Our ragged group of slaves shuffled through the tunnels, the cold, damp air biting into our skin. The flickering torchlight cast long, ominous shadows on the rough stone walls, and the creak of splintering wooden supports filled the air with unease. Each step felt heavier than the last, weighed down by exhaustion and despair. For many, hope had long since evaporated.
When the tunnel split into two paths, the group divided without hesitation, some trudging left, others right. I paused, glancing at the fading torchlight of both groups, before choosing the left path. A sudden hand on my shoulder made me jump.
“Easy there, tough guy,” came a familiar voice.
I turned to see Wang Jian, his battered face barely visible beneath the grime and bruises, standing with Ming Lian. The latter had his arm in a rough sling, his expression one of irritation mixed with pain.
“You’re alive,” I said, relief washing over me.
“Heh, barely,” Wang Jian replied with a weak smile. “But alive enough.”
Ming Lian muttered something under his breath and began moving down the tunnel. Wang Jian and I followed, trailing behind the others.
“What about you?” Wang Jian asked, his sharp eyes assessing me. “You’ve got a nasty bruise there. Let me guess, Big Nose Bastard get you?”
“Yeah,” I muttered, touching the sore lump on my forehead. “Fucker got me good.”
“Well, at least you’re still standing,” Wang Jian said. “It’s more than some of us can say.”
The conversation shifted as we trudged deeper into the mines. Wang Jian explained their collars—metal bands that suppressed their Chi, rendering even experienced cultivators like him and Ming Lian nearly powerless.
“Without these, we’d have a fighting chance,” Wang Jian said, his tone bitter. “But as it is, we’re just stronger-than-average prisoners.”
I frowned. If they were at a disadvantage, we’d need something else to tip the scales. The thought of Mira flashed in my mind—a secret I hadn’t yet shared. If we had any hope of escaping, it might be time to reveal her.
But before I could bring it up, a faint blue glow ahead caught our attention. Three men broke from the group, rushing toward the cluster of glowing spirit stones embedded in the wall. Their excitement was palpable as they began prying at the stones with their pickaxes, completely ignoring the rest of us.
“Let’s keep moving,” Wang Jian said. “No point fighting over scraps.”
We continued down the tunnel, leaving the others behind. When we were finally alone, I decided to speak.
“I might have a way to help us escape,” I said.
Wang Jian and Ming Lian turned to me, their expressions skeptical.
“How?” Wang Jian asked.
“It’s complicated,” I said, hesitating. “But if I deal the killing blow to a spirit beast, I can absorb its abilities. I don’t know how it works, but I’ve done it before. If we find one, let me finish it off. You’ll see.”
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Wang Jian’s eyes narrowed, his curiosity piqued. “That’s... unique. If it’s true, it could be useful.”
Ming Lian scoffed. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
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FIRST MOLE ENCOUNTER
As we moved deeper into the tunnels, the sounds of crunching stone echoed ahead. A creature the size of a large rat—a mole, its claws tearing effortlessly through the stone—came into view. Its glowing body reflected the light of the spirit stones it was devouring.
Wang Jian acted quickly, slamming his pickaxe into the creature’s side and pinning it against the wall. The mole squealed and thrashed, its claws raking the air. I stepped forward and brought my pickaxe down with all my strength, landing the killing blow.
The mole fell still, and a familiar blue mystical light enveloped it. The aura pulsed as a system screen appeared before me.
[System Update]
You have Defeated: Dagger Mole: Rank 1, Spirit Beast.
[Available Skills to Reap:]
*
Earth Sense (Passive): Rank E.
Gain a spirit sense that allows you to detect vibrations and energy through any earth-type material.
Range: 1 yard.
*
Rock Daggers (Active): Rank 1.
Create dagger-like claws from earth-type material. Grants the ability to dig through stone.
Duration: 5 minutes.
I selected Earth Sense without hesitation. The thought of being able to detect movements through the earth was too good to pass up. A faint tingling sensation ran through my body as the skill activated, and suddenly I could feel subtle vibrations around me—a small but immediate advantage.
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SECOND MOLE ENCOUNTER
As we pressed on, my enhanced senses picked up another faint vibration in the earth. My Earth Sense painted a mental picture of a larger creature further ahead, its movements heavy and deliberate.
“There’s another one,” I said, motioning for the others to follow.
We entered a larger cavern, its walls lined with glowing spirit stones that bathed the space in eerie blue light. At the center of the room was a larger Dagger Mole, its claws tearing through the stones with frightening precision. It turned toward us, its glowing eyes narrowing as it prepared to attack.
“This one’s mine,” I said, stepping forward. The mole lunged, its claws slashing through the air with deadly speed. I dodged easily, maneuvering with the grace and precision my new abilities afforded. My pickaxe connected with its side, sending it skidding across the cavern floor.
After a brief but intense struggle, I landed the finishing blow. As the mole dissolved into blue light, another system screen appeared before me.
[System Update]
You have Defeated: Greater Dagger Mole: Rank 2, Spirit Beast.
[Available Skills to Reap:]
*
Burst Step (Active): Rank 1.
Temporarily increases speed and agility for rapid movement or evasive maneuvers.
Duration: 30 seconds.
*
Stone Edge (Active): Rank 1.
Summon jagged stone spikes from the ground to impede or damage enemies.
The first option caught my attention immediately. Speed was invaluable, especially in this confined and dangerous environment. I selected Burst Step, feeling a sudden lightness in my legs as the skill integrated into my body. A moment of experimentation revealed a prolonged but noticeable surge in speed—a perfect tool for dodging or closing the gap in a fight.
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SHOWCASING THE SKILLS
I turned to Wang Jian and Ming Lian, my confidence bolstered by the new abilities. “That’s two down,” I said, flexing my fingers. “Want to see what I’ve got?”
Without waiting for a response, I activated Burst Step, my body becoming a blur as I dashed across the cavern in a heartbeat. The sudden burst of speed left the others staring, wide-eyed.
“That,” Wang Jian said slowly, “was... fucking amazing!”
Ming Lian whispered, “That’s impossible,” his voice filled with awe.
“This changes everything,” I said, my voice steady. “We can use this. We will use this.”
For the first time since entering the mines, hope flickered in their eyes..I looked at the glowing walls of the cavern, the promise of power shining in every shard. For the first time, escape felt not just possible—but inevitable. Together, we turned toward the tunnel, ready to face whatever came next