Chapter 228 Chapter227-The Unexpected Fall-Out (1st update, Cheer me with Power Stones!)
After much contemplation, John decided he would scout ahead alone.
He pulled Adam back with one hand and whispered to the duo, "I'll go in first, scout the way. If there's no immediate danger, follow after two minutes."
John's decision was rooted in the stark contrast of strength between them.
The bond they shared was solid, and John had always had a good impression of both Blue Sea and Adam.
Had it been anyone else, John might not have cared for their safety.
From John's perspective, even though there was a mysterious force behind the entrance that shielded against his divine power, it didn't necessarily mean that this entity was stronger than him.
The previous incident at Bone Cave had involved the god-tier deity, Fallen Angel Leviathan, and only then was the mercenary quest labeled as the highest difficulty - red.
The current Thousand Streams Cave quest, according to the Mercenary Guild, was merely an orange-rated high-difficulty task.
Surely, it couldn't be more challenging than Bone Cave.
After all, if John could defeat a god, how could any enemy in Thousand Streams Cave be stronger than the Fallen Angel Leviathan?
Seeing neither Blue Sea nor Adam object, John took a confident step forward, vanishing into the glowing entrance.
Standing at the mouth of the Thousand Streams Cave, Adam gazed at the spot where John had disappeared, his heart heavy with emotion.
"Blue Sea, have we become burdens to Brother Galewind?"
Blue Sea was momentarily lost for words. As much as he loathed admitting it, they had indeed become John's baggage, a liability.
Their vast disparity in strength was the cause.
Whenever John was on a quest, he constantly had to look out for them, ensuring their safety.
Adam continued, "This feeling... it's really quite... frustrating."
Blue Sea sighed in resignation, "What can we do? Every time we explore mysterious terrains with Brother Galewind, the monsters we encounter are stronger than the last."
"We've tried our best, but against these powerful creatures, we stand no chance."
Adam clapped his hands suddenly, asserting with conviction, "I get it now. It's not that we're too weak; it's that Brother Galewind is just too strong."
Blue Sea found some comfort in Adam's self-consoling rationale.
"Well, there's some truth to that. Still, we need to hasten our own power-ups. I have this unsettling feeling that if we don't level up quickly, we might not be able to keep pace with the game's evolution."
Adam fell silent, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.
Meanwhile, the instant John stepped into the luminous circle, he detected a faint energy sweeping over him, as if inspecting his being.
A flash of light momentarily blinded him.
When his vision cleared, John found himself in an extremely enclosed and dimly lit space.
He deduced this to be the depths of the mountain, where thick rock walls blocked all external light.
Yet, this place wasn't devoid of luminance.
The entire area was populated with a myriad of mystical plants.
These flora emitted a soft glow, their forms bizarre and captivating.
Even though John wasn't of the mage class, he could distinctly sense the rich magical essence within these plants.
Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he didn't immediately venture deeper.
Instead, he stood at the entrance, taking a moment to thoroughly observe this wondrous space.
[System Notification: You have entered the inner part of the Thousand Streams Cave. This is an extremely dangerous area, now the lair of some mysterious power. It is advised to retreat immediately...]
This time, the system's prompt flashed in a stark crimson red.
Clearly, this interior zone was far more perilous than the outer region.
John didn't heed the system's advice.
Instead, he tilted his head, feeling as if soft whispers tickled his ears.
But when he tried to focus, he couldn't hear a thing.
However, from his position at the entrance, no strange creatures seemed to attack.
John stood with his hands clasped behind his back, waiting silently.
Two minutes later, the glowing portal behind him shimmered once more, and out leapt Adam and Blue Sea.
Seeing John waiting for them, they quickly moved to his side.
"Brother Galewind, you didn't encounter any danger, did you?"
John slowly shook his head, his expression serene.
"I haven't stumbled upon anything peculiar yet. Still, we must remain cautious. You've seen the system's warning. The blood-red color speaks for itself, and I'm sure you both understand its significance..."
Adam and Blue Sea's faces instantly grew solemn.
They rarely ventured into such perilous territories.
Usually, within their guild, the tasks assigned to them were pre-scouted by subordinates to ensure no lethal dangers lurked, only then were these quests passed on to them.
It was an inevitable arrangement; the significance of Adam and Blue Sea's status was simply too great.
As leaders of one of the world's top ten guilds, overseeing a massive power with tens of thousands of members, their safety was always the utmost priority in any guild quest.
Only when accompanying John did they venture into areas deemed highly dangerous by the system...
"So, what's our next move?" Adam's gaze was sharp, intensely observing every rustle and movement around them.
John gave a slight smile, saying nonchalantly, "Having come this far, do you really think we'd retreat just because the system suggests it? I'm not one to abandon a quest..."
Taking the lead, John began to walk forward.
Guided by him, Blue Sea and Adam followed closely, matching his pace, delving deeper into the cavern.
The trio seemed to be wandering through a magical botanical ocean.
The diverse plants around them shimmered with an ethereal light.
Though their gentle glow wasn't particularly bright, when combined, they managed to shed some light on the area...
"Is that the Boneblack Flower? My heavens, that's the primary ingredient for crafting top-tier mana restoration potions..."
"Am I seeing this right? An entire field of Black Grass? Many native NPCs consider this a panacea for injuries. If used to produce health restoration potions, it can enhance the potion's effectiveness by at least 30%..."
"The Man-faced Vine? Another valuable find. Perfect for potion crafting or as a bowstring for archers..."
As they ventured deeper, Blue Sea couldn't contain his amazement.
He recognized and named each luminous magical plant they passed.
With every new discovery, his eyes lit up with fervent excitement.
Compared to John and Adam, who were outsiders in this domain, Blue Sea was innately a mage class.
These plants, brimming with magical energy, were directly related to his area of expertise...
"Can you quit your prattling? Don't we already know what these things are? A simple Detection spell would give us all the details. Why must you incessantly describe them?" Adam, losing his patience, interrupted Blue Sea's constant chattering.
Rolling his eyes, Blue Sea retorted, "Of course, I know a Detection spell would reveal these magical plants' specifics. I'm just emphasizing their immense value..."
Adam clenched his fists, clearly irked by Blue Sea's rebuttal.
The heavy, agitated breathing emanating from him revealed his deteriorating mood.
"Would you just shut up? Do we need you to remind us of their worth?"
Matching Adam's hostility, Blue Sea shot back, "I'll speak if I wish. What will you do? Sew my mouth shut?"
Adam's grip on his fists tightened further, and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes. "Blue Sea, are you looking for a fight, right here in this dangerous place?"
Scoffing, Blue Sea replied without hesitation, "If you want to fight, let's do it. Think I'm afraid of you?"
Adam let out a cold snort.
A radiant white Holy Light began to emanate from him.
Soon, the armor exclusive to the Divine Vanguard class enveloped him.
The sacred, ancient armor gleamed softly in the ambient light, and his knightly greatsword shone similarly.
Beneath the visor of his helmet, one could see Adam's blazing crimson eyes.
Blue Sea responded almost instantaneously.
With a swift motion of his right hand, an ancient-looking staff materialized.
The water elements in the air rapidly converged around him, and his robe billowed out, moving as if touched by an invisible wind.
His downcast eyes turned a deep shade of blue - a sign of being combat-ready.
As tensions escalated, and they stood on the brink of combat, John, who had been leading the way, finally turned back with an exasperated sigh.
"Ah..."
Though it was a soft murmur, to Blue Sea and Adam, it rang out like a resonant gong, deafening and compelling.
Both of them froze in place, their previously clouded gazes swiftly regaining clarity.
Only now did they realize they had silently slipped into a combat stance.
They quickly dispelled the brewing energy, casting dubious glances at each other.
What just happened? For a moment, both were at a loss.
Standing between them, John spoke with a hint of frustration, "Aren't you two usually on good terms? How did a slight miscommunication lead to you almost coming to blows?"
Both Blue Sea and Adam could only offer wry smiles.
They, too, were puzzled by their sudden flare of anger.
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