Chapter 1718 Hide
Emery's heart raced, uncertain about how long Commander Shepherd could keep the dark elves at bay. While he deeply respected the commander's abilities, Emery was pragmatic enough to know he couldn't rely solely on another's strength to protect them. The presence of a dark elf who could wield space magic complicated matters further. That particular enemy could potentially bypass many conventional defenses, making escape that much more challenging.
As Emery's boots touched solid ground after traversing the treacherous lava sea, he didn't waste a second. The air around him shimmered, and in a brief, dazzling display, a dozen [Mineralized Warriors] appeared. These warriors were summoned with an infusion of a substantial amount of spirit energy. All scatter in different directions in the hope to mislead their pursuers.
Still, Emery was seasoned enough to know that diversions it most probably not enough to fool these dark elves. He turned his attention to Atlas and said "You've mapped all the surrounding caves, haven't you?"
From behind him, a series of mechanical sounds signaled a confirmation, and Emery swiftly ordered "Show me the entrances to the most complex and deepest ones."
Atlas's eye illuminated brightly. They projected holographic representations of five different cave entrances, all within a hundred-mile radius. The intricate details showed not just entrances but branching paths within. Without hesitation, he dashed toward one of them while his [Mineralized Warrior] under his mental command, dispersed towards the other entrances.
The cave's gravitational anomalies could distort any magic or tracking ability trying to pinpoint them. With this added layer of protection, Emery felt a tad more confident. Still, he wasn't taking any chances. From his pouch, he retrieved three vials containing the advanced [Concealment Potion]. With a brief nod to Master Borin and Atlas, the three of them quickly downed the contents.
A few moments passed in silence, before Master Borin, looking increasingly agitated, broke the quiet. His eyes darted around nervously, and he rasped, "Are they still after us?"
While Emery had taken some possible precautions, the nagging feeling of uncertainty still gnawed at him. The unpredictability of the dark elves and the unknown capabilities of their space magic made it impossible to determine just how long they had before they would be found.
The group soon reached a vast chamber, its walls stretching out into a maze of tunnels. Here he produced a potion, the newly invented tier 6 [Cthulhu Bombs]. Emery planted the bomb in strategic locations, ensuring they were hidden from plain sight but would trigger upon sensing any magic or movement.
Emery then beckoned more of his [Mineralized Warriors] to come forth, directing them to explore various tunnels, creating more diversions and possible routes of escape. Meanwhile, Emery himself was drawn to a tunnel that appeared to delve deep toward the southwestern core of the planet.
Their cautious descent was interrupted when a deafening explosion echoed through the tunnels, causing them to vibrate violently. The sound reverberated off the cave walls, signaling the detonation of the [Cthulhu Bombs]. The very ground beneath their feet trembled, and dust and debris filled the air.
Emery took a moment to process the implications. While the explosion confirmed that the dark elves were in hot pursuit, the resultant cave-ins and blockages could very well have sealed off some passages, granting them a brief reprieve.
Navigating the labyrinthine tunnels, with Atlas's detailed maps as their guide, they moved without doing any action that require a substantial amount of spirit energy while moving away as far as possible.
Hours passed, and the trio had covered an impressive distance, putting approximately 300 miles between them and the citadel. Finally, they found themselves in a cavernous space, its perimeter marked by the presence of orc and Drider nests.
"We should be safe here," Emery whispered, scanning the surroundings. He turned to Master Borin, his face etched with exhaustion, "Rest. We'll need our strength."
Master Borin, however, was restless. The chase had left him on edge. Instead, he opted to inspect Atlas. Emery watched as the blacksmith master's hands danced over the machine, identifying parts that needed repairs or replacements. Ever the resourceful mage, Emery extended his hand, producing various mechanical components from his storage ring.
As they toiled over Atlas's repairs, Emery's mind couldn't help but wander to the contents of his storage ring. Among the many artifacts and relics, one item weighed heavily on his mind: the [Revenant] spaceship.? It lacked the advanced cloaking technology found in the Nephilim ship but boasted other unique features being a dark elf ship. Launching it, however, was fraught with risks.
Despite the blacksmith master's expertise and help, Emery found himself reluctant to reveal the ship. Its existence was something he considered a last resort, an option only to be used when all others had failed. Emery decided not to let Master Borin temper with it and just keep it hidden for now.
An hour of meticulous work passed, and with Master Borin's skilled hands, he was able to restore Atlas's sensory functions and its voice module, allowing it to communicate clearly once more.
"Good work," Emery murmured, offering a nod of approval. His eyes shifted to the now-repaired Atlas. "With this, we can finally pursue your friend, Eeshoo."
Before the machine could process a response or even blink its newly restored lights in acknowledgment, the ground shook violently beneath them. An echoing blast resonated throughout the caverns,? its ominous roar surprised them.
Master Borin's face turned ashen, and he exclaimed in a panic, "How?! How did they find us?!"
Emery closed his eyes momentarily, taking a deep, steadying breath. Fortunately, he had set up a trap just before they decided to take a rest.
Yet despite the meticulous strategies, the carefully laid traps, the diversions, the concealment, and the winding escape routes through the caverns, it seemed their pursuers remained only steps behind.
He began to consider the worst. Perhaps these elves had unique tracking abilities. Or there was an even more sinister reason for their unerring pursuit.
A daunting hypothesis came to mind, a theory once posited by his late mentor, Master Flemming. The dark elves might possess the terrifying capability to trace souls, pinpointing their exact location no matter where on the planet they might be.
Emery's fists clenched as frustration welled within him. The haunting memory of the procedure they had undergone before being sent to this planet resurfaced in his memory.
His brow furrowed in irritation. Escape seemed impossible and the nagging question persisted: how could they possibly elude a foe with such uncanny tracking prowess?
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