Chapter 65: Star Liquid! (bonus - for castle)
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He realized that, at that moment, Darius was too busy enacting his rank-up attempt to monitor the rest. The other ants were exhausted, fixated on what their captain was doing. If Kai acted swiftly, maybe he could slip away and find that hidden star crystal liquid. But where was it? The system was cryptic, offering no direct directions. He’d have to search.
Kai’s eyes flicked around the grand chamber. White crystals soared up the pillars, shining with star-shaped patterns. Bins of lesser shards lined the walls, left by his tired companions. Then he spied a shadowy corridor off to one side, partially blocked by fallen debris.
"Might that be the hidden part the system mentioned?"
The tension in the air built as Darius’s aura ritual grew in intensity. Streaks of white brilliance crackled, making the ants cringe and step back. The entire cave rumbled, dust showering from the ceiling. Thren tugged Lomar’s arm, telling him to retreat away. Renna, still limping, found shelter behind a pillar. Vexor started, transfixed by the swirling vortex around Darius, uncertain whether to intervene or flee. Meanwhile, Kai only half-watched the spectacle, mind buzzing over the system mission:
Collect the star crystal liquid from the hidden part of the mine and Store them. No mention of finishing. No mention of how. No mention of timeframe.
But the system made it clear that stealth was recommended. Kai’s heart hammered with the thrill of new possibilities. He told himself: While Darius is stuck in his attempt, "I can go investigate that corridor... maybe that’s the place with the liquid." The rest of the ants were too drained to notice if he slipped away.
And so, the tension is thick in the air. Darius roared as aura flared, trying to ascend to four star rank. The ground quaked under the star crystals’ resonant hum. Dust billowed from the ceiling, and the light turned harsh, reflecting off every gemlike surface. Kai, seeing a chance, steeled himself to move.
He accepted the system mission, ready to search for the hidden star crystal liquid. His Soul-Bonded Storage had enough room if the liquid was not too large in volume. In his mind, a swirl of excitement replaced the earlier frustration. "Yes, I can gather a secret resource. Maybe it will help me surpass Darius. Or maybe it’s something else entirely." The possibilities soared inside his mind.