Chapter 88: Daniel,The Sorcerer!
As Daniel, Lia, and Ayra walked through the long, dark tunnel, led by the colossal Golden-Armored Blue Ape, the air began to change. The heavy, cold feeling of the Yin region slowly started to fade, replaced by a faint, gentle warmth that seemed to seep in from the other end of the passage. The tunnel itself was a natural crack in the mountain, wide and tall enough even for the giant Ape to walk through without stooping. The only light came from the Ape’s own golden fur, which cast long, dancing shadows on the stone walls.
Lia, walking close to Daniel, couldn’t help but look at him with a sense of wonder. Her calm grey eyes, now free from the immediate terror of the fight, were full of questions. "Daniel," she murmured, her voice soft in the quiet tunnel. "Your power... it grows so quickly. Just a few hours ago, you were fighting those other apes and seemed just a little bit faster than them. But against their king... you were like the wind itself. I have never seen anyone get so much stronger in such a short amount of time."
Daniel just gave a small, mysterious smile. "I’m a fast learner," he said, which wasn’t exactly a lie. He was learning how to use his SSS-Rank [Soul Assimilation] talent better every single day.
Ayra, who was walking just ahead and trying to look unimpressed, grumbled loudly. "Are we there yet? This tunnel is more boring than watching paint dry. And it smells like old rocks and disappointment." She kicked a loose pebble, sending it skittering into the darkness.
Just then, Nyx, who was trotting quietly beside the Golden Ape, seemed to receive a message. The little Shadow Wolf Pup trotted back to Daniel and sent a series of feelings and simple pictures through their familiar bond.
The tunnel door... it only opens when a very strong person appears, the feeling came, accompanied by an image of the tunnel entrance sealed with stone. It stays open for three days. After that, it closes again for a long, long time.
Daniel blinked. He understood immediately. "So, you’re saying this tunnel would have opened for me anyway, just because I was strong enough?" he asked the Golden Ape, projecting the question.
The Ape let out a low, rumbling hum, and Nyx yipped in confirmation.
Daniel felt a little bit cheated. He thought his brilliant deal-making had been the key to opening the pass. It turned out, he was just the key the lock had been waiting for. He let out a quiet sigh. "Well, a deal’s a deal," he thought to himself. "And getting a giant, god-like ape as a temporary friend is still a pretty good prize, even if I could have just walked through the door anyway."