NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10: Exploring Ruin
Neguro and his two bodyguards wore matching black suits, giving off a suspiciously organized vibe—almost like gangsters. The two bodyguards had standard crew cuts and looked rather plain, but something about them felt off. Neguro, on the other hand, kept his sunglasses on, concealing his eyes entirely. Larry couldn't tell if he was hiding an injury or just didn't want anyone to read him.
Then there were the three siblings. The eldest, the man with glasses, had a thin build, squinting eyes, and wore gold-rimmed spectacles. Dressed in an ordinary white shirt and gray leather shoes, he looked like any other office worker. But his sharp gaze hinted at something more.
The woman in leather stood out with her 1.7-meter frame and sharp, noble features. She carried a long, barbed whip that looked like it belonged to a queen of some sort. However, Link's trained eyes detected something more—this whip was purely made of aura, a manifestation of her power.
Finally, the youngest of the three, the hip-hop guy, had a darker complexion and thick eyebrows. He wore a bright red dance-style tracksuit and carried a large hiking bag. The heavy calluses on his knuckles told Larry that he was no stranger to hard work and physical combat. Neguro was the first to break the silence. "Alright, how about this? If you help us pass through safely, I'll offer you 40% of whatever we find inside." His tone was calm and sincere, but Larry could sense the underlying schemes in his words.
Larry smirked, his narrowed eyes filled with amusement. He could tell Neguro wasn't as honest as he seemed. Still, since their abilities were nothing special, he decided to play along. "Deal. Gardevoir, Use Misty Terrain on everyone."
With a graceful motion, Gardevoir released six translucent bubbles that floated toward the group, encasing each person in a protective aura. As soon as the shimmering shields settled around them, the oppressive death aura that had been gnawing at them retreated rapidly.
A wave of relief washed over the group. The chilling sensation that had seeped into their bones vanished, replaced by a comforting warmth, almost like soaking in a hot spring. Fatigue that had been weighing them down lifted, leaving them feeling refreshed. Larry observed quietly, making a mental note—'Misty Terrain not only blocks the death aura but also relieves fatigue. That might come in handy later.'
Under the hopeful gazes of the group, Larry signaled Gardevoir again. "Let's test it on the door first. If that doesn't work, we'll try Heal Bell next."
From his perspective, it was better to conserve aura. He wasn't about to waste valuable resources clearing the aura unless absolutely necessary. A cluster of shimmering nen bubbles drifted toward the door. As they made contact, the dark mist of death clinging to the door began to recede—slowly at first, then more rapidly. "It's working!" someone gasped.
The others watched with admiration and gratitude in their eyes, all except for Neguro. Hidden behind his dark sunglasses, his gaze flickered with something unreadable. After a few minutes, the death aura had completely dissipated, revealing the true surface of the door. Unlike the finely carved reliefs outside the ruins, the artwork here was rough and almost crude. It was unclear whether the eerie aura had caused the deterioration or if the door had always been this way.
The carvings were bizarre and abstract, depicting strange creatures that resembled something out of an ancient myth. With a slight bow, Larry stepped aside and gestured toward the group. "All yours," he said, reminding them of their earlier agreement. He'd handled the death aura—now it was their turn.
Even though the deadly mist was gone, the massive stone door remained firmly shut. There were no visible mechanisms to open it, meaning brute force was their only option. Neguro and his bodyguards exchanged silent looks, clearly unwilling to make the first move. Sensing the hesitation, the youngest of the three siblings—the hip-hop guy—stepped forward confidently.
Setting his backpack down, he took a deep breath, adjusted his stance, and lowered his center of gravity. His fists, large as sandbags, clenched tightly as a pale yellow aura surrounded them, crackling with energy. Without warning, his eyes snapped open, flashing with determination. With a powerful roar, he launched his fist forward. A sharp whoosh cut through the air, and his Aura-infused punch slammed into the door with explosive force.
BAM!!!!
Crack after crack formed across the surface as he delivered relentless blows, each one heavier than the last. Chunks of stone crumbled away, and before long, a dark passageway appeared behind the now-destroyed door. Sweat dripped from the hip-hop guy's brow, his chest rising and falling with exhaustion, but the results spoke for themselves. The entrance was now wide enough for everyone to pass through.
As soon as the door opened, a wave of strange, indescribable odors wafted out. The stench was overwhelming, heavy, and thick, as if the air inside had been trapped for centuries. Without hesitation, the group quickly pulled out gas masks and strapped them on. They were seasoned treasure hunters and knew better than to enter an ancient, sealed space without proper protection.
Larry, however, made no move to equip any gear. The man in glasses, noticing this, pulled out an extra mask and offered it to him. "Here, take this. You never know what kind of toxic stuff might be inside." Larry raised an eyebrow but accepted it with a nod of thanks. He could feel the shift in their attitudes. His earlier display had earned their respect, and treasure hunters like them understood the value of having someone like him around. To them, befriending Larry meant securing their future expeditions.
As Larry and the group stepped into the cave, the lingering death aura was still present, though not as dense as outside. To ensure he could effectively eliminate it, Larry and Gardevoir positioned themselves in the middle of the formation—Neguro and his two bodyguards to the left, while the three siblings took the right.
Despite the eerie atmosphere, the cave wasn't completely shrouded in darkness. Along the stone walls on both sides, small glowing beads emitted a faint light at regular intervals, providing just enough illumination to guide their way. 'These look like Night Pearls?' Larry wondered, his gaze lingering on the softly glowing orbs embedded in the walls.
As they ventured deeper, the silence was soon broken by the hip-hop guy, who swaggered over to Larry with a grin plastered across his face. "Hey, bro, what'd you think of my punches back there? Pretty cool, huh?"
Though he tried to keep his voice down, the acoustics of the enclosed cave amplified his excitement, making it impossible for anyone to miss. Larry glanced at him, his expression neutral. "Yeah... they were pretty impressive," he replied honestly, though the hip-hop guy's enthusiasm made it hard for him to keep a straight face.