Chapter 1714 Escape Plan
The battle had ceased, leaving behind an eerie silence filled only by the echoing sound of dripping water and the distant rumbling of the cavern. Emery's breathing was ragged but controlled as he surveyed the aftermath, his eyes alert for any sign of movement. The dark elves were notorious for their stealth and cunning, and he wanted to make certain that none were lying in wait to ambush him.
Once satisfied that he was indeed alone, Emery began the grim task of searching through the fallen as he rifled through their belongings.
His haul was significant but not exceptional: rugged tier 4 weapons, battered and worn from use; vials of elven poisons, their contents gleaming ominously; several small bombs, crafted with dark elven ingenuity; and their infamous hard, stinking bread, a staple that could sustain an elf for days but was nearly inedible to human palates.
Emery's face showed a mixture of disgust and curiosity as he handled the items, but he knew that in the harsh world he inhabited, every resource could be vital.
He was about to abandon the search, convinced that he had found everything of value, when his eyes fell on a seemingly inconspicuous pouch. Its plain appearance belied its true worth, for inside it were 26 spirit souls. Emery's heart leaped in his chest, a rush of excitement washing over him.
Eighteen of the souls were human, and eight were dark elves. As Emery's fingers brushed over them, images and emotions flooded his mind. The realization that he was holding what was left of his comrades was both a relief and a burden.
Now, Emery's collection totaled 142 human spirit souls and 50 dark elf souls. It was a considerable cache, one that opened new possibilities for him.
A tempting thought crept into his mind: the dark elf souls could potentially be used to create a pathway out of this forsaken place. But almost as quickly as the idea appeared, he dismissed it. He wouldn't resort to such a measure unless absolutely necessary. Besides, he still had other options to explore.
With access to the Khaos gate, more choices began to unfold for Emery.
Emery then access the Khaos gate and reached out to the storage ring he had left behind. Carefully, he transferred all the spirit souls into the ring, ensuring their safety.
He then pull out a small, rounded metallic device, the item he had procured from Jinkan's men shortly before his capture.
Emery gently leaned Atlas against the cavern wall. "Atlas," he began, his voice tinged with concern, "Can you hear me? How are you holding up?"
The response from Atlas was disheartening. His head moved with a stuttering, uneven rhythm, and his usually fluid voice now sounded more like the grinding of gears. "Need... repair... take... time... can hear," Atlas managed to convey through distorted vocalizations.
Emery was well aware of Atlas's inherent self-repair mechanism, but the extent of the damage Atlas had sustained was severe. And machinery, despite Emery's many talents, was a domain he was unfamiliar with.
Afterward, Emery introduced the device he had just rediscovered. Activating it with a subtle press, the device suddenly emitted a blinding ray of light, revealing a holographic projection of Jinkan.
"Emery, thank you for accepting my request. Contained within this device is a carefully devised escape plan, tailored to ensure both your and Eeshoo's safe departure from the planet"
Jinkan's hologram proceeded to unveil a series of elaborate instructions. The device would serve as a beacon, signaling for the deployment of the Nephilim's most advance ship into the planet. The ship would employ a cloaking mechanism and state-of-the-art automatic navigation system would then take over, guiding them safely out of the planet's atmosphere and charting a course back to familiar territory.
As promising as the plan sounded, Emery noticed a catch. The vessel's specifications clearly indicated it could accommodate only two passengers. Moreover, the ship's advanced AI was programmed to verify Eeshoo's presence and vital signs before initiating the escape sequence. This contingency, Emery mused, was typical of Jinkan's foresight and cunning.
Turning to the battered magus, Emery conveyed the newfound hope. "Did you hear that Buddy… an escape plan for us"
Though they were short of Eeshoo's company to activate the ship, Emery still feel its better than having no ship at all. He plan to tackle this problem one at a time.
Now that he has a way to escape, Emery swiftly took the? mechanical magus onto his shoulder, and ready to leave the place.
Emery faced the cave's sealed entrance. Drawing deep from his connection with nature, he began to chant an incantation. A gentle hum resonated through the cave as the stone started to soften and open up a path for them.
As soon as they were out of the cave, Emery's thoughts turned to Master Borin at the Firefly ship's crash site. A glimmer of hope fueled his steps as he raced across the landscape, to find what left of the downed ship.
A faint blip of energy caught his attention. Buried beneath twisted metal and debris was Master Borin. The venerable blacksmith looked worse for wear, with injuries that spoke of the calamity he'd endured. Yet, miraculously, life still clung to him.
Without hesitation, Emery invoked his [Nature Blessing], channeling the restorative energies of the nature into the elderly blacksmith. As the healing magic seeped into Borin's wounds, stitching together torn flesh and mending broken bones, Emery expressed his amazement. "It's a miracle you still alive Senior.."
Master Borin, with a pained groan, responded, "Urgg... Took you long enough, lad, i really? thought you leave me here to die"
Emery soon learned of the device Master Borin had integrated into his own body, one he salvaged from a fallen space knight. This device enhanced his natural healing capabilities, undoubtedly saving his life in the aftermath of the crash.
Once the blacksmith master began to recover, he took time to analyze Atlas condition. He studied the wounded magus with a practiced eye. "They've done quite a number on you, Atlas," he remarked grimly. "I'd offer to fix you up, but unfortunately we're short on the necessary tools and parts out here."
With this thought, Emery, Atlas, and now the recovering Master Borin decided on their next course of action. With mutual understanding, they set their sights on the Citadel, hoping to uncover what the remnants of the battlefield.
Will they find any survivor? or will they found more enemy waiting instead?
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