The Rich Cultivator-Chapter 283. Traitor Among Us (2/3)

They reached a clearing where the Abyss mist thinned slightly, offering the group a fleeting respite. Maxwell surveyed the area, gripping his staff tightly, while the others huddled together, pale and exhausted from their harrowing escape.

Charla slumped to the ground, her shoulders quivering as she fought to suppress her sobs. Tyler knelt beside her, his expression calm but resolute. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Survive now. Mourn later," he said, his voice steady but carrying a hint of compassion.

Charla nodded, hastily wiping her tears, and pushed herself to her feet. Despite their brief reprieve, everyone knew the Abyss wasn’t finished with them yet.

One of the group members broke the tense silence. "Is there any Abyss Monster capable of turning people into zombies?"

"As far as I know, only Ancient Liches or powerful Abyss Fiends have such capabilities," another replied. "There’s also a tale about an Immortal Practitioner who returned from a zombie-infested world and accidentally brought the virus back. But the virus weakened in this environment, and they managed to eradicate it quickly."

Maxwell frowned. "We buried Lian Fu, and yet he rose again. This reeks of Abyssal influence. Likely, Abyss Fiends have breached the area and are trying to stop us. They targeted our engineer with the scanner device for a reason."

"Seems like they don’t want us finding the new Spatial Rifts," Tyler said, his tone contemplative.

Maxwell nodded. "Regardless, we’re not stopping. According to reports, Void Stone fragments might be near the Abyss Crack. If we locate even a small piece, this mission will be worth it."

The mention of Void Stones made everyone’s eyes widen. The rarest and most valuable material in existence, even a tiny fragment could fetch 500 million Lydia on the black market.

"Is that information reliable?" someone asked, skepticism mixed with excitement in their voice.

"It is," Maxwell affirmed. "But Void Stones aren’t just valuable; they’re dangerous. Only those with iron resolve should continue."

Everyone exchanged nervous glances but ultimately nodded. The allure of such wealth was too strong to resist.

"Good. We’ll rest in that underground facility until dawn," Maxwell instructed, pointing to the remnants of a razed building. The surface was utterly destroyed, but the underground levels appeared intact. "Set up a Concealment Array around the area."

The engineer immediately got to work, and Tyler joined him. The facility appeared to have been a lab before its destruction, its charred walls and scattered debris whispering of a violent end. Thankfully, no signs of Fleshborer Worms or other threats lingered here.

Once the array was active, its protective energy cloaking the camp, the group set up a temporary base. While most settled in to rest, Tyler and Charla slipped away to explore the lower levels.

---

The air in the underground lab was stale, filled with the faint metallic tang of old machinery. Charla stayed close to Tyler, her eyes darting nervously at every shadow.

"Do you think this place is safe?" she whispered.

"Safer than up there," Tyler replied, scanning their surroundings. "At least for now."

They descended a narrow staircase that groaned under their weight, revealing a dimly lit chamber below. Broken consoles and shattered glass littered the floor.

As they walked they saw a bed. Suddenly Charla pushed him on the bed.

Charla hugged him and said, "Thank You..."

A few minutes later, moans of a girl venting her frustration was resonated.

Charla and Tyler both broke the bed.

Satisfied Charla stayed on his top naked.

---

The next day dawned with an oppressive silence, broken only by Maxwell’s enraged voice echoing through the underground facility. His face was flushed, veins bulging as he glared at the gathered group.

"Another one of us was assassinated," he roared. "Thankfully, it wasn’t the engineer, but only because I made sure he slept next to me. Still, another life lost—this time with a knife wound to the neck."

The group shifted uneasily, their eyes darting around as paranoia seeped in. Maxwell scanned each face, his sharp gaze searching for any sign of guilt.

"There was no breach in the Concealment Array. That means it was one of you."

A tense silence followed.

Maxwell’s gaze landed on Tyler and Charla, who stood slightly apart from the others. "Tyler, Charla—what were you doing last night?"

"We were together, just sharing each other warm.," Tyler replied, his voice calm.

Charla hesitated, her brows furrowing in thought. Eventually, she nodded in agreement.

Maxwell narrowed his eyes, catching her hesitation. "Is there something you want to say, Charla?"

"I—" Charla began, her voice faltering. She glanced at Tyler, then took a deep breath. "No, it’s just... I’m a little tired."

"Tired? While someone was dying, you two were enjoying yourselves below!" Maxwell barked, his frustration boiling over.

Before anyone could respond, a sharp gasp drew their attention. The corpse of the recently deceased man twitched, his lifeless hand suddenly lunging to grab the throat of a nearby teammate inspecting the body.

Screams erupted as the corpse’s glowing red eyes snapped open. Abyssal energy radiated from him like a sickening fog.

"Back away!" Maxwell commanded, his staff glowing as he summoned a spell.

Water coalesced around the undead figure, forming a swirling prison that encased him entirely. The creature clawed at the barrier, its movements frantic and animalistic. Maxwell tightened his grip on the staff, increasing the pressure of the water prison. The sound of bones cracking and the distorted howls of the undead filled the air.

The others watched in stunned silence as the creature’s thrashing grew weaker. It’s limbs broke along with its bones. The water ball turned into red blood ball. The only way to make sure the ’zombie’ won’t come after them again.

---

The group stood atop the broken building, the distant horizon veiled in a pale, swirling mist. The engineer fiddled with his scanner, its faint beeping providing a semblance of direction.

"Did you find the location?" Maxwell asked, his tone firm but tinged with urgency.

"It’s directly over Water Street Town," the engineer replied, pointing toward the southeast.

"Water Street Town..." Maxwell murmured, his brow furrowing in thought.

Water Street Town, a quaint settlement renowned for its unique design, had no conventional roads. Over 200 interconnected canals formed a labyrinthine network of waterways that served as streets. Boats replaced carriages, and the sound of water lapping against wooden docks was once a constant melody.

"It should be near the center of the town," the engineer added, studying the scanner.

Maxwell pulled out his communication device, hoping to relay this critical information. However, the screen remained stubbornly blank. No signal.

He cursed under his breath and turned to the group. "Someone has to go back and find a spot with a signal to send this intel. It’s too important to delay."

After a moment’s deliberation, he handed the device to another mage in the group. "Head back and get this information out. Be quick, but stay cautious."

The mage nodded solemnly, securing the device before disappearing into the mist.

Maxwell turned back to the remaining group. "The rest of us will stick together. Keep an eye on each other. The Abyss thrives on division and distrust."

---

As they descended toward Water Street Town, the atmosphere grew increasingly eerie. The once-bustling canals were now barren trenches, their muddy beds cracked and dry as if a massive drought had swept through. The air smelled of decay, and an oppressive silence blanketed the area, broken only by the crunch of their boots on the brittle ground.

"What happened to the water?" the youngest member of the group asked, her voice trembling.

Maxwell paused, surveying the scene. "Probably drained into the Abyss Crack," he said grimly.

The group froze, their eyes widening in alarm.

"The main river must’ve been blocked somewhere too," Tyler added, his gaze scanning the dry waterways.

Maxwell nodded, his expression hardening. "If that’s the case, we need to locate the Abyss Crack immediately. If it expands further, another breakout could be catastrophic."

The group advanced cautiously through the desolate town, their nerves stretched thin. Water Street Town, once alive with the gentle lapping of water and bustling boats, now resembled a skeletal ruin. The empty canals stretched like dry scars, and abandoned boats rested in cracked, parched trenches. Wooden docks creaked ominously in the silence.

"Stay sharp," Maxwell muttered, his staff glowing faintly as he scanned the surroundings. "The Abyss thrives in places like this."

Just then, faint footsteps echoed from behind. The group spun around, weapons raised. Emerging from the mist was the mage who had left to send the message. Relief turned to horror as they noticed his glowing red eyes, his lifeless movements, and the unmistakable marks of Abyss Mist.

"He’s dead." Tyler shouted.

But the ’zombie’ mage wasn’t alone. Behind him marched more figures: Lian Fu, Charla’s close friend, and several others who had been lost to the Abyss. Their flesh was pallid, their eyes glowing crimson, and their movements eerily synchronized.

"No...." Charla whispered, her voice trembling.

Before anyone could react further, a massive creaking noise filled the air. Tyler looked up just in time to see the skeletal remains of a towering building collapsing toward them. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

"Run!" Maxwell bellowed, raising his staff to create a shield.

The structure crashed down with a deafening roar, sending a shockwave that threw the group off their feet. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring their vision. Tyler shielded Charla as the ground trembled beneath them.

When the dust settled, the group scrambled to their feet. The ’zombie’ figures were still advancing, unaffected by the destruction.