novelODS Chapter 1146 - 464: Stonehoof Tribe
Chapter 1146 - 464: Stonehoof Tribe
In a silent communication, Alka and others didn’t even see where the person replacing the stone creature was.Thus confused, they were led by the stone creature, moving forward into the mountains.
At this moment, they finally understood how the stone creature moves in its daily life, as if it merges into the fractured stones and rocks of the mountains.
There might be no need to emerge, directly traversing through the earth. If not for fear that Alka and the others couldn’t keep up, unaware of the direction, it might not even show its face and could submerge into the soil entirely.
Unavoidably, Alka and friends could only bounce and hop on the surface.
Fortunately, even though the terrain between these mountains was steep, most areas were still gently sloped and walkable.
Unexpectedly, unlike what they had imagined, the so-called Stone Forest was not located in the central part of this mountain forest area but at the periphery.
They hadn’t traveled far.
Just not far from the place where they had just halted, roughly twenty to thirty kilometers away.
No wonder they met the stone creature on the lookout here; they had unwittingly approached someone’s gathering area.
As they neared the gathering place, the stone creature gradually floated out from the earth, no longer submerged, beginning to walk on normal feet.
Or rather, hooves.
They arrived at a steep cliff face.
Alka looked up at the height of the cliff before him, at least 20 meters, covered with sharp, steep stones.
Climbing to the top of this cliff required considerable effort, although Alka could simply fly.
However, the stone creature did not proceed upward but halted before the cliff.
"We have arrived."
With these words, it submerged entirely into the cliff.
Leaving Alka and the others standing there, perplexed.
After two seconds, the stone creature leisurely emerged again, although expressionless, the group could sense a hint of embarrassment from it.
"Sorry, forgot."
After speaking, it came over, rubbing its clay-like, earth-formed hands.
Several little cylindrical stone columns appeared in its hand.
Holding these stone columns tightly, it emitted sounds akin to spells, but more like rhythmic percussion of stones.
With the sound, Alka and the group noticeably felt a change on their bodies, a simple brown totem appeared on the back of their hands.
"Now you can enter, follow me."
Saying this, the stone creature once more passed directly through the cliff.
Although Alka could use the Earth Card to pass through, he chose not to. Instead, he reached into the cliff as if dipping into mud, directly immersing into the solid rock.
This experience made Alka can’t help but smile: "Interesting."
And with that, he submerged his entire body.
Chadite and the others followed closely.
During the passage through the cliff, they needed to hold their breath. After approx ten seconds, they saw light, emerging from the cliff.
Standing still at the sight before them, Alka and the group halted as they exited single file, gazing at the scene.
They stood in a recessed area, surrounded by towering stone walls enclosing the space.
In the center of the depression were sharp stone pillars jutting from the ground, piercing the sky.
Each stone spire resembling a tree in a forest, arranged into the Stone Forest.
In perfect alignment with this place’s name, upon entering, Alka sensed an exceptionally thick Earth Element aura.
Though impure, with the air unavoidably carrying the water element prevalent worldwide; even here, the water element remained relatively substantial.
The issue lay with the Stone Forest’s inhabitants.
Initially, they had assumed the Stonehoof Race resembled the stone creature: humans above, bovine hooves and tails below.
But evidently, they were far from correct.
Alka first noticed a resident with bovine hooves and tails below but an entirely stone-transformed upper body, even the head beyond recognition.
Its power roughly Tier Three, stature among the inhabitants tending towards the lower middle.
Others had upper bodies resembling lizards in peculiar appearances as half-elemental beings. Many still bore human-like upper bodies.
Compared to these odd forms, even the previously perceived abnormal stone creature appeared somewhat normal.
Through this, it was evident that the upper bodies of these half-elemental beings seemed not to be fixed.
Beside them stood a guard watching them.
Observing this guard, Alka suddenly nodded in satisfaction.
This seemed the most harmonious and normal he’s seen.
The upper body wasn’t human but a half-elemental with a human torso topped with a bovine head.
Together with the lower body’s bovine hooves and tail, it appeared very harmonious.
The harmonious blend made Alka feel a sense of comfort.
It was akin to a Minotaur Shaman with strong earthy element characteristics, even evoking a sense of kinship in Alka.