The Digger has reached the lake,” Naster said. “Moving it to the surface. I see no enemies on shore.”
“Misting the cavern,” the High Priest said
