The Pulse of the Earth

Tales remained in the darkness for quite some time.

He calmed himself down before turning around and cautiously leaving, step by careful step, through the darkness.

What did that guy mean? Tales felt his way along the cold rock wall beside him, his thoughts heavy. I'll find the way out as soon as I turn around?

But...

Tales raised his head and stared into the pitch-blackness before him. He could barely see anything, and the headache it gave him was intense.

The thought of possibly feeling an unfamiliar head emerge from the dark rock, or suddenly seeing a stiff face, made the Prince's skin crawl. In the end, he abandoned the idea of using Sin of the Hell River to scout ahead. Using both hands and feet, he explored the rock wall beside him and the ground beneath his feet, not daring to relax for even a moment.

But the dangers of Black Path still exceeded Tales's expectations. He had taken only a few steps when he immediately sensed something wrong beneath his feet!

"Crash—"

It was the sound of rocks tumbling down.

Tales was completely caught off guard. He only felt the ground vanish beneath his feet. With a cry of alarm, he lost his balance, pitched forward, and fell!

What—

Knowing things were about to go badly, he instinctively wrapped his arms around his head and chest to prevent greater injury from the impact.

However, Tales's luck was clearly even worse than that. His elbow barely touched the ground, but it could not stop his descent. His entire body continued sliding with the momentum, even rolling forward!

Damn it!

Tales thought in panic and pain: This is a damned slope too!

"Crack..."

As his body repeatedly collided with the rock, Tales desperately shielded his head and face. He