Lassim looked around, his heart swelling with relief. Six months of relentless effort, learning, and cooperation had culminated in this moment. The entire underground network was now enveloped in what he had dubbed the "Sanctuary Project."
As he activated the final barrier, a gentle hum filled the air, a sound of peace that resonated through the caverns. The light from the barriers interlaced, forming a protective and rejuvenating grid that dispersed into a mist that connected and spanned the entirety of the Drow’s underground realm.
"[It’s completed]," Lassim announced, his voice echoing with a mix of exhaustion and triumph. The Drow around him erupted into cheers, their faces alight with hope and gratitude.
For the first time in generations, they felt no presence of corruption in their own home, protected by the sanctuaries that Lassim had helped them create.
The air vibrated with a sense of accomplishment from all the volunteers that took turns assisting and maintaining the network of barrier poles. They had, at one point three months in, ran out of poles, but thankfully Master Tolen was able to craft additional poles.
Lassim’s initial estimate of completion was extended due to that, but the community helped mine more ore where necessary to make more. They still need to make more poles for the rest of the realm, but it was a daily process being maintained now.
The cavern that had once echoed with whispers of resignation to their fate and feral survival at any means now buzzed with serenity, kindness, and celebration.
Lassim, Sanvra, and Master Tolen now stood together, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of the newly activated barriers that spread like a network of stars throughout the tunnels.
This small celebration was modest yet heartfelt, with the Drow community sharing their now less than meager supplies more generously than ever, invigorated by the recent changes that allowed the growth of tons of foods. Meat proteins were still in short supply, but Lassim’s dried meats were shared among everyone for this moment.
Laughter and chatter filled the air, a stark contrast to the usual oppressive silence that had dominated these spaces.
Sanvra, holding a cup of the freshly purified water, raised it in a toast. "[To our star, who brought us a way to purify our home," she announced, her voice echoing off the stone walls.
Lassim smiled, accepting the gesture with a nod. "[And to all of you, who helped turn this idea into a reality]," he replied, his eyes scanning the crowd, who responded with cheers and raised cups.
As the celebration wound down a bit later, Lassim’s thoughts turned to the world above.
He leaned closer to Sanvra and Tolen, his voice tinged with concern. "[While we’ve made great strides here, I’ve been wondering about the surface. It’s been six months since I’ve been up there, but we haven’t really checked the broader conditions. The cold was harsh last I remember; I’m curious if anything’s changed.]"
Sanvra nodded thoughtfully. "You’re right. We’ve been so focused on securing our home here, it might be time to look upward. We need to understand if the corruption has been contained or if it has spread further. There’s been some hunting teams that have organized to bring back game during this time, but as far as I’m aware they haven’t reported anything significant.]"
Master Tolen chimed in, "[The hunting teams have been managing, as I’ve still been working with some of my new apprentices to restore and sharpen their weapons as needed, but a thorough check could do us good. You could take one up with a few scouts and one of the teams; get a real gauge of things.]"
Lassim agreed, his determination clear, "[That’s a good idea. We should be prepared for whatever we find, though. It could be more than just the cold waiting for us up there if the plant life has flourished just as much up there as it has down here.]"
"[I shall organize a scouting party then]," suggested Sanvra. "[We’ll need provisions, and our best trackers to see if we can find some animals to check for changes.]"
They spent the remainder of the evening making preparations, discussing routes, potential dangers, and safety protocols.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.
As the cavern slowly emptied, the gravity of their next undertaking settled in, mixing anticipation with a slight unease of needing to venture back into the cold surface again.
The following morning, Lassim stood ready at the entrance of one of the lesser-used hunter paths that led to the surface. This one is different from the main entrance from the priestess’ building he initially arrived from. They chose this tunnel specifically due to the recent signs of tracks from beasts that a scout had previously reported spotting nearby.
The chill from the tunnel hinted that the surface still held harsh conditions above.
"[Alright]," he addressed the small, well-equipped team, "[let’s find out what awaits us on the surface.]"
Together, they began their ascent, their lamps cutting through the darkness, casting long shadows that danced on the rocky walls as they moved toward the cold unknown.
Emerging onto the frigid surface, Lassim and the scouting party were greeted by a world that seemed locked in perpetual winter.
As the icy wind whipped around them on the bleak surface, Lassim stood firm, feeling an internal warmth that countered the harsh environment. Wrapped in his enchanted cold-resistant clothing, he was far more prepared than during his capture where the rope had been draining him dry. But it was not just the garments that insulated him against the biting cold.
His mana levels, now significantly enhanced, provided an additional, potent layer of protection.
Having advanced to Spirit Growth level 6 in the last six months, Lassim’s ability to regulate his internal energy and the amount stored within him had vastly improved.
This remarkable resilience was a sign of his rapid progression in spirit cultivation, a journey that had accelerated extraordinarily in the past six months since delving into the depths of the Drow’s underground realm and engaging with its unique and cleansed mana.
The cold that once seeped into his bones, leaving him shivering and weakened, now felt like nothing more than a cool breeze brushing against his skin.
The sky above was a tapestry of dark clouds and the occasional gleam of moonlight, casting an ethereal glow on the snow-covered landscape. Despite the harsh conditions, there was a noticeable change in the environment, particularly around the area directly above the Drow’s underground sanctuaries.
Lassim knelt beside a cluster of trees near the entrance they had just used. He noted the subtle yet significant transformations in the flora.
The trees, which had previously shown signs of withering, brittleness and frostbite, now bore the beginnings of new life. Their roots appeared more robust, peeking through the snow cover, and although the branches were still largely bare, the promise of new leaves hinted at a healthiness that had been absent before.
"[Look at this,]" Lassim called out to the team, pointing towards the roots. "[The energy from our barriers seems to have seeped through to the surface. It’s not just protecting our underground; it’s rejuvenating life up here too.]"
Sanvra, who had followed close behind, examined the trees, her eyes reflecting both wonder and scientific curiosity. "[This could mean the cleansing energy is more potent and far-reaching than we anticipated.]" She pulled out her notepad, scribbling down observations and sketching the subtle changes in the bark and foliage.
One of the scouts, a seasoned hunter familiar with the region’s flora, chimed in, "[I’ve never seen the trees have this kind of life to them since I was born here. It’s like they’re preparing for spring.]"
Encouraged by these observations, the team fanned out to document other signs of environmental recovery.
They measured the thickness of the ice at a nearby stream, took samples of the soil, and recorded the condition of other plant species that had begun to poke through the snow covered floor. Each data point collected was a piece of the puzzle, indicating how the cleansing from below might be influencing the surface.
He pondered aloud, "[If we can expand and set up an area with poles up here, we might see the surface begin to thaw properly. Sanvra, do you have any recommendations on where to set up the poles?]"
Sanvra paused, her gaze shifting from the frozen expanse to the map clutched in her gloved hands. "[Just a moment…,]" she murmured, her breath visible in the cold air as she consulted with the hunting team that had accompanied them.
The hunters, familiar with the terrain, gathered around her, pointing out specific areas on the map where the ley lines on it related to the actual surface. They also showed her the different parts of the ground that showed signs of subtle life.
The team moved from point to point, each member checking the soil and the base of trees, measuring the ambient mana fluctuations with devices that hummed softly in the frigid silence.
Sanvra listened intently, occasionally nodding or adjusting the markers on her map based on their feedback.
"[Here, and here,]" she finally announced, tapping on two spots on the map with a decisive finger. "[These areas have shown the most promising shifts in mana flow and plant resilience. Setting up the poles in these locations should maximize their effectiveness and potentially catalyze a wider environmental recovery.]"
Lassim nodded, satisfied with her thoroughness. "[Excellent, let’s focus our efforts on these areas and get started then. It’ll give us a solid starting point to test the surface impact of our sanctuary network.]"
With their initial survey complete, Lassim and the team prepared to set up the array before they explored further.