Chapter 146 Into The Phoenix Chamber Part 26

Bong quickly rushes towards Michio and kills the small scorpion that attacks Michio from behind. "Did you hear them? First tunnel on the right," Bong said, killing a scorpion that jumped down from the top of the tunnel and lunged at him. 

"Your Highness," Michio said. "You were supposed to leave with U-ri." 

Bong asked again, "Did you hear them?" 

Michio said, "Yes." 

"Keep us away from them," Bong said. "And have your fire talisman ready. We'll need it." 

Michio said, "Alright!" 

Michio did a backflip over Bong and quickly drew a talisman in the air. The red aura quickly formed the character "fire" and floated in the air. Michio clenched his hands as a line of fire rose from the ground. 

"Go!" Michio grabbed Bong's hand, and they fled the fire together. Many scorpions jumped into the fire to put out the flames. 

Bong stopped and turned to look at the flames that were beginning to die. He took out the bag and said, "Send this bag of powder to that fire." 

Bong threw the bag into the air and Michio swung his spear forward, hitting the bag and sending it flying straight into the fire. 

"Nice shot," Bong said and smiled at Michio. Bong saw the fire quickly spread to the top of the tunnel. "It's going to explode."

Debris started falling on them, Michio grabbed Bong's hand and they ran towards the tunnel where U-ri and Shi had gone, while the fire chased them through the tunnel. Bong entered the tunnel first, and when Michio entered the tunnel, Bong threw the talisman Meng had given him at the tunnel entrance. Bong stood just feet away as the large fire swooped past them. Bong blinked in slight surprise, for he had just escaped from being burned alive. 

Bong sighed and said, "I can't believe it. We just narrowly escaped death. If I see that participant again, I must thank him. Without his talisman, we would be roasted to death like those scorpions." 

Michio said, "Your Highness, you as bold as Abrafo." 

Bong said, "Hey, I started liking you after this incident. If you keep mentioning that loser's name, I might dislike you again, so don't make me dislike you."

Michio said, "I am a monk and I only tell the truth." 

"Are you two alright?" Shi asked as he walked towards Michio and Bong. 

"We're fine," Bong said. "Have you found Lixin?" 

Shi said, "We didn't, but we met Jin and the others."

Michio asked, "Where is U-ri?" 

Shi said, "He was with other people. It looked like some tunnels were less dark than others, so Sir U-ri thought they might be because of light coming from the outside." 

Bong said, "Okay, let's go. After the fire, I don't know if these tunnels can still hold on. We don't want to be buried alive here." 

The ground beneath them began to shake, and debris continued to fall from above them. 

Michio said, "The structure of these tunnels is no longer tenable. Let's quickly find a way to get out of here." 

When Michio, Bong, and Shi approached U-ri and the others, more and more rock fragments fell, and dust began to accumulate in the dark dam tunnel, making it difficult for the people trapped in the tunnel to move and breathe. Participants began to cough as they continued to inhale the dust trapped inside the tunnel that has nowhere to escape to. 

"We're going to die here," one female participant cried. 

"What are we going to do?" 

"Is it too late to go back now?" 

"It's too late to go back now," U-ri said. "We need to find a way out of here as soon as possible. If we are not buried alive, we will die from lack of air."

Heng said, "Sir U-ri, there are too many tunnels. We don't know which one is the right tunnel that will take us out." 

U-ri said, "Find something to cover your mouth and face and try to breathe as evenly as possible. Help each other find a way out of here. I believe that with so many of us, we will be able to find our way out." 

Michio suddenly remembered the wolf Hajime gave him. He took out the wooden wolf figure. "I have an idea, but I don't know if it will work," he said. 

Jin said, "Please share." 

Michio said, "I'm thinking of using Hajime's wolf to help us find him, hoping the wolf can lead us out of the tunnel." 

U-ri said, "Michio, this is a good idea. Why didn't I think of it?" 

"But I don't know if it's going to work," Michio said. 

Heng said, "It's better than sitting here doing nothing." 

Feng said, "I agree." 

"Good idea, Monk," Bong said with a smile.

Michio threw the wolf figuring to the ground, and a big wolf slowly appeared. Michio stroked the wolf's back and said, "Take us to your master." 

The wolf looked at Michio and the people behind him with his yellow eyes. He slowly started walking away. 

Jin said, "Everyone, follows the wolf." 

"Everyone, hurry up," Feng said. He turned to Jin. "With so many people, do you think we can escape alive?" 

Jin said, "I hope so. Come on, people." 

As those still trapped in the tunnels continued to follow the wolf as closely as they could, the tunnels began to break apart. The ground beneath their feet began to shake violently, and the screams of scorpions could be heard in the distance. With the loud noise of the ground collapsing, more and more rock and soil debris continue to accumulate, making it increasingly difficult for people trapped in the tunnel to breathe. 

Feng covered his mouth with his hand and coughed. "Are we close to a breach?" he shouted from behind. 

Michio looked at the wolf that had just turned sharply to the right. The tunnel to the left of the wolf collapsed. 

Bong rushed forward and shouted, "We need to get out of here now, the tunnel is collapsing!" 

Michio said, "I know we need to get out of here, but I don't know which way to go. The only thing we can do now is follow the wolf. He is our only hope of escaping these tunnels." 

Bong looked back at the people coming from behind. "Everyone, if you want to live, you better start running," he shouted, then turned to Michio. "We'll be running out of air soon. Best to run." 

Michio grabbed hold of the wolf's left side of fur and he started running, and people continued to chase Michio. 

Jin, the last man standing, saw more debris falling towards them and shouted to those in front of him to hurry up. 

Onon stared at Lan Huan, who stood a few feet away from him with the mortals. "An untouchable," he frowned wildly. He looked at Lan Huan. She stood there blankly, as if waiting for someone to direct her to attack or defend. "You are not an ordinary untouchable. It's just a pity that without your master, your skills are still no match for me." 

Lan Hua smirked at Onon and said, "We will wait to see who is better." Lan Huan raised her hand, and the vines on the ground began to rise. 

Yul said, "Lixin, protect Hajime." 

Lan Huan said, "There is no need to protect me, let's kill him first." 

Abrafo looked back at Hajime, who had his eyes closed and remained motionless.

"What's going on?" he asked. 

Yul said, "I'll explain later." 

Abrafo said, "Then let's kill him first. I'd better have a good explanation." 

"Don't worry... we'll protect him," said one of the two participants who emerged from the protection of the bangle. 

Lan Huan jumped forward and shot the vines in her right hand at Onon. Onon quickly swung his double-edged ax and cut off the oncoming vines. At the same time, three more vines rushed out from the left side, knocking Onon on the side. 

Abrafo quickly jumped over the vines and swung his sword at Onon's back, but Onon quickly avoided Abrafo's sword with a backflip and landed in front of a tunnel that was still standing. 

A huge scorpion jumped out of the collapsed tunnel. The scorpion's upper body turned and faced the three Tanzanies and the others. The scorpion was Tuya. 

Tuya lowered her head and smiled at Onon, who was tightly wrapped in vines. "Do you need help?" Tuya asked. "If not, I'll stand by until you defeated them, or they defeated you." 

Onon gritted his teeth and said, "I don't need your help." 

Tuya crossed her arms on her chest and said, "Even if you ask me for help, I will not help you for free." 

"That's why I don't ask for your help," Onon said, using his inner strength to break off the dry vines, and then threw the axe at Lan Huan. Lan Huan dodged to the right, and Onon's axe missed Lan Huan by a few inches. 

Tuya looked at Lixin and the two participants guarding Hajime. Tuya smiled and said, "I didn't even know that mages existed anymore. The original mages are very rare. I believe the pure blood flowing in his veins must be very delicious." She licked her lips. 

As Onon fights Yul, Abrafo, and Lan Huan. She continued to look at Hajime, and finally understood why Lixin and the others wanted to protect Hajime. Hajime hasn't moved since she arrived. She looked at Hajime with a smile, and she finally understood that Hajime had transferred his soul to the woman who was fighting Onon. So, this was her chance to take Hajime with her. 

Tuya quickly moved to the left, charging forward and aiming her spear at the five men standing in the circle. The five people standing within the protection range of the bangle raised their weapons, preparing to resist Tuya's attack. When Tuya's spear came into contact with the people, her spear was blocked by some kind of magic wall, and the power of the magic wall pushed her backwards towards the collapsed tunnels. 

"Interesting." Tuya looked at Hajime with a smile.