Chapter 23: Howling Cave

[Demon Shadow Forest - Periphery - Howling Cave]

[Introduction: This place was once a Kobold nest. They used their hoarse howls to mark their territory, deterring outside enemies, and hoarded the meager treasures they had obtained through plunder and excavation here.

However, their fleeting clamor ultimately sank into dead silence. An uninvited guest from the outside, relying on irresistible brute force and ferocity, drove out or devoured all the original masters, completely occupying this underground domain.

Today, only in the deepest darkness do some relics left behind by the former masters remain, left behind in their haste to flee.]

Just as the text of the introduction faded from his consciousness, a new map shrouded in thick white fog slowly unrolled in Raine's mind.

[You have activated the core landmark of the Howling Cave: "Entrance Passage". Core landmarks activated in this area: (1/3).]

The moment the new prompt appeared, the fog instantly receded from the area near the map's entrance. It revealed a narrow, winding passage extending deep into the cave. At the passage's starting point, a bright dot of light marked his current position.

He thought, "Is this a map of the cave?"

Raine was taken aback for a moment before an uncontrollable surge of pleasant surprise welled up in his heart. He immediately focused his attention on it. Sure enough, the area ahead matched Matthew and the others' previous descriptions flawlessly!

The end of the "Entrance Passage" connected to another space, which was the second core landmark, the "Screaming Antechamber". Past the antechamber, the map was still covered in fog, but at its edge, a nearly ninety-degree corner could faintly be seen.

He noted, "This must be where Basement Rat was dragged away."

Raine's mind raced, his focus shifting to the deepest part of the map. The final landmark labeled there was the "Screaming Main Hall", which was undoubtedly the core of the entire cave and the lair of that unknown behemoth. According to the introduction's description, the treasures left behind by the Kobolds were very likely hidden there as well.

"I didn't expect that even a Demon Nest could form a map in the Exploration Chapter!" he thought.

This unexpected discovery made Raine feel significantly more at ease. Although the areas they had not yet set foot in were shrouded in fog, the general structure of the entire cave was already clear. This undoubtedly meant that what lay ahead was no longer a completely pitch-black, unknown territory.

He pondered, "Right now, this cave has a simple structure. Experienced Adventurers could figure it out after walking through it a few times and draw a corresponding map.

"But if I encounter a giant Demon Nest with a complex structure in the future, or those legendary Underground Dungeons and ancient ruins, the utility of this real-time map will be incredibly significant.

"Not only can the map help me avoid the fatal risk of getting lost, but it will also allow me to plan the optimal route in advance. Whether exploring, pursuing, or retreating, I'll be able to seize the initiative."

Joy continued to surge in Raine's heart. Since core landmarks existed here, it meant that as long as he activated all the areas, he would be able to record the Howling Cave into the Exploration Chapter, taking him one step closer to unlocking the next stage of exploration rewards!

He reminded himself, "But a map is just a map in the end."

Raine took a deep breath and quickly regained his composure. It could point the way, but it couldn't tell him exactly what the behemoth occupying the Screaming Main Hall was, how strong it was, or what kind of lethal attacks it possessed. The greatest danger was still the beast that had dragged Basement Rat away.

Raine's gaze sharpened. He focused his mind. The map in his head continued to display, appearing like a semi-transparent outline projected directly into his field of vision. This wondrous experience felt as though he were observing the world through two different sets of eyes simultaneously. His physical senses and the mental imagery corroborated each other, bringing him an unprecedented sense of security.

The depths of the passage were terrifyingly quiet, like a bottomless black hole. The flickering light of the torches cast long shadows of the group, swaying back and forth on the narrow cave walls, barely illuminating the damp, muddy ground beneath their feet.

The pungent stench of mud and decay in the air began to grow increasingly heavy. Aside from the crackling of the burning torches and the subtle squelch of boots stepping on slippery mud, a deathly silence filled the area.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.

Raine could even hear the nervous beating of his own heart. He held his Longbow half-drawn, his fingers tightly pinching the nock of the arrow, not daring to let his guard down for a single moment.

Cold sweat had already seeped from the forehead of Kaelin, who was walking at the very front. She held her Longsword horizontally across her chest, leaning slightly forward, maintaining a posture ready to launch a sudden attack or retreat at any second, like a cheetah lying in wait.

Matthew's hand holding the torch trembled uncontrollably, but he tried his hardest to grip the wooden handle tightly, allowing the light to reach as far ahead as possible.

As the group ventured deeper, the clear area of the "Entrance Passage" in Raine's mind also gradually extended until it completely covered the long, narrow path.

[You have activated the core landmark of the Howling Cave: "Screaming Antechamber". Core landmarks activated in this area: (2/3).]

The moment the prompt appeared, their field of vision suddenly opened up. Just as Matthew and the others had described, a relatively spacious antechamber appeared before them. It was drier here than in the passage. The ground was littered with a few beast carcasses that had been gnawed down to the bone, and Raine even spotted a human skull sitting in a corner.

From its hollow eye sockets, which still bore a few traces of flesh, a fat white grub slowly crawled out, dropped to the ground, and burrowed into the dirt.

After confirming that there were no immediate threats in the room, Raine's gaze shifted to the passage at the end of the hall. According to the map, that passage would widen from its narrow start and featured the distinct corner he had faintly seen earlier.

"This is it!" Matthew's voice carried an irrepressible terror as he pointed at the pitch-black entrance of the passage. "Just past there, around the bend, Basement Rat was..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the situation couldn't be any clearer.

"Once that behemoth charges over, immediately fall back to that corner. We'll use the bend to slow down its momentum. The moment it turns or stalls will be our best chance to attack," Raine said, lowering his voice and giving the group a firm nod. "Try to stick as close to the cave walls as possible. Our size is our advantage here."

The others nodded in understanding and began moving again.

Entering a slightly wider passage that could fit about six or seven people walking shoulder-to-shoulder, it didn't take long for the group to reach the bend. It was a nearly ninety-degree turn, and the entire space measured about twenty to thirty square meters.

Then, just as the group had taken a few steps past the corner, a sudden, thunderous stampede engulfed in overwhelming hostility came lunging toward them.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

The sound was like a death knell, shaking the entire cave so violently that it trembled uncontrollably as dust cascaded down from the walls.

In the very next second, a massive, towering silhouette burst through the darkness. Carrying a crushing frenzy capable of obliterating everything in its path, it was already within arm's reach of the group.