Deep gouges and enormous dents were clearly visible on the walls and floor of the mine tunnel—the marks left by the cyclops.
They walked for several minutes.
"It's just ahead," Fletcher said in a low, tense voice. "That thing usually stays there."
The tunnel suddenly opened up ahead, forming a natural stone cavern more than ten meters high.
Inside the cavern, the cyclops was leaning against the wall.
The moment it saw He Xi's group approach, its enormous single eye filled with wariness.
"UrGron-tu! Nar-Gash-HâmGhar, farDâm-khor!"
It let out a string of roars. Though He Xi could not understand a single word, the creature's bared fangs, flying spittle, and abrupt movement as it rose to its feet made its attitude crystal clear.
Perhaps because they had not done as it said, the cyclops's massive body suddenly lunged forward. At the same time, it clenched its right hand into a fist, like a giant siege hammer swinging from back to front, ready to pound these troublesome flies who did not know their own limits into pulp.
Rumble—!
It was not his fist coming down, but a thick stone pillar erupting from the ground directly in front of him.
The cyclops hurriedly twisted aside to dodge.
The stone pillar shot skyward almost brushing the tip of his nose, then slammed viciously into the cavern ceiling.
With a tremendous crack, the already fragile rock layer was punched through, and warm sunlight instantly poured down. Countless fragments of stone and clouds of dust came showering down with a rustle, pelting the cyclops. It did not hurt, but the spectacle was terrifying.
As the dust slowly dispersed, the cyclops sat dumbly on the ground, staring up at the hole in the ceiling illuminated by sunlight.
The prerequisite for a normal conversation was a show of