When Zhong Shenxiu and Robin returned, everyone averted their gaze, pretending to be absorbed in other things.
Though they had subdued the five great water monsters, this did not mean the black water was clear of threats. On the contrary, countless monsters remained, but they were merely shrimp soldiers and crab generals, vastly inferior to the five they had captured. Unless they actively sought trouble, Zhong Shenxiu had no intention of dealing with them.
Zhong Shenxiu didn't rush the group across the dark water. Instead, he commanded everyone to rest there for the day, warning that something far more perilous awaited them ahead. If things went as expected, they would reach the heart of the ancient tomb in another day’s march.
The others simply assumed Zhong Shenxiu was still formulating a plan to cross the black water, so they asked no further questions, seizing the time to recuperate.
While Angelina and the others prepared the meal, Zhong Shenxiu added a special ingredient to the food, designed to grant the mercenaries immunity to the toxicity of the black water.
A silent night passed. After more than six hours of rest, they were abruptly awakened by Zhong Shenxiu.
The moment that truly tested the spirit and fortitude of the group had finally arrived. Under the astonished gaze of everyone present, Zhong Shenxiu instantly cast an Earth magic spell, erecting a bridge spanning the dark water in a flash.
This feat clearly exceeded the conventional scope of magic, yet the group quickly accepted the reality. Having witnessed so many shocking scenes, this display seemed relatively minor in comparison.
Walking across the bridge, everyone was tense. On one hand, they worried about the structural integrity of the bridge, desperately hoping it wouldn't collapse midway. On the other, they feared what monstrous things might surge from the water below. They certainly didn't possess Robin's monstrous strength; an encounter would certainly spell doom for them.
Fortunately, nothing happened. Zhong Shenxiu crossed safely, without incident.
The subsequent path began to ascend, and because the ground was slick, the group proceeded with extreme caution, terrified of triggering any hidden mechanisms.
Needless to say, the group encountered numerous dangers along the way. Monsters of every conceivable kind continuously emerged. During one encounter, a mercenary accidentally tripped a mechanism, but thankfully, Robin managed to avert disaster once again!
The group’s pace had noticeably slowed. This was partly due to the increased frequency of dangers, but more significantly, they were stumbling upon treasures at every turn. Most of their time was consumed by collecting these precious artifacts.
The mercenaries were consumed by jealousy; possessing no share of these priceless treasures felt utterly stifling. They estimated that the wealth accumulated by the "Misty Mercenary Group" now far surpassed that of the world’s foremost mercenary corps.
Despite their envy, these men dared not voice a single complaint, for without Zhong Shenxiu leading the way, they would never have discovered such a hoard.
Hariman's admiration for Zhong Shenxiu had now reached the point of utter prostration. As an archaeologist, he felt he possessed less than one percent of the boy’s ability. Those sealed chambers—without Zhong Shenxiu, they would have certainly missed them all.
Was this young boy innately the King of Tomb Raiders?
What Hariman found even more inexplicable was the boy’s apparent intuitive grasp of the mechanisms here. He knew precisely where traps were hidden and which levers opened the stone doors, and his handling of the artifacts was highly professional, especially the books.
He still couldn't fathom what those liquids were made of, or how spraying them on the ancient texts could solidify and preserve them instantly.
Mysterious. This young boy was profoundly mysterious, his impassive face hinting at an underlying wisdom, a mastery of strategy.
They journeyed onward for nearly two more hours before suddenly noticing a bizarre phenomenon.
The further they advanced, the fewer mechanisms seemed to appear. The small glowing dots that previously indicated traps diminished, eventually vanishing entirely!
What was happening?
After this observation was voiced, everyone fell into a deep contemplation, unable to formulate any plausible explanation.
Finally, Gandalf, unable to contain his curiosity, asked Zhong Shenxiu with utmost reverence, "Leader, why are there no more traps here?"
"Do you really want to know?" Zhong Shenxiu gave a wicked smile, a strange light glinting in his eyes.
Due to the dim lighting, the others hadn't noticed.
"It’s fine to tell you," Zhong Shenxiu continued, smiling again. "The reason there are no more traps is that some things are far more formidable than mechanisms."
"Wh-what things?" Everyone started, a wave of unease sweeping over them.
Zhong Shenxiu offered no further answer, instead adopting an expression that invited them to use their own imaginations.
The absence of traps should have been a relief, but at this moment, the group felt even more anxious. While Zhong Shenxiu’s words carried a hint of mockery, the fact remained that something unknown was present. They could all hear it now: a series of very strange sounds echoing from the distance.
"What is that noise?" These mercenaries, already jumpy, nearly had their hearts stop after Zhong Shenxiu’s warning.
The sound resembled hard objects grinding against each other, accompanied by a distinct shuffling, as if something was approaching them. The noise was growing louder!
Everyone instinctively huddled closer to Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, feeling only slight reassurance in their presence.
"Alright, you can sit down and rest for a bit," Zhong Shenxiu stated with surprising casualness during such a tense moment.
"Huh?" The mercenaries stared at him in disbelief. Who had the mood to rest at a time like this?
Yet, as if fate were mocking them, Charlotte and the others actually sat down to conserve their energy.
Damn, you guys are something else. We are completely beaten.
Although they were all mercenaries, these men felt they could never match the nonchalance of the Misty Mercenary Group members.
In truth, they didn't understand that Charlotte and the others weren't being unconcerned; they were resting precisely because they were deeply concerned. They vaguely sensed a major battle was imminent, and Zhong Shenxiu’s tone implied exactly that!
Having followed him for so long, they had come to understand their leader’s nature and habits. If they didn't rest now, they might not get another chance later.
Time crept by. No one spoke, all quietly listening to the increasingly close, strange sounds.
Judging by the noise, there were quite a few approaching, yet what puzzled them was their slow, almost rhythmic pace.
What could it be? Surely not those monsters, whose speed was never so sluggish!
Time dragged in the waiting. The mercenaries kept peering into the distance, their expressions growing taut with tension.
"Heavens, what are those things?" Suddenly, one mercenary cried out.
Everyone jolted, quickly following his line of sight.
It was hazy—just a large, dark mass of unidentifiable shapes slowly closing in on them!
Unlike the others, Stanley and Faraday exchanged a look, both recognizing sheer horror in the other's eyes! They had a terrible inkling of what these things were, but found it almost impossible to accept!
"Oh God, that, that is actually—"
He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence, for the sight before him had stolen his breath. Simply managing to breathe felt like an achievement!
Everyone stiffened, their eyes immediately turning to Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, their gazes silently demanding to know the next move! Specifically, they were waiting for Robin to step forward and avert this crisis again!
Robin would act, but not yet!
To everyone’s utter shock, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin walked over to the base of the wall, sat down squarely, and adopted the expression of spectators enjoying a show—clearly intending not to intervene!
How could they do this?
The mercenaries felt abandoned, yet they dared not complain. They quickly shifted their focus to the other members of the "Misty Mercenary Group."
To their astonishment, these members were already poised for battle, their faces set with expressions of unwavering resolve!
They knew it was their time to shine!
Franklin paused for a beat, then felt a flush of shame. They had become too reliant on Zhong Shenxiu and Robin recently, forgetting that they, too, were mercenaries.
Instantly, Franklin’s fighting spirit ignited, and he too took up a combat stance!
By now, the approaching entities were clearly visible: they were entirely skeletons—skeleton warriors as well as monstrous skeletal beasts. Strangely, these skeletons were of varied colors—white, black, red, green, and more—a truly terrifying sight!
But that wasn't the most shocking aspect. What truly stunned everyone was that these skeletons were all superbly equipped. They wore armor and carried a variety of gleaming weapons!
Those were the very armaments from the 'War Relics'!
Furthermore, the gear was clearly well-preserved, catching the light and reflecting a chilling, sinister gleam!
"This—this must be an illusion!" one trembling mercenary muttered through chattering teeth. As far as the eye could see, the skeletons were densely packed, stretching far into the distance—easily numbering in the tens of thousands!
To call it an army of thousands was an understatement!
How could anyone survive against such overwhelming odds?
The mercenaries’ gazes shot back toward Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, their expressions pleading: Ancestors, please think of a solution!
Zhong Shenxiu still showed no sign of rising, but he spoke a directive to Charlotte and the others:
"Hold them off for ten minutes!"
Charlotte and the others understood immediately: for these ten minutes, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin would not interfere. If they wished to live, they had to endure for ten minutes. This was their leader’s command! More accurately, it was a test!
Instantly, Charlotte drew her saber; Angelina prepared to utilize the power of her bracelet; Rhys retrieved the sword forged especially for him by Zhong Shenxiu; and Gandalf firmly grasped the 'Sacred Saint.'