To the Depth of Abyss

Chapter 198: To pierce what again?

[To Pierce the Great Mountain]

[Expedition day: 10] 

Everything according to expectation during the tenth day. 

"I didn't expect we are already that long inside this hole. I thought this expedition could take less time."

Dwalin laughs a little at Ars expectation. "It took us one month inside this hole just to reach the current route spot. Even that we are still 10% of the final goal."

Spending a month in the hole? Ars did not even want to think about it. 

"Let's just move forward until we pierce this damn hole."

Everyone's enthusiasm was still burning to continue the expedition. 

The factors that can make them afraid to keep moving forward because of stock of supplies. To go into a pit that has no resources is a scary thing when the supplies are running low.

But because Ars has his Dorameon's pocket, which can store a lot of supplies, they did not have to be afraid of running out of supply. 

"The fu*k is that?!"

"New monster?!"

The deeper they go, there are many new things they can discover. 

Like a stone carnivore flora that almost swallowed whole one of them. 

"Help! Help!"

"What is that?"

"That's so cool!"

"Freaking! Help me!"

New mineral that can be mined. 

"Hey, where are all the minerals we just mined?"

"Ars! You took all of it, didn't you?"

"I'm just storing them up. Do you want to bring all of them with you along the way?"

"W-well, in that case, that's alright."

"Just don't forget to return all of that when we get out!"

"Just make sure you don't forget about it."

Along the way, they built up a relationship with the Expedition Leader, Ars. Realized that Ars was not a man like everyone said.

A greedy, arrogance man who did not think of anything except himself and his own advantages. 

~~~~~~~~

[15th Day]

[10:00 Pm of the day]

"Stop! Time to rest and sleep!"

The Time Monitor was in charge to be reminder and scheduler. They keep track of time and schedule the expedition.

To keep update with the time is the second most important after the supply. Because knowing the time can maintain their sanity and can manage the schedule well.

Before going to sleep, they spend an hour filling their stomachs and resting.

The chefs will cook with the ingredients that Ars gave. Meanwhile, the others can chat with each other. 

During the expedition, they did not have much energy on talking. They also have to stay focus, because the deeper they go, the higher the chance of monster appeared from every tunnel. 

While waiting for the food to be cooked, the leader, assistant and the Map Creator, gathering on the round table. Updating their status. 

"So, we have arrived in the middle of this mountain belly. But..."

The path they had taken instead turned north from their intended destination to the west.

Four of them thinking. Running their brains to find the answer of

"We actually realized this. But, each time we took a tunnel to the west, we ended up directed to the north."

The route on the map they have been taken became like a taproot of a tree. It's just that the taproot veered from the direction it should have grown.

"Hey, leader, you confirmed the direction of the route we have taken and it really is heading west, right?"

The Map Creator asked that to make sure that they did not head to the other direction like east, south or other. If the route they took is really heading north, that means they just have to take the left side of tunnels ahead. 

"Even without me confirming it, you were correct in drawing the route we took, right?"

"W-well, of course I did it right."

The Map Creator got questionable back by Ars. 

Because Ars could get out from the hole easily, he can confirm their position from the top of the mountain. He could do that if he wants. But, to get questionable by a person who is in charge with the map creation, of course, that pissed Ars a little.

The previous little confrontation made the atmosphere a bit off. 

"Let's end the meeting for now. We are tired and need to rest. We will continue to talk about the route tomorrow."

Dwalin decided to end the meeting. 

The Map Creator gathered with the rest of the team. For Ars, just like usual, he walks quite far from the team to be alone. 

Dwalin visited Ars for a little chat. 

"Hey, why don't you join us? Break bread might make you feel better."

Ars was sleeping in a hammock while chewing a sandwich. Making his life better in the hole. 

"What do you mean I have to feel better? Do you think I have a problem in my mind?"

Ars being arrogant like usual. 

If other people that got respond with that attitude, they would definitely get annoyed and leave him right away. 

But Dwalin was not just trying to talk to him. He trying to understand Ars as a leader. 

He once a leader of an expedition. The expedition to pierce the great mountain was not just his first expedition. 

The expedition of conquering the Seven Colour Mountain, he took part in it in the past. Of course, that was easier than what they were trying to achieve at the time. Because in the past, Staff Saint was still with them. But now, they got lead by an immature leader. 

Ars indeed is so strong. As strong as the Sword Saint. But he lacks a sense of leadership. His existence on the team more seen as a bodyguard and a storehouse.

"Well, if you say so. Let's talk about the route tomorrow with a fresher head." 

With that, they parted to rest to continue the expedition tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~

[18th Day of Expedition]

They keep moving forward to the deeper of the Thousand Underground Passages. 

[21th Day of Expedition]

Facing many new or discovered monsters along the way. 

[26th Day of Expedition]

Just to get lost on the route they took. 

"How is it?"

"We found 3 branches at the end of this tunnel!"

They were trapped in a cave large enough that has many paths.

The Map Creator pinched their head. Stuck in an unexpected plot.

"How can this be?"

In the cave where they were trapped, there were about 9 passages leading to the others.

The problem is, they don't even know the first route they were in. 

The problems started when they first entered the cave.

~~~~~~~~

[25th Day of Expedition]

"I see a cave!"

After nearly a month of exploring the endless passages, they finally found a place that could be called a point to success.

"Isn't this cave, smaller than we expected?"

The cave they found was not as big as the Luminous Cave Town. The cave is indeed big enough to accommodate them, though. 

"How is it, Ars? Should we rest first?"

Dwalin walks over to Ars. The young man did not respond to him. He somehow got confused instead while looking at all the other routes of the cave. 

Then he asked: "Where is our original route?"

Dwalin wondered at first of why Ars asking that.

"That's on-"

Then he slowly realized. They have lost their original passageway.

~~~~~~~~

[26th Day of Expedition]

Losing their original passageway, they were trying to look for it since yesterday. 

The method used was sending one small party to enter one passageway by drawing a track with rope. In case the party will got lost. 

Unfortunately, the method was somehow not effective because the Map Creator was not drawing the last route they took. 

If they knew the last original route they took, they wouldn't get caught in that situation. So they literally lost on how to get back.

They had no problem walking for a month or two in that infinite passage.

"But to get trapped and didn't know how to get out is just worst."

Taking the risk of continuing down one passage is worse than trying to find a return route. Because there is a big probability they would have ended up literally trapped in the infinite passages. 

Ars, Dwalin, and the Map Creator stunned in the round table. They were really lost on how to get out from that situation. 

Watching the expedition leaders stunned, made the other member felt worse off.

"Ars, can't you checked our position from outside?"

Because of the silentness, the Map Creator voices were heard to all the members. 

"And why if I did that? It won't deflect the fact that we lost our original route. I cannot simply find our original route just by looking from outside."

What Ars saying was true. 

The Map Creator realized that. 

"But still, if we didn't do anything, we will literally get stuck in this damn place!"

The Map Creator slams the table as he pours out his rage. As the Map Creator, he was really mad at himself because he failed his task and trap his party in that cave. 

Dwalin wanted to calm his member. But before he does that, Ars gets up from his chair. 

"Where are you going, Ars?"

Ars walked towards one passage. 

"To find the original route. I'll do it myself."

He said that as he dive into one unknown route. 

"He definitely going to leave us here, does he?" asked the Map Creator. 

The Map Creator looks like losing hope on Ars, and he already felt that way long time ago. 

Yes, Ars did say he will go to leave them and get out himself if they got stuck in the expedition. 

"Let's just hope he did not."

Even after all of that, Dwalin did not want to lose hope on Ars. Because Ars is the only hope they have.