Supreme Magus novel Chapter 873

Chapter 873 Hidden Signs Part 1

Lith could distinguish the passage of several different people in the room, each one with their own smell and fear. Lith illuminated the area, revealing several different shreds of clothing near the table’s edges, where the people strapped to it had struggled to escape.

Brown stains of dried blood were visible on both the stone table and floor, making it resemble more a sacrificial altar rather than a science lab. The raw amount of mana still lingering in the air made Lith’s skin crawl.

’By my maker. Whatever that is, it needs so much mana to work that I wouldn’t be surprised if we found a second Mana Reactor.’ Solus thought while Lith took scans of the device with his army amulet.

"This is no mana crystal." Lith pointed at the white prism that was supposed to fuel the artifact.

Instead of being cut like a precious gem, it resembled a huge salt crystal, formed by several rectangular blocks fused together. By looking at it with Life Vision, Lith noticed that it bore the same signature of the white energy surrounding the weird undead he had fought.

The prism, however, was powerless. It had no mana flow nor life force, making Lith wonder what its origin could be.

’This is interesting. The design of the machine is similar to ancient Odi technology, but the techniques used to build it are all modern.’ Lith thought. ’If I manage to copy its schematics, it might be useful in reproducing the body-swapping device I’m working on.’

"What do you mean, this is no mana crystal?" Acala examined the prism, cursing his bad luck. Not only were the enemies missing, but the device’s value amounted to its own weight in scrap metal.

Without a power source, it was just an ugly oversized paperweight.

"What now?" Lith asked. _{frёewebηovel.cѳm}

"Beats me. This is as far as I was able to mark my passage. There’s some kind of Warp Gate past one of those corridors, but I saw it only once while trying to avoid a patrol so I have no idea where to look.

"I doubt I could interest you in the side caves and empty tunnels where I hid for the past few days." Acala could feel his dreams of glory and riches shattering.

He sat against the wall, incapable of raising his eyes from the ground without crying.

Lith cast his best Life Detecting array and when it came back negative, he lighted the whole cave, revealing several passageways leading further below.

"Let’s be honest. We don’t like each other and so far hunger is our greatest enemy." Lith said. "We need to understand if the vampires are still here or did they move out after discovering about your presence, and we need to do it fast.

"After reading your report, the army will send a research team here as soon as they are done with the most urgent business. If by the time they are here we don’t have a clear picture of the situation, human lives will be at risk."

"Do you really believe me?" Acala almost couldn’t believe his own ears. He had been expecting nothing but mockery and disdain from his more successful junior.

’Heck, in his shoes I would have called myself a liar. Maybe this Verhen is not as bad as the rumors depict him.’ He thought.

"Of course I believe you. You put your life on the line to get us here." Lith replied.

"It’s better if we split up, to cover more ground. Let’s meet back here in a couple of hours. If one of us encounters an enemy, he should return here early and wait for the other. Okay?"

"Okay."