NOVPUBAll of this happened so quietly that Hols and Taylor were still unaware that the Healing Crystal had undergone a change.
At this moment, they held the cherished Healing Crystal, tears welling up in their eyes from emotion, while continually murmuring, "Thanks to Divine Inheritance, thanks to the protection of the gods!"
Daniel asked, showing no signs of surprise, "The Healing Crystal is so big, how are we going to transport it back?"
Hols and Taylor exchanged glances, then proceeded to unzip their backpacks.
They each took out a normal-sized carry-on suitcase.
Upon opening them, neatly arranged black metal objects were revealed.
Daniel watched, baffled, as they took out and assembled the items into a mechanical exoskeleton resembling a human body.
So, it was a portable exoskeleton device.
With this contraption, the two of them easily lifted the crystal.
But another problem arose - who would take on the Ghouls? Hols and Taylor’s gaze fell on Daniel.
"Dan, we both have our hands full, can you handle the Ghouls?" they asked.
Daniel looked at them calmly, questioning, "You really think I can handle all the Ghouls on my own?"
Hols, unapologetic, said, "From what I’ve observed, these Ghouls only attack one person."
"Just like zombies in the movies, they lunge at the closest person. So the only way now is to pick one person to draw the Ghouls’ attention while the other two take the chance to move the Healing Crystal."
With these words, Hols had essentially insinuated that Daniel was going to be the sacrificial lamb.
Daniel, as ever, remained impassive, looking at Taylor, "You think so too?"
Compared to Hols, Taylor was a bit more embarrassed. Under Daniel’s piercing gaze, he hung his head in shame.
They had no choice. Someone had to do it, and as long as it wasn’t him, it was fine.
Before Hols spoke, they had already put on their exoskeleton suits. There wasn’t much of a choice to begin with.
They were obviously prepared to use Daniel as bait.
A hint of murderous intent flashed across Daniel’s eyes.
After countless brushes with death, he had not only come to terms with his own mortality but also the mortality of others.
However, he didn’t act hastily or speak out.
The action cameras they had pinned to their chests were still rolling, recording everything that was happening.
Seeing Daniel’s lack of reaction, Hols assumed that Daniel had silently accepted their arrangement.
He commanded Taylor, and they headed towards the elevator together.
The large crystal was just narrow enough to fit into the elevator, and Daniel stood near the elevator doors.
The Ghouls were probably all gathered near the elevator doors by now.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, Daniel would be the first one in the firing line.
Daniel remained unfazed.
He glanced back at the space in the elevator, then pressed the button for the entrance level.
The elevator began its descent and soon reached the floor.
Ding!
The elevator doors slowly opened.
As expected, all the Ghouls were gathered in front of the elevator doors.
Daniel’s nose was even touching the face of one of the Ghouls.
"Roar!!!"
The Ghoul roared, a stench hitting Daniel full in the face.
Taylor trembled in fear while Hols immediately shouted, "Quick, run out and draw their attention!"
Daniel turned his head and gave a cold smile.
With one hand on the crystal, he vaulted over the gap above and landed in the far corner of the elevator.
Their positions had shifted dramatically within a blink of an eye.
Now, Hols and Taylor found themselves standing on the outermost side of the elevator.
Hols was livid, "Bastard, what are you trying to pull?!"
Daniel sneered, "There’s an old saying in Serenalia, ’fight fire with fire’."
Hols immediately realized what was happening, understanding Daniel’s previous silence was a setup for this moment.
Sensing the Ghouls outside the elevator preparing to charge in, he hurriedly said, "Once we get this crystal out, it will shake the world!"
"We could even create a nation with countless devout followers with it. It belongs to the three of us, and so does the benefits!"
No wonder this guy was so fanatical about the Healing Crystal - he had such ambitious plans.
It made sense, as the original miracles of the Healing Crystal could validate the existence of God.
The believers who were already faithful would undoubtedly become more fervent, and it was possible for them to be driven by Hols.
Sadly, all the energy in the crystal had been absorbed by him.
Those beautiful visions had turned into pipe dreams.
Daniel couldn’t help but mock, "It’s just a broken crystal, keep it to yourselves."
Hearing this, Hols was taken aback.
He didn’t understand why Daniel would dismiss the Healing Crystal so readily. In his eyes, it was utter foolishness.
"Dan! You’re such a fool!"
"Do you really think we can’t get out of here without you?"
"Even if we only advance one meter with each resurrection, we’ll eventually get out!"
"Once we get the Healing Crystal out, there will be no more miracles of resurrection here. You can just wait for your death!"
Daniel looked at Hols as if he was an idiot, shrugged his shoulders, "I’m waiting in anticipation!"
Hols realized he wouldn’t be able to get out this time.
He turned back to the Ghouls that had already stormed in, gritted his teeth and said, "Wait for it, I will kill you first when I resurrect next time!"
He was confident and calm in the face of gnawing.
Anyway, he could resurrect again, it was just a matter of enduring severe pain once.
Taylor was trembling with fear. Even though he knew he wouldn’t really die, he couldn’t overcome his fear.
Regardless, both men faced death head-on.
Taking advantage of the moment the Ghouls were tearing at the two men, Daniel stepped on the Healing Crystal and sprang towards the corridor outside the elevator, rolling smoothly and landing safely.
He turned back to look at the elevator.
Twelve Ghouls quickly gnawed away at Hols and Taylor’s bodies until only their skulls remained untouched.
Hols’ head stared coldly at Daniel, his mouth moving slightly.
Although he couldn’t make a sound because his neck had been eaten, Daniel could see that he was saying ’you just wait’.
Daniel stood there without moving, watching silently.
Soon, Hols realized something was wrong.
Under normal circumstances, he should resurrect as he neared death.
But his body had been completely eaten, why hadn’t he resurrected?
Even Taylor, who had been eaten a few minutes before him, hadn’t made a sound yet.
Could it be that he could no longer resurrect?!
The thought made Hols’ skin crawl.
Even though he was barely conscious, he still felt terrified.
Vaguely, he saw a Ghoul opening its mouth wide and biting into his head.
At the same time, he saw Daniel standing in the corridor, watching him and laughing derisively.
Only then did Hols understand.
So Daniel had known all along, they couldn’t resurrect anymore. But why? The Healing Crystal was right in front of him, why would he die?
...
After the Ghouls had completely devoured Hols and Taylor, they turned their ravenous eyes to Daniel.
"Roar—!"
A roar, as if a command to attack.
All the Ghouls charged at Daniel.
Daniel didn’t run, the deaths of Hols and Taylor confirmed something for him.
That is, these Ghouls also didn’t have the ability to resurrect!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots rang out as Daniel pulled the trigger with the force of thunder.
Bullets rained down like a sudden storm, piercing the Ghouls’ heads.
This time it didn’t even take fifteen shots, one bullet was enough to shatter a Ghoul.
The twelve Ghouls were quickly wiped out by Daniel.
Looking at the monster corpses littered around, Daniel waited quietly for a few more minutes.
Sure enough, no Ghoul resurrected.
The ability of the Healing Crystal had been completely absorbed by him.
Daniel gave a satisfied smile, turned around, and walked out of the pyramid.
When he emerged outside again, it was still night.
The starry sky was exceptionally bright.
Daniel returned to his tent, returning all of Taylor’s professional equipment to the system.
Other than earning a few tens of thousands of StellarCoins, he didn’t receive any special rewards.
The ring of the satellite phone broke the silence of the night. 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝒄𝙤𝙢
Upon answering the call, Daniel heard Gwen’s voice, "Dan! You finally picked up!"
"Are you okay?!"
"The pyramid was terrifying!"
"Where are you now, I’ll come get you!"
Daniel was taken aback for a moment, then remembered that Hols and Taylor had been on the entrance level, so the images captured by the action camera would be transmitted back to the production team.
Daniel said, "Don’t worry, I’m fine, I’ve come out. I should be able to return to Mauritania by daybreak."
Gwen was overjoyed, "Thank God, He heard my prayers!"
"Dan! Hurry back. The whole world now knows about the situation in the pyramid. Our military is about to airdrop there because the Mauritania army is useless."
"Our show has also been suspended. They have all left Mauritania, I’m waiting for you at the usual spot."
Daniel understood that Gwen was referring to the hotel they had stayed in that night.
He just didn’t expect that the production team had all evacuated Mauritania, and Gwen was still waiting for him.
Could this woman have actually fallen in love with him?
