frightfiction Chapter 151 Racing Against Time
Chapter 151 Racing Against Time
No matter how much I study, or how long I live, I can never understand everything in this world.
Given that most of my actions are based on knowledge gained from the game, this uncertainty itself makes the situation extremely unstable.
That's the truth. Even the smallest details, if overlooked, can have a profound impact on the world.
And that's exactly what's happening right now.
boom!
The echo of the explosion reverberated through the mountains. I ran desperately, the sound of the explosion still ringing in my ears.
hum!
I struggled to maintain my balance, each step accompanied by the pain of the previous impact, but the urgency of the situation compelled me to keep going. The wounds were healing rapidly; the only thing holding me back was the persistent pain.
I can't afford to waste even a second right now.
boom!
Another explosion shook the hillside, and I instinctively protected myself, dodging the falling rocks.
The hillside was looming above me, and I focused on getting to a safe place before the avalanche hit.
Damn it.
Panic seeped into every inch of my skin; the life-or-death urgency made my senses even more acute.
As I ran, the mountains constantly presented me with life-or-death challenges. Cracked ice and snow, hidden rocks, and snowdrifts that could collapse at any moment made every step fraught with danger.
My sensory insights and experience exploring mazes make it easier for me to notice potentially life-threatening details.
"Ha ha……"
The air grew thinner and thinner, and the cold seeped into my clothes, making it harder to breathe.
My poor physical condition is holding me back, but at this moment, I have no time to care.
rumble!
The earth trembled from the collision of the monsters and the impending avalanche.
While racing against time, I also need to check the map from time to time to make sure I'm on the right track.
Don't even mention wasting a single second or slowing down; if I make even a single mistake, the consequences will be unimaginable.
I'm almost there.
The map offered a glimmer of hope. Although I wasn't sure if the destination was correct, I couldn't have any doubts now.
Rumble! Rumble!
The approaching avalanche and the smoke billowing from the debris enveloped me, blurring my vision.
The Eye of Time
I only have five seconds at most.
I quickly estimated the distance and pushed myself to the limit.
'Four.'
Whoosh!
My boots steadied my steps as I stepped into the snow.
'three.'
The gravel and smoke grew thicker, making breathing almost impossible.
'two.'
Holding my breath, I gripped my legs tightly, resisting the pressure of the avalanche, and struggled forward.
'one.'
The Eye of Time slowed down time, and huge blocks of snow were almost right in front of me, but at the same time, I saw a small crack in front of me.
The crack, untouched by even a single snowflake, seemed to be prevented from entering by something.
This is it.
The lack of oxygen and physical fatigue caused by holding my breath had begun to have an effect, pushing my consciousness to the brink of collapse.
'We can't stop.'
With one last push, I reached for the crack as the avalanche engulfed me.
I grabbed the crack with all my might and pulled myself in, then felt the familiar sensation of being sucked into a portal.
boom!
I fell to the ground, and even without any actual tremor, I could still feel the world around me shaking.
From the chaos of the avalanche to the sudden change in unfamiliar terrain, I felt somewhat disoriented.
"Ha ha……"
As I struggled to catch my breath and regain my balance, the swaying world slowly began to return to its original state.
As my vision gradually cleared, I found myself in a completely different scene.
The air felt strange, filled with an ominous premonition. With each breath, I could feel the atmosphere shifting.
This is it.
The crack, the crack that saved my life, was actually my original destination.
As I stood up, the effects of the adrenaline gradually subsided.
The world around me has taken shape, revealing a place I've never encountered before.
The sky overhead was dark and oppressive, not because it was night, but because it was filled with thick smoke. The somber atmosphere contrasted sharply with the cold mountains I had just left behind.
It's very hot here.
The heat in the air was palpable, a stark contrast to the chill of the mountains. The ground beneath one's feet felt entirely different, both smooth and abrasive. Though scorching hot, it remained silky smooth in the darkness.
call!call!
The surrounding ground pulsated and vibrated, and suddenly, magma erupted like a geyser.
It cascaded down in rhythmic bursts, creating an eerie atmosphere against a backdrop of smoky sky.
The surrounding ground seemed to be twisting, and a lava river flowed like liquid, meandering through the rugged terrain.
The heat emanating from the lava intensified the oppressive atmosphere, making every step fraught with danger.
This is a stark contrast to the scene at the entrance.
I need to rest for a bit.
As I took off my coat, I began to feel the fatigue from the long climb and the final intense run.
Glug!
I drank a stamina potion and a mana potion to replenish my reserves, then sat on the ground, trying to conceal my presence.
Aurora Crow
The first step is reconnaissance, because I am currently in a weakened state.
Splash! Splash!
As the crow flapped its wings, I began to explore the interior of the dungeon, searching for any monsters.
Visual sharing.
After a period of time with the contract, I no longer feel uncomfortable. When the perspective shifts to that of the crow, I can see the surrounding scenery and grasp the details more clearly.
'Hmm... just like in the game, a lava snake.'
The first type of monster is the Lava Serpent. They swim in lava rivers, their scales shimmering in the light of the lava.
'A low-level, fourth-tier monster.'
Although they may not look very powerful, they are actually quite powerful. These monsters are comparable in strength to the lava dragons we encountered in the simulated dungeons, and there are far more than just one or two of them.
To subdue these monsters, at least one experienced, high-level hunter is needed.
As I observed, one snake slithered through the lava, bathed in the intense magma, while another coiled near the rock wall, its eyes fixed on potential prey.
A second type of monster has appeared: the elusive Geyser Stalker. They dwell on the ground, blending seamlessly into their surroundings, using the erupting geysers as cover.
'They should be mid-tier fourth-level monsters; their strengths lie in camouflage and surprise attacks.'
These monsters patiently slither through the terrain, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. In a sense, I could handle them one-on-one, but given the complexity of the terrain, fighting them alone might make me prey for the lava serpents.
Moreover, my real goal here has never been to fight monsters.
This place is not what I'm aiming to conquer right now. The Rihua Mountains are meant to be explored by players after they reach higher levels.
I haven't reached that level yet, so I only have one choice and one goal.
'Avoid conflict and reach the final destination.'
Only the [Shadow Armor] can allow me to reach my destination silently. High-level monsters possess an intuition and instinct that I cannot match compared to the monsters I have encountered before.
"Phew... that should be enough."
I took a deep breath, ready to move forward, my eyes fixed on the road ahead. The challenge would be tough, but still within my capabilities.
After activating my properties, I silently blended into the shadows.
……
In a room filled with luxurious decorations, a girl with fiery red hair sits on the floor.
The room was as spacious as a small house, and the walls were covered with countless precious and rare materials. Even one of them would be enough to support an ordinary family for 20 years.
"call……"
The girl exhaled a breath of fire and sat in a meditative posture.
"I'm boring."
She opened her amber eyes and murmured to herself. Maintaining this meditative state to improve her magical control was a tedious and monotonous task in itself.
Boom!Boom!Boom!
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
The door creaked open, and a maid in a neat uniform entered the room. "Miss Irina, the lady requests your presence," she said with a gentle bow.
Irina sighed, her red hair shimmering with each movement. "Can't she see I'm busy? What's she up to now?"
Her relationship with her mother is a bit... complicated.
The maid knew this, hesitated for a moment, and then replied, "It's about the upcoming ball. She insists that you attend and discuss the arrangements."
Irina sighed, clearly uninterested in the upcoming event. Even knowing this, her mother had never let her have any fun, always telling her that she would inherit the family business in the future.
But she also knew that this was just an excuse her mother used to have the maid call her, and given her mother's personality, Irina already knew why she was being called.
“Alright, alright.” She rose from her meditative posture, her crimson robes flowing around her like flames.
“She’s waiting for you in her office.” The maid bowed her head, gesturing for Irina to follow.
Irina followed the maid through the mansion's magnificent corridors, each step exuding an air of luxury.
'How annoying. '
She was indifferent to the magnificent scenery around her, which was inconsistent with her impatient attitude.
As they arrived at their mother's office, just as the maid was about to knock gently, a graceful voice came from inside: "You may come in."
With a creak, the door was pushed open.
Inside, a woman with similar red hair and amber eyes sat behind an intricately carved table. The room was decorated similarly to Irina's, filled with countless luxurious ornaments and rare magical items.
The woman's expression was serious, displaying a sense of responsibility as the head of the family, but at the same time, the oppressive aura emanating from her made it difficult to look her in the eye.
"You've arrived."