The Conspiracy of the Elites

Chapter 231: aftermath of the bomb explosion

Crack!!

Dozens of minutes after the impact of the underground explosion wrath by the exotic bombs subsided a bit, a dull sound of impact resounded as a crack came from underground, before quickly widening to form a hole.

Following the appearance of the hole, a battered head slowly emerged out of the earth. The Wild Yak finally saw the light of day again after the horrifying encounter that left it hovering between life and death.

Sizzling sounds echoed out, making it whimper and growl in pain as, after some minutes of struggling, it finally wriggled its enormous body from the ground.

Compared to before, its previous grandeur was nowhere to be seen. Its main weapon, its horns were bent out of shape, while some parts even broke out from the impact of all the rocks on it.

All its hairs that usually floated luxuriously at its sides were gone; the fire spared none as only a blackened thick skin remained at their previous location. It now seemed like a Wild Yak that just received a clean shave.

Blood seeped out from various orifices around its huge body, as it staggered to stand upright after digging itself up. After barely stabilizing its stance, it finally looked at the barren land that was once its territory.

It felt like the lone survivor of an apocalypse, only silence similar to those encountered in the grave reigned across the once boisterous kingdom.

Most of the snow around the territory already melted, leaving only scorched earth and blackened rocks behind. All the settlements were razed to the ground, nothing was spared by the fire.

From its position, it could still see the fire that kept spurting from the ground occasionally at some locations. This once vigorous kingdom now seemed like the bed floor of a volcano filled with magma.

Its eyes quickly grew dazed and dizzy, as this sight evoked deep emotions in its predator's heart.

Its eyes recovered after some time as they started blazing with anger. Never, not even in its dreams did it imagine that these puny intruders could mount an attack of such scale.

Though it could not understand how this happened, its sharp eyes still captured that one of the intruders who fought with him pressed something, which seemed to have triggered all these.

At the last moment, it saw as Clark and Dickson were attacked by its companion. It saw how its companion also fell with both intruders.

The anger in its heart prompted it to want to go check the 2 intruders, and if they were still alive to finish them off. Its rational instinct felt that they were dead, but it still wanted to check.

This was its most basic thought impulse though. Though it was angry, it was also intelligent enough to now feel fear and respect for these intruders.

For years since it became the alpha ruling over this territory, this was the first time that it felt genuine fear for its life.

What if those 2 puny intruders still had the thing that brought this fire? What if on getting there, another fire emerges to blow it to pieces? It shuddered on having these thoughts.

This timely realization made it know that going back to check was suicide. It cleverly turned, growled slightly to curb the pain that followed, before limping away.

It was moving far away from this location. The white-maned lion alpha? That guy was not its buddy, it was a stronger rival that came to impose authority in its territory, so it was even happy that a rival died here.

With that, the only alpha who survived this disaster escaped. The other lesser animals that survived the explosion already escaped long ago due to fear.

Hours after the explosion that tyrannically turned the animal kingdom that a deserted area, Diana was still escaping rapidly with the allied soldiers in tow.

None of them looked back despite worrying about their 2 leaders, as the stern order from Clark still reverberated in their heads.

[A recall:]

All of you, pry your ears open and listen to me. No matter what happens to me and Dickson today, promise me that you will not look back and will escape by all means.

Seeing their uneasy, stubborn, and uncertain faces, Clark narrowed his eyes before speaking out in a sterner tone.

Are you deaf? Do you think that Im playing games here?

No, Major.

I want to warn you now. If any of you, I repeat if anyone of you dares to follow your emotions and not follow my plans, if I survive, I promise you eviction without hesitation.

I know what you are all thinking, that you need me, right? Now, let me tell you, you dont need me for anything.

The mission given to us is our priority, and I dont want anyone of you to misjudge that priority. I am just a tool to make accomplishing the mission easier, if I dont make it, forge ahead and move.

My overturning earth plan is dangerous, and I cannot guarantee that I will make it. Diana, please, I hope that you follow my plans even if I am not there. Dont rest until you find a shelter.

Dont worry Major, I know my priorities. Diana answered firmly.

Good, lets move out.

Thinking of this, the soldiers felt conflicted. Benny felt it more, but he still did not speak out as he didnt want to be the first soldier who will disobey orders and possibly cause their doom.

An hour ago, all the energy that they stacked up in the new rocket-like anti-gravity device that they made exhausted. They were continuing the rest escape on foot.

When they escaped, dozens of spooked animals also followed in their direction, as the animals directly lost their sense of reasoning on seeing so much fire. The heat alone could reset brains.

Clark ordered that they should not rest until they find a shelter, and that is what they intended to do. Most of them were already feeling fatigued, but the conviction to not let their leaders down was pushing them forward.

Despite all their preparation and meticulous planning, they still lost 17 soldiers to ensure their escape.

Though losing a comrade was not a good experience, they still felt lucky as it was only because of their leaders help that they could escape with so few casualties.

Anna felt torn apart on thinking of her fiance, but she held on as she did not want to reduce the morale of her fellow Daland soldiers.

Dickson, please survive for me. She could only mutter this prayer inside while keeping a strong faade outside to motivate her soldiers.

After so long, they already passed the opening between the 2 cliffs and emerged at a new region. From the rough outline of steep rocks and human pathways, they guessed that a shelter was close by.

They could now see the towering walls of the main mountain Everest again, which calmed their hearts and reassured them that they didnt emerge in another strange forest.

With this optimistic sight before them, they felt motivated which indirectly increased their speed.

They already exhausted all their military supplies, only the medical supplies that could not be modified and used as weapons were left and distributed in all their military bags.

They threw the other bothersome ones that would not aid their escape away, this was to make their escape more flexible.

They carried the medical supplies along in the case of some of them being injured. Some of them were indeed injured, so this decision came in handy.

Though finding a shelter was their main goal, making sure that they stayed alive was another. They stopped briefly at some locations to attend to the injured, and to recover their strength.

Like this, they were able to cross hundreds of kilometers across the Himalayan peaks.

In this region, one notable thing that they discovered was that the temperature here dropped a few degrees more than the forest and their previous location.

They were already suspecting it, but they confirmed it after finding the next shelter. They were already in the middle regions of the Himalayan peaks; they were pleasantly surprised.

Compared to the previous shelter where they took refuge, this one was bigger, more fortified, and more luxurious.

The shelter was just like a super extra-large duplex, and it was built upon 2 rocks that intertwined to form something like a clenched fist. Also, unlike the last shelter, as soon as they arrived here, guards came out to confront them.

Dozens of guards that were armed to the teeth came out to welcome them. Well, they didnt know if it was to confront or to welcome them.

They paused on seeing this, as the one who seemed to be the leader of the guards came out to greet them.

Hello, good evening, welcome to the free for all shelter. My name is guard Davidson, I am the chief guard here.

My name is Lipsey, we are mercenaries who climbed the Himalayan peaks to find some fortune. Diana smoothly lied with a straight face, as she came out to greet these guards.

Nice to meet you. She added.

You too. You guys seemed to have encountered some trouble. The guard added while pointing at their battered climbing uniforms to drive home his point.

Yes, we encountered something like an animal kingdom. Most of our comrades sacrificed themselves to enable our escape, that is why we ended up so battered.

Please, can you allow us in? As you can see, we need a nice shelter to rest and recover our wits.

Oh! You guys are either lucky or really strong to encounter an animal kingdom and escape, Im impressed.

Already getting a little irritated by this guards countless words, Diana wanted to politely ask again but she was quickly interrupted after the man seemed to have read her mind.

Dont worry, you guys can enter. But you know the magic substance, money.

No problem, we have that.

After getting the lodge price for a single mercenary, Diana paid quickly before all the soldiers started moving inside the shelter orderly. They could finally heave a sigh of relief.

After everyone entered, Diana stopped at the door before looking outside. Hesitation showed on her face, as she seemed to be fighting an inner battle.

Clark, please survive, Benny cant live without you. She muttered softly.

As she was about to step in, she hesitated and stopped herself again before looking at the so-called chief guard of the shelter.

What? The latter asked on noticing her stare.

You were not surprised when I said that we encountered an animal kingdom, have you seen or encountered one before? She asked curiously.

Ah, about that. I think you are new here; you have a lot to learn.

[Thank you for reading this chapter, I really appreciate it. Please, leave your power stones behind to support the book. Purchase privilege for The Conspiracy Of The Elites and read a varying amount of chapters ahead of regular readers.]