A smile of hope appeared on Ryu's face for the first time in many days. He felt his spirit return with overwhelming force. "Thank you... thank you all so much! I will never forget this kindness!"
"Don't get too carried away just yet," Kairo continued with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. "The journey back to your village is still fraught with danger, and we can't send many people with you, as that would weaken our secret base and make us easier to detect. But... I will give you 'something' and 'someone' most suitable to accompany you on this journey."
Kairo turned to Raven with a meaningful look. "Raven... you are familiar with the routes outside, and your survival skills are evident to all of us. I would like to ask you to volunteer to go with this young man, to protect and guide him safely to Ashwind Post. Can you do that?"
Raven smirked knowingly. "Consider it stretching my legs after being cooped up in here for days. I was starting to get bored of these stuffy tunnels anyway. And maybe... I have some things to 'discuss' or 'ask' this kid about his 'Artificer' companion... and perhaps... about a strange symbol I happened to pick up." She glanced meaningfully at Ryu, making him slightly surprised.
Then, Kairo turned to order other members of the group to urgently prepare provisions, medicine, and necessary equipment for Ryu and Raven's journey. He also gave Ryu another "map," which was a map of a more complex and safer underground route than the one Shadow Fox had provided. It could lead them to a point closer to the Ashwind Post area, significantly reducing the travel time on the dangerous surface.
"Use this route with utmost caution," Kairo emphasized. "And this..." He handed Ryu a small device resembling an ancient compass but with strange, faintly glowing symbols engraved on its face. "This is an 'Astra Navigator,' an ancient device we discovered in some ruins long ago. It can guide you to your intended destination, even in places with no starlight or clear direction... as long as you have a firm and clear 'image' of that destination in your mind."
Ryu accepted the device with awe and profound gratitude. He could feel a faint energy emanating from it. This was truly a great new hope.
All preparations were made quickly and efficiently. Ryu received further treatment for his wounds from "Sage," the Spark Faction's medical expert, and rested a little until he had regained some strength.
Before they departed, Kairo walked over and patted Ryu's shoulder lightly with his strong hand. "Remember, kid... even a small spark can ignite a fire that burns away the vast darkness. May you and your companion be that spark... and bring this important news back to your village safely. I will await good news from you."
Ryu nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes filled with determination and gratitude. "I will not disappoint you, Kairo-dono!"
Then he and Raven, the mysterious but skilled twin-gunned woman, stepped out of the cavern that had served as the temporary home of the Spark Faction, heading into the dark and challenging underground path once more. But this time... he was no longer alone. He had a strong companion, and new hope had formed from the covenant made beneath these ashes. Though the path ahead was still fraught with danger and uncertainty, the spark of resistance... had been ignited, and it was ready to blaze.
The secret underground route whose map Kairo, leader of the Spark Faction, had given to Ryu and Raven was more winding and complex than they had anticipated. The faint light from the "Astra Navigator" Ryu held in his hand guided them through the seemingly endless darkness. The atmosphere on their first journey together was still somewhat tense. Ryu still felt a little nervous being near a woman as skilled and mysterious as Raven, while Raven continued to observe the young swordsman with an unreadable gaze from time to time.
"I... I really have to thank you again for volunteering to come with me," Ryu spoke, breaking the silence after they had navigated a narrow, damp passage for some time. "Without you, I don't know how I would have survived that situation earlier."
Raven merely glanced at him briefly. "Don't overthink it, kid. I was just... bored and looking for something to do," she said in her usual flat tone, but Ryu could sense some sincerity hidden beneath. "Besides... I'm also curious to see just how capable this 'Artificer' you guys talk about really is."
Their conversation was interrupted by a low growl echoing from the passage ahead! Both Ryu and Raven froze instantly, their warrior instincts screaming a warning!
"Looks like Shadow Fox's warning was true," Raven murmured, her twin pistols drawn and ready in an instant. "It really isn't just darkness in these tunnels."
Soon, several dark, hulking figures emerged from the darkness ahead. They were "Tunnel Wolves," mutated beasts nearly twice the size of ordinary wolves. Their crimson eyes gleamed in the dark, their matted black fur was long and shaggy, and their razor-sharp fangs and claws were ready to tear their prey to pieces. There were at least five or six of them, baring their teeth and growling ferociously at them.
"Well, this is just great," Raven muttered.
Ryu drew his katana, ready. His unhealed wounds throbbed again, but he tried to suppress the pain. "Raven-san! Be careful! They look very dangerous!"
"You don't have to tell me!" Raven retorted, before opening fire on the first wave of Tunnel Wolves rushing towards them!
Bang! Bang!
Metal bullets struck one of the Tunnel Wolves squarely in the head, making it howl in pain and collapse, thrashing! Ryu didn't wait either. He used his swift and sharp Shadowless Sword Dance to engage two other beasts rushing from the sides. His katana traced swift patterns, creating silver flashes in the darkness.
The fight was fierce and unexpectedly required teamwork. Raven used the precision of her twin guns to suppress and inflict damage from a distance, while Ryu used his speed and agility to engage in close combat and protect Raven from any beasts that slipped through. Though injured and exhausted, Ryu fought with all his might. He was beginning to see how having a skilled comrade-in-arms by his side could significantly lessen the burden and increase the chances of survival.
After a while, they managed to eliminate all the Tunnel Wolves, leaving only their still corpses on the tunnel floor and the heavy panting of the two fighters.
"Hah... hah... not bad, kid," Raven complimented, quickly reloading her pistols. "Thought I'd have to carry your corpse out of here."
Ryu gave a weak smile. "You were amazing too... I've never seen anyone use guns as skillfully and accurately as you before."
They were about to rest, check their wounds, and prepare to continue their journey, but then...
BOOOOMMMMM!!!
A deafening explosion suddenly erupted from the passage ahead where they had just cleared the Tunnel Wolves! The immense tremor shook the tunnel floor violently. Rocks and dust rained down from the cave ceiling!
"What now?!" Raven cursed, shocked and annoyed.
Both Ryu and Raven quickly regained their composure and prepared for a new threat. They looked in the direction of the explosion with caution.
And then, the unexpected happened!
Whoosh! Thud!
The corpse of one of the Tunnel Wolves they had just killed, slightly larger than the others, flew out from the darkness ahead at high speed! It slammed onto the stone floor in front of them with a loud thud! The corpse was mangled beyond recognition, as if hit full-force by "something" with immense destructive power!
Ryu's eyes widened in utter shock! He had seen this level of destructive power before... it was similar to...
Before he could think further, two tall, imposing figures slowly emerged from the dust and shadows at the end of the passage!
The first figure to step out was a burly man Ryu knew well! In his hand was a giant hammer, its head emanating a dense, formidable brown aura of earth and stone! Every step he took on the ground seemed to make the entire tunnel tremble!
"Hah! Thought there'd be something more exciting! These scrawny wolves are too weak!" The loud, familiar voice of Bacchus boomed!
Following him was a second figure, calm yet exuding immense power. A man as tall and solid as a mountain walked steadily, his body incredibly strong and powerful. Though he carried no weapon, his two fists looked more terrifying than any weapon!
"Calm down, Bacchus," the deep, composed voice of Taurus spoke. "Don't get too excited yet. There might be stronger ones lurking around."
Ryu's jaw dropped, so shocked and overjoyed he could barely speak! "Ba... Bacchus-dono! Ta... Taurus-dono!"
Bacchus and Taurus, who had just finished off the remaining Tunnel Wolves, immediately turned at the sound of his voice. When they saw it was Ryu, their eyes widened in equal surprise!
"Hey! If it isn't... little Ryu himself!" Bacchus shouted loudly, before rushing towards Ryu with a wide grin. "What are you doing here?! And who's this little lady?" He glanced suspiciously at Raven, who was still in a defensive stance.
Taurus followed slowly, but his eyes also scrutinized Ryu carefully. "Are you alright, Ryu? And why are you in such a dangerous tunnel?"
The unexpected reunion of old comrades in such a perilous place and situation somewhat eased the earlier tension, but many questions arose in everyone's minds. How did they get here? And what would this reunion lead to?
[End of Chapter 23]