Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons novel Chapter 230

Meanwhile, Liora and Luna’s group...

The impacts against the containment wall intensified by the moment.

Shizu stopped, leaning against the wall of the tunnel she had been excavating for the past few minutes. Her breathing was labored, each inhalation a visible effort that made her shoulders heave.

The earth wolverine she had fully manifested was beginning to show signs of exhaustion, its earthy form crumbling slightly at the edges as her control wavered.

"Need to... keep going," she gasped, sliding down until she was on one knee. Her face was drawn with fatigue, skin ashen beneath the dirt that smeared her features.

"We can’t stop," Mako looked at her with concern but also urgency. "Those shadow stalkers will break through the wall soon. I felt them through the ground..."

Hikari illuminated Shizu’s face with her firefly, the light revealing the worrying pallor beneath the layer of dirt. "She’s at her limit," she diagnosed, her voice soft but clinical. "Pushing her further could cause a mana collapse."

The guards exchanged meaningful glances. Maria was the first to speak, her voice firm despite the tension that tightened her jaw.

"The priority is clear," she declared. "We must protect Ladies Luna and Liora at all costs. If Shizu cannot continue the planned route, we will stay to contain the beasts while you seek another path."

The other guards nodded silently, their beasts partially manifesting in preparation for what might be their final stand. Their faces betrayed no fear, only grim determination born from years of training.

"We won’t abandon anyone," Luna protested, her shadow wolf briefly flaring around her silhouette. "There must be another solution."

A tense silence fell over the group as they evaluated their options, interrupted only by another distant impact against the containment wall.

"Up," Liora suddenly pointed toward the tunnel ceiling, her will-o’-wisp brightening with her excitement. "We could dig directly toward the surface. It’s a much faster path than continuing to tunnel all the way to the camp."

"And it would allow us to find Zhao more quickly," Luna added, immediately grasping the idea.

Mako shook her head, her expression somber. "Too risky. Night is very close. Besides, there’s an 80% probability of intersecting another shadow stalker tunnel between 30 and 5 meters of depth. That depth is completely infested."

"Then what do you suggest?" Luna asked, frustration filtering into her normally controlled tone.

"The area under the camp is the only safe island," Mako explained.

As Song had explained before Zhao repeated it to them, the ground there had a higher concentration of calcium and was drier due to the old efforts of auxiliaries and earth element masters, which naturally repelled shadow stalkers.

"Remember why they forbid us from digging deep to set traps during gathering..." Her night ambusher rippled along her skin as she spoke. "Reaching the island and emerging from beneath the tent is our only safe path."

A new impact sent vibrations through the tunnel, stronger than before. Small stones dislodged from the ceiling, pattering around them like ominous rain.

"We don’t have time for debates," Maria declared. "The wall won’t hold much longer."

Luna knelt beside Shizu, studying her exhausted face. She gently brushed a strand of dirt-caked hair from the girl’s forehead. "Can you make it to the camp?" she asked directly, her voice gentle but firm.

Shizu tried to stand, only to stagger. Her wolverine flickered, almost dematerializing for a moment before stabilizing again. "No... I don’t think I can, my lady..." The admission seemed to pain her more than her physical exhaustion.

"Then it’s decided," Luna rose, her decision made. "We’ll dig upward. It’s our best option now."

"If we encounter a shadow stalker tunnel..." Mako began to protest.

"Then we’ll have to deal with it," Liora completed, her will-o’-wisp manifesting to illuminate the space with renewed intensity. The ethereal flames cast dancing shadows across their determined faces.

The guards exchanged another look before Maria nodded with resignation.

"If you’re going to do it, then we’ll establish conditions," she declared with authority. "If you find a populated tunnel, don’t fight. Run back immediately to where Lin is. We’ll stay here to ensure you have an escape route."

"You can’t stay," Liora protested, her normally quiet voice rising. "You’re coming with us."

"Our mission is to protect you," responded one of the guards, her tone leaving no room for discussion. "That means securing your escape, even at our own cost if necessary."

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