Soul of Burning Steel

"Let Lisa and the others take the lead again."

deep and dark underground,

Starfall March 2, 837, Moldavia, unnamed underground tunnel.

The bright light of the pyroxene lamp swayed in the corridor, and with the sound of footsteps, five figures walking slowly could be seen reflected on the wall of the corridor.

This is an unknown tunnel nearly a thousand meters deep underground in Moldavia. In order not to consume oxygen and beware of possible flammable gases, this team of people wearing mage robes carefully used pyroxene lamps that do not require oxygen as lighting tools. Every time they walk a certain distance, they will carefully use magic to detect the situation of the tunnel in front of them, so as to avoid accidental collapse or collapse of the corridor-although it is said that the collapse will not kill these mages with high-level silver strength, but I want to They are still a little powerless to return to the ground from the thousand-meter-deep ground, so they can only wait for the rescue of their mentor.

There is no doubt that that is definitely not the result that this team wants to get.

"Oh, there's really no way, after all, Number One is with her."

In the tunnel, a rather rough voice suddenly complained: "It's really her luck that she was able to find the first entrance to the underground world in the entire empire."

The owner of this voice is a dwarf. He carried a pyroxene lamp in his hand and chattered endlessly: "The points reward for the first discoverer is three times that of others, plus the rewards for discovering Jilaner Crystal Grass and Moonlight Crystal. In this new school year, It’s going to be hard for us to be number one.”

"Nick, don't keep knocking down the morale of your own people!"

On the side, a rather dissatisfied female voice reprimanded: "Although Lisa has the advantage of being the starter, she didn't confirm the specific ecological map of the underground world, and she came back directly without drawing a road map... We have a lot of opportunities to overtake her! "

"Come on, Karin, there is a gap of at least 5,000 credits. How long will it take us to make up for it?"

It is estimated that the long-term underground exploration made the two of them rather boring. This time they found an opportunity and quarreled with each other. I saw Nick and Karin carefully scouting the way forward while refuting each other's doubts. Behind the person, a man and a woman who looked like brothers and sisters were also communicating with each other softly at this time.

"Brother, our dragon's appetite is getting bigger and bigger... Half of the rewards from the last mission went into its stomach."

Amira's tone was helpless. The girl with platinum-blonde hair was holding a strange grass plant that looked like a trumpet—this is a commonly used magic plant for underground exploration, and it can quickly convert oxygen under the stimulation of magic power. , lest the exploration team be unable to move forward due to lack of oxygen. She said to her brother rather sadly: "If this continues, we may be eaten up by it."

"My sister, it's not that maybe, we are already poor, otherwise I would have been able to change to a new staff last time."

The object of the girl's complaints was a young man with platinum-blonde long hair who was holding a somewhat broken staff in his right hand. He was standing at the end of the line, holding a magic drawing in his left hand, which automatically recorded the situation of the corridor that the team walked along the way. , Ivan showed the same helpless expression as his sister: "My lord said, because our dragon's talent is far superior to that of the same kind, the food intake of our dragon is three times that of ordinary white dragons... It ate magic crystals worth 150 credits in two days, Plus 200 pounds of monster meat, no matter how quickly our team completes the mission, it won’t be able to eat it as fast as it!”

Alva, who was standing aside, did not join the conversation. He was holding a compass-like instrument, frowning, and muttering something softly.

"It's strange. We've gone 1,800 meters deep into the ground, and instead of reducing the concentration of magic power, it has soared four times... Where exactly did No. 1 dig? Is it a giant magic crystal vein?"

It can be seen that the Seventh Prince could not understand the data displayed by the instrument in his hand, but he did not find any signs of danger, so he continued to explore with his partners with doubts.

The five people walking underground were the students of Joshua, the first team of Winterhold Academy.

At this time, more than 50 squads have joined the ranks of underground exploration in the College of Cold Winter Castle. Teams of well-prepared and well-equipped spellcasters brought their magic pets, puppets, and even contract elements into the mysterious mosque. The first team was undoubtedly the one that went the farthest and the deepest except for the tunnel digger No. 1.

The five members of the first team are all among the best in the academy. Except for the newly enrolled prince Alva, the others have been enrolled for about five years. Under the education of many elite tutors, these five years have allowed them to From an ordinary person to a high-level silver spellcaster, it only takes a little bit and a chance to successfully touch the golden barrier.

A large number of senior silver students who are under 20 years old and have a great chance of advancing to gold - although such an unbelievable success rate has the convenience brought by the Great Demon Tide, we must also admit the superior education of Winterhold College system. In addition, it is not without reason that the empire and Moldavia have increased funding year after year, because even students who are not very capable and may not be able to advance to gold have sufficient knowledge reserves, whether as Experts in magical creatures, or researchers of magic technology, have their own skills.

In fact, if it weren't for these students, it would be absolutely impossible for the Moldavian Territory to build so many magic factories.

"The concentration of magic power is not a problem, but we can make money by discovering the veins."

Hearing Alva's murmur, Ivan walked forward, and he jumped over a small mound of collapsed stars with everyone, shrugged and replied: "Didn't Lisa and the others discover the moonlight because of the abnormal fluctuation of magic power?" Crystal veins? The reward of 2500 credits is enough to buy a whole set of the latest generation of magic mechs, which is really enviable."

The underground exploration is really too boring. It is always a dark corridor, and the brown-gray soil and rocks are a big test for the psychological quality of the explorers. Therefore, in order to avoid mental problems caused by long-term boring exploration, everyone in the first team will Have some discussions now and then to avoid distraction.

While chatting like this, they continued to walk along the downward corridor for a certain distance, and everyone came to the depths of the ground nearly two kilometers away.

"Wait, something's wrong, it's been weird from the very beginning!" Suddenly, the dwarf Nick who was walking in the front whispered, his expression was solemn, and then suddenly became very bad: "No, it seems that this is not the first dig... ..."

Before the next words could be said, in an instant, the tunnel at the bottom of everyone's feet collapsed like a collapsed layer of ice, and the fragile soil layer was mixed with scattered rocks, falling downwards, and at the moment of such an unexpected situation, Everyone in the No. 1 team immediately showed extremely strong qualities.

"Levitation!" "Detect life!" "Nitrogen barrier!"

Before they fell for a second, the five people stopped in mid-air under the effect of the levitation technique, and a layer of light blue atmospheric barrier also appeared around them, turning into an indestructible wall to resist all attacks. At this time, Amira's eyes were shining with red light. She frowned and said quickly to her surrounding partners: "A large number of life forms responded! We should have come to the underground world that Lisa and the others discovered!"

"The corridor just now is much smaller than the previous one. It should not be excavated by No. 1, but excavated by the local creatures themselves!"

Nick hurriedly said what he hadn't said before. He took out a battle-axe-shaped wand from his waist. There was an obvious trigger on the handle of the axe. Large alchemical bullets with 'Freeze' and 'Blast' runes, and stuffed into God knows whether it's an axe, wand or hand gun, and made perfect battle preparations: "But whatever it is, wait Eat my elemental bomb!"

All kinds of enhanced magic began to faintly appear around the dwarf, and everyone else was also prepared accordingly.

Unlike before, the first team, which has experienced many battles, has already planned the preparations for fighting in any sudden situation. It is just a sudden collapse. Before starting the underground exploration, they have already prepared the corresponding plan. According to As a preliminary plan, even if they encounter a dracolich living in seclusion underground, they are confident that they will be able to escape.

But obviously, they don't need to fight against the dracolich whose strength is usually hovering between the peak of gold and the first level of extreme intention. Under the light, I could clearly see the huge underground space behind the collapse.

The shimmering slime mold, the swarm of underground bats panicking because of the loud noise, the abnormally thick fluctuations in magic power, and the strange but extremely regular sound of 'crawling'.

"decline?"

"Of course, aren't we here to explore the underground world!"

The accident happened, but the group was safe and sound, and found the destination of their party directly. Although the five people were excited, they suppressed this double joy. Relieved, approached the ground, and finally landed on the mound formed by the collapse.

"This is the underground world? It feels a little empty."

Alva looked around and sighed with emotion: "I thought it would be a mushroom forest, or an environment similar to a worm's nest...I didn't expect it to be so simple."

As he said that, he planned to take a step forward and take a closer look, but then, Ivan stretched out his hand and grabbed him.

Alva turned his head suspiciously, but what he saw was Ivan's serious face.

"Hostile."

The moment after these words were spoken, Alva's pupils shrank slightly, and he also suddenly felt a faint but extremely solid hostility—even murderous intent—that was rapidly moving toward everyone on his side. gather.

"Dum!"

Nick turned the pyroxene lamp in his hand without hesitation, and shone it in the direction of hostility. Immediately, he could see countless black and brown insects fleeing from the fungus under the light, and the next moment, In the dark depths where the light cannot reach, in the dim light emitted by the fungus, two golden lights suddenly lit up.

Soon, these two o'clock became four o'clock, eight o'clock, ten o'clock... A few seconds later, more than thirty golden light spots approached the crowd silently and came within the range of the lights.

It's a snake... No, it's this size, it should be said 'python'.

More than a dozen black pythons over twenty meters long slowly crawled out of the darkness. They exuded strange fluctuations of magic power throughout their bodies, as if they could absorb the surrounding light, accompanied by the clacking sound made by their bodies rubbing against rocks. ’, the indifferent snake eyes of the giant pythons scanned the five people in front of them. These strange creatures living deep in the ground opened their huge mouths full of sharp teeth to everyone, and let out a silent scream.

Suddenly, the dark brown magic power surged, and the soil around the first team began to deform rapidly, turning into sharp thorn rock blades, pressing towards everyone!

"start fighting!"

Without any tension, the first team, which has experienced hundreds of battles and even slaughtered all the sharks and lizards along the coast of the extreme arctic ice sheet, has long been accustomed to attacking and being attacked. This sudden battle in the underground world has long been in their hands expected.

Rather, this is why someone's disciples are looking forward to this dangerous exploration so much.

...

"Karin, add fire."

Deep underground, in the middle of a messy battle scene, the exhausted five members of the first team lit a bonfire.

The dwarf Nick, who had already set up the barbed wire grill and smeared it with olive oil, was carrying something beside him. When he returned to the simple set up kitchen utensils, the red-haired girl beside him skillfully lit the frying pan under the iron plate. The fire was raging.

Noisy, suddenly, the familiar oily fragrance appeared in the underground world, but this fragrance did not spread, but was bound within a certain range by magic.

On the other side, brothers and sisters Ivan and Amira also came from a distance. Their arms were full of washed luminescent fungi and various strange herbs.

"It's so lucky, there are still white Kaman grass growing here, this thing is the main material of energy potion." The young man said with emotion.

"Compared to the Jilaner Crystal Grass that Lisa and the others found, this thing is worthless." The girl shook her head.

On the other side, the prince Alva was skillfully using his short knife to quickly dissect the corpse of the python carried by Nick.

The technology obtained by dismantling countless sharks and lizards is no different when it is applied to the giant python. The ex-prince, now the adventurer is using the superb knife skills he inherited from the royal family to the extreme. In just a few seconds, the skin is tough. The giant python, whose muscles were knotted like tree roots, was better than steel, and he easily disintegrated it into smooth and firm strips of meat.

"Is the sauce ready?"

"It's ready, and the seasoning is the same."

"The meat is also cut."

"Okay, leave it to me next!"

Everything was ready, and the dwarf's eyes flashed brightly. He used magic to fetch the snake meat that Alva had cut up from the air, and then took out the iron rods from his waist pocket and inserted them. Put it on the wire grill that is already hot.

【Pu burning underground python】

[Required raw materials: an unnamed underground python]

[200 grams of sugar]

【Salt and pepper 150g】

【Holy Water of Life 50g】

[200 grams of sauce]

[Detox magic (twice)]

【Kamen White Grass Powder 50g】

【Glowing Fungus Essence 100g】

[Effect: Unknown]

"Can this glowing fungus be eaten?!"

On the side, Alva looked at the dwarf skillfully prepared the sauce, and then spread it on the snake meat. The appetizing aroma made him swallow subconsciously, but even so, for the sake of his digestive system For safety, he cautiously put forward his opinion: "That thing...doesn't it smell a bit stinky?"

"The smell is the smell of dead fungus rotting slime. In fact, when you wash off the normal glowing fungus, you can smell a fragrance similar to wood resin."

Nick, who used to live underground all year round, shook his head. He held a washed spherical fungus in his hand, correcting the prince’s misunderstanding of the glowing fungus: “The reason why this thing can glow is because of the magical ball in its center. Colloid... It can be said that the colloid at its core is similar to slime, it is pure magic colloid, of course it can be eaten."

As he said that, Nick took a brush and applied a layer of fluorescent magic colloid to the snake meat. Suddenly, the fragrance became more intense.

"Fungus doesn't matter... But, can this creature really be eaten?"

On the other side, Amira said hesitantly: "This giant python can control the soil, rocks and water flow using magic. It seems to be an intelligent life... Is it really okay to eat it?"

"Some monsters can still talk, and the most important thing is that they are delicious. Look at the dragon, and there are civilizations, but there are many people who eat its meat after the dragon is subdued."

On the side, Ivan said indifferently: "It has been detected a long time ago. This giant python is non-toxic and rich in nutrition. What's more, we have added 50 grams of holy water of life. With this thing, even if it is full of poisonous blades It's okay... After exploring the ground for so long, I should add some protein."

"yes."

On the other side, Karin also nodded in agreement: "Look at Lisa, her face is pale because of eating dry food for several weeks, we are professional explorers, we can't be like her, we have to learn from Supplement nutrition with materials from the surrounding environment."

Pu roasted the snake meat very quickly, and soon, everyone began their first meal since entering the underground world.

"Brother feed me!"

"Really... If you continue like this, be careful you won't get married." Facing Amira who still didn't want to touch snake flesh, Ivan could only helplessly obey his sister's willfulness, and he said softly, "Open your mouth."

"Ah~"

On the other side, Nick listened to the 'hmmmmhh! ’ ‘It smells so good! ''tasty! ’ Waiting for the sound, while chewing the snake meat, feeling the effect of this cooking product.

"It has a certain energy recovery effect, which should be due to the essence of Kamen white grass and fungus. Originally, mixing slime with Kaman white grass powder is the simplest energy potion."

While eating meat, the dwarf took out a pen and paper while thinking about it, and wrote down the effect of the burning python with one hand: "It can restore a large amount of magic power of the earth and water attributes, and can enhance the perception of night light to a certain extent... Write it down, this snake The meat tastes great."

After roughly writing down the cooking process this time, the ingredients are still effective, Nick put away the simple recipe in his hand with satisfaction, and can vaguely see that the other pages of this simple recipe have been densely written, and the entire book is almost full .

After a few days.

Joshua, who had returned to his own territory, immediately went to the underground laboratory of Winter Castle College after hearing the urgent news.

There, he met Nostradamus with a serious face.

"What's wrong?"

The soldier frowned, he was a little confused, so: "What's so tense? Is there something wrong with the server? Or do I need to fix it on the battleship production line?"

"No, you underestimate the magic technology of the empire too..." Shaking his head, the old mage showed a slight smile on his face, but soon, his expression returned to seriousness. The tempered glass plate outside the door turned to Joshua and said, "As for why I called you back... let's take a look at this."

Shrugging his shoulders, Joshua turned his head. Instead of walking to the window, he directly looked through the wall and looked at the position indicated by Nostradamus.

It was a dying black giant python that used nutrient solution to maintain its life. The golden snake pupils had become numb, and it no longer had the original vitality.

"This is……"

At first, he didn't see anything, but soon, Joshua's eyes widened suddenly. Afterwards, his brows were furrowed, and the soldier said in a deep voice, "Divine power?!"

"Divine power of the earth?!"

Calvin yesterday...

But even so, I still ask for a monthly ticket today