usenovelgroup Chapter 138 Deep Dragon
Chapter 138 Deep Dragon
Chapter 140 Deep Dragon
Inside the cave, the colorful fireflies covering the rock walls rippled like water, and colorful mushrooms quietly grew limbs, transforming into mushroom people who slowly walked in.
The two fungus people who had led the way were now standing within the area where the fungus was spreading. An invisible spiritual energy emanated from them and spread outwards. Through the network woven by the fungus, they instantly communicated with all the other fungus people.
Thor's eyes flickered a few times as he witnessed this scene.
He had originally intended to trick these mushroom people into becoming serfs, but now he suddenly realized that they seemed capable of serving as messengers as well.
This method of transmitting information through fungal networks is exactly the same as the Internet in his previous life.
If these fungi could spread throughout the entire underground of the territory, and combined with the fungus-human's affinity spores, wouldn't it be possible to maintain constant communication with all subordinates?
In this way, not only can information be transmitted efficiently, their work efficiency be improved, and more thorough exploitation be achieved, but he can also reap more benefits.
Just as Thor was pondering this, an exceptionally tall mushroom-man walked over, surrounded by many other mushroom-men.
It is over two meters tall, with a thick, fleshy canopy on its head that is pale purple with dense folds and strings of fluorescent slime hanging down from the edges. The top is also decorated with rings of silver light.
A pale blue spore aura surrounded its body, and all the mycelium within this range began to grow vigorously, but it could never reach Thor.
Unlike ordinary fungus people who rely on affinity spores to communicate with other creatures, this giant fungus person clearly possesses stronger psychic abilities and can even produce muffled sounds by vibrating the air.
"Great Red Dragon, welcome! Mossheart and Cloudvelvet have told us everything. If you can help us suppress or change the flow of lava, we will surely offer you gold to your satisfaction."
Thor stared at the enormous mushroom-man before him, and as expected, this must be the so-called Mushroom King.
As a social organism, they are actually somewhat similar to ants and bees. Although they are independent individuals, they have a weak sense of self and value the existence of the whole above all else.
After nodding noncommittally, Thor followed the mushroom people to the other side of the cave.
Even without their guidance, he could sense the raging earth and fire elemental energy. Soon after, a red light emanated from ahead, followed by a fissure leading deeper underground.
Somewhere below this crack, there must have once been an underground cave, perhaps inhabited by many other creatures.
But at this moment, the area is completely filled with lava, and the scalding magma is constantly bubbling and radiating a large amount of light and heat outward, and is slowly rising at an imperceptible speed.
If a powerful mage were faced with this situation, they would likely be able to resolve it easily.
If it were a warrior class, it would probably be a bit tricky, but as long as the strength is strong enough, they can also use brute force to carve out a new tunnel and change the direction of the lava flow.
However, the mushroom people are somewhat helpless in this situation, since they are neither good at magic nor have strong physical abilities.
Their only resources are all sorts of bizarre fungal spores and their decent psychic abilities.
These things are good at dealing with living things, but they are helpless against inanimate objects that are like natural disasters. They can only watch helplessly as the magma rises little by little, until large areas of mycelium around the cracks are dried up and die.
What puzzled Thor was that these fungus people, though plant-like beings, were not true plants. They could run and jump. Since their cave was about to be swallowed by lava, why didn't they find another place to live?
With doubts arising in his mind, Thor simply asked directly.
"Now that the lava has risen, why don't you escape? As creatures with hands and feet, finding another cave to live in shouldn't be difficult, right?"
Upon hearing this, the Mushroom King's glowing light fluctuated, and its powerful spiritual energy vibrated the surrounding air as it responded in a deep voice.
"We can leave, but the mycelial network that took so long to build, and the many mushroom people that are not yet fully formed, cannot leave with us."
Moreover, a black monster is lurking nearby. Without the mycelial network uniting all the fungus people's psionic energy, we are simply no match for it.
Upon hearing this, Thor understood. If survival in the wilderness was this brutal, the Underdark would be even worse.
These mycelia that cover the entire cave are not only a channel for communication among the fungi and a warm bed for newborns, but also their weapons for defending against external enemies.
Once abandoned, the mushroom people, lacking any means of attack, become easy prey in the resource-scarce, dark regions. Forget about moving to another cave; even their survival becomes a problem.
Moreover, according to them, monsters have already noticed this and are lurking around, waiting for the lava to continue rising and engulf the cave before hunting these defenseless fungus people.
Just as Thor was pondering, a loud roar suddenly came from outside the cave, followed by a huge flash of fire and a hoarse roar.
A unique and fierce aura spread out, which Thor vaguely felt was familiar with. His golden pupils suddenly narrowed, and he turned and rushed out.
The low cave was not suitable for flying, but his nearly 17-meter-long body displayed incredible agility at this moment.
Thor's agility and reflexes, derived from the Nargacuga monster template, combined with the powerful bursts and leaping ability provided by the Odogaron monster template, allow him to move as nimbly as a cat.
If it weren't for the thunderous sound of his footsteps, one would almost think he was just a crimson phantom.
He swiftly traversed the cave, which wasn't very deep to begin with, and before he even reached the entrance, he saw his kobolds and grey dwarves fleeing in disarray.
A massive figure lurked in the darkness, yet it could not escape Thor's gaze.
The creature was nearly 15 meters long, with smooth, scaleless, dark purple skin, resembling a giant salamander.
His bat-like wings were folded over his forelimbs, allowing him to pass through the narrow tunnel. His long neck was covered in clumps of fungus, and he stared intently at Thor with his pale eyes.
This is a deep dragon, a true dragon that dwells in the deep underground, and also the least known of the colored dragons.
The terrifying and somewhat disgusting monster, with a dead kobold corpse in its mouth, roared at Thor in a hoarse voice.
"Red Dragon! This is my territory, not a place for you. Get out of here!"
Thor could hear the obvious bluster and a hint of fear in his voice, and he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Your territory? It's mine now! When did a piece of trash like you dare to bark at me like that?"
"Trash, not even as good as Haku!"