Kaijin Fighter: So I Have to Make Monsters, So What?-Chapter 1306: Circumstances of Slaves and Heat

"Huh...that is a noticeably lower amount of slaves asking to be freed than I thought," Zhen Tai commented at the sight. "Be honest with me, y'all. Are some of you not raising your hands because you're afraid of retaliation or because of something else entirely?"

Most slaves wouldn't answer such a question, because to them, this sounded like a trap.

Disobedience, regardless of its origins, had a tendency to end with someone getting beaten or lashed to the point of broken bones.

However, Zhen Xing's and Zhen Tai's straightforwardness throughout this entire encounter had done wonders in getting them to trust them.

Well, at the very least, they were more than willing to share their true thoughts and feelings.

"A good chunk of us are too old or too young to actually get through this cursed mountain jungle without dying or getting horrifically injured. Asking us if we want to be freed now is kind of like asking us if we want to die right now," an unusually spunky teenage slave answered first.

"Does that mean the ones raising their hands think they're confident to get through these jungles with no issue?" Antonio asked.

Various mumbles of agreements and humblebrags emanated from the cage as soon as this question was asked of them.

"Interesting."

"Don't forget about the ones among us who were originally impoverished beggars," a thin-looking slave with a distended belly cried out from the cage. "Situations like these are the only ways we can get a full meal and a place to sleep that has the semblance of a roof."

"That is incredibly depressing," Zhen Tai retorted in response to this lamentation. "Did you lack skills or a trade to rely on?"

"Oh, I did, just couldn't really practice it because nobody would hire me. Plus, begging didn't help either. I am too old and too off-putting to attract monetary sympathy.".

"Again, depressing."

Zhen Xing stared at the people raising their hands, the ones that were confident that they could survive the area by their lonesome.

Overlooking their persons, Zhen Xing could make out the telltale signs of aether suppression treasures, the kind used to bring even Aether Grandmasters down to their knees.

The clothes on these shackled warriors also appeared to be finer, made with more valuable materials that were meant to enhance one's cultivation while also doubling as armor.

In his eyes, this meant that these volunteers were either warriors that could put up a fight or people that might backstab them for the sake of getting ahead.

If they were the latter, that meant that they could be used as assets.

That is, if they could be convinced to do so.

"Okay, so just being completely honest right now; we will simply let you go if you want. Right here, right now," Zhen Xing started. "But...we also have a proposition that might be of interest to you all."

"Interest?"

"I doubt that, but at the same time, I'm curious."

"What could you possibly offer us?"

"Well, long and short of it, we're going to overthrow this mine from the inside out" Zhen Xing answered plainly. "And to be honest, we won't be able to take away everything from value here, if you catch my drift."

Feelings of greed and opportunity began to stir as soon as these words reached the ears of these fighters, but they weren't completely swayed.

"Those are lofty words. How do you plan to do that?"

As soon as this question was asked, Zhen Xing gave his best fox-like smile.

"Let's just say...we know someone on the inside who is more of a monster than the monsters guarding this place." ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

"Well...several someones."

...Meanwhile...

[We're rolling in hot!]

[Godsdamn, this is a long ass mineshaft! How the hell did that zako not go insane from trying to navigate it?]

[Probably because the Director was riding in their head?]

[Fair!]

[Focus please, focus!]

[WEEEEEE!]

Sliding down a long, winding tunnel that connected the surface of the Hellfire Mountainrange to the deepest underground parts of the [Mines of Malevolence], Zhen Liu's Kaijin were doing their best in sticking together.

[Incoming fall to the left!]

[Roll right, now!]

Going up this chute was easy, as any detours were pointed away from the exit point.

The downward trajectory of this slope, though, was absolutely lousy with detours and exit holes that would lead to places that nobody under the sun knew where.

The Kaijin could probably survive whatever bullshit these tunnels led, but that would be a waste of time and effort that could be better spent.

As such, the Kaijin were doing their best impression of a marble train in order to get to the heart of the [Mines of Malevolence] in a timely fashion.

Well, the refinery of the mines at least.

Speaking of which, as the Kaijin got closer and closer to their destination, they could feel overwhelming waves of [Disgust] and [Hate], washing over them like a polluted wave.

Needless to say, they weren't a big fan of this feeling since they were predominantly focused on [Desire].

[Bleh,] Screamira complained.[I get that negative emotions is associated with undead bitches like myself, but this is ridiculous.]

[Ooooh, is that why this place is making my skin fell all tingly?] Corpse Doll asked.

[I think that might be due to the tunnel being geothermically active,] Porcelain Doll answered.

[As someone who is associated with volcanoes; no, the tingling is definitely not related to geothermic activity,] Nepeherage interjected. [Also, why do you know what that is?]

[I asked Blazejudicator.]

[Ah.]

[If it's not geothermic activity, then what is it?] Corpse Doll asked.

[As far as I can tell,] Blazejudicator answered. [This heat is the rage of the land itself. It's a cursed flame that is trying to snuff out something that it's diametrically opposed to.]

[Okay, that makes sense,] Razorstella commented with only the smallest bit of sarcasm. [But if that's the case, what the fuck could be down here that warrants an action like that?]

[I don't know,] Blazejudicator honestly answered. [But we're about to find out.]

[I see a weird light at the end of the tunnel,] Springerdermain reported. [And I am sending a whole fuckton of Chaos and malicious energies as well. I think we're about to enter that refinery room.]

[Get ready to land,] Nepeherage called out. [Do not attempt to engage in combat unless absolutely necessary. Understood?]

[Ma'am, yes, ma'am!]

[Alright, landing three...two...one!]

Zhen Liu's Kaijin immediately spilled out of the tunnel and landed in a pile of golden ore, narrowly avoiding the weird conflagration in the middle of the refinery room.

As luck would have it, the sound of them crashing into the ore was masked by a very well timed dumping of several minecarts filled with even more gold ore.

[Huh? Did you hear that?] A sloth-like Kaijin who had just dumped the gold ore asked aloud. [Sounds like something crashed.]

[Hear what?] A bat-like Kaijin complained as he picked at his ears in annoyance. [The only crashing sound I heard was you dumping gold all over the place like a messy bastard.]

[Hey, don't call me messy!] The sloth Kaijin complained. [Everyone else dump their loads all over the room too.]

[No, they dump it in specific piles based on the day!] The bat Kaijin retorted. [You fling your load all over the place like you're trying to mark your territory!]

[So?!]

[None of us have any territory! It all belongs to the boss.]

[Fuck you!]

After throwing these words about, the sloth Kaijin and bat Kaijin proceeded to physically throw hands with one another.

Neither side leveraged aether or [Chaos] quite yet, as they were merely blowing off steam.

The sound of their blows impacting one another, echoed throughout the room and made it even more difficult to notice any movement.

As such, Zhen Liu's Kaijin were able to maintain their miniature modes as they walked out of the refinery room.

[Well, this place is about as functional as an imperial family built on murder and incest,] Razorstella commented as she and others began to walk out the door. [I feel like sooner we get rid of whomever is in charge of this place and violently take over, the better.]

[I mean...probably, yeah,] Nepeherage agreed. [But I get the distinct feeling that there's something more to this crazy place than meets the eye.]

[Does it have to do with the fact that that weird fire in the middle of the refinery is definitely surrounding something that is just radiating with desire?] Corpse Doll bluntly asked.

[Y-yes.]

[Doesn't that mean it's in our best interests to determine what exactly those flames are trying to burn to cinders?] Porcelain Doll followed up.

As soon as this question was asked aloud, the entirety of Zhen Liu's Kaijin stopped dead in their tracks.

Thankfully, they were already outside of the room when they stopped, so they didn't have any risk of being caught.

Yet.

[You're not wrong, but...why does it feel odd?]