Chapter 371: Collapse

In his spatial ring, the first and second tablets lay side by side.

Both tablets were identical in size, but their contents differed entirely.

Helag grew more curious about the tablets’ origins and creators.

The murals offered no clues about the so-called divine messenger.

Helag wondered if more tablets existed; it was all unknown.

Before he could ponder further, the plaza changed.

As Helag stored the second tablet, the surrounding fires extinguished instantly.

The temperature dropped sharply, and Helag felt a chill.

He realized the plaza had been warmer than the tunnel, though he hadn’t noticed while focused on the tablet.

The sudden cold alerted him to the change.

Scanning the area, Helag sensed something had shifted.

He rushed back to the mural-lined tunnel.

The murals had vanished from the walls.

Helag was sure he hadn’t imagined them; they’d been there moments ago.

Their disappearance was sudden, but Helag wasn’t surprised.

He’d experienced similar events at Creek Valley Town, where the cave vanished after he left, along with other strange occurrences.

Back then, he couldn’t understand what happened and left City cautiously.

Now, he suspected the tablets caused these anomalies.

It was a guess; the true reason might only be revealed once he understood the tablets fully.

Aside from the murals’ disappearance, the tunnel remained unchanged.

Returning to the plaza, Helag found it colder but otherwise the same.

“How do I get out?”

Helag pondered his exit strategy.

He searched every corner of the plaza, finding no hidden paths.

It seemed the only way out was the way he came.

He considered retracing his steps, though he’d need a plan to avoid the giant spider outside.

Glancing at the tunnel walls, Helag thought about digging a new exit, avoiding the spider.

The spider was too powerful for him to handle.

Digging would take time but offered safety.

Prepared to dig, Helag began his return journey.

The trip wasn’t in vain; the tablet’s use was unknown, but it held promise.

The tunnel took over two days to traverse; returning might take longer.

Descending was easier than climbing back up.

Helag retraced his steps, having Deep Blue map the return route.

He planned to compare the paths upon reaching the start.

The monotonous journey resumed, and Helag sighed as he pressed on.

***

One day later.

After a day in the tunnel, Helag sensed something amiss.

On his return, he noticed water seeping from the walls.

It wasn’t unusual for deep tunnels to have water seepage.

But Helag hadn’t seen water on his way in.

The tunnel had been dry.

Moreover, he sensed small creatures moving in the soil.

Worms, beetles, and occasionally snakes were present.

None of these had been there before.

Helag had assumed the polluted soil lacked such life, but he was mistaken.

With his Creek Valley experience, Helag wasn’t shocked, having anticipated changes.

These weren’t major issues; Helag worried about the tunnel’s stability.

Previously, the tunnel was intact, showing no signs of collapse.

Now, it seemed unstable.

The tunnel lacked support structures, risking collapse.

Deep underground, being buried would be fatal.

Helag’s strength wasn’t enough to escape from such depths.

The thought of the weight above made him uneasy.

He quickened his pace, eager to leave the underground space.

Four hours later, he heard sounds from behind.

Listening closely, he realized the tunnel was collapsing.

Looking up, he saw signs of imminent collapse.

Helag realized the tunnel had been protected by some force, maintaining its integrity.

With that force gone, the tunnel was just like any other, vulnerable to pressure.

Deep underground, the tunnel couldn’t withstand the weight above.

“It won’t hold.”

Helag knew the collapse was faster than expected.

He wouldn’t reach the surface in time.

Thinking quickly, Helag retrieved the second tablet from his ring, placing it in the tunnel.

He’d only taken the tablet, likely the source of the tunnel’s stability.

Helag hoped returning the tablet would restore the tunnel’s condition.