Free Web NovelChapter 106: Chapter 98: Going up the Mountain to Watch the Battle
"Faster, faster! Go faster!"
"We’re already at max speed, City Lord."
"Think of something! Those guys are catching up to us!"
"..."
Beneath the Wasteland, inside the Gopher Mobile Fortress, the Conscience Merchant’s urgent shouts echoed nonstop. The only response he got was the Gophers’ silence. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to speed up; the conditions just wouldn’t allow it. Their digging speed was already at its limit. The drill bit was glowing red-hot and throwing sparks. No matter how much the City Lord urged them, they couldn’t increase their speed.
The Gophers were more accustomed to making preparations in advance, digging out plenty of tunnels so that in case of an attack, they could escape into a labyrinthine network of burrows.
That was indeed what they usually did. But the City Lord had suddenly ordered them to head in a specific direction—and toward a forbidden land, an area they knew nothing about. Naturally, they had no pre-dug tunnels leading there. Their only option was to dig as they went, but how fast could that possibly be?
With a group of vicious Headhunters chasing them from behind, the Gophers were panicking too. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to go faster—they were simply helpless.
’If I can’t increase our speed, I’ll have to find another way!’ freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Beads of sweat formed on the Conscience Merchant’s forehead, his face a mask of panic. But deep down, he knew that the more critical the moment, the calmer and more clear-headed he needed to be.
He forced himself to calm down, racking his brain to figure a way out of this mess.
’Digging slows us down, but the enemy can just follow our tunnel without losing any speed, so... Fuck, I’m an idiot! Why do we have to run underground? I can just go to the surface! The coordinates aren’t that far anyway. If we push it, we can still make it before the Headhunter Race catches up.’
Having figured it out, the Conscience Merchant didn’t hesitate for a second. "Up!" he ordered immediately. "Angle upward and break through to the surface!"
Upon receiving the command, the Gophers immediately steered the fortress, charging toward the surface and leaving a long, sloping tunnel in their wake.
RUMBLE!
With a tremendous roar, a massive drill bit burst from beneath the earth. Behind the drill was a carriage intricately woven from thick tree roots and vines, which also shot out from underground.
The Gopher Mobile Fortress emerged from the ground and, without a moment’s hesitation, quickly adjusted its course. It aimed for the coordinates, put the pedal to the metal, and sped off.
You had to admit, traveling on the surface was certainly better than underground. At least they didn’t have to dig as they went, which saved a lot of trouble and allowed the Mobile Fortress to pick up speed.
Not long after the Mobile Fortress departed, the sound of heavy footfalls echoed from the tunnel below. A group from the Headhunter Race had caught up.
The lead Headhunter raised a hand, and his clansmen immediately halted. A member of the Headhunter Race skilled in tracking stepped forward. He touched the soil, took a few steps, and peered around cautiously before returning to his leader’s side to report.
"No ambush."
"After them!"
After chasing for so long, there was no way they would give up now. The leader took the vanguard, charging into the new tunnel.
This tunnel was different from the previous ones; it sloped upward. Chasing up the incline cost them more energy and slowed their pace.
By the time the Headhunter leader and his people emerged from the tunnel, the Gopher Mobile Fortress had long since vanished. However, it had left tracks on the ground, so they knew exactly which direction it had gone without needing to be told.
Without a word, the leader followed the tracks in pursuit.
...
’They’re a little slow. Haven’t they arrived yet?’
Li Ziyu checked his system. It was almost the appointed time, but the Gopher Mobile Fortress still hadn’t appeared.
Just as he was growing impatient, a Skeleton Undead approached and informed him that a life signature was rapidly approaching from a distance.
’They’re here!’
Li Ziyu’s eyes lit up. He had all the Undead prepare for battle while he and the Skeleton Warriors waited in place.
In the distance, two beams of light pierced the darkness.
Li Ziyu squinted. He could faintly make out a massive shape. At the front was a huge drill, followed by a carriage that was being thrown about so violently it seemed to fly into the air.
’Seriously? Is that a train? They have that kind of high-tech?’
In the distant darkness, the Gopher Mobile Fortress barreled forward at full speed. However, their fortress was better suited for subterranean life; on the surface, it was far less stable. The entire structure swayed and lurched as if it were drunk.
[Private Chat]
Conscience Merchant: I think I see you.
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: Drop the "I think." It’s me. Slow the hell down, are you trying to run me over?!
Conscience Merchant: ...Understood!
After their two-line exchange, the lurching, swaying "Gopher train" slammed on its brakes. The wheels locked and skidded across the ground, kicking up a thick cloud of dust as it slid right up to Li Ziyu, coming to a stop just in the nick of time.
Li Ziyu slowly raised his head to stare at the massive, heavy drill bit that was now inches from his face. A muscle in his cheek twitched, and his eyes narrowed to slits.
’That was too damn close. A little further and I would’ve been a goner!’
The oversized carriage behind the drill opened, and a group of people scrambled out, heading toward Li Ziyu. A Human led the way, followed by Gophers.
They had barely gotten close when the Skeleton Warriors stepped forward in unison, aiming their Bone Sabers at the uninvited guests.
"Whoa... Stop, stop, stop!" the Conscience Merchant yelled, hastily stopping in his tracks and raising his hands in surrender.
In truth, he didn’t need to shout. The moment the Gophers got a clear look at the Undead, they had already frozen in their tracks, hesitant to advance.
