Chapter 42 The Crystal Mine

Suzuka nods in agreement, understanding the need for rest after such a brutal battle. Both of them were tired from the hard fight in the goblin castle. Bill's injuries are still hurting, his body aching from the transformation.

"Girl, we need to rest for a few days, we've been pushing ourselves too hard. Well, at least me, you look fine," Bill said as he leaned back against a tree.

"I am not fine, Bill. I can still feel in my bones, how you broke them," Suzuka replied as she massaged her sore shoulder.

"Okay then, correction... we both need rest," Bill said with a chuckle.

Suzuka nods in agreement, her enhanced body still feeling the effects of the fight. She gazed up at the night sky and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

"I know. I'm tired of all the fighting we did. A few days of rest will do us good," Suzuka said as she opened her eyes again.

Two days passed, the morning sun shining down on them as they woke up. Finally, no more rain and thunder, at least for some time. Suzuka and Bill walk outside where the campfire was and sit there. While sitting around a small fire, they cooked little pieces of meat on the stick. The warmth provides a comfortable atmosphere for their conversation. They were in a clearing in the middle of a forest, the trees surrounding them, providing cover and some protection but you had to be really crazy to even think about coming at the minotaur. 

"Girl... I think we're both at full strength again, It's time to think about our next move with the crystal situation. So... I was thinking... before we head to the crystal mine, we should check out the nearby caves. Some of them might still have some crystals," Bill said as he looked over at Suzuka.

Suzuka agrees, and they begin to plan out the details of their journey to the caves. They discuss the equipment they'll need, the possible hazards they may face, and strategies for overcoming them.

"Listen now, girl. This mine... is created by golems, tunneling through the rock face, carving out a dungeon. The golems there feed on crystals and they grow pure crystals on their bodies. Hehe! Blacksmiths love them! They are like moles. Also, the bigger the mine, the stronger the golems are. At the deepest part of the mine, there is 'The Rock Golem' that acts as the boss, it is the most powerful of them all," Bill explained as he drew a rough map in the dirt.

"So what? Do we just go in sword and axe swinging? Kill them all and leave?" Suzuka asked as she studied the map.

"Don't worry. Most of these golems are passive. We don't need to kill them all," Bill replied with a smile.

They had a small fire going and were roasting pieces of meat on sticks. The air was filled with the smell of smoke and cooking meat.

"These golems in the crystal mine are gonna be tough, I mean as they are hard. My axe will dull if I cut them down. Bill could punch them but... Bill will brake his fingers eventually," Bill said, as he turned the meat on his stick.

"Yeah, I heard they're made of solid rock and are hard to break," Suzuka replied, as she tended to her own meat.

"But... we faced behemoths," Bill reminded her. "Oh well, no need to overthink it. We just have to hit it hard enough to shatter them."

"That's your plan? Hit them hard, and if they don't break hit them harder?" 

"Agreed," Bill said. "That's a great plan, right?"

"Okay! If trouble comes I will use my box power. I'm sure we'll figure it out," Suzuka said, with a confident smile.

The two of them continued to discuss possible strategies while they finished cooking and eating their meal. As they settled in for the night.

The morning sun rose over the forest, casting a warm glow over the clearing where Bill and Suzuka had set up camp. The sky was clear and blue, with not a cloud in sight. The birds sang cheerfully in the trees, and the air was filled with the sounds of nature.

Bill and Suzuka feel carefree and relaxed. They know how dangerous golems are in the crystal mine, but they didn't let it worry them. They were both strong and confident in their abilities. They had been through a lot of training and after the goblin castle event, they are confident.

As they set out on the path toward the crystal mine, the corrupted magic in the air above the forest tree line still obscured their way, making it difficult to get a clear sense of direction. However, they were not deterred. 

The journey ahead seemed easy and they were not worried about the challenges they would face. They were ready for whatever lay ahead.

Bill and Suzuka reached the slime-infested caves by the river, where Bill had originally found the crystal. They both had a flask full of his strong vine to protect themselves from the hazardous slimes that infested the caves.

As they ventured deeper into the caves, they searched for crystals. They climbed over rocks and squeezed through narrow passageways, but after a long search, they found nothing but small, low-quality crystals. They had no use of them, simply too small.

"This is frustrating," Bill said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I found a huge crystal here before, but now it seems like there's nothing left."

"Yeah, tell me about it. The last time I was in one of these caves, the slime king nearly digested me. But hey! We still have other areas to explore. We'll find something."

They searched for hours, but no acceptable crystals were found. As they left the caves and returned to the surface, they both knew they had to explore other areas in order to find the crystals they needed.

After leaving the slime-infested caves, Bill and Suzuka decided to explore a different cave that they had discussed. They were hopeful that they would find the crystals they were looking for in the next cave.

As they entered the cave, they were surprised to find it completely empty. There was not even a trace of slime or other creatures. The cave was dark and silent, the only sound was their footsteps echoing off the walls.

"This is strange," Bill said, looking around. "I've never seen a cave this empty before."

"Maybe the crystals were all mined out," Suzuka suggested. "But we should still search, just to be sure."

They searched the cave thoroughly, but they found nothing. Not a single crystal. They were both disappointed and frustrated.

"I guess we'll have to try another cave," Bill said, with a sigh.

"We'll find what we're looking for," Suzuka said, trying to stay positive. "We just have to keep searching."

As Bill and Suzuka approached the third cave, they could hear a loud growling coming from inside. They exchanged a determined look and readied their weapons.

As they entered the cave, they found themselves face to face with a massive grizzly bear. The bear stood on its hind legs, towering over them, and let out a deafening roar, revealing its razor-sharp teeth. It was The Leaf Grizzly. 

"This might be a problem," Bill said, gripping his weapon tightly.

"Not for us," Suzuka replied, with a confident smile.

The growling of a bear echoed through the cavern. They quickly readied themselves for battle, Bill gripping his axe tightly and Suzuka holding her sword at the ready.

The bear charged toward them, but they were quick to react. Bill swung his axe with all his might, but the bear was able to dodge the attack. Suzuka, on the other hand, was able to land a hit on the bear's shoulder, drawing blood.

Enraged, the bear swiped its paw at Suzuka, who was able to dodge and strike again with her sword. Bill then jumped and landed a strong blow with his axe on the bear's back. The bear roared in pain and turned its attention to Bill, who was able to dodge another swipe and strike again with his axe.

The fight was intense, the cave shook with the force of the battle, dust, and debris raining down from the ceiling.

Suzuka was able to land a critical blow with her sword, slicing the bear's throat. The bear let out one last roar before collapsing to the ground, dead, they were both much stronger than the bear. They quickly overpowered it and emerged victorious.

"That was easy," Bill said, breathing heavily.

"Too easy," Suzuka said, looking around the cave. "But I see no crystals."

They searched the cave but found nothing of value. They were both disappointed, but not discouraged. They knew that their journey would be filled with challenges, and they were determined to overcome them all. That was the only place Bill knew besides the old abandoned crystal mine. 

After leaving the grizzly bear's cave empty-handed, Bill and Suzuka knew they had to try one last place. The abandoned crystal mine.

"Valuable crystals still present in the abandoned mine," Bill said, as they walked towards the mine. "It's the last place we go today, it is getting late."

"I hope it's not a trap," Suzuka said, looking around the forest cautiously. "I've heard stories of the mine being guarded by dangerous creatures and traps."

After a long journey, Bill and Suzuka finally arrived at the abandoned crystal mine. They could see the entrance, but there was no one guarding it. There was no gate, and they could see the darkness beyond.

"This is it," Bill said, looking at the entrance. "The abandoned crystal mine."

"Let's hope it's not too late," Suzuka said, as she peered inside. "The crystals could already be gone."

They stepped inside their weapons at the ready. The mine was dark and damp, the only light coming from the openings in the ceiling. They could hear the sound of water dripping in the distance.

As they walked deeper into the mine, they could see that it was abandoned. There were no signs of activity, and it seemed as if the mine had been deserted for years.

"This place is creepy," Suzuka said, as she looked around. "I hope we find something soon."

"We will," Bill said, as he searched the walls. "We have to."

As Bill and Suzuka searched the first floors of the abandoned crystal mine, they found nothing but empty tunnels and deserted caverns. They searched every nook and cranny, but there were no crystals to be found.

"I don't understand," Bill said, as he looked around. "This mine was supposed to be rich in crystals."

"Maybe we're too late," Suzuka said, as she leaned against the wall. "Maybe someone else got here before us."

Just as they were about to give up, they heard a strange noise coming from deeper in the mine. They exchanged a look and decided to investigate.

As they ventured deeper into the mine, they found several golems. They were made of crystal and rock, motionless in the shadows. They did not attack or move, they were only standing.

"These golems are different," Suzuka said, as she examined one of them. "They're not aggressive, they're just here... standing... doing nothing."

"That's good," Bill said, as he looked around. "That's fewer golems to deal with."