Free Web NovelChapter 12: Into the Mine
The damp air of the mine greeted Dan Moriarty the moment he crossed its entrance.
Unlike the warmth outside, a heavy heat lingered beneath the earth, carrying with it the scent of ash and burnt stone. Every breath felt slightly hotter than the last.
The tunnel stretched endlessly before him.
Wooden support beams lined both sides of the passage, many already cracked from age. Rusted mining carts sat abandoned along broken rails, while old pickaxes remained scattered across the ground as though their owners had fled in great haste.
It was silent. Far too silent.
Only the occasional drip of water echoed somewhere deep within the darkness.
Dan Moriarty walked forward calmly, the Thousand Heavens Rainfall Divine Sword resting comfortably at his side.
His footsteps echoed steadily throughout the tunnel, and behind his vision, the livestream continued.
[Current Viewers: 18]
[Current Viewers: 26]
[Current Viewers: 37]
The numbers rose much faster than during his first broadcast.
Clearly, some of the viewers who had watched him clear the beginner dungeon had returned, while others had likely discovered his channel through recommendations.
Soon, comments began appearing.
[@ShadowWarden: Interesting. A Living Realm dungeon.]
[@GoldenFeatherPrincess: The scenery is rather lovely despite being a mine.]
[@DrunkenSwordImmortal: Hmph. Stop sightseeing and start cutting things.]
Dan Moriarty ignored the comments. His senses remained focused entirely on his surroundings.
"This atmosphere..." His eyes narrowed slightly. "...something is off."
The tunnel was far too empty. According to the information he had gathered beforehand, the outer sections of this mine should already contain monsters wandering the pathways.
Yet after walking for several minutes, he saw absolutely nothing.
Not even a single beast.
Then—
Crunch.
Dan Moriarty’s foot stopped, as something beneath his boot had shattered.
Looking down, he found fragments of bone. Human bones. Several more lay scattered nearby, half buried beneath layers of dust.
The surrounding stone walls bore long black scorch marks. Not weapon strikes. Burns. Large ones.
Dan Moriarty crouched beside one of the skeletons, and judging from the mining helmet nearby.
"It was one of the miners."
No flesh remained.
Only bones.
Whatever had attacked them had done so mercilessly.
He stood once more.
"It seems the situation here is worse than the townsfolk realized."
Then, a comment.
[@NineTailEmpress: Judging by the burn patterns, flame-attributed monsters.]
Dan Moriarty continued deeper, as the heat gradually intensified. Even the stone beneath his feet began changing color, taking on a faint reddish glow.
Cracks spread throughout the tunnel floor, with thin wisps of steam escaping from them, almost as though magma flowed somewhere beneath the mine.
"This place wasn’t like this near the entrance."
He remained cautious, as every instinct told him he was approaching the territory of whatever inhabited these tunnels.
Then, A low growl echoed ahead.
Grrrr...
Dan Moriarty immediately stopped.
Another growl answered it.
Then another.
Soon, the darkness itself seemed alive.
Pairs of glowing crimson eyes slowly appeared within the tunnel.
One.
Three.
Five.
Then more.
The beasts emerged one after another.
Each resembled an enormous lion, their bodies covered in crimson fur that burned continuously without consuming itself. Flames leaked from their mouths with every breath, while sharp claws scraped across the stone floor, leaving glowing trails behind.
[Ferocious Flame Lion]
[Level: 15]
"There they are."
Dan Moriarty’s expression remained calm. He had expected stronger monsters than the goblins from the beginner dungeon.
But Level Fifteen? Even higher than the forum posts suggested.
The six lions spread out naturally, rather than charging recklessly, they slowly surrounded him from multiple directions.
"They’re coordinating."
Unlike goblins that relied purely on numbers, these creatures hunted intelligently. freeweɓnøvel.com
The livestream exploded.
[Current Viewers: 52]
[@GoldenFeatherPrincess: They’re rather beautiful.]
[@StoneGiantKing: Flame Lions. Stronger than ordinary dungeon beasts.]
[@DrunkenSwordImmortal: Hahaha! Now this is finally worth watching!]
The lead lion stepped forward, Its burning mane flared violently.
ROAR!!
The deafening roar reverberated throughout the tunnel. And Immediately afterward, the remaining five lunged simultaneously. One attacked from the front, two rushed from the left, and three more came from behind.
A perfectly timed ambush.
The narrow tunnel left very little room to maneuver. Ordinary Streamers would likely panic.
Dan Moriarty did not. Instead, he calmly observed.
"Their coordination..." His eyes tracked every movement. "...is impressive."
He shifted one step, as a claw narrowly missed his shoulder. Another swipe tore through the empty space where his head had been an instant earlier.
Without even drawing his sword completely, he avoided every strike with minimal movement.
The viewers immediately noticed.
[@ShadowWarden: Efficient footwork.]
[@NineTailEmpress: His movement wastes almost no energy.]
[@DrunkenSwordImmortal: Quit dancing! Draw the damn sword!]
Dan Moriarty smiled faintly.
"They’re testing me."
He could feel it. The lions weren’t using their full strength. They were probing, waiting for an opening.
The lead lion roared once more, as the surrounding flames intensified. Then all six charged together.
This time, there was nowhere left to dodge. The tunnel had become completely blocked by blazing bodies.
Dan Moriarty slowly exhaled.
"So..."
His right hand settled firmly around the hilt of the Thousand Heavens Rainfall Divine Sword. Lightning quietly began dancing along the sheath. frёeωebɳovel.com
"...you’ve chosen death."
The surrounding air suddenly changed, as the temperature drastically dropped.
Not because the flames weakened, but because an overwhelming sword intent swept through the tunnel.
Every lion froze instinctively. Even beasts driven by instinct could sense danger.
Real danger.
The livestream comments exploded.
[@DrunkenSwordImmortal: Hahaha! Finally!]
[@GoldenFeatherPrincess: He’s going to use that sword again.]
[@StoneGiantKing: Those beasts are finished.]
Dan Moriarty slowly drew the blade.
CRACKLE—
Silver lightning erupted across the tunnel walls, the divine sword completely unsheathed.
He raised it calmly toward the six charging lions.
Then—
"Celestial Sword Qi!"
