SMALL CAVE

Max was busy running for his life previously so he didn't take note of his surroundings. He too focused on what behind him that he failed to notice that he was nearing a cliff.

When the explosion occurred, Max also caught off guard due to the not expected that the degree of the explosion was far more what SECOND simulated. The shockwave from the explosion also sends him flying towards to the cliff.

"When it rains, it pours...I just hope the cliff is not deep or I get stuck at some tree branches." Max sighed. The explosion not only affected the group of dark apprentices but he also unprepared of the outcome of the event. Even though the dark apprentices probably died in the explosion, he might join them soon.

The wall of the cliff was covered in a myriad of branches. Max's body was getting cut by the branches as he dropped at a breakneck speed. A few moments later, in the middle of the drop, Max felt an enormous force pulling him.

Max had no control of his body as the force pulled him. Before he knew it, he was inside a cave that had been carved into the wall of the cliff. He felt great force constantly pulling his body against the wall, after a long time the force finally disappeared and he fell down from the wall.

It took him a long time to regain his senses. As Max struggled to get back up, he noticed his robes were torn and his body had gotten scraped all over by the branches. The pain came flooding in from his swollen right arm. Large drops of sweat streamed down, sticking to every part of his body. Max touched his arm and he could tell that the bones were broken even without needing SECOND to analyze his body. This injury was definitely sustained when his body hit the trees from the impact. Fortunately, the sword at his side was fortified with toughness rune too. If the sword snapped and stabbed into his body, he would sustain more injuries while falling.

"Type-B1 bomb is too overwhelming. I designed the Type-B1 modeled on a blast grenade."

Compared to fragmentation grenades, the explosive filler is usually of a greater weight and volume; it is designed to damage its target with explosive power alone. While Type-B1 was based on blast grenade, Max planned to include the characteristic of fragmentation grenades by filling the explosive inside a metal container. The debris from the metal container that exploded is the main weapon after the explosion.

Fortunately, during the previous explosion, none of the fragment of the bomb reached Max sparing him from heavier injuries.

Max took out a healing potion from his pouch and poured it into his mouth. After that, he cast Aquatherapy spell on his swollen right arm.

"My body should be fully healed by tomorrow morning. I should rest at this cave tonight. SECOND! Scan the surrounding for any living beings!"

[Affirmative! Scanning in progress…No living creatures in ten meters host's surrounding.]

"SECOND can only scan to ten meters wide only?" Max shocked.

Since Max brokethrough to rank 2 Mage Apprentice, the area of SECOND's scanning is reaching 50 meters. It was extremely strange when SECOND can only scan up to ten meters only. Even before after entered the secret realm, SECOND can still 50 meters around.

Max was pale as he got up and looked around. He found that he was in a small natural cave. A beam of moonlight peered in through the entrance of the cave, revealing a floor covered with the bones of birds and animals.

On the wall behind him was a black hole the size of a fist. He couldn't tell how deep this little hole was, but on closer inspection, one mystery was probably solved. The pulling force act like a vacuum that sucked him into the cave earlier came from this hole. The animals that those scattered bones had belonged to were sucked in just as he had been. It stills just a possibility.

The suction from the hole must be spontaneous. The moment he appeared in front of this cave during his fall, the mysterious hole pulled him in and saved his life.

The cave is ten meters wide. SECOND cannot scan what behind the wall of the cave due to some mana interference. The same thing happen when SECOND tried to scan a Mage expert.

"Since SECOND cannot detect any living beings around here and what blocked me from the other side of the wall also blocked them from me. It should be fine. SECOND! Set up a sentry alarm around me!"

[Affirmative!]

After Max listens to the SECOND's monotone voice, he lied down and fall asleep.

Next morning, a small beam of sunlight entering the small cave and shone on Max's eyes. He reflexively raised his right arm to cover his eyes. Noticing something amiss, he opened his eyes. His swollen right arm already fully healed.

He woke up and observing his surrounding is the same as the previous night. Littered with bones of birds and small animals.

Max stood up grouchy.

What happened yesterday spelled a bad start since Max entered the secret realm. He ignored a lot of precious herbs looking for the bigger treasure, he found huge footsteps and turned it belong to Stone Gray Ape that in the end eaten by Black Plume Snake. He scheming against the giant winged snake and a group of dark apprentices want to be like the famous Chinese saying; the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. The plan backfired when the dark apprentices escaping from the giant winged snake chase ran toward Max. The dark apprentices tried to make Max as bait for the snake and Max threw a bomb in retaliation. The impact of the explosion threw Max off the cliff. Now he here in a small cave.

Max slowly moves towards the cave entrance. As he looked below, he couldn't help but reveal a bitter smile. Below him was a jungle, and the barely visible ground was covered with rocks. The cliff was very steep; there was no way for him to climb down even with Wind Walk spell or without a rope. The distance from the ground measured more than a few dozen meters. If he tried to jump down, it would definitely be the end.

Max turned back and walks toward the black hole on the cave wall. The hole on the wall seems endless. Max won't be a fool trying to insert his hand inside because of his curiosity.

He took the longest object he had on him, the long sword and stabbed into the hole.