Henry squatted down and patted Rigor's shoulder with a grin. "Good job, fat-ass."
"Argh!"
"Damn you, old man!" Rigor cussed out.
After making sure that he was alright, Jiang Ning instructed the rest to inspect the body of the Spiked Grizzly Bear.
Monsters that possessed mana could form a special type of crystal near their heart, the beast soul crystal. It contained the purest essence of the creature's mana, and when absorbed, it could significantly accelerate a Knight's training.
"My lord, this one has a beast soul crystal!" Aldrin exclaimed after digging out a small brown crystal from the beast's chest. It pulsed faintly, like a living heart.
Jiang Ning nodded. "Keep it for now. We'll deal with it once we return to the mansion."
"Yes, my lord!"
Aldrin wrapped the crystal in cloth and tucked it carefully into a leather pouch tied to his waist.
"Rigor, can you walk?" Jiang Ning turned to the hulking knight.
Even with sweat pouring down his face and the stabbing pain still gnawing at his shoulder, Rigor managed a smirk. "This little scratch? It's nothing, my lord. I'll live."
"Look at you acting so tough," Henry scoffed, his tone dripping with mockery.
Rigor ignored the jab and went to retrieve his shield. He couldn't lift it properly with one arm, so he fastened it to his back instead; at least it could still protect him from behind.
Seeing that, Henry clicked his tongue and muttered, "Stubborn fool."
"Don't push yourself," Jiang Ning reminded. "Your wound will worsen if you strain it too much."
"Yes, my lord," Rigor replied with a respectful nod.
It turned out that they had yet to reach the true end of the cave. They were only at an intersection branching into several tunnels.
"Mark our path. There may be more intersections ahead," Jiang Ning ordered.
Hearing this, the knights drew their blades and began carving notches into the stone walls to mark the way back.
As they delved deeper, the tunnel split into four paths.
"Which way, my lord?" Henry asked.
Jiang Ning frowned, studying the faint drafts and echoes that came from each direction.
We could split up, but it's too risky. If another monster lurks in one of these tunnels, anyone separated might not survive long enough to call for help. Staying together is slower, but safer.
After a moment, he pointed toward the leftmost tunnel. "We'll move together. This way."
None of them questioned his judgment. After what they'd just faced, they all preferred the safety of numbers.
The group followed the path, weapons drawn, but it soon ended in a dead end.
"Backtrack," Jiang Ning muttered calmly.
They retraced their steps, following the carved markings until they reached the intersection again. They tried the next passage, another dead end. Then the third.
Finally, on their fourth attempt, they emerged into a wide cavern that opened before them like a hidden underground world.
A pond lay in the center, its surface so clear they could see the fish and silver-scaled creatures gliding beneath. Water dripped from above, rippling across the pristine surface.
"Woah... this place is huge!" Aldrin's voice echoed softly against the cave walls.
"My lord, look!" Henry suddenly exclaimed, pointing toward the far side of the cavern.
Jiang Ning followed his gaze, and there it was.
The Dragon Tail Ferns.
Hundreds upon hundreds of stalks grew in dense clusters near the pond, glowing faintly green in the dim torchlight. The air shimmered faintly with mana.
They had found the treasure.
Jiang Ning took a step forward, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his lips. But before he could speak, Ronan suddenly stepped between him and the pond, his expression sharpening.
"Hold."
The Elite Knight's hand went to the hilt of his broadsword. His voice was calm, but edged with warning. "There's something in the water."
Immediately, the others tensed. Hands found weapon hilts, eyes scanning the shimmering pond.
Then, ripples broke the surface, gentle at first, then stronger, until the calm water churned violently.
A moment later, a reptilian creature burst forth from beneath, sending waves splashing across the stone floor.
It was massive, a monstrous blend between crocodile and serpent, with a snout full of jagged teeth and a long, whip-like tail lined with black scales that gleamed like metal.
It glared at them with cold, yellow eyes and let out a sharp, hissing roar.
"An Iron Back Crocodile," Henry muttered grimly.
The monster's body stretched nearly thirty feet long, its back armored in thick, iron-hued plates. As it reared up, its tail smacked against the rock floor with a thunderous crack, leaving a crater where it struck.
Iron Back Crocodiles were known to inhabit the Silent Lake, not these underground caverns. Seeing one here, especially an adult, was deeply unnatural.
"That one's weaker than the Spiked Grizzly, but don't underestimate its tail," Jiang Ning warned. "If it hits you, it'll feel like getting crushed by a warhammer."
"Understood, my lord!"
"Aldrin," Jiang Ning said, his tone firm, "you're the fastest. Draw its attention. The rest of us wait for my signal."
"Yes, my lord!"
Jiang Ning raised his hand, then lowered it.
"Go!"
Aldrin charged, spear in hand, his boots splashing through the shallow water. "Come on, you overgrown lizard!" he shouted.
The crocodile reacted instantly. Its instincts screamed threat, and it lunged with shocking speed, jaws snapping wide.
At the last second, Aldrin rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature's crushing bite. Its tail whipped around, slicing through the air with a sharp swish.
Aldrin ducked low, the gust of wind from the swing brushing the top of his hair.
"Now!" Jiang Ning barked.
The other knights exploded into motion. Henry and Rigor flanked from either side while Ronan charged head-on, his greatsword flashing in the dim light.
Their weapons struck almost simultaneously.
Steel met scale, sparks flying as swords carved deep gashes into the monster's hide.
Rigor drove his shield forward with a grunt, smashing into the creature's jaw. The impact sent a spray of blood and broken teeth scattering across the floor.
The Iron Back Crocodile howled, thrashing violently. Its tail slammed against the cavern wall, sending chunks of stone tumbling down.
Jiang Ning steadied his rifle and aimed. He fired once, the shot striking just beneath its right eye. The bullet didn't pierce deep, but it made the monster recoil, giving Ronan the perfect opening.
With a roar, Ronan leaped forward, his broadsword cleaving through the air in a two-handed strike. The blade cut deep into the beast's neck, splitting through muscle and bone.
Blood sprayed across the cavern floor.
The crocodile convulsed, thrashing wildly. Its claws scraped against the rock as it tried to lash out again, but the knights pressed their assault relentlessly.
"Push it back!" Jiang Ning commanded.
Henry darted in low, stabbing beneath one of its armored plates. Aldrin thrust his spear into its open mouth. Rigor, despite his injured arm, slammed his shield against its side to keep it from twisting away.
The monster let out one final hiss, then collapsed with a heavy crash, the water around it turning red.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then Henry stepped forward cautiously and poked the creature's head with his blade. When it didn't move, he nodded. "It's done."
Jiang Ning lowered his rifle. "Good work, everyone."
He turned toward Aldrin. "Check if it has a beast soul crystal."
"Yes, my lord!"