After a moment, Franklin frowned slightly. He noticed that the temperature inside the stone chamber was very high.
After staying there for about five or six minutes, his forehead was covered with a fine layer of sweat.
“It’s very hot in here.”
“I’m sweating too,” Jaden said, wiping his forehead. “It’s like being roasted.”
Sylvia examined the ancient-looking stone chamber and saw a stone table and a chair in the center. On the table were several books, and more shockingly, there was a skeleton on the chair.
Vaild and Mark had been focused on the Glowstone and hadn’t noticed the skeleton. When they finally saw it, they were so startled that they accidentally knocked it over, causing it to crumble along with the wooden chair.
“This skeleton doesn’t look human; it seems more like an animal’s, perhaps a wolf or a fox, maybe even a dog,” Sylvia said as she picked up a bone fragment and examined it. “But it’s strange to find an animal locked in a cave like this. Why?”
“No, this bone is poisoned,” Sylvia said, holding the blackened part of the bone under a flashlight. “Look, the bone seams are blackened, indicating that this animal was poisoned. It might have been used for experiments.”
Jaden discovered many bottles and jars in a corner of the stone chamber. “Sylvia, come and take a look.”
Sylvia put down the bone and walked over, squatting to examine the bottles and jars. “This must have been a place where an experimenter once stayed.”
She picked up one bottle labeled “Sodium” and another labeled “Magnesium.”
“I wonder what this person was researching.”
She thought for a moment. “It should be the same person who was at that abandoned research institute you explored last time. This is likely their second location. I think it’s the same person.”
“Sylvia makes sense. The Palace of Elegance was also a clue left by this person,” Franklin said, thinking of the Palace of Elegance. “Could this be the Palace of Elegance?”
Sylvia shook her head. “No, we haven’t found the Palace of Elegance yet, but this definitely isn’t it.”
They searched the stone chamber again but found no valuable clues.
Vaild and Mark were still reluctant to leave the Glowstone behind. “Sylvia, should we take this Glowstone back with us?”
“First, confirm if it’s poisonous,” Sylvia said, handing Vaild a silver needle she carried with her. “Try it.”
“Uh-how do I try?” Vaild was puzzled.
“Drop a bit of your blood on it and see if it turns black,” Sylvia suggested with a raised eyebrow.
Vaild’s face darkened. “Sylvia… seriously? Like some ancient blood ritual?”
“If you want this stone but can’t even spare a drop of blood, then forget about it,” Sylvia said, pulling back the needle.
Vaild quickly grabbed it. “Fine, I’ll do it.”
He pricked his fingertip with the needle, letting a drop of blood fall onto the Glowstone. Instantly!
With a loud rumble!
Everyone was startled as the west wall of the stone chamber opened up, letting in a gust of mountain wind that blew away the stifling heat.
“My God! This is bizarre!”
Vaild quickly stuffed the Glowstone into his backpack.
The drop of blood had triggered the mechanism to open the chamber.
“This is insane!”
“If that person had to open this mechanism every time, wouldn’t they run out of blood?” Mark exclaimed.
“It doesn’t have to be their own blood,” Sylvia replied, glancing at Franklin. “Shall we go?”
Franklin nodded. “Let’s check it out.”
Since they were here, there was no reason to turn back.
Just then, a hissing sound came from behind the newly opened wall.
A foul-smelling wind blew into the chamber.
Minutes later, a terrifying snake head poked into the chamber.
“My God! What kind of monster is this? Why is its head so big? It’s as big as mine!” Vaild exclaimed in shock.
As he spoke, the snake slithered into the chamber. The giant snake, as thick as a human head, was covered in hard black scales that shimmered under the flashlight. Its green triangular eyes gleamed ominously as if seeing a feast before it.
“Strike at its seven-inch mark!” Sylvia’s face turned cold as she spoke. “If we don’t kill this snake, none of us will get out alive. Franklin and I will attack its vital points; Vaild and Mark, target its tail; Jasper and Jaden, distract it. We need to be quick and precise; wasting energy isn’t an option.”
As she finished speaking, the ground trembled slightly as the enormous red snake lunged at them.
Sylvia dodged its attack swiftly.
The snake turned its green eyes towards Franklin.
Franklin frowned at the menacing snake.
“Hiss-” The black snake opened its jaws wide and lunged at Franklin.
At the same time, it swung its black tail towards Jasper and others.
The snake was incredibly strong. A single swipe of its tail nearly hit Jasper’s arm; if it had connected, his arm would have been useless.
In an instant, everyone attacked the giant snake simultaneously, causing the ground to tremble from their struggle.
Sylvia’s eyes were sharp as she focused on the black snake ahead. In terms of strength, they couldn’t match this snake.
The snake was also very clever; it soon targeted Jaden, who was the weakest among them.
Jaden could only dodge clumsily. “This snake is too smart! It knows you guys are tough and targets me instead.”
“Be careful!”
Sylvia drew her dagger while glancing at Franklin nearby.
He also drew his dagger.
They nodded at each other in silent agreement and simultaneously threw their daggers at the snake’s eyes.
The black snake roared in pain, thrashing its tail wildly as blood poured from its eyes.
Franklin’s lips curved into a smile as he swiftly dodged the snake’s attack. He then pulled out his dagger from its eye and slashed its tail deeply.
Blood sprayed from the wound.
The gushing blood stained the ground as the black snake convulsed in pain. Franklin quickly retreated with his dagger.
The snake went berserk, thrashing against the stone walls and causing the entire cave to shake.
Jaden and Jasper quickly joined Franklin’s side to avoid the frenzied snake.
The crazed snake couldn’t stop thrashing; its injury caused it to waste its energy in pain.
“Wait until it’s exhausted from pain before we finish it off,” Sylvia said coldly, her eyes fixed on the frenzied snake.
After about half an hour of madness, the snake finally began to calm down.
Just as Sylvia prepared to finish it off, the snake sensed her approach and suddenly raised its head in rage before charging at her with full force.
The black snake swung its tail wildly at Sylvia, who dodged nimbly.
Getting hit by that tail would be fatal or crippling.
The fierce snake relentlessly attacked Sylvia.
Seeing this, everyone else rejoined the battle.
At that moment, the frenzied snake swung its powerful tail at Jaden’s chest, slamming him against the cave wall.
“Ugh-” Jaden spat out blood and struggled to stand up.
“Damn! This snake is too strong! Jaden, are you okay?” Vaild rushed over to help him up. Jaden shook his head. “I’m too weak.”
He took some medicine from his backpack-supplies Sylvia had prepared before their journey.
He hadn’t expected to need them so soon.
“Rest here for a while; I’ll help Sylvia and the others,” Vaild said before charging at the snake with his dagger again.
The snake fought fiercely without any intention of retreating.
Sylvia used her agility to slash its back with her dagger.
Franklin followed up with another stab.
Jasper saw the snake writhing in pain and quickly slashed at it with his dagger.
Blood flowed from its wounds in an alarming sight.
The snake gradually weakened as they continued their assault, leaving deep cuts on its body with each strike.
Then came a decisive moment!
Franklin leaped onto the snake’s back and stabbed its vital point hard!
The snake let out a final roar before collapsing lifelessly.
“It’s dead,” Mark sighed in relief, collapsing on the ground and gasping for air.
He had to admit that this black snake was incredibly formidable.
“If it weren’t for Sylvia and Mr. Maskelyne being experts, we might have ended up as snake food,” Vaild said with lingering fear as he sat beside Mark.
Sylvia walked over to Jaden and sat down. “How are you? Where did it hit you?”
“My chest. I’m okay; I took some medicine,” Jaden said, extending his hand for her to check his pulse.