In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

The Worm sucked up the molten rock like a straw, revealing a smooth, glistening tunnel. According to the beast-tamer mages, the Worm would later regurgitate the ingested rock as hardened crystalline forms in about five to six hours.

As the Great Worm finished its work, Miaomiao approached the newly dug area. She extended a paw to the ground, and a faint glow spread out from her paw pads, solidifying the terrain in an instant. Finally, it was safe to descend.

Michael smiled in satisfaction as he glanced at the Worm. When it wriggled its massive body, Michael pulled out another treat and placed it into the Worm's mouth. The Worm squirmed happily and affectionately nudged Michael with its head.

"Well done. Thank you so much," Michael said, pulling out a 10-gold voucher and tucking it into the pouch around the Worm's neck.

Under their contract, the Worms were paid 5 gold monthly, with an additional 10 gold for every mining tunnel they excavated. As expected, magical beasts were highly responsive to gold. All three Great Worms had accepted these terms and signed contracts with Michael.

Considering the typical success rate of magical beast contracts was only about 30%, this was an impressive feat. While using magic could boost success rates to nearly 100%, such contracts often extracted less than half the beasts' full strength.

During the signing, Michael had presented the Worms with gold-trimmed vouchers and delivered a year's wages in a gleaming tin chest, promising that the vouchers could be exchanged for gold at any time. The Worms had gazed at the silver tin with rapture, their excitement evident.

Watching this, Marcus and Miaomiao had grown envious and requested their own vouchers in exchange for their gold and jewels. They had competed eagerly to collect more, much to Michael's amusement.

Now, Michael and Miaomiao peered into the hole the Worm had created, ready to explore the mysterious underground space. Adjusting the magical miner's helmet snugly on his head, Michael took a deep breath and climbed onto Marcus's back.

Marcus gripped the edge of the hole with his claws, his thick tail maintaining balance. Step by step, he descended into the dark shaft until they entered the cavern, where he spread his wings and soared upward.

Michael looked down, his eyes widening at the sight before him. Beneath them was a massive underground chamber. The floor was unexpectedly smooth, and in one corner lay an underground lake.

His gaze shifted to the corners of the cavern, where ancient statues stood. Despite the passage of time, the statues radiated a powerful presence.

Approaching one of the statues, Michael examined the lamp it held. The lamp had a glass door, and the central compartment was empty. Reaching into his spatial ring, Michael pulled out a mana stone. He opened the glass door and placed the stone inside. With a soft pop, the lamp emitted a brilliant light.

One by one, he repeated this process with the other statues, each lamp illuminating as he inserted mana stones. The cavern grew brighter with each activation, leaving Michael and Miaomiao momentarily speechless as they took in the grand space.

Regaining his composure, Michael addressed his companions. "Let's move further in."

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[Right. I don't sense any immediate danger, but we should stay cautious,] Miaomiao replied.

Raising a paw, she cast protective magic over Michael and Marcus, enveloping them in faint shields. Together, they ventured deeper into the cavern.

The statues were spaced approximately 200 meters apart. Michael continued placing mana stones into the lamps as they progressed, the increasing light reinforcing his conviction.

This place wasn't natural—it was artificially constructed. The walls were unnaturally smooth, and the air circulation was too deliberate to be coincidental. The passage ahead had clearly been crafted by human hands.

Michael continued forward, his curiosity mounting. Suddenly, the tunnel widened, revealing a group of statues resembling magical beasts. These statues, approximately 2.5 meters tall, bore a striking resemblance to winged dinosaurs.

The beasts had their wings folded, their sharp claws embedded in the floor as they stood watchful, their expressions stern.

[Miaomiao, Marcus, hold your ground. These are Rank-6 magical beasts—Gargoyles,] Miaomiao warned.

She began chanting in an ancient tongue. As the chant echoed through the cavern, the statues' eyes glowed red, and their sharp claws slowly detached from the walls.@@novelbin@@

With a resounding thud, a dozen gargoyles descended from their pedestals, landing on the ground. They immediately turned to Miaomiao, bowing deeply in submission.

[We greet the guardian of the tomb, the great Sphinx. At last, you have come for us,] they said in unison.

The tension in Miaomiao's posture eased, and Michael let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"What did you just do?" Michael asked, curious.

[The gargoyles are vassals of our lineage. It's an ancient pact. I simply awakened them,] Miaomiao explained.

Michael's expression brightened. He imagined these magnificent creatures adorning the castle, coming to life to defend it against enemies.

"Yes, this is perfect! Let's take them all," he declared enthusiastically.

Miaomiao nodded in agreement. [Once awakened, it's only right to take responsibility. I am Nefertari Hatshepsut Sphinx, a noble of the Sphinx lineage. From now on, you are my subordinates. Follow me.]

The gargoyles glanced at one another before awkwardly shuffling forward. Upon closer inspection, their wide, innocent eyes and stout, winged dinosaur-like bodies exuded an unexpected charm.

Michael, overcome with emotion, gazed at them fondly. Finally, he thought, I have my own dinosaurs!

Despite their fearsome appearance, the gargoyles displayed remarkable composure and spoke with an air of antiquity.

[It has been countless years. It is only right that we now serve a new master. I am Garett, the chieftain of the Guardian Clan. We all share the same name, so you may address all of us, myself included, as Garett.]

The thought of using the gargoyles as sentinels for his estate brought a smile to Michael's face. Turning to Garett, he asked, "Why were you guarding this place? What was it used for?"