abnabooks Chapter 267 Origin of the World
Chapter 267 Origin of the World
Chapter 267 Origin of the World
"Sir, Amit is dead!"
Ah Jun faced Sulajie, his tone heavy.
The luminescent potion's blue light illuminated the dim space, making it resemble the underworld.
And Suraj did indeed smell the scent of death.
He looked at Amit.
Amit's breathing should have stopped; Suraj could not see any rise and fall of his chest or abdomen.
At least, Suraj thought, Amit's expression was relatively peaceful when he died.
This indicates that he did not experience much pain.
But Puglia was different.
Suraj turned his head and looked towards Pulya's direction.
Priya was breathing rapidly, his face was deathly pale, his eyes were tightly closed, and there was a deep teeth mark on his lips.
Occasionally, a pitiful groan would escape from his throat.
But once you see Suraj's lower body, you'll understand that his expression at this moment is perfectly normal.
Puglia's feet had disappeared.
His mid-thigh section bore a gruesome and horrifying cross-section, revealing the brutality with which his legs had been broken and torn off.
Although Suraj and Ah Jun treated the wounds simply with their clothes, blood continued to flow, staining the bandages red. Suraj knew that Priya wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer.
But at this moment, Suraj felt that even if it wasn't too long, it was still far too long.
The crisis could arrive again at any time, and besides, he still had prey to hunt.
So Suraj got up and walked toward Pulya:
"Pulya, does it hurt?"
A few seconds later, Priya seemed to realize that Suraj was calling him.
He struggled to open his eyes and said weakly:
"Hmm—but I can still hold it in."
"Thank you for your hard work. I will remember your dedication and bring your honor back to the motherland and to the Lord."
"Thank you, sir—"
"You won't live much longer, Priya," Suraj said coldly.
"I understand, sir."
"But our mission continues. I don't have time to take care of you until the end, and I must also launch a counterattack immediately."
After Suraje finished speaking, he noticed that Priya was staring intently into his eyes with a sorrowful expression.
But Suraj did not back down, responding with eye contact.
He had no reason to run away; in his heart, everything he had done was right.
Finally, Priya sighed:
"Sir, what do you want to say?"
Suraj said without any emotion, "You must die."
"Ugh—"
A sadness filled Priya's eyes. He paused for a long while before continuing.
"I understand, sir. I am indeed a burden—and you must prioritize your mission."
"Hmm," Suraj nodded, "So, do you want me to help you, or will you do it yourself?"
"I'll do it myself, sir. There's no need to have your hands stained with the blood of your compatriots at the end."
Suraj nodded again: "How do you plan to die?"
Priya lay on the ground, looking at the cave wall of the head cave.
After a long while, he asked:
"Sir, could you give me a bottle of poison? That way, I can die more easily."
Ah Jun, who had been listening intently to Suraj and Priya's conversation with a somber expression, immediately stepped forward and took out a bottle of alchemy potion.
It's called a quick-death drug; once ingested, it can cause a person to die rapidly within half a minute, and there is no possibility of an antidote.
This alchemical elixir is very potent, but it leaves obvious external marks, making it impossible to assassinate without leaving a trace.
However, just as Ah Jun was about to hand the quick-death potion to Priya, Suraj stopped him.
Ah Jun looked at Suraj from afar, and Suraj said:
"I'm sorry, Priya, the alchemical potion is a vital resource. You're already a dead man, and we shouldn't waste our remaining resources on you."
After hearing this, Priya seemed somewhat incredulous, but he ultimately accepted it.
"Alright, sir, but—please don't fail, don't let our sacrifices be in vain."
"We will absolutely not fail in our mission," Suraj said.
Priya nodded: "Sir, please give me a small knife."
Suraj nodded, and Ah Jun then shoved a dagger into Priya's hand.
Priya struggled to wield the dagger, using it to cut the bandages binding his legs.
Blood then gushed out of the wound rapidly.
Under the blue light, the blood flowing and spreading on the ground shimmered with a desolate blue-purple hue.
Puglia was extremely quiet.
About ten minutes later, Ah Jun checked on Priya's condition:
"My lord, Priya has also passed away."
"Yes," Suraj nodded calmly, "Let's go."
Then, Suraj picked up the glowing potion and began to move forward in the cave.
At this moment, both he and Ah Jun had suffered considerable injuries.
Ah Jun had a child-sized wound on his chest, and Sula Jie could also feel that his internal organs were slightly displaced.
But when you think about the enemy you faced back then, such a price is really not worth mentioning.
Last night, Suraj's two prisoners, Leo and Know-It-All, did something that produced a piercing scream.
He questioned the two men about what they had done.
Unfortunately, before they could get an answer, they heard a deep, powerful roar.
Then, heavy footsteps sounded.
He sensed something terrifying approaching, and as the footsteps grew louder, the ground seemed to tremble.
Suraj immediately gave the order for everyone to begin their escape.
They rode the reindeer they had stolen from the Green-Eyed People's tribe and galloped wildly through the forest.
However, no matter what, he couldn't shake off the sound of those footsteps.
Suraj even discovered that the unknown entity tracking them was still closing the distance.
He was curious about what it was, but he didn't want to see it.
Suraj understood that once he could see that thing, it meant that they had been caught up.
As for the consequences, Suraj had no idea that it would turn out this way.
But Suraj eventually saw it.
In other words, he was caught up.
It was a huge monster covered in black, messy hair.
Its size is larger than a house, and just one of its claws is enough to completely crush an adult man. And it has four such claws in total.
But what's even more terrifying is that it has three heads.
The head in the very center is a wolf's head, while the heads on either side are tiger's and lion's heads, respectively.
As it raced along, it easily snapped the trees that blocked its path.
It was as if those were not ancient and robust trees, but rather small twigs casually stuck into the soil.
In an instant, despair welled up in Suraj's heart.
He understood that defeating this creature was simply impossible.
At that time, he could only hope to escape, hoping that the monster would get tired of them and give up chasing them.
But in the end, things didn't go as he wished, and they were caught up with.
As they approached, the tiger's head suddenly exhaled a cloud of dark green energy.
The aura caused nearby plants to age and wither rapidly at a visible rate.
Suraj realized the gas was poisonous and immediately ordered everyone to hold their breath.
Suraj's judgment proved to be correct.
They survived the poison gas, but unfortunately the deer couldn't understand Suraj's commands.
The next moment, all the deer collapsed to the ground, and the group of people also fell off the deer's backs.
However, when he turned around, the enormous creature was already nearby.
Even now, recalling the despair Suraj felt at that time still sends shivers down his spine.
But Suraj's composure is the reason why his country entrusted him with such an important task.
He quickly calmed himself down and organized the group to begin a counterattack.
Even if the monster before them is the god of this forest, it is by no means the god of Suraj.
What is the harm in killing a god of another race?
After all, Suraj and his group had all undergone rigorous training, and their physical abilities were not too bad.
Moreover, Suraj's command ability is first-rate.
Despite their mortal agility, the group managed to hold their own against the monster for a while.
But it was merely a matter of maneuvering.
Suraj understood that this monster could make countless mistakes, but they only had one chance.
But just as he was thinking about how to defeat the monster, it seemed to get angry.
The lion's head suddenly opened its mouth wide, as if it wanted to shout something.
However, Suraj heard nothing.
Just when he thought it was a false alarm, the ground began to shake.
In an instant, even the thought of standing still became a luxury for the group.
Then, the monster launched an attack.
It swung its claws and easily severed Priya's body.
The force with which it was swung even stirred up a gust of wind.
Upon seeing this, Suraj immediately realized that they would likely all die at the hands of this monster.
Just then, the monster suddenly pounced.
Just when Suraj thought this might be the last moment of his life, the ground collapsed due to the monster's impact.
Then, Suraj began to fall, tumble, and stumble.
They fell into the ground.
Furthermore, the entrance collapsed, blocking their original escape route.
Even if the entrance hadn't collapsed, Suraj wouldn't have been able to return the way he came, and would have instead faced the monster head-on.
That's why Suraj and Ah Jun are trapped here right now.
Amit and Priya, due to their severe injuries, died in the dark cave.
But since this place is underground, it can be considered their tomb.
Suraj felt that since he was still talking, it meant that his death was not imminent and that he still needed to complete his mission.
At this moment, Suraj is leading Ah Jun through an underground tunnel.
Ah Jun asked, "Sir, where do you plan to take me?"
"This cave was obviously dug out, so it must have an exit."
"But," Ah Jun frowned, "I've already surveyed the area; this place is a complete maze!"
Suraj said calmly, "It's alright, I already know the structure here."
Upon hearing this, Ah Jun looked surprised:
"My lord, are you saying that you used the power from that book again?"
"Yes," Suraj said, "I decided to set off only after I had the route planned out."
"So, you're leading me to the exit?"
"No," Suraj denied.
Ah Jun asked in confusion, "Then where are we going?"
"Go and arrest those two."
"Those two?" Ah Jun paused for a moment. "You mean, Leo and the know-it-all?"
Suraj nodded.
"They fell into the cave too?"
“That’s right, I’ve also located them,” Suraj said. “They are both important assets, and besides, I can’t let their scheme go unpunished.”
"Ambush?" Ah Jun asked, puzzled. "What kind of ambush?"
"They were the ones who brought that three-headed monster here," Suraj asserted.
"You mean, that scream?"
"Yes," Suraj nodded, "Although I don't know how that scream was produced, it was undoubtedly that scream."
It attracted the monster.
Hearing this, Ah Jun stood beside Suraj, speechless.
After a long while, Ah Jun smiled and shook his head:
"How ironic, since we've also been hurt by this tactic, is this reaping what we sowed?"
What Ah Jun was talking about was probably Sulajie using the beasts in the forest to hold off the group of green-eyed people.
Perhaps Ah Jun is right, but Suraj is more concerned about something else.
This continent seemed far more dangerous than any place Suraj had ever been, as if humans were the lowest of the low, and any species could easily take human lives.
Even the green-eyed people who have been active in this area for a long time cannot prevent or easily resolve the dangers in the forest.
Suraj had read many books, and he felt that this place was like a world from the mythological era.
In that era when the dragon race was still prosperous, humanity truly lived in dire straits.
Ah Jun asked again, "Sir, have you found their current location?"
Suraj nodded.
The two people should have been lying near Suraj, but the cave collapsed, separating them on the other side.
To find them, you have to take a very roundabout route.
But Suraj had already pinpointed the route, and the group couldn't possibly escape his grasp so easily.
The two walked quickly, guided by the dim light.
Along the way, Suraj could see that the tunnel was filled with countless tubular caves.
Suraj couldn't tell for a moment whether they were man-made or naturally formed.
But thanks to these caves, there is no water inside the tunnel now, and it even has enough oxygen for humans to breathe.
After walking for a while, the two finally arrived at the location behind Leo and Know-It-All.
"They might be around here," Suraj said. "Be careful."
The two then slowed down and began to cautiously explore.
Not long after, he finally found the two people.
Leo and Know-It-All are currently in a cave.
The tinderboxes in their hands provided a faint light.
When Suraj appeared, the two men didn't notice him at all, as if they were staring intently at something.
Suraj drew his knife, and so did Ah Jun.
He shouted, "Don't move!"
As he finished speaking, Leo turned and gave Suraj a wary look.
But soon, he turned his head back.
Suraj realized that something was wrong.
But he can't manage too much for the time being.
He and Ah Jun rushed over and subdued Leo and Master.
Only then did Suraj realize what the two kingdomsmen were looking at.
It was a pile of stones of varying sizes and shapes.
Suraj immediately demanded, "What is this?"
"map,"
A moment later, the know-it-all replied in a desperate tone.
Suraj, of course, understood how important a strategic resource a map was, and he quickly continued his questioning:
"Is it a map of the New World?"
"Hmph," the know-it-all sneered, "of course that includes that too."
"Including? What do you mean?"
The all-knowing man stretched out his hand, his fingertips moving across different stones:
"That section records the outline of the entire New World. This section shows the continent of Ancent and the permafrost continent."
Of course, there's also the Far East continent—"
When he heard this man mention his homeland, Suraj's heart skipped a beat.
However, the know-it-all wasn't finished speaking:
"It even records that an unknown continent may exist in the gloomy sea, and at the southern end of the world, there is an endless continent that no one has ever successfully reached."
Upon hearing this, Suraj interrupted him:
"Impossible! This is the New World, discovered only a little over a decade ago by pirate navigators. How could there possibly be a map of the Eastern world here!"
"The only thing I can't be wrong about is maps," the know-it-all said. "And this isn't just a map of the Eastern world, it's a real world map—hey, don't you think that means something?"
What does it mean?
Suraj fell into thought.
On this entirely new land in the far west, known as the New World, the geography of the Eastern world is recorded.
Even many lands that have not yet been discovered by people from the East are recorded in these stones.
What it represents is all too obvious.
"This indicates that the New World knew of the East's existence long before the East discovered it." "This indicates that the New World had a more comprehensive understanding of the world." "This indicates that this land may be far more ancient than people believe." "This indicates that this continent may very well be—"
Suraj's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
"The Origin of the World!"