CHAPTER 331: COLLABORATION

As Khaz slowly opened his eyes, his gaze met Lexie’s, and his blue eyes seemed to plead for mercy.

Her smile was radiant as she watched him regain consciousness, feeling an unexpected sense of satisfaction in her ability to help a stranger in need.

Khaz whispered to her with desperation in his voice, "Don’t let him kill me... don’t hurt me... please..."

Confusion flickered across Lexie’s face as she tried to understand his plea. She wasn’t trying to harm him; she was trying to heal him. She smiled gently and asked, "Are you okay?"

His frustration and agony were palpable as he replied, "He broke me from the inside... Why do you think I’m okay?"

Isiah, who had been observing from a distance, couldn’t contain his anger any longer. He approached them hastily, his voice dripping with annoyance.

"I thought I told you to inform me when he woke up."

Lexie’s smile faltered as Isiah’s presence loomed over her. She didn’t respond to his reprimand, feeling the weight of his expectations bearing down on her.

Khaz’s condition remained fragile, and the uncertainty of their situation hung heavily in the air.

Lexie bit her lip, her hesitation evident as she tried to convey the situation to Isiah. She spoke with an air of urgency, "He just opened his eyes... he’s not healed at all. He needs professional help. I only gave him energy and tried to ease his pain, but that didn’t work."

Isiah’s expression remained stern, his anger barely contained as he commanded, "Leave."

Lexie, torn between her compassion for Khaz and her fear of Isiah’s wrath, mustered her courage.

She knew that Isiah was capable of inflicting severe harm on Khaz, and she couldn’t bear the thought of letting that happen.

She spoke earnestly, her voice trembling, "Isiah... I’ll make sure he stays awake as you talk to him."

Her words were a plea for mercy, a plea to spare Khaz from further suffering. She hoped that Isiah would see reason and that her intervention might save Khaz from a grisly fate.

When Lexie offered to keep Khaz awake, Isiah remained silent.

His focus was solely on Khaz as he inquired with a sense of urgency, "How do we enter the underground city? I can’t even feel the presence of people inside it... is there some sort of shield?"

Khaz’s eyes darted between Isiah and Lexie, pleading with her to continue infusing him with energy.

He knew that his survival depended on the information he provided and the intervention of this mysterious group.

Lexie complied, channeling more energy into Khaz, her divine energy surging through him as she tried to keep his heart from failing.

She watched over him anxiously, her eyes reflecting her concern.

Khaz, weakened and in pain, managed to answer Isiah’s question, "There is a hidden door that leads to the underground city. It’s heavily guarded, and without authorization, you won’t be able to enter."

Isiah, not one to seek authorization, retorted sarcastically, "Do I look like someone who needs authorization?"

Khaz, aware of the dire consequences of his situation, replied with resignation, "No, you don’t."

Isiah’s patience wore thin as he pressed on, "Tell me the location of the door leading to the underground."

Khaz hesitated, fear still evident in his eyes. He pleaded, "Please don’t hurt us... You’re incredibly powerful. Why are you even here in this desolate place? You could do better, even against the government."

Isiah’s expression remained cold and unyielding.

"None of your business."

Desperation filled Khaz’s voice as he continued, "With your power, I know you could stand up to that filthy government.

So, please, just don’t kill us. Join us. I could let what happened slide. I won’t even mention it to our people. I know they could help you with whatever you want. Just... don’t hurt us."

Khaz, despite his desperate situation, was more concerned about preserving the hard-earned peace in Triavert, a peace built on sacrifice.

Isiah’s relentless pursuit of information continued as he demanded, "Where is the door?"

Lexie, attempting to mediate, chimed in, "It’s not a bad idea, Isiah, to consider a peaceful approach."

Isiah’s icy glare fell upon her, and he retorted with disdain, "Of course, for a simpleton like you, such thoughts are expected."

Isiah remained silent about his intentions, focusing solely on obtaining the door’s location.

Khaz, clearly in great pain, spoke up, "I’ll lead you to it. I promise not to reveal what happened here. Just spare my people—my friends, my family. Help me out here, man. I can’t take a single step."

Khaz extended his trembling, broken arm towards Isiah, his eyes filled with a poignant blend of excruciating agony and raw desperation.

His voice quivered as he pleaded, "Help me out here, man. I can’t take a single step."

Each word he uttered carried the weight of his vulnerability and the weight of his people’s fate, hinging on Isiah’s decision.

Moved by compassion, Lexie extended her hand to help Khaz, assisting him in his feeble attempt to rise.

Ciel watched the scene with curious innocence, his young eyes reflecting a mixture of concern and wonder.

Isiah, though reluctant to offer assistance himself, observed the unfolding situation with a hint of curiosity, his stern expression showing a subtle shift in his perception of the events.

Ciel approached Lexie with a bright, cheerful face, his young voice filled with admiration and support.

He exclaimed, "You did it, Lexie! You’re incredibly strong, just like I knew you could be!" His words of encouragement resonated with genuine warmth, making Lexie feel a sense of pride in her small but significant achievement

Isiah maintained his stoic composure, standing still and observant while Lexie and Ciel worked together to assist Khaz in standing up.

His dark eyes remained focused on their actions, ever watchful and calculating, as he prepared to follow Khaz to the hidden door leading to the underground city.

As they began their journey toward the hidden door leading to the underground city, Isiah utilized his dark powers to assist Khaz.

With a mere thought, he extended a shadowy tendril of energy, gently but firmly wrapping it around Khaz’s waist.

Isiah’s control over his power was precise, and he used it to support Khaz’s weight, making the journey more bearable for the injured man.

The dark energy acted like an unseen hand, allowing Khaz to walk with less strain while still under Isiah’s careful guidance

Following Khaz’s guidance, the group trekked through the desolate landscape for what felt like an eternity. Khaz’s injuries slowed their progress, but he remained determined to lead them to the hidden entrance.

Finally, after half an hour of walking, they reached a nondescript area that seemed no different from the surrounding terrain.

Khaz stopped and turned to Isiah, his voice trembling with pain and exhaustion as he gestured to a seemingly ordinary patch of rocky ground. "This is it. The entrance to the underground city is beneath us. But it’s heavily guarded, and we need to be discreet."

Isiah nodded, his expression serious. He understood the gravity of the situation and the need for caution. He looked at Lexie and Ciel, then back at Khaz. "We’ll need your help to get through the guards. Lead the way, but remember, any betrayal, and you won’t be the only one paying the price."

Khaz nodded, his gaze filled with a mixture of fear and determination. He knelt down and began to move aside some of the rocks, revealing a concealed hatch.

With Khaz’s guidance, they uncovered the entrance to the underground city, a passage that led into the depths below.

Isiah, Lexie, Ciel, and Eijar prepared to descend into this hidden world, their fates intertwined with Khaz’s desperate plea for peace and secrecy in the city below.

As Isiah, Lexie, Ciel, and Eijar descended into the hidden underground city with Khaz’s guidance, they quickly realized that the entrance was indeed heavily guarded.

The passage led them into a dimly lit corridor that opened up into a vast underground chamber, and at every turn, they encountered vigilant guards.

The guards wore dark uniforms and carried advanced weaponry, a stark contrast to the desolate landscape they had left behind. Their eyes were sharp, and their posture was disciplined. It was evident that security was a top priority in this hidden world.

Khaz whispered to Isiah, "We must tread carefully. The guards here are loyal to the city’s leaders, and they won’t hesitate to use force if they suspect anything unusual."

Isiah nodded in acknowledgment and signaled for the group to follow him closely. Lexie kept a nervous eye on Ciel, ensuring he stayed quiet and unobtrusive.

Eijar remained by Isiah’s side, ready to protect them if things took a dangerous turn.

"To enter, we need a pass that allows us to bypass the magical defenses protecting the city’s core. Without it, the security spells will prevent our entry."khaz explained

Isiah’s eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. He had come this far, and failure at this point was not an option.