BXBX NOVEL Chapter 176: Cave of death
As the workers toiled, Rona approached Garnt\'s most trusted horse, Huta, who had always been loyal to him. Surprisingly, even Huta sensed the gravity of the situation and cooperated willingly, allowing herself to be harnessed to carry the masks to the hot spring village.
"You are a good girl!" Rona muttered and packed all the important items on her since she knew Huta was the fastest horse in the whole village.
Normally, it would have taken at least one day to visit the hot spring village from the main village. However, without any rest, both of them ran back to the Hotspring village, which took them half a day to complete.
Upon arrival, Garnt patted Huta\'s mane and whispered words of gratitude. "We\'re in this together, my girl," he said, a bond of trust between them that transcended the chaos around them, and she released happy sounds because Huta was happy to be of service to Garnt.
Garnt also didn\'t forget about his own girls, as he complimented all of them, and knew it was time for him to get ready.
"This is it, Rona. Once Ayra arrives, tell her to wait outside and make sure the entrance is safe, and you should be safe too," he said as he wore the special clothes that bore some resemblance to modern jumpsuits.
"I will come with you..." Rona said, but Garnt refused because he knew Rona wasn\'t the most agile person for this, and he needed strong people to remain outside so they could guard the entrance.
"No, stay here. I can carry the villagers with my helpers who are trained for tasks like this." Rona nodded her head, hearing Garnt, and they quickly wore all the required clothes for the project.
Meanwhile Eva, with her keen intellect, supervised the process, offering guidance and ensuring that the masks were as effective as possible given the limited resources. She made sure everything was flawless because the last thing she wanted in her life was for Garnt to lose his life because of a silly little mistake.
[These masks should provide five minutes of protection. It\'s the best we can do with what we have," she informed him. "And these jumpsuits will protect your skin, but they are also not effective enough for you to fully believe in them. After all, they are made out of silk,]
Garnt nodded, his mind racing with thoughts of Yenya and the other villagers trapped in the cave. He knew time was of the essence. "Let\'s make sure everyone has one. We\'ll enter together, find the villagers, and get out within that time frame and everybody should follow me and never walk on their own. If something dangerous happens, you\'re allowed to run outside and let Rona and others know about it."
As the masks were distributed among the group, Eva voiced a lingering concern.
[If only we had oxygen tanks, we could extend the time and make it safer.]
Garnt glanced at his system, and to his relief, he found that the components for oxygen tanks were indeed available in the blueprint section showing that the theory about blueprints being available for him when they are needed the most is true. However, he knew there was no time to assemble them.
"We\'ll have to make do with what we have. Five minutes is enough if we act quickly," Garnt asserted, his eyes reflecting a mix of determination and worry. "We quickly go inside and bring our villagers back."
Two of the bravest warriors, clad in makeshift gas masks, joined Garnt as they approached the cave entrance. The putrid smell lingered in the air, a constant reminder of the danger within. With a deep breath, Garnt donned his mask, signalling the others to do the same.
"Stay close, and let\'s move quickly. We have five minutes to find them and bring them out," Garnt urged as they ventured into the cave, each step laden with anticipation and the weight of the unknown.
Garnt, flanked by the two warriors, led the way as they stepped into the cavernous abyss. The air inside was thick and stifling, and the acrid scent of sulfur dioxide clung to their makeshift gas masks.
Eva\'s voice echoed in Garnt\'s mind, her words guiding him through the perilous journey.
[I guess this gas inside the cave is sulfur dioxide, a dangerous gas, Garnt. It\'s likely seeping from deep within the cave. The smell and the quality of the air confirm it. We need to move quickly..]
Garnt tightened his grip on his dagger, the feeble light of the sun casting eerie shadows on the cave walls. "Why is this gas coming out, Eva? What could be the cause?" Garnt inquired silently, his mind focused on the mission at hand.
[There are various possibilities,]
Eva responded her voice a constant presence in Garnt\'s thoughts.
[It could be volcanic activity, releasing the gas from below. Alternatively, there might be pockets of sulfur deposits within the cave, reacting with other elements and producing toxic fumes.]
As they delved deeper into the cavern, Eva continued her explanations.
[Sulfur dioxide can cause respiratory issues and eye irritation, and in high concentrations, it can be fatal. We need to find the villagers quickly and get them out. The longer we stay, the more dangerous it becomes. Also don\'t use your lanterns because this cave might also contain combustible gases. Try to use the faint sunlight as much as you can.]
The group navigated through narrow passages and expansive chambers, the labyrinthine cave offering no respite. Garnt felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, knowing that the lives of his fellow villagers depended on their success. Eva also felt the weight because Garnt\'s life depended on her.
[Keep an eye on your surroundings, Garnt. The concentration of sulfur dioxide might vary in different areas. If you notice any signs of distress or feel the effects of the gas intensifying, prioritize getting out immediately.]
Garnt relayed the information to the warriors accompanying him, their expressions were steely beneath the masks. The air grew thicker as they advanced, the putrid smell intensifying. They pressed on, driven by the urgency of their mission.
[We\'re reaching the core of the cave. Be prepared for higher concentrations of sulfur dioxide. We need to find the villagers and exit swiftly,] Eva warned, her guidance crucial in the hazardous environment.
The flickering sunlight revealed the cavern\'s secrets, stalactites hanging like menacing icicles and shadows dancing on the uneven walls. Garnt\'s heart raced, each step echoing in the cavernous silence. The group moved as one, their senses heightened, and their determination unwavering.
[There! You can hear it right? This noise, The villagers must be close. But be cautious, Garnt. The gas might have affected them already,] Eva cautioned.
As they approached a dimly lit chamber, the outlines of figures huddled in the darkness became visible.
"Get ready with our stretchers to drag these people out," The man behind Garnt said showing he wasn\'t just a novice that needed hand-holding for everything.
But after taking a few more steps Garnt\'s heart sank as he surveyed the chamber, the flickering sunlight revealing the grim truth. The villagers lay on the ground, almost all of them looking disfigured, their bodies missing parts. A gasp escaped from the warriors accompanying him, their eyes wide with horror beneath their masks.
Eva\'s voice echoed in Garnt\'s mind showing the whole project of rescuing villagers was a failure,
[Garnt, we don\'t have much time. The gas has taken its toll on them, and we need to evacuate immediately. We are too late.]
"No, let\'s just keep looking because Yenya won\'t die like that; she is a strong girl." Almost as if he were trying to cope with the loss of villagers, he went into the cave more and more.
Eva, who witnessed this, didn\'t know how she should react because she knew how much pain Garnt was feeling right now, so she stayed silent.
As he walked among the lifeless bodies, his eyes scanned the disfigured faces, desperately searching for a familiar visage. The air hung heavy with the stench of the mysterious gas, a haunting reminder of the calamity that had befallen the once-thriving village.
In the distance, the soft murmur of water drew Garnt\'s attention. A glimmer of hope flickered within him as he quickened his pace, guided by the distant sound.
"I knew it, Yenya might be alive because she is a talented girl who learnt everything from our family," Garnt muttered to himself as he ran toward the sound.
Reaching the source of the sound, Garnt\'s eyes widened at the sight before him and Eva just sighed knowing what they witnessed might be the worst thing that could happen to Garnt.
[This isn\'t looking good.]