Chapter 191: Chimeras Have That Ability, Too?
"Hm?"
Mydei snapped out of his somber mood in an instant. His muscles coiled tight, and his weapon was leveled toward the source of the sound before his mind had even fully processed it. His expression was a mask of extreme vigilance.
"Chimeras?! How can there be Chimeras here?!" he hissed, his voice a low growl of disbelief. "They absolutely should not be in a place like Hanging Edge City!"
However, in stark contrast to the battle-ready stances Phainon and Mydei had adopted, the members of the chat group merely shared looks of knowing amusement.
From behind a crumbling corner of the ruins, four fluffy Chimeras, each sporting a pair of adorable little horns, came bouncing into view.
With practiced ease, Belle and March 7th squatted down, each scooping up one of the creatures and stroking its soft fur. This was the first time Lumine had seen such a being in Amphoreus, and she watched with wide-eyed curiosity as one of them began to cheerfully rub itself against her leg. The last of the four trotted happily in circles around Stelle.
"Relax, relax!" March 7th called out, waving a hand to the tense Phainon and Mydei. "These aren't your ordinary Chimeras! They're special 'Treasure Guides'! They're here to help us find treasure chests! There's no danger!"
Belle nodded in confirmation, cuddling the one in her arms. "That's right. They're very well-behaved. They guided us on our exploration yesterday."
Stelle and Dan Heng offered their own affirmative nods.
Phainon and Mydei exchanged a long, baffled look. Their expressions slowly morphed from high alert to sheer bewilderment, then to a deep sense of self-doubt. Treasure chests? Treasure Guides? What in the world was any of this?
Why was it that ever since these visitors from beyond the heavens had arrived, every event that unfolded seemed to be one step further beyond their comprehension? They were beginning to suspect they had stumbled into some potent, large-scale illusion.
But faced with the matter-of-fact, even expectant, expressions on the faces of Stelle and her friends, Phainon and Mydei could only force themselves to accept this absurd new reality. Here, in the heart of Nikador's lair, were docile Chimeras that helped people find treasure.
The situation had suddenly become more complicated. Defeating Nikador was their primary objective, but the sudden appearance of these "Treasure Chimeras"—and the generous rewards they clearly represented—was an opportunity that was difficult to pass up.
Stelle's gaze flickered between the four little creatures and the massive, sprawling ruins of Hanging Edge City. A spark of inspiration lit up her eyes, and she proposed a bold new strategy.
"Since there are four little guys, how about we split up? It'll be way more efficient! The Chimeras are leading the way, so we definitely won't miss any treasure chests! And if one team finds Nikador first, they can just call for backup from the others!"
Without waiting for a response, she began to rapidly assign the teams. "Our original team stays the same—Dan Heng and March 7th are one team! Lumine and Paimon are super strong, so they can be a team on their own! Wise and Belle will stick with Mr. Zhongli's group to make sure they're safe! And then…"
She paused, her gaze landing on Phainon and Mydei. "I'll be with you two! That makes exactly four teams!"
This allocation plan made Stelle feel a little bit wronged, if she was being honest with herself. She would have much preferred to stick with Dan Heng and March 7th, a team that operated on a level of tacit understanding born from countless adventures. But reason dictated that Phainon and Mydei's group needed an "insider" to maintain communication and coordination, and she was, without a doubt, the person most familiar with the two men from Okhema.
'Sigh, I guess I'll just have to make the sacrifice,' Stelle thought, comforting herself with a dramatic, internal sigh. 'Besides, silly March will definitely need Dan Heng to look after her. I'm way more capable than she is!'
As expected, the moment Phainon heard the plan to divide their forces, his brow furrowed into a tight knot. "Disperse our forces? That's far too risky! Hanging Edge City is filled with unknown dangers. If we encounter Nikador's main force, or the beast himself, a scattered group can easily be defeated one by one!"
Stelle had anticipated his objection. "Relax, relax! Don't forget we have this!" she said, tapping a finger to her temple. "No matter how far apart we are, even across the barriers between worlds, we can always contact each other!"
She grinned. "If anyone spots trouble, they can report it in a second—it's infinitely faster than any signal flare! Calling for support will be a piece of cake!"
Phainon froze, the image of Stelle seemingly talking to thin air flashing through his mind. He finally understood. So that peculiar method of communication could achieve instantaneous contact over vast distances? If that was the case, then splitting up would indeed greatly improve their efficiency, and the risks would be well within a controllable range.
"…I understand." Phainon was finally convinced. He turned to the others, his expression solemn. "In that case, we will proceed according to Stelle's plan. But I implore you all, please remember that safety comes first. Maintain constant contact! If you find any trace of Nikador, do not act rashly. Call for support immediately!"
Just before the four teams were about to part ways, Dan Heng, after a moment of consideration, called out to Zhongli and Lumine. He handed each of them a few small, faintly glowing devices.
"The internal layout of Hanging Edge City is unknown, and the area is vast," Dan Heng explained concisely. "If you encounter a powerful enemy or find important clues, you can deploy these Domain Anchors in a suitable location. This way, no matter how far apart we are, we can support each other directly."
Zhongli accepted the anchors with a nod. "A prudent measure," he said, his voice calm and appreciative. He naturally understood the critical importance of establishing spatial coordinates in unfamiliar and dangerous territory.
Lumine also carefully stowed the anchors away, nodding to show she understood. "Don't worry, we'll be careful."
With their preparations complete, the four small teams, each led by a cheerful Chimera, split up at the entrance to the massive ruins. They set off in different directions, beginning their exploration of the fallen city.
Phainon and Mydei, their minds buzzing with a powerful curiosity, followed closely behind Stelle and her lively little guide. They were determined to see with their own eyes what was so magical about this so-called "Treasure Guide" that it could move so freely through these ancient ruins, a place that even they found strange and perilous.
Hovering above the fluffy creature's head was a clear, translucent arrow, pointing unswervingly in a single direction. This supernatural phenomenon once again left Phainon and Mydei marveling in secret.
Perhaps sensing their investigative mindset, the Chimera seemed to take them on a particularly "efficient" route. It didn't linger on the periphery but instead led them directly to a treacherous path that crossed into the inner city—a series of thick, rusted iron chains spanning a colossal abyss.
Dangerous electrical energy swirled around the chains, arcing between them with sharp, crackling sounds.
"Be careful! The lightning here is extremely troublesome!" Mydei warned, having witnessed its destructive power before.
However, another astonishing scene unfolded. As Stelle unhesitatingly followed the Chimera onto the swaying iron chains, the violently flashing arcs of lightning seemed to be smoothed over by an invisible hand. The chaotic energy instantly subsided, becoming unusually docile and clearing an unobstructed path for them.
It wasn't until the three of them and their single Chimera had safely reached the other side that the thrilling electrical storm resumed its rampage.
"This…" Phainon and Mydei exchanged a look, both seeing the same deep disbelief reflected in the other's eyes.
The abilities of this little Chimera had already far exceeded their entire understanding of creatures native to Amphoreus.
Upon entering the inner city, the scale of the ruins became even more magnificent, and at the same time, even more dilapidated and desolate.
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