There was no response, but the several Calamity Beast nodded in agreement.
"The question now is, how many Calamity Beast should we send to search? And what kind of Calamity Beast should we send to search?" Black Jade Lion looked at Steel-Mane Bear and the others.
" The Blast-Armor Rhinoceros and the others have gone so smoothly this time, why don't we just send them over there?" the Steel-Mane Bear suggested from the side.
"Ha..."
"Etc!"
The speaker was suddenly interrupted.
Several Calamity Beast looked at the Ridged Beast.
"Didn't you encounter any of the Black Rat Clan's Calamity Beast while you were out there?" the Ridged Beast asked.
"Of course!" the Blast-Armor Rhinoceros replied.
"So you didn't suffer any casualties?" the Ridged Beast asked.
Upon hearing this, the Steel-Mane Bear and the Black Jade Lion couldn't help but look at the Blast-Armor Rhinoceros and the others.
The Blast-Armor Rhinoceros paused for a moment, then seemed to remember something and said:
"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, twelve went out yesterday, but three didn't come back. I suspect they encountered Black Rat and were killed!"
Twelve, three died?... The Black Jade Lion and the Steel-Mane Bear nodded slightly, showing no particular surprise.
Of course, similarly, I didn't pay too much attention to it.
The casualties are not too high.
"Cough cough,"
A soft cough sounded from the side.
"In that case, I'll lead the team out tomorrow. You can't bear all the risks!"
Upon hearing this, the two Calamity Beast hesitated and looked at the Steel-Mane Bear and the Black Jade Lion.
The Black Jade Lion glanced at the Ridged Beast with a hint of disdain, but it didn't refuse.
"Okay, but the Blast-Armor Rhinoceros should continue as well..."
After a while, a figure got up and walked outside.
After a while, a second figure appeared.
Then, the third course.
The scene finally quieted down.
After a while, the snoring sound started again from the same spot.
In the pitch-black night, the Rock-Backed Beast in the distance opened its eyes.
It first glanced at the Black Jade Lion and Steel-Mane Bear who were still in place, then shifted its gaze to the side, looking at a certain area in the herd.
Somewhat puzzled, the Two-Horned Lizard stared in that direction.
Because of the distance and the fact that the Steel-Mane Bear were deliberately speaking in hushed tones, it couldn't hear them very clearly, but it still roughly knew their progress.
They saw the Black Rat Clan's Calamity Beast chasing after their newly caught prey, and deduced that there might be a way out over there?
Hmm, it seems there are no problems.
This can also be seen from what they just discussed.
but...
"Something feels off."
With some concern, the ' Two-Horned Lizard ' Rock-Backed Beast withdrew its gaze.
Was their first attempt at going out really that smooth? If that's the case, they can get out quite easily, right?
Of course, it's not as easy as it sounds.
The reason those guys were able to find their way out so quickly was largely because they had a large number of Calamity Beast, which doubled their efficiency in everything they did.
Moreover, this process is accompanied by the death of the Calamity Beast.
but...
Still somewhat worried, the ' Two-Horned Lizard ' Rock-Backed Beast lowered its eyes.
Never mind, whether it's true or false, I'll just keep watching.
If that's true, they'll definitely come back to inform me later. Then I can reveal my identity and go out with them.
If it's fake, then I can continue to stay here peacefully without any problems.
that is...
If Black Stone Valley really only has one path leading to the east, is there any way to get out?
As night deepened, the thoughts on the plains gradually subsided.
Time flew by, and it was already evening of the second day.
Steel-Mane Bear and Black Jade Lion sat in their familiar spot, their gazes occasionally sweeping outside.
only.
One after another, the Calamity Beast returned, but the figures that should have returned were nowhere to be seen.
Even after the supervising Black Rat finished their patrol of the mine, returned, surveyed the herd, and went back to their resting place, they still didn't see the figure that should have returned.
Somewhat doubtful, the two Calamity Beast exchanged a glance, then quietly lay down and pretended to be asleep.
After a long while, they raised their eyes.
"None of those three guys have returned?" Black Jade Lion said in a deep voice.
"Could something have caused this delay?" Steel-Mane Bear asked in a deep voice, his brows furrowed as well.
"It shouldn't be that. In this valley, the only thing that could delay them is those Black Rat, right? But even if those Black Rat did find them, there shouldn't be so few that none of them have returned," the Black Jade Lion said in a deep voice.
"Then... could it be that they haven't found it yet, and there's only a little left, so they just kept searching?" the Steel-Mane Bear continued.
"It's possible, but the probability is probably not very high. After all, although this valley is large, we are only looking for a part of it. If we include the Ridged Beast from before, there are already ten of them. Ten Calamity Beast should have enough time to search for them in a day and a night," the Black Jade Lion continued to refute.
"Then... do you think it's possible that they found an exit and didn't want to risk coming back, so they just ran away?" The Steel-Mane Bear pondered for a moment and offered another guess.
"Possibly, but wouldn't those three guys send a Calamity Beast back to inform us?" the Black Jade Lion said, its eyes glancing around the pack of beasts. "But look, does it look like a Calamity Beast is looking for us right now?"
The Steel-Mane Bear also raised its eyes and scanned the herd of beasts.
You can see Calamity Beast moving among the beast herd. It's uncertain whether any Calamity Beast are searching for them, but if you haven't seen any by now, they probably aren't.
only...
"You're giving those guys a bit too much credit!" Steel-Mane Bear suddenly chuckled.
"What do you mean?" the Black Jade Lion asked, frowning.
"It's possible that the Ridged Beast might not return on their own, but instead send a Calamity Beast back to inform us. However, how do you know that Calamity Beast will come back to inform us after they leave, instead of waiting until they're all gone before returning and running off on its own?" Steel-Mane Bear sneered. "Anyway, once it's gone, we won't be able to control it anymore!"
There was no response; the Black Jade Lion remained silent.
This situation is very likely to occur; in fact, it's almost certain to happen to any ordinary Calamity Beast.
So, what do you think we should do?
"Let's wait another day. If the Calamity Beast haven't returned by tomorrow, then after we finish mining the night after tomorrow, we won't come back. We'll go out and search for them!" said Steel-Mane Bear.
After a moment's hesitation, the Black Jade Lion nodded.
"Okay, let's do it this way!"
They fell silent and didn't speak again.
but...
Still somewhat worried, the Black Jade Lion scanned the herd of beasts with its eyes.
It wasn't even sure what it was worried about right now, but...
Letting out a long breath, the Black Jade Lion slowly closed its eyes.
My thoughts gradually quieted down.
Suddenly, a series of cold shouts rang in my ears.
"Alright, everyone get up! What were you sleeping for so long...?"
"Stand up..."
Steel-Mane Bear yawned and got up from the ground, looking a little sleepy.
The heavy workload of the past few days, the lack of food, and the insufficient sleep have left even this formerly Fifth Tier Calamity Beast somewhat exhausted.
Fortunately, this situation shouldn't last too long.
With this thought in mind, it turned its gaze to the Black Jade Lion that had already sat up beside it and said:
"You woke up pretty quickly!"
As it spoke, it turned to the side—the movement of turning its head paused, and the Steel-Mane Bear looked at the Black Jade Lion, which was not responding and staring blankly ahead, with some confusion.
What are you doing?
There was still no response; the Black Jade Lion stared ahead.
With a slight frown, Steel-Mane Bear looked ahead.
Then, his body, like Black Jade Lion, froze in place.
In my field of vision, a group of Black Rat are standing in front of me.
This is not surprising at all; it has always been the same.
But the problem is that a bunch of things that weren't there before have appeared next to them.
Several Calamity Beast, their bodies covered in wounds, lay helplessly beside them.
No beast explained to them, but at that moment, an idea simultaneously surfaced in their minds.
It's over--!